Stitching with Jess

Jessica Savage is sharing the Language of Flowers each month – and for summer what could be more appropriate than our adoration of the sunflower?

Hullo! Summer is here and, after the crazy times we’ve had over the past year and a half, it’s time to bask in some happiness and sunshine! I don’t know about you, but I live for sunlight, whether I’m outside hiking, si ing at my garden table stitching with a cup of tea, or working at my desk and watching it stream in through the window. But if there’s one thing that loves the sun more than me, it’s this month’s floriology bloom, the gorgeous sunflower! The meaning of this flower is adoration, and it certainly shows its adoration to the sun, turning throughout the day to follow our local star across the sky.

Sunny weather always makes me feel happy, which helps me be er appreciate all the people I adore. Sometimes through the dead of winter or, you know, a global pandemic, it can be hard to remember to tell those we love how much we appreciate them. We all know how good it feels to hear it from someone else, so I’ve devised a li le challenge for myself that you’re welcome to join in on! It doesn’t take anything more than a li le effort and it gives back so much in return. It goes like this – every day, perhaps as you’re se ling down to stitch in the evening, think of someone you care about. Then, tell them that you’re thinking of them and why you adore them the way you do. Do it in person, do it over the phone, do it by text message. There doesn’t need to be any other reason to contact them, other than to say hullo and to remind them that they’re special to you. We often don’t know what other people are going through – they could be doing fine, or they could have a lot of private weight on their shoulders. But a kind word or a sweet message can make the world of difference either way.

If you want to make it a stitch-themed challenge, why not stitch out a small t1oken for someone as a special gXift!ST371 Perhaps select a flower from this series that you think most speaks to how your friend or loved one makes you feel. The more love that we send out into the world, the more love there is to share around.

Wishing you all a most glorious summer! I hope that, just as you aim to spread sunshine to others, that your days spent stitching in the sunshine this yJeearsasre both long and luxurious. Stitch boldly!

Jess