| "Never again," I said to myself over and over. I must | | | | amazed at what a needle, a simple stitch and colored |
| have been out of my mind when I chose Majestic | | | | threads could do in the hands of an artist. |
| Magnolia, a gorgeous design I simply couldn't resist. It | | | | I jumped in with both feet buying cross stitch books |
| didn't matter to me that I was still a beginner and I had | | | | and magazines, starter kits, threads, hoops, and |
| never stitched on linen. I thought I could tackle any | | | | anything else I could find. I was determined to learn as |
| project. Today, it's my crowning achievement, one that | | | | much as I could about this wonderful craft. I started |
| would take five long years and several trips around | | | | with simple projects, and gradually expanded my skills. |
| the globe to complete. | | | | Before long I became a fairly decent stitcher. I was |
| The chart is barely legible anymore; faded, with coffee | | | | thrilled. Cross stitch was the perfect pastime for flying; |
| stains and who-knows-what-else. I saved it anyway. | | | | relaxing, creative, and fun. Best of all, it was portable. I |
| The magnolia with its creamy white blooms and dark | | | | could do it anywhere. |
| lustrous leaves is a statement of beauty, even prettier | | | | And so I did. From Anchorage to Atlanta, and Bali to |
| that I originally imagined it. But, what a love-hate | | | | Bermuda, I stitched and stitched (and ripped out just as |
| relationship we've had. "Never again," I repeated, too | | | | often) every chance I could. Mistakes and mishaps |
| many times to count. This project wreaked havoc with | | | | were an everyday occurrence. There were lots of |
| my emotions, from tears of frustration and | | | | pricked fingers. I constantly lost threads and had to |
| disappointment, to an incredible sense of pride and joy | | | | replace them. The chart was accidentally thrown in the |
| in the finished piece. | | | | trash several times, and I left the whole project in more |
| I was 20 the first time I met anyone who did cross | | | | hotel rooms and airplanes around the world than I care |
| stitch. She was a passenger on one of my flights. | | | | to remember. Somehow it always found its way back |
| Fresh out of college, I had just accepted a job as a | | | | to me. |
| flight attendant with a major airline. I don't remember | | | | Majestic Magnolia was a challenging project for a |
| where we were going that day. I only remember | | | | beginner but I was lured by its beauty. For the most |
| walking up and down the aisle of the plane marveling | | | | part I had to work in daylight only in order to distinguish |
| over this woman's devotion to a craft that had always | | | | between the different shades of cream, ecru, and |
| seemed so boring to me. Her work was stunning. I | | | | white flowers which were stitched on cream-colored |
| asked questions. I was hooked. | | | | linen. The leaves too were done in various shades of |
| Up until that day, sewing had always been my passion. | | | | green. I was humbled and even slightly embarrassed |
| Self- taught all the way, I made my own clothes in high | | | | when people would stop to admire my work, but it |
| school, decorated my dorm room in college, sewed | | | | was always very encouraging. |
| costumes for nieces and nephews, and made | | | | This particular project will always bring back wonderful |
| countless other projects over the years. But my | | | | memories of my incredible career in the airline industry. |
| glamorous new career took a toll on my sewing. I was | | | | What a glorious time in my life. I've had the opportunity |
| fulfilling a childhood dream to be a flight attendant, | | | | to work on my cross stitch in some amazing places; at |
| jetting off to faraway places. Try as I might, my | | | | a park overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, at a |
| machine was too heavy to carry on the plane. My | | | | sidewalk cafe in Paris, sipping Italian wine outside the |
| sewing was put on hold. | | | | Vatican, and riding a ferry to the Statue of Liberty. |
| As a flight attendant I had a lot of down time; sitting in | | | | I said I'd never do it again. Famous last words. But I |
| hotel rooms in foreign cities, fighting to stay awake in | | | | actually have done it again, many times. I'm passionate |
| the middle of the night while passengers slept, sitting | | | | about cross stitch. I buy charts and kits everywhere I |
| for hours between flights. I yearned for something to | | | | go. The truth is, when I look at my final masterpiece I'm |
| occupy my hands and my mind the way sewing did. I | | | | astounded that I was able to create something so |
| needed to create. Then I met my friend, the passenger | | | | beautiful out of a blank canvas, thread and a pattern. |
| who inspired me to try cross stitch. I was simply | | | | Few things give me greater joy! |