Make a Handbag and Reduce Stress
By Henrietta Timmons
Have you ever considered sewing a handbag
as an act of meditation or as a way to get
in touch with your self to reduce stress?
Let’s look at the process In order to see
the connection to inner peace.
To make a handbag, the sewer needs to focus
on the immediate - you need to be precise
and concentrate on what you are doing at the
present moment. There are no distractions
tolerated and your mind calms because it is
focused - the breathing evens out into a regular
rhythm. The previous stress you may have experienced
fades into the distant past as you look at
this perfect piece of fabric in front of you;
something you have lovingly picked out from
the vast array of other fabrics, making a
special bond between you and this beautiful
organic object waiting for your unique input.
You carefully place your handbag
pattern on the fabric and focus on cutting
as evenly as possible around the outline
of your purse. The anticipation builds
as the faint beginnings of your new bag
take shape. Diligently, you focus on the
task in front of you, cutting in careful
precision with total deliberation.
Sewing your handbag is where the actual
shape starts to form and you realize you
are close to finishing. Keeping the line
of stitching straight requires your full
attention as the row develops with the
edge lined up perfectly and each stitch
attains harmony with it’s neighboring
stitch. Be aware that there is great peacefulness
in this degree of full intensification
of thought.
As the bag is nearing completion, you
may start thinking about how the fabric
texture suggests a pleasant memory such
as the feel of your Mother’s dress against
your skin when you were little or a soft
Summer day. Your mind peacefully wanders
to that special time when you were younger
and life seemed so simple.
The calmness and inner peace you attained
through the process of creating your own
handbag changes to happy pride as you
display this unique work of art to friends
and family and bask in their words of
praise for your talent and dedication.
You now have a physical reminder in the
form of your bag that you are special
and talented with a gift of creation.
Look at your new handbag and remember
the calmness you felt when you were in
the midst of evolving this piece of fabric
into a special work of art and know that
you can carry this peace with you always.
About The Author
Henrietta is a handbag designer and self
avowed purse fanatic who has her own informative
website at http://henriettashandbags.com.
