To My Customers . . .

 

The website of BessieMary is now closed.

 

Thank you for your loyal patronage during the past seven years.
Each of you has touched and blessed my life.While you may no longer be a customer, you will always be a friend.

 

I wish the very best to each of you.
May you continue to be inspired and enchanted by the many wonders of the world.
May stitching and creating heirlooms always bring you, and those who receive it, great joy.
May you always be blessed with just enough, but not so much, that you become complacent and blind to the needs of others.
May you appreciate quiet times, but never know loneliness.
May there always be the hand of a loved one and the smile of a friend ...just as so many of you have been there for me.
May the grace of God be with you always.

 

Now, I may have more time to visit here at my blog, or to sew what I want, when I want . . .

as long as the wonky eyes cooperate!

 

I also wish each of you a very blessed Thanksgiving.

May you be surrounded by those you love, either in person or spirit.

 

From the bottom of my heart,

                     Jan



Catching Up!

It's been awhile since we chatted!

Let's see if I can remember how to do this.

 

First, thank you so much for all the kind comments, encouragement and support

regarding the closing of my business.

The main reason for my absence here has been the flurry of activity on my website.

Seems I spend the majority of my time filling, packing and shipping orders.

 

My husband and I also took a few days off to attend his 40th high school reunion and visit family and friends in Tennessee.  It was a delightful time!

 

Now, the temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing, and my life is heading in new directions. 

There are still some orders to fill and merchandise to sell, but the website will soon be closing permanently.

 



Many of my sewing friends are busy packing their bags for Atlanta.  The 2012 Convention of the Smocking Arts Guild of America begins on Tuesday.  How I wish I could be in attendance with them.

I am certainly there in spirit, and anxious to hear their reports afterwards.

 

 

A small part of me is also there in this chatelaine.

I made and contributed it to the Delphi Heirloom Sewing and Smocking raffle basket.

The chatelaine, combined with a silk embroidered hussif, reticule, scissor case and handmade scissor fob, will be won by a lucky attendee!

Some of you may have already seen the photographs shared on Facebook or at HS&S.

The chatelaine is made of blue silk satin ribbon, woven through mother of pearl rings.  A pair of small embroidery scissors is looped on one end.  A ribbon pouch, embellished with seed pearls, can hold a thimble.  The silk strawberry, filled with emery, is for polishing needles.

A small mother of pearl heart-shaped button holds the ribbons together at center back.

The chatelaine can be draped around one's neck. 

I use mine mostly to just keep track of those small scissors on my often cluttered sewing surface!

It also comes in handy while sitting and stitching on a comfy couch or chair.  It is more difficult for everything to disappear among cushions and pillows, when they are all linked together!

 

 

The photograph prompted many inquiries and requests for additional chatelaine instructions and information.  I thought I would share a few similar chatelaines and sewing accessories I have made over the years. 

The chatelaine above was made and donated to the Wee Care raffle basket during the 2004 SAGA Convention.

This particular chatelaine included hand embroidery on the ivory silk satin ribbons.  A small pincushion and more elaborate ribbon thimble pouch were also included.

Another SAGA member generously donated various decorative sewing tools.  They, and the strawberry and pincushion, were attached to the chatelaine after this photograph was taken.

 

This is a chatelaine I made for myself several years ago.

 

 

While perusing photographs, in search of chatelaines, I stumbled upon this silk ribbon embroidered mouse pincushion!  She was made and contributed to the Wee Care raffle basket for the 2005 SAGA Convention.

 

 

I also rediscovered this pincushion and emery strawberry.  They were made to coordinate with a pair of Gingher designer embroidery scissors, and given as a gift.

 

It is so much fun to make these sewing accessories, whether you keep them for yourself or share the joy with others.

 

None of these ideas, for the chatelaine, pincushions, strawberries or thimble pouches, are necessarily original.  I have taken ideas from a variety of sources, and fitted them for specific persons or events.

Due to the many requests, I will try to soon share basic instructions or resources for making some of your own.

 

In the meantime, happy stitching -- whether in the solitude of your own home or sewing room, or while gathered with fellow sewing sisters!

 

Another Chapter Ends

For six and one-half years, fabric, lace, thread, patterns and sewing notions have filled my days, as I assisted BessieMary customers.

A little over a year ago, I closed my brick and mortar store, but continued business through my BessieMary website.

Fabric, lace, patterns, buttons and notions were tied with a bow, tucked within boxes, and whisked to the Post Office.

I have now made the difficult decision to close the website.

My vision continues to present challenges.  I am no longer able to provide the level of service my customers deserve, and on which I always strived to base my business.

Additional surgery may be in my future.  I need to focus on my health and family.

In some ways, I am sad. 

In others, I am relieved.

In even more ways, I am anxious to see what lies around the next bend in the road.

I am not sure how long it will take to complete the closing sale

So, it may be awhile before I am back to regular blogging or doing much besides finishing up the last details of business.

If you wish to keep up with information regarding the sale,

you may check my website New Arrivals page, or the BessieMary Facebook page.

To all my customers, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Each of you has richly blessed my life and stitched a small piece of yourself into my memories and heart.  I can only hope that BessieMary and I brought you a small amount of pleasure, too.



Spring vs Sinus

Dallas Blooms 2011, Dallas Arboretum

The Good Lord knew to bless Spring with awesome blooms in beautiful colors, under sunny skies.

It makes the accompanying allergy and sinus problems a tad more tolerable!

Now, if I could only unravel the mystery behind moving boxes.

Why is it for every one that is unpacked, two or three more always appear?

I am slowly making process, though.

Thank you for the many kind and encouraging messages regarding the recent closing of my brick and mortar store.  They mean the world to me, and have made this transition a little easier.

During the past eighteen months, my time at the store was limited due to health issues, medical appointments, and surgeries.  However, even when a business owner is not physically present at their business, they are still very much consumed by it.

I am enjoying a more relaxed schedule, and know my health will ultimately benefit from it.

There are still orders to fill and customers to help.

I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to help others keep stitching and creating, through my website.

I am also still planning to spend more time in my own sewing room, once that last box is unpacked, if not sooner!

Available here

One thing I often regretted as a business owner, was not having time to support other businesses -- especially other small local businesses.

As I have made daily runs to the Post Office with orders, I have also made time to reacquaint myself with other stores in my neighborhood.

While not a small or locally owned business, I did enjoy browsing through the nearest location of World Market the other day.  A few of the double insulated tumblers followed me home.

I plan on spending many sunny summer days sipping something delightfully cool and fruity!

May your weekend be filled with Spring goodness, and not too much pollen or too many sneezes!.

Packed!

The bolts of fabric are packed, and shelves are empty.

Display cases, once full of gifts, are bare.

A wall of notions is no more.

I am sore, with bruises all over.

Now, I get to start unpacking it all!

If you don't hear from me again for awhile, I have crawled inside an empty box and am taking a little nap.

Happy Friday!

Happy Weekend!

Happy April!

Doors Closing, Windows Opening

When a door closes, a window opens.
~Dutch Proverb~

Five years ago, I opened the doors to BessieMary.

It was a little shop, named after my grandmother and mother, specializing in fabric and supplies for heirloom sewing and smocking.

It also stocked various gifts, especially sweet little baby things.

Now, the lease has expired.

I will begin moving the merchandise to an unused portion of our home, from which I will continue to run the  website of BessieMary.

Over a year ago, I decided not to renew the lease in this location.

My plan was to move the store to a different location; one closer to more of my customers.

However, recent health issues, the possibility of additional eye surgery later this year, a longer commute for me and ever increasing gasoline prices have caused me to reconsider.

I have experienced every emotion.

I have cried, I have breathed huge sighs of relief, I have laid awake at night thinking, and I have pulled the covers over my head and just wanted to hide.

For five years, I have spent more time within these four walls, than anywhere else.

Actually, if you count the months spent renovating, it is more like 5 years and 6 months!

My days often started much earlier than opening time, and extended well past closing time.

It will seem odd, not to hop in the car and head this direction.

But, I think my little people and I may soon appreciate the slower pace.

There might even be moments for me to sit down!

Or, maybe I will set up the cute little cherry covered cabana from my classroom and play, just like so many customers' children over the years!

I hope there will also be more time to spend sewing and creating.

There is a major misconception that shop owners can easily pull fabric from the shelves, lace from the drawers, and while away the day stitching.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Just want to clear that up!

I have truly loved playing in my shop, greeting customers, and making friends.

Hopefully, they also enjoyed spending time there.

I tried to make it an inviting place,

an inspiring place,

with a touch of sweetness,

a dash of whimsey,

and a sense of humor.

For just a moment, I hope time did stand still and my guests did a little daydreaming.

BessieMary may no longer be a brick and mortar store, and I may no longer stand behind this counter.

I do hope to continue encouraging, inspiring and helping others to make stitching dreams come true, through this blog and BessieMary's website.

Maybe someday, the doors will reopen, and we will once again meet across this counter.