stitch therapy

After years of hand sewn personal projects, wonder | wander | women now advocate openly to stitch away our troubles and sorrows, thoughts and dreams, fun and schemes! 

Whether a newbie or a seasoned crafter - there's much to dive into and bring out those creative vibes through a world of colorful threads and mindful therapy. 

Want to join a sewing bee? Stitch and bitch circle of connectedness? Form a tribe of Tiny Pricks followers? 

DMC crafts white on white embroidery kit

There are countless ways to apply ourselves in whatever interest drive or skill level we have at hand. Driven and inspired to use and reuse, recycle and upcycle, reveal and rejoice. 

We brand and mark our clothes - store bought or hand sewn - with embroidered touches and creative stitchwork. Each needle mark adds another line to unfolding tales - planned or spontaneous. 

A sister sent us a short reel of colorful embroidery on a white shirt. Inspired by the idea, we got together to pick more personal images of her own. 

UniQlo two pocket linen shirt

First, we chose a plain white linen blouse from UniQlo - the one with two front pockets with flaps. Cool and light - it was the ideal blank canvas to turn into our very own. 

Then we chose a Pinoy themed collection of images. Did we want street food and local vendors? Iconic tribal prints? Local flora or fauna? 

#stitchbitch creation

Next we picked which specific images we wanted to include. Especially what would go on the collar and pockets first. Then on the sleeves and across the back as well. 

We settled on symbols of our Philippine flag for the collar. Red and blue lines running their length and a bright yellow sun at the center and two matching stars at either end. Buttons had matching yellow chain stitched embellishments to add a playful touch.  

collar & buttons, up close

We added tukos, because they are the bane of our sister's life - they scare her, but it seems everywhere she goes, they find her. We tease that they are her spirit animal, as well they may be. 

The tokay gecko, a large lizard found throughout Southeast Asia is called a tuko in the Philippines.

We posed a cute fuchsia design crawling up one sleeve arm. And had another deep green one clinging in the opposite direction on the other sleeve. 

our fuchsia tuko

Each pocket had a male and female outlined in traditional native attire. On the flap of the girl's pocket, she had a salakot - which could be lifted to reveal the bare head under. We gave her tiny crochet earrings that swing playfully. 

The guy is clad in our local barong and has a different salakot over him. Did you know they come in different shapes? They are believed to have inspired the colonial pith helmet. Each of our hats is capped by shiny jet beads just to add a fun pop. 

embroidered pockets

Across the back she chose a banca and a jeepney. We are a nation of tropical islands strewn across the seas. Famous for our colorfully decorated jeepneys - a holdover from GI jeeps of World War II. 

This time we added a sea of waves for the bobbing banca and flapping sail - on one side of the back panel. The jeepney was positioned under a field of clouds overhead - on the other shoulder panel. 

back & sleeves embroidery

We hope you enjoyed us sharing this particular creative project with you. We hope it inspires or intrigues you enough to come up with your own personal design. 

If so, please post them too so we can all enjoy it together. It would be a joy to spread these good vibes wherever we can!