Morocco | Agadir, Essaouria, Marrakesh
My imagination has conjured up all manner of Moroccan romance as I lay restless in my bed. I traversed the lively markets full of the vibrancy of sounds and smells. I lazed along the shore of Agadir losing myself in the inviting azure blue waters of the Atlantic. I wandered the desert, awestruck at the majesty of a night sky I had never fully witnessed in my 42 years. This would be a trip of my lifetime. I had never visited an African country. In all my day dreaming, I was sure it would be more incredible than I could picture.
That has been my mindset exercise lately. I’m embracing positivity and lightness in the midst of chaos. It can’t be helped. This world was formed in chaos - the violent colliding of force and dust. I’ve leaned into it as equally as I’ve embraced the unexplainable majesty of this world. Because after the dust settles, there is life. I surrender to the unknown and fixate less on what is not in my power to control. Being fully present in the moment is vital.
Sewing my wardrobe for this trip has certainly been helpful as part of this mindfulness practice. Sewing in general, really. I had extra incentive as I’d be taking my looks on the road. I thought it would be wonderful to wear clothing I had made myself. Plus, I can’t shop like a “regular” person anymore since I’ve taken up the craft. I’ll walk in a shop, touch fabrics, and inspect seams. I’ll look at the price, clutch my imaginary pearls, and then express (to no one), there's a pattern for that. Inevitably I do. With tons of independent pattern makers, I am not want for inspiration or access to the latest trends if I was one to follow trends.
I always have a hard time finding clothes that I like for trips. Depending on the time of year and what hemisphere I am visiting, buying off the rack may not be easy. For instance, I’m going to Morocco this month (February 2025) and I live in the southern US where we are experiencing winter. I’d be hard-pressed to find any Spring/Summer clothing at local department stores.
So, on to my pattern stash I go. I have a bit of everything for each season. If I am lucky, my local fabric stores would have a variety of textures, weights, and compositions that will accommodate the weather for my destination.
If I were still in Toronto, this would be easy peasy as there is an abundance of textile sellers downtown and across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA if you’re nasty). Unfortunately, where I live now there are limited small, boutique sellers. Which leaves me limited to the big box stores - JoAnn Fabrics (RIP) and Hobby Lobby.
I do have my go-to online fabric stores Blackbird Fabrics and Riverside Fabrics, but I didn’t have lots of time to await delivery. I wanted to get started as soon as possible. Between my time running a small business serving six clients and the actual amount of time I could devote to this project, I was worried about being spread thin. Realistically, no matter how I crunched the numbers and the laws of physics, I only had the weekends of January to complete every piece. I did not want to rush and feel overwhelmed. I have the tendency to want to do ALL the sewing things all at once, and then, if a time constraint is added to the equation, I turn batty.
Whatever gets finished gets finished. That’s what I said to myself. If I only sew half of what I intended, that’s okay. I WILL be okay.
I’m pleased with what I have created: two tops, one dress, and a pair of pants. I’ll have separate posts for each one where I can write at length about the fabric selection, construction process, and outcome. I learned new skills. Nearly perfected old ones (French seams). I gave myself space, grace, and ease.
I had a good time. In the end, that is all that matters to me.
I had a great conversation with a client about wanting an easeful life: What does that look like? How can we manifest it into reality? How are we getting in our own way of accomplishing this goal? We both have the similar trait of feeling like we always have to work - two, three, four jobs at once. We watched our matriarchs run a household and carry a family all while being providers as well. It’s in the blood for better or worse. We just want to do ONE thing. One thing that feeds our creativity, nourishes our souls, and is our nature to do. And also sustains us financially while allowing us to tend to those other parts of our lives that we need to invest in, that brings us joy.
Sewing is that ONE thing for me. How that will translate into a life of ease and abundance - I have no idea. I’m leaving that to the Universe and my ancestors to guide me in the right direction. I’m focusing on finding the joy in the expectation of things to come and not hindering myself with perfection or feeling lack.
I am grateful for the (tiny) space where I can let loose and sew until my heart’s content.
I am immensely grateful for these hands that were mentored by the sweetest, most talented, adept hands that I have ever known - my grandmother, Fern.
I am grateful for you taking the time to read my ramblings and musings; sharing in the joy of handicrafts, travel, and discovery.
I hope you find this space to one where you can share as well.