Pocket Altars- an Opportunity for Sacred Sewing

It's October.

It's Fall!

Must be The Season of the Witch!

Autumn is the perfect time for some "sacred sewing" and making a pocket altar.

I discovered pocket altars on the anniversary of my mom's passing.   I wanted to feel connected to her as well as family members.  Plus, I needed an activity that involved not only my thoughts and feelings but was hands on.  I needed a project!

Pocket altars go back to Medieval times and were designed to create a sacred space where ever you happened to be.  You can make a pocket altar out of a variety of small containers including  tiny mint tins.  The intention and the thought that you put into chosen items moves your altar beyond everyday. An altar can easily become a shrine by adding a hook for a hanger.

When making a pocket altar, the first step is thinking about who you are making it for and what intention you want to focus on.  My first two were around my mom, named Rose.  So my focus was on love and remembrance and floral fabrics in her favorite colors. 

I hosted my first pocket altar class last summer with  Schoodic Arts for All.  Not going to lie, it was my first class with SAA and also the first time teaching pocket altars.   It was a bit nerve wracking but the class was a blast.  Each student made something completely different.  One focused on hand sewing and slow stitching, they were in no hurry to finish and looked forward to slow stitching all summer.  Her altar was in honor of a female goddess.

Another was in honor of an old dog.

And we had an altar made for the inner child.

I loved offering this workshop at my sewing studio in Gouldsboro.  You want a lot of choice around fabric images, buttons and trinkets.  We all shared our themes and kept an eye out for various images and connections as we searched through fabric baskets and button boxes.  We were able to find fabric with squirrels on it for the dog's altar and pretty shiny fabrics for the inner child, who wasn't allowed to dress up.

I'm offering the class two different weekends this fall.  The first is on Saturday Oct from 10-4.  The second workshop Nov  is offered along with my friend Nicole.  She has a lovely Air B n' B nearby.  She will also being preparing meals.  You can stitch, relax, eat and chill.  We have a Sunday late morning trip planned to check the amazing restock textile store Ebb n Flow in Blue Hill.  If you'd like information about either workshop contact us.