How did your stitching journey begin?

Maybe you already guessed it, but I am an avid cross stitcher.

My stitching journey began when I was in high school. It was the school holidays and  I was spending a few days with my Grandmother at Sussex Inlet on the NSW south coast. I remember it was raining and had been for a few days. I must have been getting bored and Gran needed something at the local craft store, so she suggested I come along. 

I still remember that store. It was small and jam packed. Gran had one of those knitting machines and wanted some wool, so while she was deciding what to get she told me to look around and find something  I might be interested in doing. I eventually settled on a cross stitch of hot air balloons. 

Of course Gran and the sales lady tried to talk me out of it as I had never cross stitched before, and as I came to find out, it wasn't a beginners kit...lol...But I do remember being excited by it so they let me have it. I can feel all the same feels now. It still brings me so much happiness to think back to those days. I remember sitting on the lounge room floor in front of the heater and working on my cross stitch. One thing I vividly remember is all the half stitches in the sky!

I'm not sure I finished it and more than 45 years later, I have no idea of what came of it. But I do remember proudly showing it to my parents when they came to pick me up. I will be forever grateful to my Gran for taking me to that craft shop.

Thank you Gran.