I’ve been asked, if I wasn’t writing Christian novels, what would I do? I had a list of possibilities: become a certified genealogist, a child advocate, a St. Louis tour guide, and, at one time, a business owner.
A strip mall near my house had a
thriving Kmart as an anchor store. When it closed in 2018, it was the last
Kmart store in St. Louis County.
Since then, the building has been
dormant, decaying, and begging for a new lease on life. I often imagined buying
the building and calling it Simmons Sewing Store. With the mega space, I would
sell fabric and notions, have a quilters' and knitters' corner, offer sewing
lessons with a monthly fashion show where sewers could show their skills on the
runway, and of course, have vendors who sell their crafts on consignment. I
would hire residents from the community.
I dare any seamstress to walk out
of her place empty-handed. Not possible. It’s an organized fabric hub and a community
sewing room.
I realized what I imagined is
exactly what Kacie did, and I’m happy for her. On a recent visit, I found her
chatting with a customer. Then, she invited me to a monthly community sewing
adventure, where I could bring my fabrics and supplies to cut and sew for eight
dedicated hours to complete a project—no interruptions. I never thought of
that!
I love Kacie’s concept and vision.
Can’t wait to join the sewing community. Visit her at sewhopestl.com
Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in
Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked
in radio, television, and print media for over twenty years. She
is on the Christian Book Lovers Retreat (CBLR) board as a publicist. Visit her at
www.patsimmons.net.
means. He is determined to intercede for his young mentee, Carlton Oliver, and children worldwide.
Every time I drive by a large store I imagine what I would do with it if I could purchase it. My answer changes with whatever is happening in my life.
ReplyDelete