No one knew
what I was talking about.
The other ladies
in Julie Arkell's workshop
were all serious makers -
well known in their fields.
What's a busy box? They said.
I looked down at three small,
hastily gathered containers
and wondered why they didn't get this.
I've always had a busy box.
Or bag, or three.
Ever since I can remember.
Things to do, to keep your hands busy.
First busy box was in 1976.
I lugged an entire hooked rug kit
back and forth on the bus to work.
I lugged an entire hooked rug kit
back and forth on the bus to work.
A glorious tribute to brown and orange,
it waited for my lunch break.
it waited for my lunch break.
These days I am less ambitious
and the two little boxes fit neatly
into a bag for times away from the craft table.
They act as an umbilicus.
The busy box comes out
and the world becomes managable.
People stop by and comment.
it is at once ice breaker and igloo.
Travelling means editing.
Take only what you love,
and that includes stitching.
A silver thimble gifted
by a close friend's mother who,
despite having three daughters
had no one to pass on the legacy
of sewing notions.
Needles used by my mother -in-law,
now passed.
A pincushion made in haste.
Even second hand pins tell a story.
Spools of vintage thread gleaned
from a long gone sewing box.
Each day as we prepare to go forth
into the world, I pack the busy box.
Little sewing projects
that could be completed
in an hour or so.
Like this tiny bag
with even tinier scraps ready to become
the centre of a little patchworked flower brooch.
We made these with Julie Arkell.
The satisfaction of hand sewing
is addictive.
Who needs an I phone?
When we stop to refresh body and mind,
out pops the busy box.
Perhaps it's the luddite answer
to I phone twiddling.
I paper covered two stray boxes
with old french pages lying around
the workspace at les Soeurs Anglaises.
The delightful old jersey caramel tin
was a market find
and holds extra embroidery thread,
acting as a mini haberdashery.
Do you have a busy box?
What does it have inside?
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I don't have a busy box, only an iPhone. And the kindle. Definitely not icebreakers but very igloo.
ReplyDeleteI didn't...but I do now - hands stitching is a new discovery for me & I just know that a busy box will be a faithful companion forever...thankyou.
ReplyDeleteI remember having a busy box as a little kiddie. Such a brilliant idea and one that should definitely be re-instated.
ReplyDeletei'm gonna have one now! thanks to you.
ReplyDeleteSome of some client need busy boxes. We make treasure boxes together, things to look at, feel, play with when they need to touch and connect. But a busy box is grounding. Thanks for the idea. Hugs
ReplyDeleteMy busy box for 10 minute collages.... A small sketchbook, a glue stick, sharp scissors and magazine cuttings.
ReplyDeleteI have a busy bag or three. One for knitting, one for sketching and one for stitching. Which one I take along, depends on where we are going. On long trips I've been known to take a busy tool box with beads and jewellery tools, you just never know when one might get the urge to create.
ReplyDeletea delightful name, love it. I use a small old flour bag for an on-the-road knitting bag, does that qualify for a busy bag?
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss the post about Bruce? --he seems to be having a wonderful time --and getting a super amount of exercise too.
ReplyDeleteYour busy box sounds so sensible. I mostly have elf hats about me
but do succumb to Iphone twiddling
lately making Instaframe pics....
Swampy hot here.
I am now wondering what happened to my mother's silver thimble.....
she, who was the most hopeless of needlewomen!
I had a busy bag but it was too big to lug around so I'm working on a busy bag that will fit in my purse. Last week I made a wee needle book to fit inside it. I love the idea of putting special items inside like my mothers thimble.
ReplyDeleteThe little patchwork flower is so charming!
charming photos of your busy boxes, d - i, too, am not secure unless i have something to do with my hands and always travel with a little project, beading or stitching - at a minimum, my sketchbook! the tiny bag of tiny scraps - i love the flower you made - my fingers are itching for stitching now! -sus
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me of the still-ready box prepared for a long-ago workshop: pins, needles, threads, embroidery floss, beads, scraps and patches, wire, buttons, small bits of stuffing. I only need to replace the scissors but wait, they're in the other box, with the pens and pencils and erasers. Add sketchbook and I'm ready. I love seeing the close-up photos of your busy boxes. Another choice is a few Sakura Mircron Pigma pens and lots of blank, color envelopes to illustrate. Life can be simple. xo
ReplyDeletequand les belles fleurs poussent dans les boites...
ReplyDelete''A busy box'',, i love how this makes me feel at the thought of it....my life is missing a busy box,,,now to find that perfect box..x
ReplyDeleteicebreaker and igloo!
ReplyDeleteI think i am my own busy box. ha.
If you travel away because a hurricane is on the way and could blow your roof off and everything in it, you will be very Clear what to put in a box to carry off and protect.
I carry wool roving and cushion and needles- I carry pencils, pens, and field kit of watercolours, Paper is easy to find on the street or in the bin so I don't bother with that. I carry it all in a cloth bag, nothing quite as cool as your covered boxes! I look more like an insane bag lady than an artist.
ReplyDeleteI love the 'busy box' name... I, like Linda Sue above probably look like an insane bag lady.. my 'things to do' are carried in clip lock bags.. on planes mostly.. a larger one is carried in a patchwork bag for car/beach house/chatting times... love the igloo/ice breaker term.... yes... very...
ReplyDeletehugs
Hey Denise....busy box, love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm more a busy bag person. Trips away, always needs crochet, a book and variety of pens for drawing/doodling and maybe a little stitchery and supplies for such.
Have an O/S trip coming up very soon and will be trying to work out what I can take which will keep creative desires fed whilst away from sewing machine and fabric stash....
Did you take a busy box or three on your travels?
CLaire :}
Fantastic! I just love the idea that it's ok to keep our hands busy.. As in chatting and having cups of tea is all very well, but we can take our projects too, yes? In the 1940's women had busy bags which they crafted and also used as a kind of ad for their craftiness. When at home they rested over the arms of chairs - but we're perfectly acceptable to take visiting. Hooray! Must get busy ...
ReplyDeleteI get you! I always carry a busy box. A tiny handmade sewing needle book, pins (5), embroidery thread( pre-cut, so I can use without scissors on the plane), cross stitch fabric, scraps of fabric, a bamboo crochet hook and crochet cotton. Hurrah for busy boxes. Mine's plasitic, you have now inspired me to make a box. Ta!
ReplyDeleteAm astonished your companions on the course didn't get it.
oh - yes - the book which mentioned project bags was "thrift to fantasy" by Rosemary Mcleod, you may find it at the library - it looks at home textile crafts of the 1930-s to 50s.
ReplyDeleteOh how totally delightful! The way you have articulated the treasure box of stuff is gorgeous. My mother has an olde margerine pot from the early 70s still full of needles and thread, olde buttons and such. It's perfect. I have several of the things myself, and it's become apparent to me that I need a suitcase to actually be the little box it ought to be. What does one do?
ReplyDeleteThese are all such compelling vignettes. Great photography!!
ReplyDeleteI clearly NEED a busy box. And do does the toddler! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI do have busy boxes, just not as cute as your paper covered ones! Mine are more like bundles stashed here and there all over the place. Sometimes I forget about them and then have a happy discovery later. I recently found a great embroidery project in the side pocket of my car, right next to the collapsible doggy water bowl. Whoopee!
ReplyDeleteI love the image of you with your hook rug kit. I remember doing a lot of latch hook rugging back in the 70's. My mom made a giant eagle wall hanging in honor of the U.S. bicentennial. We thought it was grand!
i have a plastic bag that things get shoved into hastly.... i am loving your busy boxes and think these are the way forward!!!! thank you so much, very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos Grrrl - I felt quite rested by the time I got to the end of your post. I don't have busy boxes but if I did I would want them to be as pretty as yours!
ReplyDeletex
sue
Such beauty. I am so touched by your words and photos. I don't have a busy box but you can be sure I'll be making one...so much more inspiring than my Ziploc carry-all. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI've been making busy boxes all my life out of whatever was handy. Sometimes I find one where I've gathered up bits and pieces and it tells a snippet of a time in my life. I had never named these boxes until now. So happy I found your inspirational blog. What a treasure your posts are.
ReplyDelete"it is at once ice breaker and igloo."
ReplyDeleteI collect favorite phrases that remain my favorite for a day or 6.
This is my new one. :)
For my travel quilting I use an old wooden box with leather hinges printed with "Darn It Box" on the lid and the phrase "Got a hole? Sock un-knit? Use this box Gosh darn it."
ReplyDeleteI don't have a busy box but after reading your post I wonder why not???? Time to put one together I think, hope it looks half as lovely as yours. And thanks Denise for all your kind words and support over at our facebook page, we appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI have too many boxes with UFO's, but that's not what you're taking about. A busy box is an ongoing thing, for me it must be the embroidery kit I bring to sew artist trading card while at some café. But I like the box idea, will think about one for me too
ReplyDeleteYes - I too carry one and it works the same way for me too: creates pauses, makes sense of the world, helps me tune back in again - a 'busy bag' with some stitch or maybe knit or crochet ( a lovely friend made me 3 bags of 3 different sizes so I use these!).
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful! It makes me feel new and glorious and grounded. So much better than worry beads or an iPhone. Little stitches and small treasures!
ReplyDelete