"It's a Beautiful Life"- Genevieve Galvan Frenes

Day 13 -Masks — Who knew that face masks or medical masks would be the hot topic for the world as medical personnel such as nurses, doctors, or hospital staff face a shortage as they tackle the greatest enemy they’ve seen– the Corona Virus.

On television and social media, anyone who knows how to sew (whether beginner or expert seamstress) or corporations which can produce these masks in bulk, are pitching in to help. Even small businesses which are struggling are shifting their sewing talents to help in this effort. The masks are supposed to help medical personnel and protect them from the virus as they face long hours with ill patients struggling to survive.

On Facebook, there are different types of patterns shared. Some are very simple, and others quite complex. Since I can sew a little, I decide to do my part and help sew what I can. It has been quite some time since I’ve attempted a new task, but I’m willing to try.

The simple pattern of 6 x 9 material and 7 inches of elastic is not difficult to create into a mask. However, the time it takes in creating the pleats in front of the mask (I’ve never done this process before), requires more time and patience. Since I sew my own heating packs during the winter (these packs help with aches and pains of fibromyalgia during the cold months), I often save the remnants of material in case I can use the pieces for something else.

So today, I had remnants of Easter egg designs, coffee patterns, animal prints, and some solid prints ready to go for the task. I set up my machine in our side room and also put up the iron to help with smoothing the material and pleats (when ready). I sewed for at least three hours and completed some masks. I was satisfied.

Sewing is something I learned as a young teenager with my mom. At the time, the machine she used would often jam or the thread wouldn’t cooperate with the material. I would grow frustrated, yet my mom would work through the issue with patience.

As an adult, I’m learning that in practicing this hobby, I’m coming to learn patience. This new (yet old) talent has helped me mend clothes, hem dresses or jeans, create comforting heating packs, create baby clothes for my daughters, and now, create masks for strangers in my community. Over the years, the struggle to learn to sew has required so much patience, yet now at this stage in my life, I’m grateful I attempted the tasks. Now, I feel I can work through a new project even if I struggle, because in the end, I’m still learning something new, and what I create might be a gift to someone else.

I know sewing isn’t acknowledged as a big deal in our society, but when the request came for help with creating masks, you could see the seamstresses in our communities jump to the task and showcase their talents. There was no payment requested for these masks. There were just people helping others, because they could do so with a talent they possessed. Since many individuals don’t know how to sew, it is a privilege to help in this little way, especially in our current situation.

Sewing is just one form of talent. Others use their music, their humor, their poetry, their voice, their online positive movements, to uplift others in ways we never have seen before. Theses talents are gifts to bestow to others, and although many may perceive them as unimportant, you’d be surprised how others would receive such gifts with joy and amazement.

Stay blessed everyone…

Open up your heart to give to others in ways you thought impossible. You may find you learn something about yourself and become a solution to someone else’s need.

*Image by Juraj Varga from Pixabay