Ella Denning
Hi, I’m Ella! My grandmother first taught me to embroider when I was 12. What originated as an attempt to entertain me as a child became one of my most cherished memories and is now a hobby that we will always share. Throughout my teenage years, my interest in “fancywork,” as she called it, ebbed and flowed, but in adulthood, I have come to respect and appreciate it in ways I never have before. As I began to pursue it more steadily, I found it quite difficult to find projects that felt timeless enough to add beauty to my everyday life— especially now that I am attempting to create my own home and fill it with items that ignite joy. With that in mind, I began to make some patterns for myself. Doing so has helped me to put my own touch on pieces in my home and has helped me to cultivate a cozy space that feels truly mine. Embroidery has also made me feel closer to women throughout time as I think of the generations of women who spent their time adding beauty to their otherwise ordinary spaces as well. To me, that is the real power of femininity: to take something seemingly insignificant, to add to it, and to make it beautiful. My prayer for you is that embroidery can bring you the same comfort, personal touch, and perhaps a connection to the past as it has for me.
Our Story
I carefully chose the name Fraser and Fern for a few key reasons. The feminine trade of adding beauty to everyday life is something that is evergreen. More than a pastime, embroidery is a form of communion with women throughout time. Further, the image of the Fraser resembles strength: it stands firm no matter the season and often symbolizes tradition and hope- particularly in its role as a Christmas Tree. Similarly, embroidery brings me feelings of comfort and coziness as it has helped me to nurture a home with levity knowing that through this act, I can slow down the world around me and take part in a simpler way of life. Both Fraser and Fern are “nature words,” and throughout the twenty first century, “nature words” have been fading from the vernacular of children. Some dictionaries have even replaced them with words relating to technology as they are believed to be more likely encountered by children. This is furthering our society’s disconnect with that natural world— creating a division between ourselves and the world in which we live. Fern was one of those words. I chose to include Fern in the name because it reflects how embroidery and this particular way of life are also at risk of becoming lost as they are no longer practical. Yet there will always be a time and place for stewardship of the natural world and creating beauty among the mundane.