I have always loved the word “flourish”: As a verb, it means to grow and thrive; as a noun, it’s a bold gesture calling attention to something wonderful. It can also be a synonym for a well-executed, intricate embellishment. In all cases, it signifies growth, imagination, and the joy of succeeding in a creative endeavor.

In this summer issue, we’ve brought together diverse examples of flourishes and flourishing. Contributing Editor Susan Khalje shares  her journey to construct a stunning wedding ensemble based on a 1993 Galliano original. Kenneth D. King, also a contributing editor, re-creates a fancy trim found on a 1930s wedding gown. Ellen W. Miller, a couture embellishment expert, applies a centuries-old corded quilting technique to a summer tunic, for a delicate, dimensional ornament.

Blossoms grow in Barbie McCormick’s tutorial for creating fabric flowers. More literally, you’ll find flowers in Managing Editor Jeannine Clegg’s primer on how to cultivate and use dye-friendly plants. Jeannine gives you the perfect excuse for spending time outdoors while also expanding your textile repertoire. If you’re in mid-winter as you read these pages, take a look at p. 62, where a warm winter coat by Juliette Howland anticipates summer with an impressionistic garden worked in wool.

We know that creative growth comes from curiosity, effort, and community. Few of us thrive on our own, and Doctors Lalon Alexander and Theresa Alexander outline ways to incorporate teamwork into your design and sewing practice. We encourage you to define growth in a way that’s meaningful to you, and to seek inspiration, and relationships, that fertilize your creativity .

— Carol J. Fresia, Editor

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