It seems funny now as I look back on it that in the beginning I was hesitant to try needle art (needlepoint, cross stitch, sewing, and so on).  I was partly afraid of what people would think of a grown married man doing what most people think of as a woman's craft.  What I didn't realize was that before the industrial revolution, eventhough sewing in general in the home was a woman's job, as a profession nearly all sewing jobs were performed by men.  It wasn't until after the industrial revolution that sweatshops began to pop up and women were hired to fill a lot of the sewing jobs, often at extremely low wages.  I didn't know this at the time, but I gave needle art and sewing a try and I was hooked.  suddenly my joy for the art greatly outweighed my fear of persecution.  At that point I really nevery looked back.  

So please don't let preconceived ideas like that stop you from trying something your interested in.  Really what it all boils down to is the joy and pleasure, of the art or craft your doing, gives to you.  If I let myself worry about what other people are thinking I may as well sit in my recliner all day and do nothing.  Some people will always find something wrong with what your doing.  I love to do needle art among other things that may appear to others as a gender sided art or craft.  I refuse to let that stop me from receiving the joy and pleasure that the art or craft brings me.  

Steven B. Dodd

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