Debra VanDeventer, Author at Seams Like a Story

November 4, 2024November 3, 2024

Hearts in Bloom

the world needs them

a heart shaped stone with blooming flowers

I used to think that in order to be a memoirist one had to have led an extraordinary life, and indeed there are many amazing authors out there who fit this description: Cheryl Strayed (Wild ) and Tara Westover (Educated) come to mind. But I’m an ordinary woman. Do I have a story to tell?

This week I was thinking about my latest work in progress and wondering if it was a story worth telling. When stuck, I often find inspiration from other writers. This quote from Rupta Sepetys in You: the Story grabbed my attention:

“Country life, cosmopolitan life, quiet life- all can be equally fascinating based on the writer’s perspective and the details chosen. Remember: it’s not what you’re writing about, it’s how you’re writing about it.”

Quiet life. Small moments that bloom into words. Taking readers along with me on a journey and discovering “ah ha” moments together. This. This is my voice. The voice I’m seeking each time I sit to write. It doesn’t always come easily, in fact, it rarely does, but with time, critiques, editing and revisions, I hope… I know, I will have a story worth telling.

And finally this, from Clarissa Pinola Estes:

I hope you go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you and that you will work with these stories…water them with your blood and tears and laughter till they bloom, till you yourself bust into bloom. The world needs them. The world needs more hearts in bloom.

So here’s to ordinary women, who through the magic of words remind us that all women are extraordinary! If you have a story to tell, tell it! The world needs more hearts in bloom.

Threads of Thought

What makes your heart bloom? Is there a story there?

2 Books, Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life...and Until Italy: A traveler's memoir

Click here to find my stories!

October 21, 2024October 20, 2024

This is Why I Travel

Last stop: Barcelona

Entrance tower at Park Guell in Barcelona

The third and final stop on our late September tour of Portugal and Spain takes us to beautiful Barcelona! Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and famous for it’s rich history , fantastic cuisine, and Art Nouveau architecture Barcelona is a “must see” city for world travelers. Here are some of the highlights of our trip.

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona — Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia

Gaudi's Casa Batllo in Barcelona — Gaudi’s Casa Batllo

Amazing Architecture

On our 3 hour walking tour of modernist architecture, we learned the history of Barcelona’s architecture. As the city prospered in the late 1800s to early 1900s, Barcelona grew from its medieval roots (still evident in the Gothic quarter) where streets are narrow and dark. The city planners wanted something different and planned the new city in a grid of wide streets. Buildings could not be taller than the street was wide and all buildings had to have inner courtyards, green spaces to let in light and air. This was Intended for the common people, but the wealthy moved there leaving the cramped inner city to the poor. They hired only the best architects to design elaborate homes to showcase their wealth. Along came Antoni Gaudi, a lesser known architect who abandoned the trends of the day and did his own thing…some liked what he did, some hated it…but he stayed with his vision and refused to compromise. He left an amazing legacy in Barcelona. His crowing jewel is the Sagrada Familia (Sacred Family) Cathedral, still under construction today.

Barcelona Between the Mountains and the Sea

The beach at Barcelona — Here’s to the Mediterranean!

Besides several days exploring the city, we enjoyed a day trip to Montserrat, a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine mountain retreat about an hour north of Barcelona. And, a highlight for me, a trip to the beach where I walked in the Mediterranean (without losing my phone, for those of you who’ve read my book Until Italy, you understand…) and enjoyed a lovely seaside lunch.

And so, our three week trip to Lisbon, Seville, and Barcelona comes to an end. Thanks for coming along. I hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures and stories I’ve shared. I’d like to leave you with a final word and the most important and memorable picture of all of my travel photos:

And this is why I travel…

An empty table in Barcelona soon fills with people from Australia, England, Hawaii, and Arizona. Over tapas and wine we get to know one another. We discuss homes and jobs, and children and grandchildren. We laugh together and also share our dismay about the state of the Earth: frequent volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, sweltering summers in England, wildfires out of control in Australia and Arizona, hurricanes in Florida. For a few hours our diverse nationalities dissolve. We are friends, citizens of planet Earth, and we leave the table richer for the experience. This, this is why I travel.

Happy travels, my friends!

Threads of Thought

Tell a memorable moment from a favorite trip. Where were you? Who was with you? What made this moment remarkable?

For more travel stories check out Until Italy: a Traveler’s Memoir

Available here in paperback, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited

October 14, 2024October 13, 2024

Scenes from Seville

The second stop on our late September tour takes us out of Portugal and into the quintessential Spanish city of Seville. Here we found:

Churros and Chocolate for Breakfast

(Ok, yes, this looks like a lot of Churros. I did share with my husband Ed. Some.) One of the first things we noticed about Seville is the relaxed attitude about dining. Churros and chocolate for breakfast? Why not?! Just don’t look for them early in the morning. One local told us that breakfast is usually a cappuccino or espresso and a pastry around 10 or so. Lunch maybe 1:00-3:00. Then everything shuts down for the afternoon. Even some schoolchildren come home for a two hour break. Dinner? Don’t even think about it until 8 or 9 when the streets come alive with sidewalk cafes serving tapas and drinks. Traveling musicians add to the ambience.

Mercado de Triana

Beautiful produce awaits at the Mercado de Triana just across the river. We signed up for a cooking class located in the Mercado and learned how to make gazpacho, paella Valenciano, and lemon sorbet with cava. Recipes to try at home make for the perfect souvenirs.

History, Culture, Busy Tourist Sites, and Quiet, Ancient Streets

The tourists among you will want to visit the Alcazar(one of the best examples of Moorish and Christian architecture in the world), the Seville Cathedral (the world’s largest Gothic cathedral and Christopher Columbus’ resting place), and the Plaza de Espana. Be sure to buy tickets ahead of time for these major tourist attractions and , depending on the time of year, expect large crowds. But be sure to save time to wander Seville’s quiet, ancient streets.

Perfect Ending

A tapas and sangria cruise along the river. A perfect ending to our stay in beautiful Seville.

Adios Seville!

Threads of Thought

Have you been to Seville? Add your experiences to the comments!

For more travel stories pick up a copy of my book Until Italy: a Traveler’s Memoir available on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited. Click Here!

Book Cover for Until Italy: A Traveler's Memoir. A bright turquois cover with a wild yellow suitcase erupting with travel accessories

October 7, 2024October 2, 2024

Three Reasons to Love Lisbon

A plaza in Lisbon with stunning black and white tile work

On my blog, Facebook, and Instagram profiles, I describe myself as a former educator, sewist, traveler, author, and blogger. In this post, I can check two of those boxes by filling the role of travel blogger. I recently had the opportunity to travel to three amazing cities in Portugal and Spain. My first stop: Lisbon.

Here are Three reasons to love Lisbon:

Beautiful Tilework

The first thing you will notice about Lisbon is the amazing tilework. Originally introduced by the Moors in the 13th century, they were used to decorate the sides of buildings and pathways. You have to admire a culture that took the time to decorated even the paths you walk along. There is a Tile Museum in the city that traces the history of these iconic designs in tile throughout Lisbon’s history.

Pasteis de Nata

Ok…this alone would warrant a trip to Lisbon. Pasteis de Nata ( Pastel de Nata is singular, but you will never use this term because you won’t want to buy just one, trust me), Portugal’s famous custard pastries can be found all over the city. We found these in the Time Out Market, but the most famous place to eat pasteis de nata is in the district of Santa Maria de Belem at the Fabrica de Pasteis. We had one (um, maybe two) each morning with tea or coffee for breakfast. Best served warm with a dusting of cinnamon.

Seafood and Beverages

If you are a seafood lover, Lisbon is the place! We also sampled local drinks including ginja ( Portuguese liquor made by infusing a cherry-like berry with alcohol and sugar. The edible berry is included, watch out for the pit), green (young) wine sangria, and port.

In conclusion I’m going to borrow something I wrote on a recent FB post:

Lisbon: an ancient city of astonishing tiles, blue sky, white-washed buildings with terra cotta roofs, grilled sardines, seafood stew, cod cakes, flakey, creamy Pasteis da Nata, many cultures blend with tourists, countless Ubers and tuk-tuks, green wine sangria, impossibly narrow roads wind up steep hills, bring sturdy walking shoes and watch your step, but the view from the top is worth it.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I take you to two of Spain’s beautiful cities!

Threads of Thought

Have you been to Lisbon? If so, add your experiences to the comments!

For more travel stories check out my book : Until Italy: A Traveler’s Memoir

Now available on Amazon in paperback, eBook, and Kindle Unlimited. Click here!

September 23, 2024September 6, 2024

The Writing Studio

A Look Behind the Scenes

After retiring from teaching 6 years ago, I decided I wanted a space to write and sew. Not a room, but a studio…as in “a place where an artist works.” You can see my original post with a detailed description of my space here. Why was creating a space important to me?

In a recent read from Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones, I came across this thought:

“Creating a Writing space is an indication of your increased commitment.”

I’ll admit, that there are days I don’t feel like an artist. Words don’t come or sewing projects require more seam ripping than seam sewing. But having a dedicated space motivates me to continue. Goldberg goes on to say:

“A little apparent disorder is an indication of the fertility of the mind and someone who is actively creating.”

Whew! Oh good, because I usually work in “a little apparent disorder.” According to Goldberg, my clutter is fertilizer for my creative process…apparently. Let’s take a closer look at my “compost.”

a reading corner in my writing studio studio

My favorite reading spot, journal open, shoes kicked off.

The end table…fertile ground? Hmmm…photo of grandchildren, cup of day old tea, cell phone stand , assorted pens and highlighters, dental floss (pitched from my purse after a recent trip to the dentist), random bead, seam ripper and thread, Kleenex, fabric book mark I made years ago (but it’s too thick and I don’t like it as a bookmark… I don’t really know why it’s still on the table….)

My desk. Ergonomically lifted laptop open to current WIP, today’s cup of tea, assorted office supplies, post it notes, a note card containing haiku submissions, my hiking journal, Rick Rubin’s book, The Creative Act, sharpened #2 pencil (teacher habit).

All this is well and good, but it the end Goldberg says:

“Finally, there is no perfection. If you want to write you have to cut through and write. There is no perfect atmosphere, room, notebook, pen or desk. Train yourself to be flexible.”

So there you have it. If you want to write, cut through and write from your studio, kitchen table, on a notepad while waiting for an appointment… Simple enough. Let’s go! Just imagine what we can create!

two books against the backdrop of a sewing machine

You can find the recent works from my studio here!

Threads of thought: Tell me something about your “studio.” Do you have a special place that you like to read? Write? Create?