Project Shoot : Maria Morrison Sewing the Seed

Spotlight on Community : Maria Morrison – Sewing the Seed

It began with a mother’s love and a mother’s skill.

Dresses made and time stood still.

Outgrow me child, it’s my only hope.

I would sew as a means to cope.

Do you see me? I’m here.

I stand and look at you in the mirror.

Time pressed on and now they stand before me as I stand before Him.

He sees me and blesses my hands.

Everything done in love will prosper.

I honor my mother but follow my Father.

I sew because of His stitching, tying, mending and tearing out.

I sow while I sew and my only hope is that they out grow me.

www.theascendedphotography.com

This year, I’ve decided to use my photography to shine a light on the incredible individuals making a difference in our community. Too often, the hard work of these selfless individuals goes unnoticed, and I want to change that. Through my lens, I hope to highlight their dedication, passion, and the positive impact they bring to the lives of others.

For my first feature, I’m honored to introduce Maria Morrison. Maria has been using her talent in sewing as a way to teach and uplift others. She offers sewing lessons to children and women who want to learn the skill, not for profit, but in exchange for donations to her mission ministry. Through her work, she not only stitches fabric but also weaves a thread of kindness, generosity, and faith into the community.

Her dedication to empowering others through sewing is inspiring, and I’m excited to share her story with you. Stay tuned for a deeper look into her journey, her impact, and the beauty of giving back.

Story behind her ministry

It began with a little girl messing with the tension on her mother’s sewing machine. I grew up watching my mother sew beautiful Barbie dresses (dresses I couldn’t touch) and she would also make my sister and me beautiful dresses with ruffles and ribbons on them. I always felt so beautiful in a dress no one else had. Haute Couture is what that is called in the fashion world, and though maybe my mother wasn’t widely known around the world as a designer, too me she was the coolest. It was the summer of my sixth grade year I was around 11 years old, my mother decided she was tired of her machine settings always being messed with and she decided to teach me to sew.

My first lesson was done on paper. She drew lines, circles, zigzags etc. I was to be able to follow these before she would allow me to use fabric. This allowed me to understand how to control my foot pedal and speed as well as many other valuable skills in learning to sew. My first project with fabric was a pillowcase, in which my zealous nature sewed completely shut. My mother then handed me the most valuable tool to this day in my sewing walk: a seam ripper. Funny it still today is a great lesson.

Sometimes in life we don’t follow

our father’s instructions and things have to be ripped out and fixed.

“There is a time to rend and a time to sew” Ecclesiastes 3:7

Fast forward a few years and I found myself making dance dresses, for myself and others. I also saved the day many a times in the bathroom at the dances themselves, mending dresses of other girls who had some mishaps. I spent all my extra free time in the Home Ec room sewing and honing in on my skill sets. I went to school for fashion merchandising following high school. I obtained my degree in this and then life happened. I went back to school several years later and switched my degree field to home economics and then to Human development and family studies. I obtained my bachelors in this from ISU.

I met my husband and married in 2012 and after this my sewing journey became a world of dresses. My sweet Avonlea was born in 2014 and I have created hundreds of dresses for her. I loved it. Still love it. It was about this time when the Lord was trying to get my attention about the mission of Sewing the Seed. In 2017 the pastor of that time of the church I was attending was preaching on using your gifts.

Peter 4:10 “Use your gifts of various kinds to serve others”

At this time the idea for these classes had already entered my mind. I had even written it down and hung

it on my wall as maybe later I would do it. I did not have the time, or resources to do it then. My daughter was 2. Yet then one afternoon the pastor came by to ask us if we would like to join the church and then talk again about if there was anything we wanted to share with the congregation. I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to tell him my idea. Once I shared this with him, he expressed so much optimism and gave me a room at the church. I didn’t have anything to do these classes with, but GOD.

Once I shared with the community my goal the flood gates of heaven opened up and poured out a

blessing so big I could barely receive it all.

Malachi 3:10

“My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”

Philippians 4:19

2020 shut me down for a while. I had even given all my supplies to another mission. I had been asked many times from others if I was going to begin again. I didn’t feel it was possible. One I had nothing and two I didn’t attend that church any longer. But GOD.

In 2023 the Lord laid it on my heart once again and when I walked in obedience every door was open and every need provided. When I went to pray over my room the Lord spoke and told me this time it would be made new.

Every need that arises in this ministry is always provided. The Lords hand is in it. If He asked me to do something I am very obedient to it. Recently this last fall the Lord asked me to make room for Him. So now I give Him the last half of my class. In this time after we have sewn, I give room for Him to Sow. I can’t see what He is doing in each person’s heart but I know He is moving.

Sewing the Seed has shifted and grown and continues to do so. I love the fellowship and watching

people’s eyes light up when they finally figure something out. Yet I think my favorite part is the sowing.

Come join me in a class....we are not just sewing here...we are sowing the seed.

If you feel led to support Maria’s ministry, whether through a donation or by joining her in her mission, you can reach out to her via email at mariamorrison@myyahoo.com or connect with her on Facebook. Donations can also be sent to Word of Life Church at:

7144 Russell Drive, Bicknell, IN 47512 Please include “Sewing the Seed” in the memo.

Thank you for helping support a beautiful cause that is truly making a difference! Stay tuned for more inspiring community stories.