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Shirley Stewart of Troy has worked for much of her adult life. She worked at Edge Regional Medical for 16 years, Med Corp for 10 years and at CGI for 12 years. She retired in 2022.

Shirley is no longer working and receiving a paycheck. She is working for the love of creating with cloth.

Those who ask Shirley what she does with all her free time are invited to come see. And, those who accept the invitation will be amazed, and justifiably so.

Perhaps, Shirley began planning for her retirement years when she was nine years old.

“I was bored during the summer and Mother gave me Doily Thread and a needle and I learned to make doilies, bed spreads, baby blankets and lap throws,” Stewart said. “At a young age, I realized that I had a strong desire to work with needles and thread. For many young people, needle work would be boring. For me, it was relaxing and challenging. I could sit all day with a needle and thread in my hands.”

At an early age, Shirley was making doilies, baby blankets and lap throws, even a bed spread.

“I learned to sew in Home Economics in school and from there, I made my children’s clothes,” she said. “I then became interested in counted cross stitch and made several pieces that I framed and also made a counted cross stitch quilt.”

From that point, Shirley’s interest was in Net Weaving Lace she and made several table runners, place mats, pictures that she framed and a quilt.  She also became fascinated with Monks Cloth Weaving.

Needle work of any kind is tedious and time consuming and, perhaps, for many, nerve wracking.

But, not for Shirley Stewart. She accepted the challenge of Diamond Painting and that is a challenge that many would not and could not accept.

But, Diamond Painting was Shirley Stewart’s project during COVID. She has made 30 plus diamond paintings for her home. Diamond Painting isn’t what seems to be.

The diamonds are tiny pieces of colored glass, so tiny that it takes hundreds to cover a penny.

“A diamond painting takes thousands of the diamonds,” Shirley said. “And, yes, it is very tedious work but such enjoyable work.  I have made more than 30 paintings for my home and for friends and family.”

And if that’s not enough art projects, she is learning to acrylic paint at the Colley Senior Complex and “Mary Page is a wonderful teacher, “ Shirley said. “Also, I’m involved with group of ladies that are making bags and blankets to be given to patients with undergoing dialysis or chemo.”

In her “spare” time, Shirley enjoys her yard flowers. She is planning to take classes in ceramics, Cricut, stained glass and yoga.

And  perhaps a mountain climbing expedition?