A few summers ago, I set out to stitch my way to a Master Craftsman in Crewel certification from the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. This week, the director of the program sent me an email, short and sweet: “Congratulations, Erin. You are a new Master Craftsman!”

What a thrill to realize this goal. It has taken me nearly five years to stitch (and in more than a few cases, restitch) six distinct projects. I have spent hundreds of hours researching the history of crewel work, exploring the mechanics of color usage, and developing my design skills. I have learned, practiced, and mastered a wide collection of embroidery stitches. And I have learned a few things about myself along the way.

For one, the journey, not the accomplishment, has been the game changer. In his book The Way of Excellence, best-selling author and life coach Brad Stulberg sums up my feelings well: “There is no greater illusion than thinking the accomplishment of some goal will change your life. What will change your life is who you become in the process of going for it.” So, before I share my portfolio, let me share a few ways the journey to Master Craftsman has changed my life.

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