I hope the writer won't mind if I share its contents with you.
The email was from Laura who was on a mission of sorts. Sadly her mother had passed away and Laura had inherited her mother's half finished sewing and craft projects. Laura described her mother as being both a "proficient and prolific craft person" and I immediately thought about my own stash of half finished projects I too would probably leave behind when my turn came around.
Laura has decided to take on the task of finishing some of these projects so that she can give them to family members and was writing seeking some technical advice.
Laura's mission reminded me of two other kindred spirits who came to seek similar advice a few years back. One daughter had inherited a collection of cream heirloom quilt blocks, some of which were complete while others remained to be worked. Luckily she also had the pattern and just needed some assistance to learn the embroidery stitches required to complete the quilt. Over the next few months I fondly watched as her mother's stitches blended with her own. I am very pleased to report the quilt was eventually completed and now sits pride of place on her bed.
The other daughter came with a request of a slightly different nature. Her mother had passed away a few years ago and she had kept the outfit her mother had very happily worn on her daughter's wedding day. The daughter had been unable to part with it because it held such happy memories for her, although she felt that tucking the outfit away in a cupboard somewhere was a bit pointless. Instead her ambitious plan was to incorporate some of the fabric from the outfit into a quilt for her bedroom. Thankfully the two piece outfit was made of cotton and we were able to cut enough squares from the gathered skirt and blouse to feature in the quilt. Needless to say she was thrilled with the result and can now look at the quilt each day with fond memories.
These wonderful acts of love in motion all touched my heart and have given me hope.
Hope that I may also find the time to finish two half completed projects I have inherited from my own much missed Grandmother, and hope that there is also a chance for my collection of unfinished projects to be finished one day in my memory.
What a lovely idea.
Warmly Lenna
PS I have received many stories after writing this blog and have included one of them here with the permission of the writer.
Hi Lenna,
After reading on the blog about "unfinished projects" I thought I would share mine with you and your readers if you would care to post.
The quilt in the picture was pieced with scraps of colorful fabric and flour sacks by my grandmother in 1930. Called a grandmother's flower garden quilt, each "flower" is pieced together from individual hexagon pieces. When I was in my early 40's (about 15 years ago) my grandmother gave me the quilt top. I have always loved the idea of quilting, but lacked the knowledge to know what to do next. Fortunately for me, I made friends with an Amish family that offered to help get the batting and backing in place. They fixed the rotted pieces of the the quilt and after a 7 hour drive to Illinois, they showed me how to back the quilt and stretch it up for the actual quilting...we had a little quilting bee for a couple hours before I had to pack up and head for home - it was a wonderful experience while it lasted. So, now every year, I hoop quilt a section of it in the dead of winter - that seems to make the dreary days seem a little brighter...and I am about halfway finished as of this year! I can't imagine the time it took to cut the exact pieces and then hand sew them perfectly together. But then again, my grandmother was an amazing woman! She did the most beautiful handwork...tatting, crocheting, knitting, embroidery...I am so fortunate to have some of her work in my collection of linens, etc. Hopefully in a few years it will be finished and I can put it on display.
Best regards!
Sandy K.
Such heart warming stories.......I inherited my mothers knitting bag complete with all her knitting needles, it gives me a warm feeling everytime I knit for my grandchildren using the same knitting needles my mother used to knit for myself, brothers, sisters and her own grandchildren.....it's a connextion I treasure.
ReplyDeleteflorrie x
Lenna how lovely... Now that makes me even more inspired to actually finish off my pieces, so that I too may enjoy seeing my children actually receive them, and not have to finish them for themselves.
ReplyDeleteRainbow smiles.. Gloria
I absolutely love your crafts. They are so beautiful. Great job!!!!
ReplyDeleteWinter groet uit Holland.
ReplyDeletegr Margriet
Hi again Lenna,
ReplyDeletebecause of problems with someone who reads my blog I've had to change my url address.
http://two-pairs-of-socks-and-an-apron.blogspot.com
Hope you still visit,
florrie x
I love this post. I have my grandmothers wedding dress and although it is beautiful I don't want it to be wasted in my closet. I have gotten my mothers and mine and the plan is to make my own version of a crazy quilt. Some embroidery, some applique and some piecing - with fabric photo transfers too.
ReplyDeleteMaria
Maybe now, in this mojo-less time, you could work on these projects. They are already started, you don't have to think much about the why or how of it. Just do them.
ReplyDeleteI think we all go these dry spells. It's God's way of making us slow down and smell the roses. Your mojo will be back and we will be waiting to see what you create. My daughter is into owls now. i've been searching the net for idea's and there are so many cute ones out there.I know something will inspire you soon. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteDee
Courage pour retrouver le Mojo, quand je le perds et bien je reprends tous mes encours, ça motive sérieusement.
ReplyDeleteAmicalement de Paris en France