After reading Kathy's post from Friday about
remains of loved ones, I started to think about a bag of embroidery that I brought home after Mom's funeral in July. We didn't have to go through and clear out her house as her husband continues to live there. We do however, fear that he will one day get tired of living among all of her things and gather them for the trash. He said as much while we were there and so we tried, subtly, to take a few mementos that we could not bear to see thrown to the curb. Family pictures were gathered as well as this bag of her embroidery supplies. I tried to get Mom interested in doing some handwork after her first surgery. She wasn't up to much activity, but I thought some calm stitching might help her pass the days. She did do a few pieces and even planned a quilt, but eventually gave up on it. So I thought finishing her projects might be a nice remembrance of her.
A more pressing matter though is this quilt that went on the frame right before I went up to be with Mom this summer. I was on quite a roll in June and was on track to finish off a good number of quilts. July was a lost month and by the time I got back, I needed to start getting ready for back to school. So here sits the same quilt, patiently waiting for a bit of time. We are having a house full of guests for Thanksgiving and, getting quilt finished up will be the first step in transforming the sewing studio into the guest bedroom. What are your plans for some slowdown time on Sunday? Kathy has a
link-up for handwork, so make sure you spare some time to see what everyone else is up to.
9 comments:
I think you are right finishing her projects is good therapy. What a great legacy to pass down to your children, as both of your hand stitching will be included.
I think the embroidery work is beautiful and a real tribute to your mum if you finish it!
How wonderful that you can work on some pieces that your Mom started! A perfect way to connect with her.
Maybe you'll be hand stitching that binding soon??!
Thanks for linking up!
So nice to have something your Mom started that you can finish while thinking of her. Enjoy your stitching and once that quilt is done you'll have some binding to work on while company is there visiting.
Lots to do for the holidays. Good luck on the sewing room clean up and finding some time to sort through your mother's things.
How wonderful you have something of your mom's to finish. I've picked up lots of half finished projects or projects not entirely finished at the thrift stores around here and kind of felt sad knowing that someone probably died and a family member didn't care enough or know enough to finish the projects. I also have a whole basket of hand embroidered linens I've picked up mostly from thrift stores. It seems a shame they aren't appreciated or handed down to anyone and I imagine what the stitcher must have been like. Someday I will incorporate them all into some type of quilt.
I made two Kwilts after my Mom passed at 92 and it really is good therapy. First I used her aprons and made an appliqué kwilt and second I use her house dresses and now I can wrap her around me for hugs any time I need one.
A wonderful plan to finish her projects : )
I am so glad that you were able to rescue a few mementos. Hopefully, her husband will call you before he purges everything.
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