My first meme…

My mom was/is not a crafter in any sense of the word.  She worked full time and kept an immaculate house (still does), so I guess she didn’t have time or the inclination for crafting.

When I was in high school, my Home Economics teacher was like Martha Stewart to me – although that was a name I’d never heard – almost 40 years ago.  She was new to teaching, but had the most brilliant ideas!  Some class projects I recall are reupholstering a grand sofa with a fully tufted back, in red velvet.  We drew basic house plans.  We knitted slippers.  We did a needlepoint piece.  We sewed a piece of clothing – mine was a peach colored dress with scalloped hem and pristine collar with topstitching, and you could not tell that it was ‘homemade.’  I’m surprised it wasn’t thread worn I had to take out and re-sew so many time, but it was perfect in the end.

Over the years when I’d make a pair of curtains, slipcovers for the sofa,  a dress, or even hang pictures, I’d think of Mrs. Campbell.  How many times have I thought I’d love to see her or know where she is now to send her a card? 

Yesterday I got an advertisement that Hancock was having a sale, so I decided to run by there on the way home from work.  While standing waiting for cutting, I saw this woman who had the stance of Mrs. Campbell.  She had a little twist/bun near the nape of her neck, and her sweet face was deeply furrowed, and then I saw her kind eyes.  Mind you, it has been nearly 40 years, but I just HAD to ask.  I walked up behind her and asked, Excuse me, did you teach at NW High School?  Yes…  Are you Mrs. Campbell?  Yes…  I couldn’t believe it.  I was SO happy, I had to hug her; right there in Hancock’s!  As we stood and chatted for quite a few minutes, I was so happy to have seen her – just to get to tell her how much of an impression she had made on me in those early days of my life.  Primarily due to her, I’m a crafter and love fabric and handwork, and really have no fear of attempting any crafty thing.  It may not work out perfectly the first time, or ever for that matter, but try I will. 

We talked about some things I remembered, some she recalled, and some things about her long married life to ‘the love of her life’ who passed nearly four years ago.  One of her daughters is an interior designer, and now she sews for her business.  We talked about the decline of public education, discipline of current students, and the Home Ec program.  She said when she went through that program, they had to take a class from each of the things I mentioned – upholstery, basic engineering/drawing, etc.  Funny thing she said about teaching was, I didn’t know what I was doing – I just showed you all what I had learned to do.

As we parted she told me 'you have made my day and hope to see you again, maybe in the cloth store'!  That made my day!  I thought this morning that I wish so much that I had asked if I could snap her picture with my phone, but just did not think of it.  Maybe I’ll get another chance – in the cloth store??  And hopefully you will have the opportunity to tell the person who inspired you how much they mean to you!  It really did feel wonderful.       

 Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene

The Weekend Update

What a glorious weekend this is - beautiful sunny skies and the temperature is upper 80's - and not a lot of humidity, either. Simply spectacular.

I don't think I've shown you lately where I am on Quaker Blues. It is slow, but am stitching on it a little here and there.

I started a new piece called Crazy Quilt from Cross Stitch Crazy About Quilts (Am School of Needlework). It's on 18 ct. Aida using mostly Finca cotton. I'm ad libbing a little with the colors, but isn't that what Crazy Quilts are all about?

Wanted to show you a picture of my peonies before they bloom! See the tight balls?

Did you know that before she blooms, ants attack her? I tried to get a closeup so you can see how they're enjoying themselves.

I'm going to see what makes this so. I want to think that the sweetness draws them, but I wonder if they loosen the petals so they can open... BRB... Well, it seems that, though a common thought, it is not true. "Ants are attracted to the sweet resin exuded on the flower buds, but it's a long-standing, popular, even benevolent myth that they "tickle the buds" or "lick the sugar" to help the buds open. They would open regardless of the ants' presence (these are the same ants that would benevolently tickle the food at the average picnic). "

I was off work yesterday, Friday, and I went to a sewing seminar - Making Patterns That Fit, at the local Hancock Fabrics. It was a good session - for only $7, I think I can adjust patterns that may fit my non-traditional size. You know how it is - if the top fits, the bottom is too small or vice-versa. It has been a long time since I tried to make a garment, but one of these days I should... I seem to say that all too often - I don't know what my problem is, but things just are not getting done! If my mom didn't love me, she'd probably say it is because I'm trifling (read LAZY). Laundry is behind, dust is deep, car is dirty, and craft room is totally a mess. I try not to compare myself to others, but I see ALL that others get done and am amazed. Oh, sure, when the mood strikes, I can get a lot done, but that mood hasn't struck in a while. So, here we are, spending time blogging... thinking about stitching!

Today was the annual Herald Yard Sale. There didn't seem to be as many participants as usual, but I found a few things. It's hard to tell from my picture, but this is a huge spool of gold braid. It will be pretty embellishing just the right thing - and sharing!

One of the old Mar Crest ovenproof stoneware crocks, with lid. These make the best roast! I just can't resist when I see one at a reasonable price. I've given Mom one, DS one, and now this one...

Don't you love cigar boxes for stash storage? I usually think they ask too much for them...
but when I looked inside and saw that it still had several of the cigar tubes, they had me!

I can hardly be out thrifting without going to the Hospice resale store. As much as I love quilts, and have a few, I didn't have a quilt rack. Now I do!

I saw this book, and the second page, Needle Lace, made me 'need' it!

Hope your weekend has been fun and productive! See ya' next time!

Charlene in SC

Grandma's Hands

This is one the email passages that we all get, but I thought this one was special. Have a special look at YOUR hands today!

I was privileged to take a photo of 'Five Generations of Women' shortly before my 93 year-old Grandmother passed away last year. The photo, shown below, features the hands of my Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Niece and Great-Niece. While I can't take credit for the idea, I was so happy to have had the suggestion & capture this moment. It inspired a friend of mine to do something similar, which turned out so beautiful it became a special keepsake, prior to her father's passing.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat, I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear, strong voice. I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK, I explained to her. 'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?' I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots.

Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son.

They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.

And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.

I will never look at my hands the same again. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband, I think of Grandma's hands.

~Happy Stitching~
Charlene in SC.USA

Tag - You're It

I've been tagged by Candi to list seven things about myself that others may not know.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

I feel like the friends who stop by my blog KNOW more than they care to by now. Since I just did this a few months ago, I thought it would be OK to share that link with you here.

...and for your listening entertainment: Who Are You, Who Who Who Who??

Barb @ Around Barb's Bend

Jennifer at Sweet Pea Stitches

Jill @ PurplePeacock

Joanna's Journal

Joan's Sew B It Cross Stitching

Lili from Another Cross Stitch Addict

Teresa at Sew Many Thoughts

Anyone else who comes through and wishes to participate may! Just leave me a comment so I can take a look at your shared info, please.