Hoop Dreams
My Dearest Grandmother,Last night I threaded my needle, put my latest embroidery project in my spring hoop and made sure my scissors were handy. It suddenly occurred to me that I owe you for my love of hand embroidery. I don't think I ever said thank you!!!
Let's go down memory lane together, dear grandmother. You always understood my need to play outdoors from sun up to sun down with my friends. Goodness we were all over the neighborhood - giggling, snickering and laughing like the silly little girls that we were. LOL These are such happy memories for me.
Oh wait, there was that certain time of the day when you said the sun's glare was too strong and you insisted I sit in the shade. My chosen spot was usually the front porch of your grocery market that was attached to the house. Sometimes my friends would join me and we played jacks, marbles, etc. Most afternoons you had me sit with an embroidery project in my hands. I don't remember how many pillowcases, dresser scarves, dishtowels, hankies, etc I completed. You had many Spanish speaking customers and I remember when one brought a set of dishtowels with the days of the week written in Spanish for me to embroider. I wonder what happened to all my 'beauties'. ;-)
Over the years I've enjoyed lots of sewing and counted x-stitch but didn't believe I could still embroider. In recent years I took the embroidery plunge and fell in love all over again. These memories have given me a strong desire to embroider similar items so I've been on a diligent search for patterns. I'm really excited about the possibilities!!!
Your friends called you Hope but I called you Grandmother. Being raised by you until my teen years is the best thing that happened to me. I can't believe you've been gone almost 25 years but rarely does a day go by that I don't have you in my thoughts. Especially when I have my embroidery hoop in my hands. :-)
Thank you for letting me share a fond memory of my Grandmother! I plan to share more "Hoop Dreams" in the coming weeks - I hope you'll join me!
In Friendship!
34 comments:
How sweet. I wish I would have lived closer to my Grandmother.
What precious memories! I'm certain that your grandmother is blessing each and every stitch and nodding her head in approval. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
Oh Darlene what a beautiful post...thank you for sharing your Grandmother with us.
What sweet memories, Darlene. Thanks for sharing with us.
What a great post Darlene! And how nice that you have such memories with your grandmother :-).
What wonderful memories! My DGM taught me to embroider too. :-)
My grandma lived in Texas, I in California, but she was a sewer and I have inherited her way with needle and thread. Wonder what we could have done together. What great memories you have with your grandma. I in turn am passing my love of needle and thread on to my grandmas.
Terry
Oops meant grand kids.
Terry
What a lovely tribute!
What beautiful memories you have of your youth and your very special grandmother. Thank you for sharing them with us.
I loved this little story from your childhood. What a blessing to both you and your grandmother to share those times together.
Sweet. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Lovely trip on Memory Lane, that golden place of younger days...
What lovely memories and a lovely tribute. I lived in Alaska, far far far from my California grandmothers. After we moved to Alaska when I was six I saw one grandmother 2 more times and the other grandmother only 1 more time, when I was an adult. I missed out on Grandmother things - and now spend a LOT of time with my grandsons - one of whom is learning to sew on my featherweight sewing machine.
Thank you so much for sharing.
what a nice post...memories are the best!
Kathie
Ahhh! What a touching story. Loved reading it.
What a beautiful tribute to your Grandmother, Darlene...thanks for sharing!
What wonderful memories. I have the same from my late grandmother, but she taught me crochet. Sometimes when I am crocheting, I can remember her telling me how awkward I looked (left-handed) crocheting backwards!
Oh Darlene this made me cry...I miss my own grandmother so much. She never sewed or embroidered, she was blind for 20 years, but her lessons in love and faith have stayed with me. Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman, I know she would be so proud of you!!!
I'm sorry that I have no memories of my grandmothers as you have. One passed away before my birth, and the other lived far enough away that I seldom saw her. But I know that they were women who were kind and giving and patient, as my parents are.
Thank you for your lovely post. Those special memories of family fill our hearts so beautifully.
What a sweet post. My grandmother raised me from the time I was born. She also lived with us the last 8 years of her life. We did many a craft together when I was little. I miss her more all the time. Thanks for this trip down memory lane! Hugs!
Awww, my heart is warmed! I'm betting she's smiling!
what wonderful memorys.......and lucky you! I was also blessed with 2 wonderful grandmothers who taught me a lot....thanks for sharing!!!
That made me wipe away a tear. What a sweet story to share. Thank you!
What a wonderful letter - and such happy memories. I am sure she would love your stitching. :)
Wonderful memories to carry with you Darlene...a very sweet and touching post.
beautiful, beautiful post Darlene
Beautiful post full of wonderful memories!
Thank you for sharing your memories with us!
On another note- I have my Christmas through the year project for February done! and posted! Woo Hoo- maybe this weekend I will be able to get another one finished and post two! http://fromthistothatbybobbalou.blogspot.com/2012/02/closer-look.html
Are you all over that nasty bug?
such a sweet tribute to your grandmother. My grandma also taught me how to embroider.
How wonderful to have these special memories of your Grandmother.
How nice...
My grandmother also worked with me to stitch.
I was not that interested, and it showed. One day while wishing I was out side playing, my mother and grandmother wanted me to be a bit more girly. I was inside stitching. Gramma asked if I would show her the back of my stitchery, you know that is when you know your work is good, she said. I said no thank you. She smiled and did not press it.
I went home that night and in my room I took out all of the stitching. Then took the time to do it right. That next weekend when the girls went to visit gramma, she came over and admired my work. I asked if she would like to see the back. She was so pleased that I made it right. From then on I stitched nice projects, and began to enjoy the process.
Now I stitch regularly. Thank you gramma.
Sadly my grandma was a bit cranky but my mother taught me to sew! What a lovely memory you have and thanks for sharing it! Maybe I can be the fun rather than cranky granny if I get the opportunity!
What a lovely post, my Nan taught me to embroider too. When I was 7 she came to live with us and some of my favourite memories are of going into her house after school to have a cup of tea and see what she had been making that day. She was always knitting, crocheting or sewing.
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