Other (not always) wordless friends:
Cheryl Andrews
Allison Howard
Barbara Lambert
Allyson Latta
Elizabeth Yeoman
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Other (not always) wordless friends:
Cheryl Andrews
Allison Howard
Barbara Lambert
Allyson Latta
Elizabeth Yeoman
Matilda Magtree 
Ah Ms. Magtree, you deserve the Crackerjack today if just for the very perfection of this image, the memories it invokes, and of course the perfection of the work itself, the endless hours that went into the making of this little lacy embroidered piece, all the dreams that were dreamed during its making, and then the surprise — for someone — years and years later — of unwrapping a piece of tissue paper at the bottom of a half-forgotten trunk and finding this treasure, lifting it, inhaling the fragrance of forgotten years…. So so evocative, in other words. And beautiful! And refreshing in the early morning to come upon such a tranquil “old fashioned” image. Thank you.
I can do very basic crotchet. Granny squares, that kind of thing. So I know how finicky the high-fallutin’ stuff would be. Making this would require skill indeed. Those flowers! Pansies… appropriate for the time of year, no? (:
How lovely to read where this has taken you, Barbara. Trunks and tissue paper, yes. That’s where the best things are found.
And I think I was wrong when I said “embroidery” of the flowers. What is this technique? Very skillful crochet? The way the colours merge from dark to light — so skillful and lovely.
I feel instant nostalgia upon viewing this Carin. What home was complete without these beautiful handmade pieces under the lamps and candy dishes? Idle hands now play with gadgets rather than creating these lovely little heirlooms. In in this case the artist (because that is what they were) added that gorgeous realistic dollop of colour!
Exactly. Projects for idle hands. My mum was constantly *making* things. And I agree that these makers were artists, though they’d NEVER see it that way. The one in the photo was made by a friend of mine who has it on her very bright and sunny kitchen table. It suits her. She’s English, so of course it would. (Are you out there, Mo?) (;
Such a peaceful picture. And yet, this also makes me feel a bit sad, or at least regretful, because I have a lot of these sorts of things, old crocheted, embroidered and appliquéd linens, stashed away in a cupboard and never used. Some were made by my ancestors and I always mean to find ways of displaying them but they don’t really go with my minimalistic decor. Each one holds stories of its maker and her life and times. Another take on a photo that tells a story without words, Carin. Brilliant!
I know what you mean, E. I used to have a few my mum made but after a while they just felt sad (rueful). While I love what they represent I have no use for them in my house, other than to remind me of them being in my mum’s house… and how every Saturday it was my job to gather them up from every room (bedrooms, living room, kitchen table… were they in the bathroom? maybe) and give them a good shake on the porch. Now and then my mum would wash them, starch them. Good lord. All to set a lamp on or a glass bowl of fake fruit. I sometimes think it was the *making* of them that was the thing, that finding a use for them was a distant-in-importance ‘step two’.
Rueful – I think that was the word I wanted more than regretful.
Oh Carin, what a wonderful flood of memories your WW brought to me. My grandmother used to make lace doilies like these. In fact, in the guest room (if you recall) there is a lace runner on her dresser that I refinished decades ago. Feeling mellow. Smiling. Remembering …
That’s so nice to hear! Mission accomplished. (: As for the guest room, I only remember comfort and view…