My mum, is very precious to me, as are all my family of course. But I feel our relationship is very special. I can rely on her for anything, and sometimes I do that a little too much.
She has had a really tough year, too many things have gone wrong to mention here. But she sadly lost her Mum in February, after nursing her through ill-health for a long time. She had already lost her Dad more than 20 years ago.
When my Gran died, my Mum, gave me her sewing box, it sat for several weeks, in my house, and I dare not even open it. One evening I plucked up the courage to have a look, it was full of all sorts of bits and bobs, even some sweets I had had made for my daughters baptism squirreled away. That was as far I could go, I found it a really emotional process. Couldn’t quite get my head around going through my Gran’s things. I spoke to my Mum and she thought, my Gran would have loved that I was using the threads, and pins and needles, that it would be a shame to just leave everything untouched.
And so the next day, I emptied out the contents and carefully went through the box.
And here is the gift I made from my Mum, from some of the buttons that I found in the cherished sewing box that I now own.
In the colour of her country. I placed them in a box, a box that was also in the sewing basket. It was her Dad’s a very old coffee tin. I like the symbolism of that. Together again.
Footnote
I’ve always loved craft of all kinds, I even have a GCSE in creative textiles 😉 I would have liked to have done Home Economics, but the teacher thought my talents were best used elsewhere! *ahem*
I have not so much picked up a needle and thread, unless it was to sew a button on, or school name tape for years and years.
I have however done lots of craft for my children, and helped to run a toddler group in my area…I was always one of the volunteers to think up crafts for the children to do. A bit too enthusiastic really! So I think I still have the embers burning, but never found an outlet.
So I wanted to put down on paper, how great its been for me to start to do new crafty things again, and say a big thank you to everyone who helped me on the way…you know who you are! And give a really big thank you to Tracy over at White Lily Green for hosting this every week.
I am including this also on a linky that is new to me called Little Legacy on the Alexander Residence blog, In Penny’s own words :
Little legacy is a remembrance project , a positive and creative space, to celebrate small things handed down by predecessors.
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*Clears lump in throat*
What a beautiful and inspiring post – that is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen.
Very moved, I am very very close to my mum too. Thank you for sharing xx
Thank you for your comment Emma, makes it all worth it :0)
What a beautiful post. It’s made me quite emotional.
I’ve recently been given my Nan’s old button box too. My Nan is still with us, but it in poor health and is now in a care home so she has no need for most of her bits and bobs. It’s a very strange feeling going through someone’s things, but right that they should be used and cherished.
The gift you have made your mum is beautiful. x
Thank you so much, Liz thats really lovely of you to say…thank you x
Gorgeous, gorgeous, inspiring post! I am gutted i don’t have anything belonging to my grandmother, so your box is something to treasure. Just think, everything you make with contain a little piece of your Grandmothers memory. What a wonderful way to keep her spirit alive.
Thank YOU, and everyone else who enthusiastically support Handmade Thursday every week. I really appreciate it. I love your button creations – just so beautiful.
Lovely tale and a beautiful object too, so glad you’re rediscovering your crafty roots. 🙂
thats really nice. I have things of my mums like that makes them very special
Such a lovely story into why you made this and a really pretty make 🙂 keep up the crafting your fab at it x
that was a lovely post. what a special memento for your mum, I bet she loved it.
Hello Amanda
Beautiful post, and what a beautiful object. I was fascinated as I have been thinking lots about doing a sewing/craft course. I’m frustrated that mum isn’t about to teach me. I recently picked up needle and thread, and some of mum’s sewing bits and found it really therapeutic and a nice link to mum too. I;m looking forward to hearing more about your projects.
Thank you, and thanks for letting me join n the link up.
Yes I agree it is therapeutic. It would be lovely idea for you to go on a course. I’ve recently bought a sewing machine, I really need to go on a course and expand my knowledge….I can’t keep doing only straight up and down lines!
I need to make a toga in the next few days…wish me luck! Eek!!