Today is my Mom's birthday and like always, she has been on my mind a lot. I learned a lot from her, and wish that I'd learned more. We were very much alike, yet oh, soooo different in many ways.
She was a sewer and for a while owned an upholstery shop. I can't stitch a straight line, but at least I absorbed a lot of knowelgdge about how it was done by sitting under her sewing table for hours as she worked when I was a kid. I know the basics on how to do any of it, but its the actual needle and thread work that stumps me.
She took pride in perfect stitches and even knew exactly how many per inch she hand sewed into her quilting or upholstering.
But me? If I pick up a piece of thread, it automatically starts twirling itself into a million knots. So, I transferred her love of creating to paint and other craftiness. Sewing has always eluded me.
Even this crazy quilt that she made is not as random as it seems. I remember her showing me the individual blocks that she was putting together with mathematical precision.
She taught me to take joy in hard work. That a job worth doing is worth doing right. That a clean house feels, and smells good and is worth the effort it takes. Now, I certainly don't take it to the levels she used to, this is a lady who used to vacuum under the bird feeder out in the yard. I've never gone so far as to vacuum the grass, but I do like my home tidy and comfortable.
Mom taught me never to be afraid to tackle anything. Any big job can be broken down into smaller parts, tackled one at a time, just like her quilts were patched together square by square.
Twinkle thinks this picture is about her, like every photo I take. Even if I'm taking a close up of something on a table, she is posing under the table thinking that the camera must be about her.
Mom made this quilt for me too. Its one of my favorite patterns, Log Cabin. You can't see the detail in the center, but its a hand stitched drawing of iris. In person, it shows up nicely, but the camera doesn't do it justice.
In honor of my mom's birthday, I put this quilt on Sugarwing's new Big Girl Bed. Maybe she'll feel my mom's love wrapped around her the next time she crawls in.
I chose this bed because of the ovals. Don't they look like frames, just waiting for a painting? I have plans to add some pictures soon. Lately, there has been too much going on and I think I might have mentioned, and maybe whined a bit about the fact that I am NOT caught up.
Hopefully, Sugarwings and Dewdrop will learn from me, just as I learned from Mom, to love having a pretty home around them, and taking joy in making it that way. Whatever talents they have as they grow up, I want them to know that you can tackle any job if you do it one block at a time and that nothing is too big to face if you are willing to do the hard work to achieve it.
And that hard work is much easier to face if you find something to laugh about while you are at it!
My mom was FUN. I hope all of my kids and grands think I am too.
Trust me Karla, you are! My Mom sounds a lot like yours and I, too, have learned so much fro her. No matter how long it has been you can always look back on your time with your Mom with pride and love.
Sandy
Karla, I loved this tribute to your mom. However, I was surprised when you said you could not sew like your mom did…I would have thought you were an amazing seamstress! You had me fooled !
I do believe, from reading so many of your posts, that your kids and grand kiddos believe you are fun because FUN is what I feel when I read your posts!
My mom made it a mission to make a quilt for each of her children (3) and each of her grand children (6)…and she did just that. I, like you, use the quilt she made for me and my hubby. I kept the quilts she made for my boy and girl (now 35 and 32) in a safe place so they would survive their “youth” in tact. Recently, my girl told me how much she loved the quilt that “grandma” made for her and how much it meant to her. 🙂 My mom passed away 7 years ago…..but I am certain she heard what my girl said about the wonderful quilt she created for her so many years ago.
Sugarwings is one lucky little girl!!
dana
dana
karla, i loved your tribute to your mom… i too have lost my mother… i love when i come across an envelope of fussy cut images..that i can see her cutting to use for another day. we will always have our memories and im sure shes smiling at you .. as you are a very talented and wonderful lady.. and look how lucky sugarwings is.. to have such a creative gramma who fills her life with magical moments..
thanks for sharing.. and big ladybug hugs
lynnl
I’m pretty sure that your grand kids know how special you are! your lucky to have had such a great mom.
beautiful quilts!
xo
vivian
What a beautiful tribute to your mom. All the love, magic and fun that you share here about your time with your grandkids, how can they not realize how special you are. I wrap up in my mom’s handmade quilt each night, for the past 17 years. Even tho in places it is thread bare I can’t bring myself to not keep it on my bed.
Thanks for sharing your mom on her birtdhay! Her crazy quilt is so beautiful!!
My mother’s birthday would be this coming Monday. Like you, I only hope my grandchildren have the happy memories of me that my children have of her.
Smiling and longing right along with you at the thoughts of the blessings they left in our hearts and minds.
Deb
This was a beautiful post and I love the metaphor of the quilt and piecing together bits of hard work until they become something beautiful. Very nice.
Hi Karla, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/
I happened to be here at the ‘just perfect’ time, having a big project to work on and muuuch work to be done (which sometimes is a bit discouraging)! Many many thanks for the inspiring words, I’ll treasure them, Karla!
My best,
Monica.
My goodness, Karla your Mother was beautiful! My Moma was too, and boy do I miss her. I see her in the mirror every day and hear her, too. My Moma passed in 1998.
Thanks for sharing your story and giving me another chance to think of her. Your Mother sounds like a peach.
sincerely,
Kate
Karla,
Such a dear tribute to your mom. It’s so nice that you have your mother’s quilts out where you can enjoy them.
Now, that I am retired, I have going through keepsakes and finding ways to use them in my decorating. I have one bedroom that is done in cremes and browns. I have some old sepia-toned photos on the wall, my faded pink silk baptismal dress, my dad’s baby shoes, daughter’s baby shoes, etc. I have a nightgown and a crocheted shawl on a dressform that my great grandmother made for my grandmother when she got married. I love the feeling of love in the room and feel so comforted being in there.
~elaine
Elaine, that sounds like beautiful decor, how wonderful that its not just pretty, its meaningful too.
Sent from my iPad
This really gets me where I live. My mom was a big crafter and I did things with her — lots. It was always “there” and I’m sure that’s why I’m the way I am today, even if the things we do are much different.
I wish I had inherited her cleaning skills! That leaves a lot to be desired! She did teach me to dust like a CIA agent, though — putting everything back exactly as it was so no one would know it was moved — apart from no dust! I remember the lesson well. Application? Well, first it requires the dusting…
Yes, I have more knowledge than practical application skills when it comes to cleaning!
Sent from my iPad
May your mother always warm your memories. *hug*