Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Monday, February 27, 2017

Mama Taught Me Hand Embroidery


When I was a little girl the first 
two sewing skills that my Mama taught me were 
sewing on buttons and embroidery. 


I loved embroidery 
and I made a few sets of pillow cases
and a table runner or two,
and then put it away and forgot about it.

Now it seems that hand embroidery 
is making a come back and I just
had to see if I remembered any of
the skills that Mama put in me as a child. 

 So I cut a square of drop cloth
from my stash and drove to Walmart for
hoops and floss.
Then the fun began. 

First I did this sampler. 


Then I went back in and embellished even more. 


I'm not sure what I'll do with these.


Thank you Mama for spending time 
with me and teaching me this skill.
I will hold you in my heart
each time I sit with hoop and floss :)


So I'm encouraging you to sit with a child,
and teach them a creative skill.
Stitching, cooking, drawing, gardening . . .
Spending quality time is a way of 
banking that time forever
in someone's heart. 

Have A Happy Week
&
Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

50 comments:

  1. I honestly have no idea who taught me embroidery. I just know that I enjoy it.

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    1. It's a very relaxing pastime . . . and I love the old fashioned touch it gives :)

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  2. I learned so many skills at my Mama's feet. I tried to teach my daughter these things but she wasn't interested. She did turn out to be a pretty good cook, though! I am going to teach my granddaughter as much as she will let me and my grandson is also going to know how to cook and sew a button on his shirt! LoL

    Grace & Peace,
    Pam

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    1. It's a great way to spend time with them . . . you're making memories that will be remembered forever :)

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  3. My Mom didn't do any handwork of any kind. She, (and my sister), had zero interest. I love all kinds of stitchery. Knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery. I don't even remember who taught me the last two, I just know that I love them. Now, I try to sit down with my granddaughters whenever they show interest and let them play with my yarn and needles.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Your granddaughters are blessed to have you spending quality time with them and they will hold these moments in their hearts forever.

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  4. Your embroidery looks great! Love that little sampler!

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    1. Thank you, it's fun play around with the floss and seeing just what I remember from childhood :)

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  5. I love that little sampler too. Maybe you could stretch and frame it?

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    1. That might be nice; I was even thinking a pillow :)

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  6. My mom and grandmother both did a lot of embroidery. I guess that's where I learned too. I like all of these

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    1. Thank you . . . I'm enjoying getting back into it :)

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  7. I would say that you remembered very well what your mama taught you when you were a child! Thank you for encouraging those of us who read here to sit with a child and teach them a creative skill. I've done that through baking with our granddaughters, and the oldest one (soon to turn 13) has thrived at it. We live in WV and she lives in Maine, but when they come here she is my shadow in the kitchen. We've also established the tradition of having tea parties when they are here. They think we are just having fun, but in reality I am teaching them some lessons on traditional tea party foods, proper etiquette, etc. All it took was one tea party and they decided it should be tradition.

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    1. It sounds like you are a very special Grandma. Your tea parties sound wonderful :) Children are like little sponges and we have the opportunity to teach them how to live creatively; to use their imaginations and to thrive socially. Moments spent with them in these ways build tight bonds that will be in their hearts long after we are gone from this world. Hopefully they will do the same for their children and grandchild :)

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  8. I'd say you remembered everything your mama taught you. She did a good job. xo

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    1. Hi Nancy, You know, once I got started I even surprised myself, LOL. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow, so while I'm in town I thought that I would stop by the library and see if they have any books on embroidery. I'm just an old dog that loves learning new tricks :) You do know that you are to blame for this rebirth of an interest in hand embroidery . . . it is contagous from one blog to another.

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  9. Connie, I think you remembered very well what your mom taught you. I like your sampler. I used to do some embroidery ...I stopped in the middle of a project and never went back. I should drag that back out. I may ask my g.daughter if she would like to finish it. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Hi Susie, I need an evening project to keep me from falling asleep in front of the TV, LOL.

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  10. What a sweet memory, and it looks like you haven't lost your touch. I hope you find time to do more of what you Love

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  11. I learned how to embroidery from my Mama too. I enjoy it but it makes my carpal tunnel flare up and that I don't enjoy. Mama taught my daughter, Miranda as well and they completed several Christmas scenes which my Mama turned into a quilt for Miranda several years ago. It is something she will cherish forever. Your sampler would look pretty framed or appliqued onto a pillow or turned into a quilt square. Whatever you decide to do with it, I know it will be beautiful! Have a lovely week.

    Hugs, Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky, I was thinking a small throw pillow might be fun . . . it is drop-cloth so I don't know how well it would hold up in a quilt (to many washings). . . but this was fun and I even surprised myself with how much I remembered. It's nice having sweet memories of mama, too.

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  12. Connie, that was sooo sweet, you are so right, they will remember skills taught longer than any gift you could give! I learned to embroider as a Girl Scout. I have not tried it in many years, I am glad there is resurgence. I remember it as being really relaxing in the evening. I can see you out on your fabulous front porch, talking to your favorite neighbor with embroidery on your lap.

    Carol

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, that sitting on the front porch with hoop and floss sounds wonderful . . . I think I'll wait until all of our snow has melted, LOL. I could sure use some of your Florida sunshine about now :)
      Thanks so much for stopping by to visit; it's been a while . . . I know you are busy especially this time of the year . . . but this was nice:)

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  13. Embroidery is quite a skill! I wonder if anyone even knows how to do that anymore - and passes it along? I can definitely teach cooking and baking. :-)

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    1. What is really great these days is that if you want to learn anything, you can find tutorials on You Tube . . . that doesn't take the place of quality time spent with a loved one, but it's nice just the same :) Cooking and baking are wonderful skills to pass on . . . Yum . . . who doesn't love warm cookies from the oven :)

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  14. I am so wanting to learn this skill. I can make a couple of stitches, but not too good at it! I need lessons. Can't seem to find anyone who teaches in San Diego...Utube is a good resource though.

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    1. You Tube is great, but because it is an old fashioned stitching embellishment you might try going to your nearest Senior Center. I'm sure that you would find someone there that would be happy to teach you. You might even make a new friend :) Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. I love company :)

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  15. I love embroidery Connie. I can barely do it but want to develop it along with so many other things! LOL Is the dropcloth you used like painters dropcloth? I am enjoying some sunshine here in IN some of these days. Love it! Have the cold frame up, and a small self watered bed on wheels out and want to get a 4x4 bed on legs yet. Sure hope I have some success after spending all this money. But I will enjoy it! Keep on keeping on with your creativity. I think you have an endless supply! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, you know that people who get great at something, always stick to the same thing and perfect their technique . . . me I'm all over the place . . . good at many things, great at nothing. The one great thing about trying to do everything is that you never get bored. I'm happy to hear that you are going to have a small place to garden at your new home. I know that you would miss your fresh lettuce and greens. If you could I would ask you to spend me some sunshine and warmer temperatures . . . I keep thinking March is here tomorrow and warm weather can't be too far away :)

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  16. This is a beautiful post, Connie. I'm teaching my 6 year old granddaughter to sew on my machine and she loves it. I hope to teach the younger ones, too. They are great skills to pass along.
    I'd say your mama taught you well, your embroidery is beautiful.

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    1. Hi Lorrie, it's wonderful hearing that you are teaching your granddaughter to sew. I taught our daughter when she was small . . . it was so much fun and she made a pair of PJ's with elastic waist and peasant top with elastic neck and cuffs. It was a simple pattern but she was so proud of them. Then she put it all away and forgot about sewing. After about twenty-five years or so, she started back and now it is something that she is teaching her daughters. Sewing skills are a wonderful way to connect and have lovely one on one time with a child. Time spend with children is time well invested.

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  17. I spent hours with my children teaching them several crafts and cooking skills. They are all quite creative which I love and I now have the honour of teaching the Grandchildren. Love your sampler, your Mama did a great job.

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    1. I love hearing your story, it sounds like you have had a lot of time spent in loving hours with your children. Know that they appreciate every minute of the one on one time that you have given them and the talents they process because of your loving care.

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  18. What sweet memories. It appears you were taught well and remembered all those stitches.

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    1. I didn't know really what I would remember, but once the needle was threaded and I began, it came back like riding a bicycle :)

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  19. Looks like you remembered you lessons well. Great Job.
    My gramma is the one who taught me how to make the weave-it squares that I use to make blankets.
    My mom never had the patience to teach me.

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    1. Moms have more on their plates than Grandmas do . . . by the time you are a Grandma life slows down a bit. That and the fact that you start appreciating those precious moments more and more after you enter that over the hill side of life, LOL

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  20. Connie!!! THANK YOU!!!! I kept looking in my e-mail and then in the regular mail I get an envelope from you, with a pattern! So nice of you! Thank you so much. I'm hoping to have time to sew before Easter. I've started a "clean-out" project that I should share, but it's almost embarrassing! Too much stuff in our basement! Anyway, THANK YOU so much! Wait...I said that already! I really mean it though! And you are a beautiful embroiderer! You could make little pillows out of those sample stitches. I was thinking, "she can even make a sample look cute!" I'm not so good at it, but maybe with practice. Gosh wish we lived closer!

    Cindy

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    1. If I did live closer I would try and become a member of your knit and crochet group . . . There us so much that I could learn from you girls . . . that and the fact that it looks like you have a great time when you get together. As for the pattern, you are more than welcome. Have a great week!

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  21. What a sweet post Connie :) Looks like your mother taught you well for you to remember the fancy embroidery stitches. You made a nice little sampler there. I felt the same way about knitting. My mother taught me when I was quite young, but didn't pick it up again until I was in my 40s. But I think of her often when I am knitting these days.
    Wendy

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    1. It's wonderful that we have these memories and these skills that we can continue to pass on :) Have a lovely day.

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  22. Love what you came up with and your sampler looks great too! I am so thankful for all that my mom taught me and she had great patience with me also :) I think embroidery is the most relaxing of all the hand stitching!

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    1. I agree about it being relaxing . . . It's nice to have a skill that you were taught by a Mama or Grandma, that you came then continue to pass on :)

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  23. I like that expression, Connie....."banking that time forever". So true, too.
    I hope people are still taking the teach special skills like this. There's always going to be a place for beauty.

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    1. Handmade gifts and items for the home, are always the best, don't you think?

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  24. Hi, Connie. I love this! My mama, Henny Penny, taught me to do things like this when I was very little. It never leaves you when a mother spends that time with you!
    xo
    Lynn

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    1. Oh my word . . . this is the first time that I knew that you were Henny Penny's daughter. She is a saint :) The way she loves her animals and cares for them . . . well as her daughter you must have been showered with love and affection. I love getting to know my blogging sisters better and better . . . thank you for sharing this :) Have a lovely day!

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  25. My mom taught me to do it too and I have not done any in so long. I have just now picked up counted cross stitch again. But embroidery was my first start. Then I started with needlepoint and thicker thread, rug hooking, knitting and so on and so on. I might have to pick up my embroidery again and see where it goes. THanks for the reminder.

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    1. It's nice having something that is this portable . . . I can take it anywhere :)

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