The weekend is nee... Actually for us it starts today evening itself, and since morning I have been thinking of what will I do when I come back home. Some crochet, some cross stitch I am working on at the moment? I have not decided yet and may be I'd simply lift my legs up and read a book. We were also planning few things for this coming up weekend but let us see which ones will get realized. My D suddenly said two-three days ago that he was getting anxious as my due date is approaching and we haven't got anything yet like hospital bag and baby's essentials. So perhaps we are going to finally start shopping for them this time.
Today I wanted to share something special with you, even with those who haven't got interest in needle work. Some time ago my mother-in-law, seeing my interest in cross stitch, rummaged in her treasures and took out old Indian embroidery (cross stitch) swatches, fragments. I photographed these pieces finally.
These one was made by FIL's mom. It must be at least 40 years old! I like very much because it is so different from others, and reminds me the latest discovery I made - Bargello needlework. I would like to try to replicate this pattern, it looks really lovely.
This one by MIL's mom, might be of the same "age".
And this - by mother-in-law.
These one was made by FIL's mom. It must be at least 40 years old! I like very much because it is so different from others, and reminds me the latest discovery I made - Bargello needlework. I would like to try to replicate this pattern, it looks really lovely.
Unfortunately I have nothing of this sort of heritage left from my own grandparents. My mom's mom never used to hand made, she had other interests, and she passed away too soon after my birth - I was a little older than 1. My father's parents lived in Ukraine that time and also passed away soon. So I never knew my grandparents, and always wanted to have a grandmother and a grandfather, listen to their stories, enjoy the relationships. But I know that I am blessed with the love of my parents and now - of my D and his family.
We celebrated the Mothers' Day here on 11th of May, and I am, not being able to give up hand made, made a potholder for my mother-in-law using the pattern Vintage Flower Potholder by Color'n Cream blog's author, thank you Jenn! I loved it, and also loved how colors interlink! My MIL put it on the wall, near her bed :)
That's all for now, my dears. I have started reading and almost finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it is a bad, bad book! It made me crave chocolate so much and I have to avoid eating sweets now... :)
Have an enjoyable and happy weekend!
These are precious heirlooms. Great that your MIL preserved them for so long. I could also be with my mother's mother only. i could not be with the rest like you. And she was a crocheter, used to do lot of cross stitch and embroidery. My mother says even their petticoats used to have crocheted lace. Mummy learnt crochet from her mother infact. And then, getting a crochet hook or even thread was difficult. So, she used to chisel hooks out of bamboo!! and crochet. Great lady. Her cross stitch peices have now been passed on to me by my mother. They are decades old. She used to also make decorative peices out of glass beeds. Tiny glass beads. Lot of intricate work. They too has been passed on to me. I hold them very dearly. I have preserved them. Some day I'll make use of it and pass it on to my daughters :) Such is the glory of heirlooms.
ReplyDeleteCharlie and the Chocolate factory!!! My daughters have a CD... and they just love it..... I find it difficult to watch cause I don't eat chocolate. I have an aversion to cocoa and coffee... So......
Take care and have a great weekend
Love
Aishwarya
I think that passing on some crafty skill to your children is a must. It is heritage, it is beautiful and can be useful too in life :) Moreover India has so many handy crafts! I'd like to learn more and more, though if I have a boy than.. ok, he learn drawing or smth of the sort :)
DeleteAw... I cannot support you in not loving chocolate and coffee, sorry :))) I haven't seen the movie properly, so I first will read the book and then watch it.
Hope you had a great weekend too!
I love those flower shaped pot holders.. the colors are amazing!
ReplyDelete((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Yes, it looks very pretty, I am sure any color you combine will look great.
DeleteHugs to you too Teresa!
The pot holder looks lovely; just like a summer flower. Love those old embroidery pieces, what a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI liked making it though, it took some time, not a project to work up quickly if you need, bu tthe result is fab!
DeleteIt is a treasure, I gave it back to my MIL, to keep it safe again.
So many beautiful projects! That was so nice of your FIL to give them to you. And I loved the potholders you made too. And also the background you photographed them on is very pretty too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jojo! Seems you liked everything )))
DeleteI love the exchange between you and your mother-in-law. It's great to see family share treasures. My MIL (to be) gave me a set of lovely candle holders and a candle snuffer. And some cross-stitching done by her grandmother. My MIL is in her 80s, so I have no idea how old the piece is. My Piano Man and I have it in a small copper case, keeping it safe and treasured.
ReplyDeleteAh, baby anxiety! I'm sure you guys will be just fine. You have love, each other, and lots of crocheted things!
Your MIL has is so sensible in giving you something you like so much! I also felt like keeping such pieces in a treasure box.
DeleteOh we will be, thanks you. Nowadays things is easy to find and buy, so no worries :)
The embroidery is lovely, I inherited a little embroidered table cover from my Aunt mostly flowers with a crocheted edging it's a bit frayed and worn but I love it. I love your potholders it's such a striking pattern. :)
ReplyDeleteYou just reminded me that my aunt, my mom's cousin, also had her cross stitch works somewhere.. I need to ask my mom to retrieve them, they are also very old.
DeleteThanks Linda, I enjoyed making the potholder.
Love the cross stitch! Simple but beautiful! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Go ahead and eat some chocolate! I ate a Mr.Goodbar (peanut and chocolate bar) everyday when I was pregnant with my son!
Thanks Charlotte!
DeleteOh wow, really? Everyday? :) Your son must be liking this particular chocolate now, does he? :)
Love that you received such special little keepsakes...I know you will be able to replicate the one, perfectly! Love, also, that you are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - so sweet! Happy Sunday, Anna - Tanya XOXO
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya, as soon as I saw these treasrues I asked her to give so that I will post in my blog.
DeleteIt is a sweet book too, I will definitely read it to my child. Hugs!
How lovely to have these little bits of family history :)
ReplyDeleteIt is! I am glad I kind of preserved them in digital format:)
DeleteLovely embroidery swatches!! It's good to see old pieces. Bargello also looks similar to Phulkari embroidery from Punjab. Your MIL must be knowing about it.
ReplyDeleteYour pot holders look very sweet!! :) I just called my mom on Mother's Day which is nothing special because I call her every alternate day, sometimes daily :)
Don't worry, eat chocolates, this is the best excuse to indulge in;)
Yes, but It also doesn't look like phulkari, so I wish I could ask her what embroidery style she used...
DeleteI also just spoke to my mom in skype that day, I wish I could hug her in real...
I do give myself days of food freedom, but otherwise I try to restarin from sugar and fats as to not make a baby too big. hehe
Such a beautiful post ;o) I have my mom's first embroidery she made framed ;o) She was 13 and she turns 75 this year. Big Hugs and I hope you're having a great weekend ;o)
ReplyDeleteWow! So it lik emore than 60 years old! Wonderful!
DeleteWe had a great weekend, looking forward for the next one now :) Hope you had a nice one too.
Lovely embroidery. I remember my mom telling that my grandma is very good at lace crocheting and embroidery.. It indeed is a great treasure. Beautiful potholders with vibrant colors:) have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYou should ask her to show you her works, or may be your mom has some :) It is very interesting!
DeleteThanks and have a nice day Anitha!
Embroidery looks lovely. Even we(me and my sis) have a few shawls and sweaters knitted by my granny. I'm inspired to make a post on that too. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteAnd loved the bright colours you have used for the pot-holder. It looks just amazing.
Happy shopping!!
-Ranjitha
I would like to see the shawls Ranjitha.
DeleteThanks, I wanted the potholder to be brights and cheer up when you look at it, I am glad I suceeded.
Shopping was good, but still many things are yet to be purchased.
Wonderful embroidery! Thanks for sharing :-). And your potholder is fantastic, great colors and a pretty pattern. Too nice to use and surely very lovely as a wall hanger!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Nata. It is too good, may be, but also I would like to see it serving its purpose, at least sometimes :)
DeleteThe Indian embroidery looks lovely! What a treasure to have something handmade from so long ago! This is so special. I still have the baptism gown my great-grandmother was christened in, and 16 years ago my daughter was christened in it. I hope one day her children will wear it for this very special occasion.
ReplyDeleteI know Carola. I was thrilled to see these pieces of it. As I had said I didn't get this kind of heritage from my own grandparents.
DeleteI am sure she would like to use the gown, it is amazing you were able to preserve it till now!