I haven’t done an edition of What’s On My Wall for a really long time and today is the day to show a couple of pieces that are very dear to me.
My mom has always been an amazing crafter and artist. From making cards to painting watercolors to doing sewing and needlework of different kinds she loved the creative arts. Perhaps that is what is so difficult for her now with her dementia. While the Memory Lane unit at Copeland Oaks does a really great job at providing different activities and crafts her limited abilities now flummox her. At times she remembers being able to do much more complicated things and it has to be frustrating to be doing little projects that seem so simple.
When the four siblings got together to sort through some of her belongings there were still quite a few paintings and other wall art that had not found homes yet. I decided to take these two pictures and they are now hanging in my home.
On the back of each picture is the description of what type of stitch it is in her handwriting. I love that. She stitched these pictures the year Aaron was born so it makes me smile to see that date stitched on the front.
Guess I am feeling quite nostalgic lately with all these posts about memories and things I have discovered but bear with me, please. These are happy memories and passing by these pictures in my hallway brings a smile to my face and helps me realize where I got my love of crafting and art.
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14 Comments
Leave a commentOh, how beautiful! I can imagine your feelings now. My mom didn’t have dementia, but as you watch them decline (mentally or physically), it’s just so difficult. I treasure everything I have that was my mom’s, as I’m sure you do.
I am sure you do treasure everything from your mom –especially since you lost her so long ago. Family history is becoming more and more important to me as I get older. 🙂
I love these two stitched wall hangings and I know you will treasure them. Mom loved to do crafts too, but she was left handed so when she tried to teach me to embroider, knit and crotchet I just couldn´t figure it out. She did teach me to sew though and I sewed a lot over the years. WE are lucky to have mom´s with a creative streak. xo
Oh wow–I would not even think about the whole left handed thing! That would be difficult to teach someone and to learn how to do it from the opposite side. I used to sew a lot as well but haven’t done much at all for ages. Chris got me a nice sewing machine a few years ago and I have not even cracked it open. I need to change that!
It’s very cool to have these mementos of earlier times. Always wish you and yours the best.
Thanks so much! We love being able to find and share all of these amazing chunks of family history. Hope you are doing well!
I understand the joy of owning something your mom stitched. For years Mom did counted cross-stitch, making pictures for each of her grandchildren. She had some projects which had not yet been given to anyone. But somehow they ended up in the “throw” pile when we quickly cleaned her house prior to her care center move. The process was done way too fast. So her art was lost, much to the dismay of many family members.
My mom also did a lot of counted cross stitch —she still has some pictures she did in her room in Memory Care that we will divvy up when she is no longer with us but these pictures were ones that she didn’t have room for. I can imagine that you were upset when you discovered that some of your mom’s precious stitching was tossed in error. I remember you had to do things pretty quickly and that is sometimes what happens when decisions have to be made immediately instead of having time like we did to sift through. I am sorry you were unable to get some of those pictures, though. That would make me sad as well.
My Mama was not a hobby person but she took care of her home, family and friends.in so many wonderful ways. I feel like she gave me her way of loving and caring about people. For that I will ever be thankful. I love these new treasures and memories in your home and know you will enjoy than for many years to come.
Your mom sounds like the perfect mom in all respects. I love that she was a caring and loving person and I think that got handed down to you!
I think it’s wonderful that you have these treasures and the blessed memories they provide. My mom was so good at any kind of craft and needlework – crochet, quilting, sewing, you name it, she good do it. So I definitely understand where you’re coming from. Thanks for sharing those sweet things with us.
Thanks for being so enthusiastic about my sharing! I just get excited about the things that remind me of family and that have meaning to me and this is a good way to “journal” about them. I think our memories of our crafty moms is something that we have in common.
These are beautiful. I have a cross stitch piece framed that my grandmother did in 1928. It’s something I would grab if the house was on fire.
Oh my goodness, Dawn. That would be one amazing thing to have from your grandma! Love that you have that piece of history.