Something for Auntie Bev

What fun these hand towels were to do!  I was fortunate to have a large family of Aunts & Uncles that loved me dearly and spoiled me--almost rotten!  Auntie Bev was my dad's baby sister--his only sister.  She always had everything perfect and had just the perfect touch to add to a room or gift she'd brought.  Mom told me I was born when she was in the 8th grade and she loved me dearly.  On her Sr. trip rather than buying a souvenier for herself she brought home something for me!

She and Uncle Donnie always gave just the right present for birthdays & Christmas. My favorite had to have been the white soft, bulky knit sweaters I got for Christmas.  I felt like a princess wearing them!  They had no children until I was finishing the 8th grade.  What a delight for them to have Nancy and quickly thereafter, David came along.  I was fortunate to be able to go and 'help' for a week after their children were born.  My 'payment' was a paisley soft side suitcase!  40 years later, I still have it! Today it's filled with the first blankets & special outfits from my  4 children.

In her 40's, Auntie Bev was diagnosed with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.  Even that difficulty didn't slow her down.  She got a scooter when she could no longer walk & worked in the continuing education dept. of her town's school.  Now, though, Uncle Donnie is gone and she needs significant care.  She has her own apartment, but has several care givers that come to help with her various needs.  She asked if I could make some towels to go with their Christmas/New Year bonus.  I was so thankful she asked!  I laughed through the making of them thinking of how she would take on over each one.  I could hear her voice--in my mind--saying "Hand over the chocolate--and no one gets hurt."

I loved  doing these for her and already have it on my caledar to do some more in the spring!  I am so very thankful that God ordered my life in such a way that she was a great part of it. When I read Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones." I think of her example of a merry heart and am so thankful I've had it to have it to enjoy!

Grandma's Sewing Room

"What a name for a business!" I've heard that a few times when I've given my business name. Old fashioned, I know but I have great memories from my Grandma's sewing room. I have 2 grandmothers that were proficient seamstresses. Some of their sewing was of necessity, but they had a love for it that was seen in the things they used fabric for.

My grandma Edythe, died just before I turned 5. I'm the only one of the grandchildren with memories of her. I would walk across our small town each day after she was confined to bed with cancer. We would go through the magazine she had by her bed and I would pick my favorite picture. She then helped me cut it out and we'd glue it in a 'book'. I heard about things she made. I cherish a small white porcelain goose pin cushion and the sewing chair that were hers.

My grandma Elizabeth was a prolific seamstress and had a definite artistic flair. I have wonderful memories of her sewing long flannel nightgowns for each granddaughter every winter--and of course, pajamas for the grandsons. She made wonderful costumes, pep club uniforms, formals, winter coats--anything with fabric. Many times she would lay fabric on the bed in the room connected to her small sewing room. I was to stand still in the middle of the room. On her command, I would raise my arm, put it down, turn around for as long as she needed. She would then turn and begin cutting--many times with no pattern--to make clothes that FILLED my closet. I was just daring enough that I would wear about anything she made. During the late '60's I had the first 'granny' dress in town and the first maxi coat. When there was a new style to her liking, I got an outfit!

When my sewing business began, I thought I'd be sewing mostly baby things. Now that I'm a grandma to 7 of the most wonderful children you'd ever meet, Grandma's Sewing Room seemed an appropriate name. I hoped my grandchildren would have wonderful memories of my sewing room. But my business soon exploded in directions I hadn't dreamed. I do custom machine embroidery and all kinds of sewing: Home Dec, wedding, childrens, alterations and even some mending once in a while! Probably the largest, most unusual thing I've made is an organ and bench cover for our church. Since there was no pattern that had to be designed first!

Through the years I've sewn for all of my immediate family: pajamas, shirts, dresses, costumes, formals. Long ago, I even made a sports coat for my husband! Many of those things I've wished I'd have kept, but life was busy and the house seemed too small to keep all those things, so they are long gone.

I've taught sewing in the Christian school where I taught for 15 years. I taught K4 but during rest time a teacher's aid would stay with the children while they rested and I taught sewing to high school students. I loved it.

I will endeavor to use this blog as a way to show some of the things I am currently working on. As I begin, I will post pictures of some of the things I've made in the past. You can see many--but not all-of these things on my current website: www.grandmassewing.com. Most of the things I do are custom, so if you have an idea for something you'd like, send me an email and I'll be glad to consider it.

Please do come back and visit again. I'm still 'learning the ropes' of blogging, so please have patience. I hope to hear from you!

Marci