During the school holidays I was babysitting all 3 grandchildren.
Usually I only have the littlest Riley for 2 days a week (and Lachlan and Chloe occasionally after school) but as you can see by his little face in the photo below he was sick.
Chloe and Lachlan sat with him on the sofa watching TV. They had my Gran's crocheted rug on their knees.
It got me thinking about my Gran and the influence she had on my life.
Here is a photo of her in the mid 1960's. She died in 1968 when I was 14I visited her nearly every day as she lived just around the corner and had a wonderful relationship with her
She was always busy making something.
She crocheted this lovely rug
I remember her pulling about old sweaters and washing and rewinding the wool to use in the rug. Many a time I sat at her feet with my hands out stretched to wrap the wool.She also made this hexagonal quilt that sometimes lays at the bottom of my bed
Most of the fabrics in this quilt were from clothes that could no longer be repaired, scraps from sewing even the occasional tie. I love looking at it and remembering which fabric came from my own clothes
Such lovely colours
I love seeing her hand stitching.So many memories. She used to have newspaper templates that the fabric would then be hand stitched onto. Then the hexagons would be sewn together . Once it was finished the newspaper would be pulled out.
I beleive that her love of creating influenced me with the crafts I enjoy today
I can only hope that my grandchildren will remember me with as much love as I remember my Gran
29 comments:
Oh Alison what WONDERFUL memories you have to carry with you....THANK YOU for sharing them....I LOVE your granny blanket & your quilt....I wish I was so lucky to have tactile reminders of my own nanna....!
Have a GREAT week....!!
Cheers,
Tamarah :o)
Poor Riley doesn't look to good :(
My grandma lived just down the road on the family dairy farm, so I saw her nearly everyday too. There are so many memories, I am glad that I took my sons to visit her often at the nursing home and Ty called her "Grandma in the nursing home", the other grandma's are "Grandma up hill" and "Grandma down hill". Kids keep it sweetly simple LOL!
Those are such beautiful memories you have of your Grandma. What lovely things she made and how wonderful that her great great grand children are using them now. A lovely, lovely post!
How lovely that the children are wrapped in your grandma's love, long after she's left our world.
Peaceful day,
Julia~
Such wonderful memories of your Gran and how wonderful to have the tangible reminders.
Karla
awwww what a sweet post...
I never got to meet my grandma... so I love to hear stories like this...
I am sure you grandkids will have their own special memories of you
JO
XO
Such a touching tribute to your grandmother. Hanging in my closet is a blouse that my mother often wore. I even have pictures of her in it. After she died, I would go to my closet and stand there with the blouse up to my nose, sniffing in the essence of her, as if to feel her presence beside me one more time. Cherish those precious heirlooms.
Liz
That's a beautiful post about your grandmother Alison. Sometimes life gets so busy that we forget to reflect. Beautiful memories and keepsakes - thanks for sharing them.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
I never new either of my Nannies - you have some beautiful memories of yours and I can see you've inherited her creative streak!
Just think there will soon be another little Grandchild snuggled up on the couch very soon!
Let's hope the Town House is finished in time!! I didn't know we were getting yet another Op shop...how many will that make now?
How lucky you are to have these beautiful pieces.
Alison, your post makes me cry, but in the nicest way possible! You are a lovely grandmother, those dear wee children will treasure their memories of you! Such lovely memories of your grandmother, love the crochet blanket and funnily I have a similiar quilt that my grandmother made! Grandmothers are treasures! Rachaelxo
What a touching post. I didn't see my grandmothers as much as you did, but I have very vivid memories from each of them. I love the way you speak of your grands. I am very close to mine, they mean the world to me.
What a lovely post, and I'm sure you are creating those same sorts of wonderful memories for your own darling grandchildren! They look so very happy to be with you.
I have a crocheted bedspread that my Nan made and I treasure it and the fact that I got to see her almost every day!
Kat :)
I love this post! Grandma's are the best....you are creating special memories for them....
I loved hearing your wonderful memories of your grandmother. How lucky you are to have some family heirlooms of hers.
Your grandchildren are little cuties!
Thanks for sharing!
~ Jo :)
What a sweet post Alison...I teared up a bit. How awesome that you have such wonderful memories of your Gran. I too have wonderful memories of my Grandma...through her I developed a love for the art of sewing...I do miss her. Thank you for sharing such a beauitful post with us. Have a wonderful day.
Hugs and Kisses,
♥Ana
What a wonderful memory you have of your Grandma! To have things that she made is a wonderful thing too! My Grandma made all of our clothes for us and doll clothes too. I keep those things to remind me of her!
All those memories wrapped in beautiful creations made by your Grandmother. I often think then when we think of our loved ones who have passed on that they are around us. My Gram used to crochet, and I have several of her blankets and hats that she made for me and my girls.
There is something so special about a creation that someone made by hand, especially when it is created by your Grandmother.
Karen
P.S. From the looks on those cute little faces sitting on your couch, I am sure they feel about you, the same way you felt about your Grandmother.
The Rug is sooo wonderful!! And I
Love love love the Quilt !!
Have a great day!
Kram Mia
Poor Riley it's horrible when kids are sick but at least he had some company. My son is sick at the moment vomitting all day today. I feel helpless. What great memories you have of your grandma who was very talented and I love seeing photos of other peoples old blankets and quilts. My grandma taught me how to crochet and we made a granny square bedspread for my bed when I was 15. I still have it now and the kids use it on the couch at night holes and all. One day I will get around to repairing it before they find a lose strand and unravel it. I'll post some photos when I get a chance. Take care Carol
I love that hexagonal quilt! How special! This is exactly why I started getting into handmade fiber projects for my family. There is something so special about handing down a quilt or handmade stuffed animal. I have the quilts that my great-grandmother made and they are so precious to me. I hope that someday, Noodlebug will be able to point to the various quilts and knitted blankets I have made him and be able to say, "My mom made that!"
-Amy
Crafting by Candlelight
You are very blessed to have the pieces that your grandmother made. They are beautiful.
Long live crocheted granny squares and grandmas, they add so much value and colour to a child's life. Hope your little one is feeling better soon.
what a great post Alison!
For sure we are the product of our upbringing - what we saw as kids we took in.
Love that rug your grandmother crocheted, it's in fantastic condition.
Your quilt - oh my! I have one SO similar - I nearly fell over when I found it at a garage sale for $4. I figured the person who made it, if they had passed away, would be turning in their grave if they saw how little their work was valued.... my mum put a new backing on it and new binding and it looks just like your grandmother's and is now looked after. The design being hexagonal almost looks like a "grandmother's garden" quilt (google it for images, you'll see what I mean). How apt that your grandmother made it.
Poor Riley, hope he is feeling better now!
That is a beautiful post. I must come and visit more often.
Suz
Such a special post Alison. I just love the photos of your Grandmother and her work - thank you so much for sharing these ...
Alison, your grandkiddos are darling, especially the one where they're cuddled up with your Grandmothers crocheted rug! I also love that you use to go visit her almost everyday, I can only imagine how she lit up when she saw you, how very special that was! Thanks for visiting my blog post of my kids wedding! Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs
So neat to read about the memories of you and your gramdmother. I loved seeing her quilt and rug that she created adn hearing about her. It made me think of my own mother and her constant creating and how very much I miss it.
I love this Alison! I was very close to my grandmother too, and she taught me how to sew. I remember sitting with her in the bedroom and chatting with her or just watching her sew on the old treadle sewing machine. I clicked on some of the quilt photos and could see your grandmothers beautiful stitching, such perfect, even stiches! What a treasured legacy our grandmothers leave us:>)
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