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At Grandma's knee

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(1-7 of 7)
Discussion Started on Feb 18 2008 at 02:14:09 pm
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At Grandma's knee

Some of my happiest memories revolve around weekends at my grandparents.  Grandma would make outfits for my dolls, things that, even as a child, I realized couldn't be bought at any store downtown.  No, what she made was special!  I learned a few simple stitches from her, but too soon I was off and grown, and crocheting was put on the back burner, replaced by more 'modern' crafts like cross stitch, crewel, quilting and lastly, beading. My fascination with each new craft was deep, and I'd throw myself into them 100%.  Yet, something was missing, and I'd eventually tire of what had appealed to me just yesterday.  I kept thinking about crochet, but it was still 'old fashioned' to me, not something I'd want to take up.  Finally, I gave in, bought some yarn and a hook, and I found my home.  I can toss a skein of yarn and a hook into my purse, take it anywhere, or sit quietly, talking with my husband, and make something while conversing.  Crochet has filled that void that other crafts never did.  With the yarn and hook, I feel like grandma is looking down at me, smiling with the knowledge that with every stitch I make, a part of her is with me.  Thank you grandma!
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    Discussion Started on Jun 30 2008 at 11:10:07 pm
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    It's surprising what  early exposure to any craft can lead to.  I recall when my grandkids were much smaller and I took some sticks out of my yard clippings and put them to work wrapping a rough cross with colored yarns to make God's-eyes which we planted in the garden near favorite plants.  Another year it was hand sewn quilts for dolls and drawstring purses.  They all sew now that they're grown, even the boys can accomplish simple mending and pants shortening.  I was surprised to see little God's-eyes in one of their gardens this summer, what a strange thing to remember from our summers together!
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    • Last Online: Dec 31 1969
    Discussion Started on Jul 01 2008 at 07:39:17 am
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    What a nice story!  Thanks for sharing!  Isn't it a wonderful feeling when your kids and grandkids continue the activities you shared with them years ago! 

    Vickie

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    Discussion Started on Jul 18 2008 at 02:50:04 pm
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    I have a similar story.  The first craft I learned was knitting.  My mother took it up when my first nephew was born and she taught me as she learned.  I was 5 when I started out.  Then I started learning other crafts - crocheting, quilting, needlepoint, cross-stitch and crewel.  As I got older, I stopped knitting and crocheting and just concentrated on the counted cross-stitch and quilting.  In the last few years, my focus has changed and I have taken up knitting again.  I find it is like a Zen to me and a great stress reliever.  Now I am doing knitting exclusively.  It's funny how you sometimes come full circle.  Thanks for sharing your story!
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    Discussion Started on Jul 18 2008 at 06:40:35 pm
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    It would be interesting to find out how many of us started with one craft as kids, then moved on, only to return to that first craft.   I'm doing duct tape purses/wallets, and learning paper mache, but the things next to my chair are the yarn and hooks! 

    Vickie

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    Discussion Started on Jul 02 2009 at 01:06:49 pm
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    I enjoyed reading everyone's stories!  It brought me back to when I was a young girl and my Mother taught me to sew, first by hand and then she let me use her machine!  I would make doll clothes and then moved on to make clothing for myself. I took home ec. in high school for the sewing classes!  After Mom's machine began to have problems, I gave sewing up for awhile, only to pick it back up again as an adult when I purchased my first sewing machine!  Now she and I are making clothing items for dolls to sell!  (Currently we have a store on ebay.) I have a lot of fun putting together different ideas, now if I could only take my sewing machine to work!! :)   My granddaughters love being creative as well, so I plan to teach them to sew as well!  I have tried several different crafts over the years, cross-stitch, jewelry making, ceramics, etc. but like some of you, I've come full circle too!  

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    Discussion Started on Jul 09 2009 at 11:43:17 pm
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    Going to see my grandparents was the most special memory of my childhood.  They lived on a farm in Harmony, Mississippi.  This farm came complete with a smoke-house to hang the hams for winter, a wonderful watermelon patch (rinds used for making "pretend" false teeth), a  T-model Ford play house, chickens raising their families and a very mean rooster!  The rolling store traveled the mud roads for folks to buy thread, stamps, basic essentials as well as treats for children.  I earned many nickels in anticipation of a sweet lollipop or a bottled drink.  These were my barefoot days when fishing for "crawdads", using spit straws to raise the "doodle-bugs" from their tunnels, and building toad houses in the thick green moss were worth every mosquito bite and spooky story in the outdoor cyclone shelter.  The shelter was mostly underground, had a tin roof and a very black interior where spiders felt safe.  The family, consisting of my grandparents and their eight living children taught me the importance of love and doing what must be done to get where you want to go.   Can you imagine that all eight children went to college?  Can you also imagine the hard work, the logging, the crossties, the butter churned, the dresses sewn for others, eggs, milk and vegetables planted, tended and sold?  Ahhhh, there was also the cane mill where mules walked hundreds of circles as they turned the press that released that wonderful sugar-cane juice.  We would drink our fill and then the rest was boiled in a huge vat where it foamed golden bubbles until molasses formed.  On Sundays we could watch the baptism of those who accepted Christ and weren't afraid of the muddy water of the Suenlovie Creek (the one with the spooky at your own risk bridge!). 

    Time for bed, but I have other stories.  I loved my grandparents and the time I was given to be with them.

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