Connected by a Thread

I come from a long line of women who were skilled with a needle.  For generations, women in my family wove, quilted, embroidered, tatted and did drawn work in linen.  I grew up admiring their exquisite work as place mats, table cloths,  bureau scarves and quilt tops.

Fan Quilt top, circa 1895. Silk, velvet and embroidered with silk thread. Made by my Great-Great Grandmother, Susan Elizabeth Walker (1840-1910).

Those beautiful linens made with loving care surrounded me. To see them soothed not only my eye, but my heart with their beauty.  To touch them connected me to my inheritance...a sense of belonging.  They spoke of great grandmothers and grandmothers who loved and cared for their families, and that message echoed down through time to me. They took the time to make these treasures of practical beauty. That's how much they loved!

 My Mom loved me, too.  She taught me to sew at 10 and my sister Barbara taught me to embroider at 11. I fell in love with fabric, needle and thread.

Though my Mom didn't do much sewing, she was more than capable, and could do amazing things with fabric, needle and thread when she did.

I remember an Easter cape she made for me without a pattern from a skirt from her trousseau.  I loved that cape...navy blue and fully lined, with slash openings trimmed in white woven braid, and a white frog at the neck. I felt beautiful and special when I wore it.

46 years later, I'm more in love with fabric and beautiful things than ever.

Its in my blood!