I thought I’d talk, for the moment, about my Mom. You’ve all seen my knitting and spinning, but, well, she doesn’t have a blog herself, and I thought I’d like to take a moment to show you some of the beautiful things she’s sewn. She used to do crewel-work, back when she and Dad were first married and it gave her relaxation and artwork for the walls at the same time. In the last 10-15 years, though, she’s started doing counted cross-stitch, and I thought I’d embarrass her by showing some of the artwork we have hanging around the house, courtesy of Mom . . . lest she ever think that she has less artistic talent than anyone else around here! (ahem)

First, the “Vineyard Wall”–all cross-stitches of Martha’s Vineyard-related pictures, all of which were purchased from the Heath Hen in Vineyard Haven. I know you can’t get a good look at any one picture, but they are lovely, and make a great collage of pictures.

This is the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs (Martha’s Vineyard)–Mom’s favorite place on the whole island. It was a joint project: one year when I was going up there without her, I sneakily asked, “If you had to name one favorite place, what would it be?” and then made a point to get a good photograph of it. I then got the photo blown up and charted the whole thing for her as a Christmas present that year. We had it framed with the original photo below, and it’s definitely one of Mom’s favorite pictures. All part of our house’s “Vineyard South” motto.

And, let’s not forget everyone’s favorite, animated mouse. I brought this chart back for Mom from Disney World one year (again, for Christmas). She has a refrigerator magnet with this picture, based on Norman Rockwell’s self-portrait, and I figured she would love the chart. (Which she did, and we got it framed just perfectly, don’t you think? Love that “splatter” frame!)

Then there’s this beautiful tapestry she made for me–elaborate and complex, I just love this! It’s hanging in my bedroom–the only other embroidered picture other than my Carl Larsson embroidery. (Sorry about the reflection.)

Let’s not forget this rather cool, retro crewel work that’s been hanging above our stairs since, I think, we moved into the house 29.5 years ago.

There’s also this “horse” corner in our guest room–although not actually sewn by Mom. The crewel-work Pegasus, unicorn, and carousel horse were all mine. (The pegasus–my favorite of the three–was the first full-sized embroidery I ever finished.) The cross-stitch carousel horses were, I believe, a gift from my sister to Mom . . . during her “carousel-phase” (because, you know, the Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs IS the oldest, still-running carousel in the Unites States!).

Tags: Family, General, Martha's Vineyard // 10 Comments »