And now, for something a little different !
My mother made this rug when she was very elderly (let's not go there.........she was probably younger than I am now....) She was a widow, didn't drive and spent a lot of time at home , spending her time doing a variety of creative work. She crocheted these little flowers and then sewed them onto a woollen background. Not everybodies taste, but I treasure it and it sits well just by my front door. She said she thought I might be missing the wild flowers of England....
Last year I decided it was looking a little tired, so started to remove the flowers to wash them. DH suggested that I took it to be dry cleaned instead ! What a good idea ? It saved me hours !
I love it dearly and will always treasure it.
posted by Marion in NZ. @ 9:27 PM
9 Comments:
what a host of lovely memories in your rug.You will remember your mother every time you enter the house. My mother didn't do housework but embroidered , knitted ,crocheted fantastic lace and lots of other things each and every day. I have a cloth in which the linen has rotted away but the lace is still really good.I have found some really fine cotton which I am transfering the cloth onto then I will cut away the original fabric and hopefully be able to use the cloth. I also have an echru satin stitched with a coffee colour. THis was purchased in Maderia in 1937 for 15/- She used to go on a cruise each year and had lots of momentos.She was also on a trip to Norway when the war started and they had to come home very quickly.
Marion, that rug is an incredible example of handwork. I wonder if you have a local museum in Christchurch (if it wasn't damaged as well in the earthquake) that it could eventually be donated to. Mind you, I'll bet your two daughters may be interested in it and in some way, it would be nice to see it go back home to the UK and Scotland. It's beautiful and the handwork is amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us. It's unique.
Rosey
Ahhh....thank you ladies.
I have probably undervalued this rug, ( a tendancy , when the work is done by a family member..ask me how I know ?!?) I'm not sure that either of our girls see it as anything special. When my mother sent it (by sea mail) it arrived in a plastic rubbish bag ! DD#1, who lives in Scotland and Hong Kong, will be here for a few days at the end of the month so I'll ask her what she thinks of it... I have another rug, shall I take a photo of that one too ? Perhaps we should post photos of "special things..I'd love to see some of your mother's work Bee...
Oh Marion, what a beautiful rug! This is an exquisite work of art. (I do not think I could bear to walk on it.)
If any of your family do not want it and you are in the mood to toss it, I will gladly send you the funds for shipping and postage!!!
Goodness me ! My mother would be overwhelmed with all of this international acclaim !! Of her three daughters I really think I was the only one who valued the rug ! Eldest sister dumped hers when she moved house and middle sister enjoyed hers but her only son dumped it when she died and the DBIL moved to a smaller house!!
Yes, Marion, I agree - this is a precious heirloom you have. It is absolutely beautiful!! Bee, Graham's grandmother did crochet lace also, and his mum gave me a long roll of it (about 10 cm wide) when we visited them once in NZ. When DS#1 got married I used it as a border for a small tablecloth for his wife. Graham was devastated when the marriage broke up and I didn't feel as if I could ask for it back from ex-DIL. Happily, when we were going through son's possessions this month (we had the honour of keeping them for him while he travelled and moved from flat to flat) we found said tablecloth with lace still attached. Now to decide what to do with it!
We are at an age many of us here who are beginning to think of where our personal possessions that we've acquired over our lifetime will go. Thinking is the stage I'm at, cleaning out happens in a very minor way...I'm not yet ready to let go of the things that surround me and give me pleasure yet but I hope I have that chance of time to deal with some of it.
Marion, your mother's rug is an incredible feat in hand sewing and creativity. How many 'women's work' goes into families unappreciated and undervalued. My son was so excited to have his daughter's quilt finished, wrapped it up careful and put it under the Christmas tree...she had been bugging me for months to finish it...when she tore the paper off it, that was it....no interest in it whatsoever. What a let down for me; for my son, the quilt is now on the guest room bed, not hers. I think he realizes the lack of interest on her part. Much like what has happened to your mother's rugs with your sisters. The rug is a treasure. To me, it actually should hang on a wall somewhere or be preserved in a country museum.
Rosey
Interestingly Rosey, my mother suggested hanging the rug on a wall. I was anxious about that as it is heavy. I had this spot by the door, which never gets direct sunlight, and where people do not walk, so decided to put it there..
Yes, I'm sure we could all list disappointment where hand made gifts are concerned. In my spinning days, I spun a very fine merino wool and then knitted a baby shawl for our first grandchild... DD#1 was living in HK at the time and her "live in" help put it in the washing machine ! It ended up looking like cardboard and about the size of a pillowcase ! The following six grandchildren all got shawls but they were made of machine washable, two ply, bought wool !
What an incredibly beautiful, full of family memories rug! Thank you so much for sharing it with everyone. :-)
Mary in Oregon
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