just back from a weekend with the siblings at Dads. We made a start on sorting some of the accumulation of years of belongings and junk which hasn't been touched since mum died 18 months ago. It is rare for us all to be there at the same time.
In between clearing empty boxes, pharmacy bags, years worth of Christmas cards and some much more sensitive things such as a life time of mum's prosthesis , we also delighted in some of the more nostalgic things that we uncovered.
This lace work has bittersweet memories. Mum had taken up lacemaking as a hobby after we left home, and had been working on this Christening gown for some time when her first grandson was born. I was unaware of this, and I think it came as a bit of a shock to her when we indicated that we were not planning to get our son Christened! nevertheless, we arranged a family get together in honour of his arrival and it was decreed that he would wear this beautiful gown. The whole event was a disaster as it coincided with the announcement of my brother's separation from his new wife, and his heartbroken state was so troublesome to bear.
There were to be no other outings for the beautiful lacy gown. The quality of the work and painstaking care with which it was done, is only now appreciated, when she is gone. About this, I am deeply ashamed.
What beautiful work! So much love and effort in that kind of lace. Perhaps you could have the gown framed and display it? Seems like a piece of art to me!
There is so much emotion bound up with this work, it almost chokes me up to think about it. A collage is perfect for understanding the huge amount of work and beauty. Fav
Beautiful lacework and such a sad story. I remember the sadness when I cleared my Mum's house after she passed away. So many memories of times gone by.
I think we all have our stories of heartbreak and the sentimental journey of looking back and wishing we or someone else had done things differently. What is important is different for everyone. At least you see the beauty and appreciate the craftsmanship now, in your own time. This happens more often than you think and is a part of life's journey.
how beautiful is that lace!! so gorgeous and painstaking in it's production. loving the collage - a beautiful way to showcase your late mother's fabulous handiwork.
we all have tales of "if only.." "maybe i should have..." unfortunately the only way is to acknowledge that maybe we didn't always get things totally right and move on - we can only ever know the outcome of actions with hindsight and we can never get everything right - we are only human.. x
The days go by, today is going to yesterday. Much of it passes in the wind of the times, is lost. But some of yesterday is suddenly present again, loaded with meanings, thoughts, feelings... like by this lovingly made christening robe. There are things interwoven with our life, loving and suffering. Thank you for this touching story.
Thank you, dear Helen, for your kindly attention - so thoughtful, empathetic, cultivated. Forgive me that I thank you so late personally. At the moment, I am not very well, very much hinders me from breathing freely. Times are not easy. But there are treasures that no one can take from me - I see your pictures of the beautiful landscapes of your home and at the same time feel the beauties of your being. Yes - to feel like a friendship and then a bond.
So many dear greetings and wishes for you.
This is a beautiful collage of some gorgeous lacework. I was thinking that maybe a paler framework of the borders may look even better for the delicacy of the subject matter xx
@lindasees@ethelperry@onewing@gardenfolk@moonmtn@ziggy77@redandwhite@jerome@psychographer You have all written so thoughtfully and with so much empathy and I truly appreciate this. Thank you. Today, I learned that my Father put this gown in the washing machine by mistake after we had left (despite the most careful instructions regarding the items we had sorted). he says it is fine but I am fearful that this will not be the case. So the story gets more sad. I had been going to bring it home - but out of sensitivity to my sister who wants it written into a will, I left it at Dad's safely put in a drawer which he was asked not to touch. @lindasees I am now so anxious to assess the condition and retrieve it for prosperity. @ethelperry you are so right about the emotion @onewing the sorting business is indeed sad, and also difficult as there are tensions between us syblings - all with different viewponts. @gardenfolk thank you for your understanding - yes many of us are touched by similar experiences, @psychographer I knew that black wasn't best when I posted this, but tiredness is defeating me this week. I have tried in cream this evening, and you are right, this is much better. Thank you.
@jerome thank you so much for taking time to write such eloquent and perceptive words - especially at a time which is clearly so difficult for you. I am so sorry to hear that your health is not good and that these are troubled times for you. This brings sadness to me in great measure. I hope to hear of happier times before too long.
@helenhall Thank you for your kind words, Helen. It is nice to be near you by your thinking and feeling. I hope very much that the times are getting better again.
You are on my mind.
What a beautiful labor of love. I'm glad you photographed it before the accidental washing. I know the emotions you are dealing with having some similar items like that with my father's estate- particularly the flag given to us at his burial. My sister insisted we share it- taking turns with it and mailing it to one another. She was going to frame it. Knowing her as I do, it's probably in a box somewhere...sigh. One thing I have learned over the years concerning family treasures is that although it's wonderful to have something tangible in your hands, it can't replace the memory of the event or person attached to it. So you will always have the wonderful memory of your mother's determination to learn this art and her accomplishment of love. I do hope you'll discover it survived the washing machine but even if it isn't as perfect as it used to be, I'd still have it framed no matter whose wall it ends up on. It's a treasure for all to see.
@olivetreeann thank you for your kind words and understanding. One thing that I appreciate is that all three of us syblings know that the greatest thing our mother would want is for us to get on and enjoy each others company, so whilst there are tensions, we all strive to find a solution in the end.
we all have tales of "if only.." "maybe i should have..." unfortunately the only way is to acknowledge that maybe we didn't always get things totally right and move on - we can only ever know the outcome of actions with hindsight and we can never get everything right - we are only human.. x
Thank you, dear Helen, for your kindly attention - so thoughtful, empathetic, cultivated. Forgive me that I thank you so late personally. At the moment, I am not very well, very much hinders me from breathing freely. Times are not easy. But there are treasures that no one can take from me - I see your pictures of the beautiful landscapes of your home and at the same time feel the beauties of your being. Yes - to feel like a friendship and then a bond.
So many dear greetings and wishes for you.
@lindasees I am now so anxious to assess the condition and retrieve it for prosperity. @ethelperry you are so right about the emotion @onewing the sorting business is indeed sad, and also difficult as there are tensions between us syblings - all with different viewponts. @gardenfolk thank you for your understanding - yes many of us are touched by similar experiences, @psychographer I knew that black wasn't best when I posted this, but tiredness is defeating me this week. I have tried in cream this evening, and you are right, this is much better. Thank you.
You are on my mind.