Looking to the past

When my great grandmother had to give up sewing, I inherited her stash of machines and fabric and other goodies, and she had a lot let me tell you. I found these pieces (pictured below) that she hand embroidered tucked in her sewing basket. I assume that she was probably going to make pillows or something with them. I also found her sewing measuring tape and about a million pins and zippers and all sorts of other paraphernalia, some of which  I had to research to see what it was and how to use it (like pattern stuff). I still have her sewing machine, a Singer Touch and Sew, that at the time was top of the line and cutting edge and was really a turning point in what machines could do with decorative stitching and other helpful features. I bet she sewed a million miles of thread on that machine.
The machine still works and I keep it tucked neatly in its cabinet for safe keeping. I fire it up about once a year just to put it through the paces and if something breaks, I take it in to have it serviced. I have my sewing machine sitting on top of the closed cabinet so that when I sew I sit down at the very same sewing table that she did when she sewed. I really think that I got my creativity from her and my (grand) mom through the trickle down theory. Some of it was learned, but I really think that most of it is just genetic. I finally got around to framing these pieces to hang on the wall in my office. I'm searching for just the right spot of honor, but I'm sure she'd think that any old place was fine. I really think that she watches over me with my sewing creativity and though hand embroidery isn't  really my cup of tea, I find it interesting that we both found sewing relaxing.

In loving memory of my Gangy