This is the week I became a Grandma for the first time – 31yrs ago.
……Granny belongs to me – Nana belongs to my children…..
I’m Grandma to my children’s children
And if all goes well in a month’s time (last week in November) – I’ll become a GtGrandma …….for the fourth time.
There’s been lots of head scratching and thinking as to what I can make (not buy) as a welcome gift……which would usually be a knitted newborn ‘matinee’ set ‘cept this will be a ‘summer babe’ with both parents over 6’ tall who were big (9lb+) babies. The needles will be better used making winter woolies – size and sex will be known by then (parents are still adamant about not knowing the gender until baby is born.
’Our little girl’ suggested – “what about those hanging things”
Hanging things? – “The ones you made for Miss S”
Oh yes, I vaguely remembered x stitching some little wall hangings for the first baby – yes, the very same one above…..
Anyway I’ve made a start on one but by golly to get to this point has definitely been a lesson in patience.
Remember my recent admission of hanging onto stuff …..well that came in handy because I remembered I’d very carefully stored those charts away.
But where….
Teddy chart found, a little worse for wear so The Golfer scanned and printed a couple for me…..
Bother bother bother – nothing is ever straightforward….
……there were no thread numbers on the key.
So out came the ‘supplies’……
OK, I’ll admit to having an awful lot of threads/floss/silks to choose from😉
As you can see the bears are going to be darker than the original…..the instruments will be different as well. It wasn’t supposed to be that way, I found similar colours but decided otherwise in the end.
Corny as it sounds I’m definitely enjoying this refound feeling of contentment that hand stitching gives. Knitting is great but it’s constant movement whereas this is quieter, more precise. You’re attached to what you’re working on…..more involved.
I like it!
Just one drawback…..even on cool days …….I have to work outside
the eyes – the light
And not being a fan of audiobooks, I can’t read🙁
*******.
Oh, and what has become of Miss S….my first little one…..well……
I can assure you……‘she ain’t little anymore’
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It’s Wednesday so I’m linking to Wednesday Words & Whimsy….. click HERE to find out who dropped by
I’ll also be linking this to Kat’s featured post – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE.
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
Still Waters 
Congratulations!
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Thanks Dawn….this new life is a welcome one for the family concerned so we’re all hoping things go the way they should
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How time flies. I really like the look of your ‘hanging thing’ and am sure it will be treasured.
I haven’t tried audio books – and am not tempted. Which probably confirms my dinosaur status.
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I have trouble with narrators so my reluctance to use audiobooks (when I’m not sewing). I should try some podcasts then if I give up it’s not quite the same as giving up on a novel
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I love the stitching as well for much the same reasons. I don’t much use a pattern, but my preference is to just stitch what inspires me! It is a very good thing (but I am happy I do enjoy audio books!) That new baby will be a very welcome addition and your first is just gorgeous! And talented too! 🙂
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I don’t have the imagination for freestyle stitching Kat. Years ago dabbling in embroidery I had to use iron on transfers (you may not remember them) and ‘follow the lines’
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Both you and your great grand children are privileged to have each other in your lives.
I’ve listened to a few audio books before podcast were around and I enjoyed them.
What a fab dress. I guess she can dance.
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That was such a lovely thing to say Andrew…..I certainly feel privileged to have met the generations following on from me.
Like her grandma and her gtgrandma before her Miss S certainly loves to dance.
Although she has taken her love to greater heights. So many styles, so many levels reached, so many awards won.
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How very special for you Cathy – a great grandmother! This is such an exciting time for you all and your grandchild will have something very special made by you. Congratulations! #TeamWWWhimsy
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This little one will be a special one for the family concerned- we are all looking forward to its birth, hoping all goes well.
There’s a lot of love going into this birth sampler so I’m taking it slowly as I’d like it to be just right
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Congratulations on becoming a Great Grandmother times four. What an honor and a privilege. I love your description of stitching and the quieter kind of concentration. You put into words a feeling I have been having lately when hand stitching. I don’t believe anyone will care about the change in colors. Like you I seem to have all kinds of floss but never exactly the one called for in the pattern. Never mind. And that little gal. She has grown into a beautiful woman. What a joy.
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I’m wondering if perhaps a renewed interest in a ‘previous’ craft is what I need to put some pep in my life at the moment. Although stitching (in all forms- well maybe not machining) is peaceful and calming it will open my eyes and give me something else to think about.
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Wow… a GG 4 times over. That’s amazing. It’s fabulous you are making the new one a special hand made item. My Mom made my newest grandson a knitted blanket — it was the last item her sight allowed her to make — and I treasurer that connection. Take care. And your granddaughter looks so happy and content dancing!
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You are so lucky to be able to see and touch the last of your mother’s creations Bernie. I’m sure your ‘child’ will feel the same way and will convey that message to their son. Treasures don’t have to be expensive do they?
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And we all have Nanna blankets – knitted strips (crocheted together by my mother) that she did when she was in her 90’s and blind. We do treasure these as well.
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Hi Cathy, how wonderful to soon be a Great Grandmother for the 4th time! I think those cross stitches are gorgeous and will become family heirlooms. I made some of those for my twins nursery when I was pregnant with them. They’re stored away somewhere? What a beautiful young lady Miss S has become – and obviously with a love of dance! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
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lol even I’m becoming excited at the thought of cradling a really small babe. All those motherly instincts come to the fore- then babe is handed back to the ‘rightful owner’ for the parenting process to begin
The two pieces I showed had been stored away for a few years Min, so when I saw how grubby they’d become ( they were in open frames) I said I’d launder and reframe them under glass so they’ll last a while longer.
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Hi Cathy, exciting times come Ming for you and your family. Another great grand bubby is very special. When I was younger I loved embroidery but it’s been a few decades since I did it. I’m sure my eyes wouldn’t cope with it these days
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I’m taking it slowly Jennifer, not stitching for too long a time in one sitting – I definitely need good light to be able to place the needle in the correct spot
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Wonderful!!! Your little babe has turned into a beautiful woman!
I have done cross stitch in the past and I look at it now and again and think I would like to start something new. You obviously still have the skill and the will. The dancing bears are going to be lovely.
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Hasn’t she just Linda. She puts us oldies to shame with her love of life.
I’m enjoying this small project- not sure I could tackle anything larger at the moment though.
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Congratulations! How exciting!
My mother does a lot of cross stitching and always has, she’s very good at it. I’d never have the patience! Or.. my patience is just used elsewhere. These are great gifts for a newborn!
Looks like Miss S grew up to a strong woman!
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Hello Susanne. Thanks for your comment.
You are correct when you say embroidery (of any sort) takes patience….and yes I’m short of it at times. But this return to a craft I used to do years ago is proving quite enlightening – maybe age is the factor this time. Before I wanted to sew bigger and better, this time it’s to make something simple and enjoy the making.
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Hi Cathy, you reminded me of the cross-stitch birth samplers I made my daughters many years ago. The tempo of cross stitching is lovely but hard on the eyes at times. Lovely work and congrats. #Teamwwwhimsy
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I don’t think I’ll be going back to making full size samplers again Deb…….the eyes, yes the eyes. Because of that, as I mentioned I’m stitching outside- tried indoors with my craft light but somehow it didn’t do the trick.
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Oh gosh what a wonderful update..and families hey! I too chose to be Grandma and love it.
To date we have been told by one adult GD “no babies” grandma..OK…and as to the others, who knows!
I admit I have hung onto some items that our 8 grandchildren played with, a large dolls’ house and all the people and add-ons and they are here with us and Papa (B) make a beautiful rocking horse in 2006 that sits in a family member’s garage under wraps.
I love the love you are spreading with the lovely tiny items that are made by your hands.
Denyse #TeamWWWhimsy
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How fabulous to have all those keepsakes as reminders of childhoods not long gone. Hopefully some little babe/s will come along in the future and as with the rocking horse will be able to say….”my gt grandpa made that”
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