Thursday, April 23, 2015

Aha Moment....Handkerchiefs!


I've been pondering for quite a while now how to honor my Dad. In fact, it always seems to be in the back of, if not on, my mind most of the time. Lots of mulling...about what form a series of pieces dedicated to him would take.

I don't know if I subconsciously took in the fact that one of the students in my Patching, Stitching, Weaving: Creating Healing Cloth workshop was using her mother's collection of decorative hankies to honor and explore her relationship with her mom. But...all of a sudden it hit me....handkerchiefs!!!

My Dad always had a handkerchief in his pocket...even in the last days of his life. It was a part of who he was... It became so obvious to me that cotton handkerchiefs could be the format for this series about him.

I asked my Mom, on my most recent visit, if she had saved any of Dad's handkerchiefs. She hadn't, but fortunately Amazon had a packet of nine white cotton ones, which I immediately purchased!

Now to wash them and start stitching. I have a number of ideas and it's great to have a format. I still have to decide if I want them to be colorful stitched pieces or more monochromatic...or I can try both!

I'm looking forward to starting on this personal project...I can see the possibility of it going on for a long time.

6 comments:

  1. This post brought a memory of making monogrammed linen handkerchiefs as gifts for my Dad over the years ... I wonder if my brother still has them.

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    1. Hi Liz- Wishing that my Mom had kept some of my Dad's but they were really not special (no monograms!). I will have to make my own connection with my memories of Dad while stitching on these. It continues to amaze me how cloth can elicit deep memories and connections.

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  2. I have several hankie projects on the go....my gran's and my nana's - such gorgeous old linens!

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    1. Hi Allison...sounds like some awesome projects! Any photos?

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  3. What a great inter-generational connection! Can't wait to see what you do with them... I imagine lots of meditative stitching :)

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    1. Hoping so, Carol. Had my Stitch-In group yesterday and talked a bit about approaches to pieces...planned or unplanned. I may start somewhat unplanned. Perhaps meditating on my Dad and then just seeing where the stitching goes!

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