Do you ever wonder, out of all of the things you make, which ones will still be around years from now? Do you wonder which things will be cherished and which will inspire another generation of crafters? Do you wonder what sort of craft legacy you are leaving behind?
I do. But then, I tend to be a thinky kind of gal.
Anyway, part of the craft legacy my mom will leave behind are the stockings she’s made for all of my kids. She’ll tell you that she doesn’t know where I got the craftiness because I didn’t get it from her. She can deny it all she wants but these prove that there is some craftiness in her.
It seems that she started making stockings right away because Tyler’s (he is the first/oldest grandchild) is dated 1988 and he was born in 1987. That means this stocking was sent to Germany, where we lived at the time, and then it made it back to the US again. It’s a well traveled, and well loved, stocking.
Ryan was the next grandchild followed two weeks later by my sister’s first. His stocking is dated 1991 and he was born in 1990. Which means this stocking spent its’ first Christmas in New Mexico.
Shane was the fourth grandchild and his stocking is dated 1993. Which means that “Nana” cranked this stocking out in a little less than 9 months to get it to her last grandson in New Mexico before Christmas.
While LeAnn is older than Shane by 2 months her stocking came last. Warren and I were married in 2000 and LeAnn’s stocking is dated 2001. I was a little uncertain how my family would take to having a step-grandchild but I knew our girl had been accepted into the family when she received her own stocking.
My kids truly cherish their stockings. I hang them on the mantle every year and they only get handled when the kids are taking their gifts out. Once emptied they get hung up again right away. Which is probably why even the 25 year old stocking still looks good.
Now that the kids are all moving out I’m trying to decide if/when I will give their stocking to them.
Maybe not for a while because I enjoy seeing them on the mantle almost as much as they do.
Oh wow, your mum was quick and did a fabulous job! I do cross-stitch and started making our family stockings when my son was born… he turns three this Friday and they’re still not done. This year they WILL hang from that mantel!
I keep saying I’m going to cross stitch stockings for my husband and myself but I’ve not gotten around to it. I hope you’ll share a photo of your finished stocking. I’d love to see it!
I started to think about this question and realized that in my family, the craft legacy actually started back at least 2 generations. My paternal grandmother hand made MY baptism gown, and I cherish it to this day! It may be that looking at that over the years made me want to do things for my own kids that would become heirlooms for them. My mom liked to crochet, so she made ponchos and hats for me and my cousins, which I *wish* I had now. I’ve done cross stitch pieces for my kids when they were born, felt applique Christmas stockings when they were a little older (and much like you, I don’t know when the right time to give them to them is!), and any number of things in between. I still hang their stockings each year (they’re 23 and 26 and are on their own), and they bring me joy every time I pull them from their tissue paper packing..
Looking forward, both my daughter and son are very creative, my son has many talents, but his artwork is amazing, and my daughter will do anything crafty, but her love is in quilting. Now there’s some heirlooms, right?
Hi Micki,
I think this is one of my all-time-favorite blog comments. Thank you! I love being able to see the generations of creativity in your family and I can see that there will be many creative generations to come. I can see how much you treasure the handmade items you hold and that they bring back fond memories. That’s what it’s all about. Creating for others, cherishing the creations of others and passing it along whenever you can.
Best of everything to you in 2014!
Vicki
Your mom sewed love into each stitch. I’ve seen a lot of cross stitch but your mom’s is the best I’ve ever seen. It looks almost the same on the inside as it does on the outside. They are all a piece of art.
Yes, she does good work. 🙂
Tyler was bragging to his girlfriend about his stocking and it made me think about how much they mean to the kids and how much work she put into them all.
Yes I do! I have been crocheting for almost forty years now (and I’m not 50 yet!), but I have a legacy of afghans and baptism gowns. One particular baby afghan, a rainbow pattern designed by Helen Passey for Leisure Arts in 1981, I’ve made that pattern over 200 times now! There are a few other favorites, including a v-stitch shell pattern that’s been made close to 100 times for weddings and as prayer shawls. My hope is to journal what ones I can remember, and from now on write down the others as I make them.
In addition to yarn, I’ve become a “bead-a-holic” and in the last seven years I’ve made hundreds of rosaries. Swarovski crystals are my favorite, with a custom design pattern I’ve created (…working on launching it as a business as I’m writing here now!), followed closely but other requests for team-themes and just letting children choose their beads. I’ve also begun to research more about the various chaplets.
My studio overflows with creative materials, a 30+ year library of many arts and patterns, and is the focus of my home and my life. I have “art in my heart” and try to share it whenever I can. Will teach groups or one-on-one because I believe it is so important to keep these arts alive! Creating, for me, is wonderfully therapeutic and fulfilling.
Creatively yours,
Christine O
WoW! Christine, you certainly have created many wonderful things. I can’t begin to imagine creating the same thing over 200 times. I’m impressed! 🙂 I’m also glad to hear that you share your creativity. I can’t begin to imagine how many people have been touched by your talents. Well done. 🙂
Vicki