Handiwork in the Breakfast Room

Several posts ago, I shared with you our little wicker set up for the Breakfast Room. I meant to share this picture within the next day or two of that post, but never did get it up. These pieces of handiwork hang on the other wall that creates a litlle hallway into our master bedroom and each one reminds me of a special lady in my life.

This embroidered picture of two deer was made by my mom on one of her trips to Albuquerque to visit my grandmother. In my grandmother's later years, Mom would go visit for a week or two and clean her house from top to bottom, and do any other chores that needed doing. She always had plenty of time for handiwork in the evenings. So this reminds me of both my mom and grandmother (we called her Granny).

This one was made by my sweet Rachel when she was 10 or 11 years old. We did this fun craft project one summer, of painting on fabric with foam stamps. We made LOTS of gifts for their teachers and all of our extended family. She surprised me by putting MY name on this little banner - one of her finest pieces that I had encouraged her to save for herself. This one reminds me of the fun we had together, and my sweet generous girl.

This is one that I embroidered as a birthday gift for my mother-in-law. She LOVED birds, and after she passed away, this came back to me. I regret that I only had her for one year after we were married, and that my kids never had the chance to know her. I know God's timing is always perfect, but that doesn't mean that everyone once in awhile I don't think "if only".

This last one was given to me by my friend Charlotte. It is a needlepoint that Charlotte had in a purse for many years, and had taken it out once the purse wore out. Charlotte is the sweetest little lady that I adopted. She is 93 years young, weak in body but sharp as ever mentally. She was a thrifter and collector and antique reseller when her beloved husband Bob was alive. After Bob passed away, she was mostly just a collector. She had a very hard time parting with anything that reminded her of him, and just about everything did. She lives in an assisted living facility now, and many, many of her things have gone to friends and family. She still has her antique postcards, and her salt cellars. I set those up for her in a beautiful little curio cabinet and she still gets to look at them daily.

So there it is, my breakfast room vignette, tribute to several important ladies in my life. (The other special lady not represented her would be my sister, Jodi. I have some of her handiwork in other spots of my house.)

Lots of Love, Pam

*edited to add: the beautiful light blue satin glass vase in the last post (Easter) was also a gift from Charlotte.