OK, I am not quite sure if 1981 counts as vintage, but at almost 30 years old, I think it’s close enough.
This was stitched by my mom in 1981, when I was just 3 years old:
Mom took up cross stitching back in the late 1970s, I think when I was a little fetus in her belly a baby (Mom, feel free to comment if I get any of the facts wrong, and I will correct them). She took a cross stitch class at a little store near our home in Alabama from a neighbor. - a store that we often visited in my childhood so my mom could get her supplies – her aida, her floss, her patterns, etc…
Without my mom, I don’t know that I would have gotten started in embroidery. It would in the least been much more difficult. She is an excellent resource, and has provided a bit of a foundation – she tried to teach me cross stitch when I was in my early 20s, but I wasn’t ready to devote time to it. And I prefer surface embroidery, while fitting in the occasional small cross stitch project. My mom, as you can see, prefers larger cross stitch projects – the above is actually one of her smaller ones.
I loved this one when I was a kid, so Mom gave it to me. This sampler hangs in my home today, in my kitchen, right next to the door. I see it every day. It’s both a comfort and an inspiration to see all those perfectly detailed stitches, and know the time and care she put into it.
Posted by Cindy on November 2, 2009 at 10:09 am
My mom has that exact sampler hanging in her kitchen.
Posted by vintageaddict on November 2, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I think it is wonderful that you are pursuing embroidery. I look forward to checking in on your blog as you have some very interesting links and information that seem helpful. Judi
Posted by tnemily on November 3, 2009 at 8:41 am
Thank you!
Posted by bookwormbethie on November 7, 2009 at 4:38 pm
what a wonderful story. my mom used to do needlepoint (??) which i’m not sure what the means but i think she worked with yarn (??) she made this beautiful unicorn scene and a day-of-the-week with girls dressed up in different outfits. i loved that little girl piece, all the stitchy texture, and their hair was sorta 3d, it was/is very cool. i’ll have to take some pics next time i visit as even though my folks have taken over my old bedroom by storing all their stuff in my closet and drawers, most stuff is still hanging on the walls.
i stumbled into embroidery all on my own, which eventually led me to pursue sewing. i do remember my mom knitting when i was a child but i had no interest then
Posted by tnemily on November 7, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I looked up needlepoint just the other day, bethie, and think it is with a yarn. I think a form of needlepoint uses plastic canvas. That’s awesome that your mom made you things like that – my mom cross-stitched a dollhouse once – she worked on it right in front of my eyes, and I had no clue it was for me. I was so thrilled when I got it. I think it was for my birthday. She also did some ballerinas in different colors that I really treasured.