A Tribute

What is a tribute?  According to the dictionary it is:  

• a gift, testimonial, compliment, or the like, given as due or inacknowledgment of gratitude or esteem.

This tribute had it's beginnings during my teen years.  I spent a couple of weeks with my Aunt & Uncle, during the summer.  During that time, my Aunt took the time to teach me how to sew.  I made a skirt.  Nothing fancy, but it was the beginning of my love of sewing.  She was patient and worked with me, showing me how to measure and cut fabric, follow the directions of the pattern and piece together the skirt. Thank you Joan Gadde, for investing your time with me.

My Grandmother, Alice, was someone else who had in impact on me.  She taught me how to do Cross Stitch and needlepoint. She also spent time, on several occasions, trying to teach me how to knit.  For me, that is a lost cause.  No talent for knitting, but, the work that she has done over the years is awesome.  She made several sweater sets for me, when I was expecting my first son, which were also used by all the other children I have.  She also encouraged my sewing, as a teen, by purchasing a pattern and fabric for me to make myself an outfit.

My other Grandmother, Alys, was gifted as well.  She had watched a woman creating lace, while riding the subway to work.  As she watched this woman, she began to learn the same art of Tatting.  Tatting is a form of lace work, which makes pretty doilies as well as lace trim for all types of clothing, pillow cases or what have you.  She Tatted the trim for one of my hand made outfits, to dress it up.  As she was doing that, I sat next to her and learned how to Tat, myself.  My mother also learned this talent and had trimmed numerous handkerchiefs that she carried in her purse (as was the custom, back in the 60's).                                                                                                  

                                                   

I love to sew.  I love to see the finished product and these women were instrumental in teaching me what I know today.  There are others that have also encouraged and taught me new skills.  Terry Steinlen taught me how to Smock patterns on dresses.  Lauri Staton took the time to teach me how to do Swedish Weave.  I hope to some day pass this love on to my daughter (she is already starting to learn how to operate a sewing machine, does needlework and Swedish Weave). 

This is my tribute.  To these women I say, Thank You!!