Crafts
Storytelling Through Embroidery
June 09, 2018
Years and years ago I would sit beside my Grandmother as she embroidered. She and I would sit together in an oversized recovered champagne hued velvet chair. It was in this chair that she not only shared stories of life verbally, she would also sew them. I would watch in wonderment as her weathered and crooked fingers would magically work the fabric and stitches to create beautiful handsewn flowers and landscapes out of a simple strand of thread.
So today it seemed fitting to share this story and my embroidery with you on our monthly Ten on the Tenth. If you are new to my website, Ten on the Tenth is an interesting gathering of nine other bloggers sharing their thrifty and creative finds all under ten dollars. Each month we take different prompts and see where our ingenuity leads us.
Our prompt for June is flowers. We were free to take that idea in any which way we wanted, but we did have to abide by the rule of making it all happen for ten dollars or under. ( I love a good challenge!) You will find links to the other participants at the end of this post. It's always fun to pop on over and see what the other creators came up with!
I chose to go with the theme of flowers by using this precious embroidery pattern. For some time now I have been smitten with the creative, whimsical and sweet embroidery patterns and kits of Tamar Nahir-Yanai.
So when I found not only one, but two of her embroidery kits on sale for $1.50 each at Hobby Lobby, well you know what I just had to do! I tell you it was a meant to be sort of shopping day. This entire project including embroidery hoop was under ten dollars.
Creativity never needs to be expensive!
Telling stories through stitching is art and a History lesson all in one.
So, you might be wondering what tale is my embroidering telling...
This is Maisy represented in embroidering; our precious and loving granddaughter. Maisy has the fierce spirt of a lioness, the gentleness of a lamb. The heart of an angel. She loves pretty skirts, dresses, mermaids and ballet. She appreciates flowers and also those which I grow in my gardens. Her imagination and kindness are as limitless as the depth of the universe.
You know how much I love her!
I am in North Carolina this week visiting one of our darling daughters and her precious family.
Up next this week a Nursery reveal and Pompom chandelier/mobile!
Thank you so much for joining me today and I truly hope you'll pop on over and visit these other sweet gals.
So today it seemed fitting to share this story and my embroidery with you on our monthly Ten on the Tenth. If you are new to my website, Ten on the Tenth is an interesting gathering of nine other bloggers sharing their thrifty and creative finds all under ten dollars. Each month we take different prompts and see where our ingenuity leads us.
Our prompt for June is flowers. We were free to take that idea in any which way we wanted, but we did have to abide by the rule of making it all happen for ten dollars or under. ( I love a good challenge!) You will find links to the other participants at the end of this post. It's always fun to pop on over and see what the other creators came up with!
I chose to go with the theme of flowers by using this precious embroidery pattern. For some time now I have been smitten with the creative, whimsical and sweet embroidery patterns and kits of Tamar Nahir-Yanai.
So when I found not only one, but two of her embroidery kits on sale for $1.50 each at Hobby Lobby, well you know what I just had to do! I tell you it was a meant to be sort of shopping day. This entire project including embroidery hoop was under ten dollars.
Creativity never needs to be expensive!
Telling stories through stitching is art and a History lesson all in one.
So, you might be wondering what tale is my embroidering telling...
This is Maisy represented in embroidering; our precious and loving granddaughter. Maisy has the fierce spirt of a lioness, the gentleness of a lamb. The heart of an angel. She loves pretty skirts, dresses, mermaids and ballet. She appreciates flowers and also those which I grow in my gardens. Her imagination and kindness are as limitless as the depth of the universe.
You know how much I love her!
Up next this week a Nursery reveal and Pompom chandelier/mobile!
Thank you so much for joining me today and I truly hope you'll pop on over and visit these other sweet gals.
Jemma, I have similar memories of my grandmother who crocheted and also taught me. I adore your sweet embroidery art and how special for your granddaughter, Maisy! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction
ReplyDelete[…] At Home With Jemma […]
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! We missed you at lunch Thursday.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful summer.
This is so much fun. Your granddaughter is a darling. I hope you can pass down your embroidery skills to her. Cute embroidery.
ReplyDeleteJust darling, Jemma...the embroidery and your precious granddaughter! Flowers are pretty in all forms!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling little mermaid! She is inspirational!
ReplyDeleteJemma, this brought back so many memories because I grew up embroidering. A wonderful aunt started me on it when I'd visit her for a week each summer.We would get dressed up and take the bus downtown where we would go to a large crafts store before eating lunch at a lunch counter somewhere. And she would let me choose a kit, the embroidery projects becoming more advanced each year.
And yes, story telling is the most important part of this art. Do you know the Betty of Michelle Holmes embroidery? I love Betty and she is very real to me as I've followed her through her creator.
Your sweet Maisy brought back some very good memories, thank you,
Dewena
Awe what a great idea and Maisy is precious! And how does she swim in that mermaid outfit? That must get tiring! Tell her I adore her name. It will make people smile for the rest of her life. My 21 year old is named Macy. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is the best picture of your little mermaid! She looks so sweet and pleasant and she has a pretty name.
ReplyDeleteLove your cute embriodery. I'll have to check out Hobby Lobby. Seems like I never take my time and look around and it is a big store!
Such a cute mermaid! I remember my grandmother teaching me to embroidery and crochet. Some of the best memories I have. Your project is so darling. Guess a trip to Hob Lob is in my future!
ReplyDelete[…] the Pillows Mary at The Boondocks Blog Eilis at My Heart Lives Here Kim at Exquisitely Unremarkable Jemma – At Home With Jemma Katie at Let’s Add Sprinkles Carol at Bluesky at […]
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling project and granddaughter! I love her name! My grandmother embroidered many pillowcases that were so beautiful and I wish that I had some of them.
ReplyDeleteDearest Jemma, I love everything about this design; the pearls, the sweet, simple lines of the center subject, and the LOVE that went into it.
ReplyDeleteEmbroidery and other arts as such have been wonderful storytelling tools for many cultures around the world for centuries and those of us lucky enough to have had a grandmother or mother (in my case) who engaged in this type of art and narrative know how meaningful this is! I remember with great fondness, my mother and I walking a few miles to the shopping center (no malls back then), to Woolworths or Newberry's, to buy a skein of embroidery threat so she could work on a piece. Oh Jemma, thank you for this!
This is a sweet story. Almost as sweet as Maisy! She’s a cutie inside & out! Love the embroidery! So creative!
ReplyDeleteI haven't embroidered in years - but now I really want to again. Love the interest that the beads add. Your granddaughter is a very adorable mermaid!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Cecilia,
ReplyDeleteI love sharing the joy of creating with my grands and making creations for them! Thank you for sharing your sweet memories too! ( I know what at hands on Grandmother you are too!)
Hugs and Blessings for a beautiful week!
Jemma
Good Morning Lisa,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see this happy note from you. Thank you so much and you know this sweet piece was a blast to make!
I missed you all too...but I couldn't miss hair day!
Wishing you a wonderful summer too,
Jemma
Good Morning Katie,
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much, I had a great time with this project and my little mermaid too!
Good Morning Kim,
ReplyDeleteOh yes indeed! Flowers...what would we do without them! Thank you so very much!
Good Morning Dewena,
ReplyDeleteI hope this finds you well and enjoying an early morning cup of coffee!
Aren't we fortunate to have such wonderful memories. I didn't go in to the details of my Grandmother on the blog post, however that too is etched in mind. Naturally she always wore a house dress and those thick stockings. Her skin was so dry and I don't ever remember her ever applying lotion. I wish she was here now I'd get her a good jar of shea butter lotion!
Yes I am familiar with Betty of Michelle Holmes embroidery and you reminded me of how I need to order a piece!
Thank you for sharing these sweet memories with me!
Jemma
Cindy!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about that tail on that Mermaid, what a work out!
Her name matches her personality and I will tell her what you said!
Happy Monday,
Jemma
Good Morning Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without mermaids in our life! My Maisy mermaid is one of the sweetest girls I know.
Whenever I stay with the girls when their parents travel Maisy always asks me if I'd just stay on and live upstairs with her....It always makes me laugh so hard. I can only imagine the terror her parents would feel if I did!
Thank you so much and yes check Hobby Lobby out. I only go to specific areas anymore, because it is SO big!
Happy Monday,
Jemma
Hi Tammy,
ReplyDeleteIt was a different time period back then when grandmother's sat with their grandchildren and really embraced that one on one. How fortunate we were to experience such tenderness and teachings.
Thanks so much and Happy Monday to you!
Jemma
Good Morning Jane,
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoyed this challenge and the gardens that you shared with us.
Thanks for the sweet visit, it was a fun project to do. I am glad that it brought some pleasant memories back for you too!
Jemma
Good Morning Dearest Anita!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so delighted that this little post brought back such joyous memories for you! Weren't we just so fortunate to have had these memorable experiences.
Oh, and what a glorious era we lived in.
When you mentioned Woolworths I was flooded with memories of shopping for Halloween with my Mother and then a milkshake at the fountain!
Can we please go back to this time period! I miss it so much and the older I become I miss it even more!
I am wishing you a perfectly wonderful day my dear Anita!
Jemma
Good Morning My Dear!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed my little story and seeing my mermaid too!
Happy Monday,
J.
Good Morning Eilis,
ReplyDeleteEmbroidery is certainly an enjoyable way to share some one on one time with a youngster!
Thank you for this sweet visit.
jemma
Jemma that is such a wonderful and sweet way to honor your adorable granddaughter. The embroidery kit is so whimsical. I used to embroider many years ago and stopped and now looking at your pretty creation am thinking I should start again.
ReplyDeleteThose were special moments that you had with your grandmother, Jemma, as she embroidered and shared stories of her life. How sweet that you remember her champagne velvet chair. Your Maisy embroidery is darling, and that's nice that you named it after your granddaughter. This is a delightful picture of Maisy in her mermaid outfit, and I smiled BIG, as I am a mermaid lover myself. So beautiful the mermaid is.....and mysterious at the same time. I remember embroidering when I was young, but it's been such a long time, and your lovely post makes me want to try it again. You did a nice job on this, and the pearl beads add a special touch. : )
ReplyDeletelove, ~Sheri
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteJust like you I too did all types of stitchery in my younger years. Since discovering this talented artist, who I am totally smitten with, I am really enjoying sewing again!
Thank you for such a sweet visit too.
Jemma
Good Morning Dearest Sheri!
ReplyDeleteYou see Sheri you and I are both so blessed to have grandchildren! Now we have a great opportunity to teach, explore and in a sense re-live some of those glorious moments of our own childhood.
The relationship between grandchildren and grandmother's is so unique, special, rewarding, loving! As you already know it truly is the best of the best!
If you decide to give embroidering a whirl again I highly recommend these patterns. They are sort of a refresher course in stitching again!
Thank you!
That is so lovely.. and what a sweet thing to be able to share with your grandmother and now one day pass it down to your grand daughter.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
Jemma, I remember learning how to needlepoint from my mom, although I learned upside down because I'm left~handed and she was right~handed. Not enough people learn hand sewing skills these days. Too bad some lost art is disappearing. Thanks for sharing this beautiful stitching and memories.
ReplyDeleteI adored this, Jemma. And Maisy, who is as lovely as the creation made in her honor! And a beautiful story with it!
ReplyDeleteThat embroidery of Maisy is just adorable! I love it's sweet simplicity. What a memory for her to cherish, that you made it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteI liked the embroidery and your lovely granddaughter has such a winning smile.
All the best Jan
Such pretty, whimsical embroidery, Jemma. I can well see you your darling granddaughter would inspire it.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo