Tuesday Treasures

When I was looking for photos of Golly the other week I came across a very special one. It was taken in 1984 on my brand new 35mm camera.  I was sitting on the floor reading the manual and fiddling with the settings and pretending to take photos (you couldn’t waste film then – thank goodness for digitals). 

Because I was just fiddling, Mum and Dad were not paying any attention to me and I was able to take this photo of ordinariness (is that a word?). Unlike most of our family photos, it is not posed and looks so natural, Dad watching the TV and Mum working on something. 

In this case, it was a yo-yo bedspread from whatever cotton scraps she had. When finished, it lived on their bed on top of the navy blue chenille bedspread.  It was never backed, so the navy showed through.  I don’t know what has become of it now, it is probably stored in the linen press.

Fast forward twenty six years and not a lot has changed.  The lounge suite has been replaced and the furniture rearranged, but of an evening Mum will be sitting working on something.  At the moment she is knitting little swagmen as well as embroidering a band to go on a tea towel and crocheting the edge of the tea towel. She is still an active member of the local community craft shop and is making things for it all the time. This was taken not long before Dad discovered the joy of spinning, so now he is often sitting at his wheel in front of the TV.

So what is the treasure?  Having crafting of all sorts as a natural part of everyday life. I am so grateful that Mum introduced me to many crafts from when I was quite little, as she had been and her mother before.  Not only that, there are still items in existence from all three of us that were made when we were little.  I think I will share next time.  I’ll have to go and take some photos over at Mum’s.