"To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth"

A few years ago I was visiting Jeff's family in Seattle and his mom had a framed piece of embroidery sitting on the floor behind a table. I pulled it out and said this is incredible and could not believe she didn't have it hanging up. She told me she had made it for her mom as a wedding gift when she remarried in 1984. Jeff's mom said oh you can have it. I of course did not want her to think I was complimenting it because I wanted it and said no way I can't take it. I of course am a fool for heirloom items especially ones that have been sewn . The embroidery work was really amazing , it is a bunch of french knots to make the pattern and also some ribbon embroidery work.



Well jump a year ahead. I am at a garage sale in Tennessee and what do I find in the bottom of a box, but a pillow that has been handstiched in the exact same pattern, colors and everything. I could not believe it! It had stains all over it and was only $.25 cents. I hugged the lady selling it and told her the story. I even offered to pay more because I was so excited about it. (she was not as excited as I was) I bought it took it home and cut the pillow apart to just have the embroidered piece and put it in the wash and bleached it. It came out perfect! I then made a pillow out of it to go on the girls bed with a piece of pink toile on the back. I have a few vintage pillows and this was the perfect fit.

For Jeff's graduation from his residency his mom gave me a gift. It was the framed work of art that she had made 19 years earlier. I was thrilled. It hangs now in our home and the pillow sits on the girls bed.
I had wanted to post this story around Valentiens day.

Another icy day here in the east and no school again. Can't get my car out of the garage so a fun filled day at home. If we don't have school tomorrow we will be having a Valentines party on Mardi Gras at her school . It is going to be fun filled snowy weekend.