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Monday, March 25, 2013

Mason Jar Monday #3 In Stitches


Some bristle at historic vignettes of women clustered about the perimeter of a quilting frame, enjoying gossip and the companionship of a "bee" while men alone are trusted to push the plow.
Not me.

Others scoff at days past when school girls learned domestic trade in "Home Ec" classes, leaving male counterparts to wrangle with and create bigger, braver things from table saws. Not me!




I'm glad my own grandmothers weren't out in the field, targets of a charging bull, or that I wasn't given a chance to saw off my own fingers. Had those gory events occurred, I wouldn't be here now, sewing away, anxious to pass this gentle skill to the four lovely young ladies I call granddaughters.














I think you can be satisfied that women are no longer bred for the purpose of keeping men in hand sewn britches and home made stew, yet still covet, for ourselves, the territory of learning to thread and pull a needle at the knee of an attentive grandmother. That is where I learned to sew and that is where my granddaughters will too. Some tasks simply are proprietary to women, and men have no business snooping around, attempting to probe the secrets of our sewing baskets! We carefully tuck them away between use because they hold not only what we need to create beauty right now, but also the expectation that someday our own will reach deep inside the same place to carry forward our legacy to a next generation.





I don't have a sewing basket that evokes nostalgic memory of me sitting fireside, mending an army of family socks. Wish I did. But don't. My stuff spills inside and out of cardboard shoe boxes, plastic bins and rusting tins. Here a needle, there a thread, everywhere a scissors and not a plan inside my head!













My gift to my granddaughters is a promise. In two parts. From pretty patches placed within, I will teach each one to sew. We'll fashion doll quilts first, finding threads and notions my own mother held and often used. The timeless jars belonged to their great-great grandmothers, originally filled with fruit of backyard plots during the first of five generations I have known and loved. While we stitch, first one row, then two, then three....I will do my best to make each grand-lady come alive once more. My granddaughters will know from where they came and by whom they arrived.





I will elicit a promise in return. Tell and do, someday, the same, describing vintage jars with hand stitched nesting birds along with vivid tales of ladies past who bequeathed to them the gentle art of sewing......
















Click here for Mason Jar Monday #1 and here for #2

45 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I wasn't taught to sew and teaching myself now so my daughters will start at a young age. And who knows, maybe one day I will be the great, great grandmother who handed down the sewing bug... :o) Thanks for sharing this post, I enjoyed reading. x

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  2. These are adorable. Your grandaughters are very lucky. Thanks for sharing at the Creative Corner Blog Hop. Your newest follower.

    Holly
    Holly's Stamping Addiction

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  3. What a beautiful post. My Mom and grandmas and aunts used to gather to quilt together when I was a little girl. My mom and both grandmas have since passed away, but I have beautiful quilts that they made. My daughter definitely received the creative/sewing/crafty gene and is always making something that amazes me. She also is passionate about doing things with Mason jars. Thanks for sharing!!

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  4. The jars are absolutely precious! Your post was beautiful and a joy to read :) Thank you for sharing!

    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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  5. What a beautiful post - and how blessed your granddaughters are that you've got the generations plan in mind when doing these 'gentle arts.'

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  6. Oh how sweet. I had home ec but didn't really are for it. My mother sewed all the time, but I didn't really get into it until later in life. Glad I don't have to till a field or go to war!

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  7. This is wonderful. I love to sew and craft and I hope to be able to pass that love onto my daughter, and any granddaughters I may have someday!

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  8. These are so great! I haven't sewn anything for several years now. I make just have to dig out the old sewing machine. Visiting from the Grand Social Blog Hop. I am following you.

    http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com/

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  9. The photos and sentiment are just delightful. My great-great grandfather, by the way, was gored by a bull, 2 months shy of his 100th birthday, walking back from a neighbor's farm. My Mom taught me to sew. i have her sewing basket.

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  10. OH MY this is all too cute BUT I BEG TO DIFFER WITH THIS STATEMENT, LOL!

    Some tasks simply are proprietary to women, and men have no business snooping around, attempting to probe the secrets of our sewing baskets!

    HERE IS WHY! I was working on embroidering a bee for a patchwork pillow. Youngest son stops by. Gets VERY interested in this. Next you know he wants to know how to transfer patterns and could I do something like this for him on clothing.

    WAIT....THINK...LIMITED TIME / This is tedious. MAYBE HE should learn the backstitch...

    ( see? :)

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  11. You are such a wonderful new age Grandma sharing all the best of the past and all the wonders of modern time. They will always admire and respect you for everything you are and everything you have taught them to be. Those jars are breath taking -- of course!

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  12. Aww. so cute.. Am really feeling Easter! :)

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  13. Oh my Gosh!!! You have my vote for the best Mason jar project every! So so nice, I love them! You are going to link this up me right???

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  14. Hey Joyce, I too hope to pass on my love of crocheting to my granddaughters---if I ever get any! You have some very cute ideas here on your blog. Thanks for stopping by mine. Happy Day!

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  15. Super cute!

    Christina

    www.lsmcreation.com

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  16. These are super sweet...just like you! Happy Spring!

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  17. Beautifully written, as always. Sweet, springy jars. I learned to sew as a child, making baby doll dresses. By the time I was a teenager, I was making most of my clothes. I'd by material on Friday night and have a new dress made for my date on Saturday. Those were the days--double knit and all.

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    Replies
    1. So cute!
      I am new follower from the bloghop.
      I hope you will follow me back at http://butterflyintheattic.blogspot.com/2013/03/upcycled-recycled-on-etsy-tang.html

      Have a blessed night
      Colleen

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  18. Hi J!
    Oh...Just look at your cutie patootie little chicks. I love them and how sweet they look perched atop a Mason Jar. They sure would be cute sitting on top of a wooden spoolie, don't you think?
    Thank you for your kind comment on my blog. I am happy you stopped by!
    Blessings and a Happy Easter!
    Carolynn xo

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  19. Oh my gosh, those are so cute!! Thanks for sharing at our linky party!
    -Mama
    www.DIYMamas.blogspot.com

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  20. Your granddaughters are very fortunate! Love the jars and the wonderful words that accompanied them.

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  21. How cute! I would love for you to link up at the HOPPITY EASTER CRAFT PARTY! Just follow this link.....http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2013/02/hoppity-easter-craft-party.html

    Marti

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  22. Having another look because they are just so beautiful! Love them!

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  23. These are just adorable! I just love these festive Spring colors! Your Grandchildren are very blessed to have you in their lives!!!

    I hope you will come share your awesome creations at my link party, the FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA! (Ole! Haha!) It is open now through Sunday at 8pm ET. Here is the link if you’re interested….

    http://the-home-girl-blog.blogspot.com/2013/03/festive-friday-fiesta-link-party-4-and.html

    Thanks so much for sharing these adorable treasures! Hope you have a GREAT Easter Weekend!!!

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  24. I LOVE your crafts - they are SO bright and adorable!
    Be sure to share them with us at this week's Inspire Me Monday!

    (P.S. With all of your cats, I can imagine you standing in the living room, while all of your felines curl up on the best seats in the house!)

    Happy Easter from

    Create With Joy
    http://create-with-joy.com

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  25. Oh your blog is darling. The writing in this post is marvelous - so wonderful. And the jars - oh my - what treasures. Debra suggest I come over and visit - and I'm so glad I did. Now to explore more of your wonderful blog.

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  26. Hi J! I wanted to let you know your Mason Jar's have been featured this week! Congratulations!

    http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/2013/03/show-licious-craft-showcase-25.html

    Marti

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  27. I love the feeling this post evokes!

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  28. My grandmother was a professional seamstress, making all the ladies dresses in our little home town. That was one way to know no one else had a dress like yours. She made our evening gowns and all special dresses too. I learned to sew from her. This was a beautiful post.
    Happy Easter.
    QMM

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  29. Cute, cute, cute! My mason jars are full of dead spiders and dust. Wish they looked like yours!

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  30. FYI~ I just posted my latest A Little About Diana and I responded to your comment at DianaRambles.com!

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  31. Beautiful post as usual J! I can't sew to save my life...I've tried but it's just not my thing, but I just love this jars, I think because they are pretty to the eye, but the love and lessons that is on each one of them is priceless! Thank You for sharing!
    Hugs,
    Lizy

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  32. Nice, Your crafts are simply so festive. Happy Easter!

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  33. These jars are so cute & festive for spring/Easter. I hope you drop by & linkup sometime @ DearCreatives.com I hope you have a nice Easter dropping in from the Social Sunday hop! Following you now.

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  34. Happy Easter!
    visit and follow from Friday blog hop.
    Would be nice if you can visit and link up at my blog.
    Have a great weekend.
    Nan
    http://www.blogshe.net/2013/03/we-need-tutor.html

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  35. Lovely post! Thank you for linking up J!

    Happy Easter!

    Shelley

    www.piggyinpolkadots

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  36. Those jars are so cute. I have the same cat widget. It reminds me of a cat I used to have. I found you Life on Lakeshore Drive and I am a new follower too. Happy Easter.

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  37. Those look fabulous! My daughter would so enjoy making those, heck, I would enjoy making those on my own.

    Sharon
    http://makeitorfixit.com

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  38. Those jars are sooo adorable. I heart them!!

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  39. These are the cutest things I've ever seen! I would love to try to make one but I don't think I could ever make them as sweet as yours! Happy Spring my friend! Hugs!

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  40. Thanks so much for sharing this at my Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link party! It's funny how in just this last week I have been considering what I can do to teach my granddaughters how to sew! I love your suggestion of sharing tales of their great-grandmothers. Now that you've mentioned it, I'll be sure to do that, too.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Nina

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