inheritance

hands threading needles
accumulating stitches
delicate like wings
flexible strong like branches
like rivers singing
ancient ancestral patterns
releasing through re
peating remembering re
vealing what was always there
seeds growing
anonymous roots
flowering
For Colleen’s #TankaTuesday prompt, a Chōka. Jules provided the theme of discovery.
I come from a family where all the women were textile artists of some sort–sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, embroidery–my grandmother even worked as a hat maker before she was married. My mother started me embroidering at a young age, and we did the bird kits, above, together. She loved the color red and cardinals, so that was hers; I stitched the blue bird. And I discovered how much I loved embroidery.
My mother never had the confidence to do her own designs, but always encouraged me in my own explorations. I think of her, and all the women in my family, every time I pick up a needle.
44 responses to “inheritance”
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- June 28, 2021 -
- July 2, 2021 -
Enjoyed reading about your family and the threads that connect you.
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Thanks Phil. It’s a strong thread of continuity.
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This is wonderful; how lucky to have that tradition! I love knitting and working with textiles but embroidery always intimidated me… With age, though, I’m getting less fearful of failure, and more eager to try something new — and I have so many artists tempting me — so it’s only a matter of finding the right kit!
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Thanks Sun. It shouldn’t intimidate you. Stitching can also be totally free form. One thing I love about it.
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That is so beautiful. 🙂 My mum did embroidery, and recently my daughter and I started on a couple of simple kits.
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Thanks Kate. It’s a wonderful thing to share between generations.
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This is so tender and beautiful, Kerfe. I don’t know much about any sort of art, but I have to say that I consistently find myself connecting with your art in a deep way, which I think has to do with the words you share and our regular interactions… having a good sense of the artist herself makes a huge difference! That’s not to say that I wouldn’t perceive your art as lovely if I didn’t know you at all – I would! I’m just thinking aloud, so to speak… I think I just feel it more intimately because of our relationship.
❤
David
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Thanks David. It’s a good feeling to have someone connect with what you create. I know you understand the pull of family very well.
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A lovely inheritance. Loved your art and your poem. 🙂
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Thanks Kitty.
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I also love embroidery and also knitting though I haven’t devoted any time to it recently. It’s something I turned to during both pregnancies, and it got me thinking about my aunts and grandma. If I ever become a grandma, I’ll probably return to it again!
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You might find time before then! It’s like meditation in a way.
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I know exactly what you mean!
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No finer gift could be given. You honor them with your continuation and skill
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Thanks. They deserve the honor.
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Beautiful. Well titled; you have a rich inheritance of art and memories.
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I do. Thanks D.
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A great inheritance and the pictures are so subtle and beautiful. Loved the beautiful birds, Marta.
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Thanks Marta. Well, you know how I feel about birds.
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Yes I completely agree with you Marta. Always welcome dear ❣️❣️❣️❣️
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Kerfe, your embroidery is so lovely. Many of these needlecrafts seem to be lost today. I crochet with thread, like my mother and grandmother before me. I taught my children how to cross-stitch and my grandchildren as well. These crafts are our history. Your poem captures the essence of our traditions. I loved this: “…seeds growing, anonymous roots, flowering.” ❤
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Thanks Colleen. It’s a gift that is timeless.
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And, I didn’t even mention the birds! At my sister’s funeral, we all saw a cardinal that would not leave the area where she was burried. My nieces were convinced that my sister’s spirt flew with that cardinal. Now, everytime I see one, I feel like she is near. ❤
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I’ve heard that from many people about birds. It’s a wonderful thought.
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It is indeed. 🕊
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My grandma made hats too. 🙂 She called herself modiste (from French?). She was very handy in all sorts of crafts, knitting too. When I was little, I did small goblens (that would be an embroidery, right?). Mine had a picture drawn on the net yet, and I had just to colour it by embroidery. Grandma had to count by looking at the picture of her pattern in a magazine. 🙂 Lovely memories. But I suck big time at any handiwork now.
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That’s needlepoint, which strangely is one thing I’ve never done. But I love the way it looks.
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A memory to hold is a wonderful thing, especially one that came to life in your hands.
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It is. I’m so glad I still have these. We did others, but they got lost or discarded in my parents’ many moves.
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I also love cross stich, kerfe. I love you poem and the accompanying pictures.
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Thanks Robbie. Embroidery is very soothing.
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Yes, like fondant art.
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So much in this–the words, the history, the birds, and the work itself, which is beautiful. I like the connections and the layers of of history and meaning.
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Thanks Merril. The connections are what give it meaning I think.
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Yes, I think so, too.
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I love everything about this post! 🙂
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Thanks Melanie.
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A great poem ang image!
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Thanks!
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You’re welcome!
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Lovely hand stitching. Such a lost art.
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Thanks. I think due to the pandemic many have picked up handwork again. There’s a robust community online anyway.
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