Handmade Love

I should be straightening up my studio, but I couldn’t resist writing this post based on a feature I saw on the  Etsy blog today, asking people-“If your house was burning, what would you save?” (Everyone-including pets, are safely outside.)

I would save a rag doll.  My daughter made it for me-and this is reason enough, but there is more to it than that.

It was during Thanksgiving, several years ago.  In the midst of out of town company, friends visiting,  and trying to get organized and prepare Thanksgiving dinner-I hit overload-and I got really sick.  I felt like I had a sudden case of the flu, and all I could do was crawl into bed,  feeling useless and miserable.

Amy came upstairs to see how I was doing, and then she disappeared for awhile.  When she returned a few hours later, she placed beside me  the most precious doll I had ever seen—complete with patchy braided yarn hair that stuck straight up in places, crooked features sewn on with a great deal of thread,  and wearing a dress from a discarded baby doll.  And on Amy’s face I could read a mixture of expressions.   Anguish- over seeing me sick, and expectancy- waiting for my reaction to this gift—and apology too.  “It’s not very good,” she lamented.  “Oh Amy,” I  whispered.  “She’s beautiful!  You made this for me?”  She nodded.  The doll was to help make me feel better and keep me company.

I love my daughter, but there are times when the emotion is so raw and overwhelming that I want to cry out-almost like I am in pain.  It’s hard to explain-but I bet every parent out there has felt this way.  It’s like you love your child so much-that it scares you.  Because you realize at moments like these,  that without this child, you would not be able to exist.   This was one of those moments.

This rag doll of mine always makes me smile, and sometimes when I look at it, my eyes get a little misty.   When I picture Amy sewing this doll-the hours she spent on it, and the great care she used in making it…all because she  loved me…forget the diamond rings,  or photo albums, or whatever.   My rag doll is  priceless.

I See!

As I was sewing a couple weeks ago, I had taken my glasses off as I prepared to do some top stitching on a bag. When I am doing any type of finishing stitching on a project I like to really be able to see up close-I literally have my brown peepers just inches from my work-and in order to do this I have to take my glasses off. And, as usual when I’m working on something-my studio turns into utter chaos. As I was looking for a clear, safe spot to put my glasses, ( I learned the hard way that a safe place is critical-I sat on a pair of glasses once-they were never quite the same after that) my husband walked in and said, “You really need one of those chains that you wear around your neck to hold your glasses.” Brilliant suggestion! And as usual, I started to look for a vintage one. I found this cute eyeglass chain on Etsy from a shop called mupearls. Not vintage-but beautifully handmade from vintage amber and golden glass beads. I love the way they sparkle-and wearing my new eyeglass chain makes me feel rather glamorous when I work! Now if I could just operate my sewing machine’s foot pedal in my 40’s Cuban heels!

Celebrating A Very Happy Anniversary

Two years ago today I opened my Etsy shop For the Love of Pete. It’s hard to believe that it has indeed been two years, because as is so often the case, it just doesn’t seem that long ago.

If I go back to before March 3, 2008, I see who I was-a frustrated artist with a passion to create something, but what? I wanted to honor my Uncle Pete, but how? I was also looking for a way to incorporate my love of history and vintage into my every day life but coming up short, plus, I had an ever growing pile of vintage and retro barkcloth, and knew my house and family could tolerate only so many pillows!

My Uncle Pete’s grave on Oahu.

It was during a moment of desperation (one of those “what am I going to do with my life?” moments) and in the midst of unloading the dishwasher, of all things, that the idea hit! Why then? I don’t know-maybe I have my Fiestaware dishes to thank (I’ve always found them to be very inspiring!) But two years later, I’m still at it and doing ok. I’ve told countless people my Uncle Pete’s story, and had them tell me what a great thing it is that I honor and remember him. I’ve sold my bags to wonderful people all around the world, and that in itself is something I’m amazed by and thankful for every day! I get to study the decades I love for new ideas, work with beautiful fabric every day, and best of all I’ve found my creative calling at last.

My For the Love of Pete logo. I was inspired by the work of Sailor Jerry, a sailor and tattoo artist stationed in Honolulu in the 1930’s, and now buried in the same cemetery as my Uncle Pete.

NOW, if only the dishwasher would unload itself…I’ve got some sewing to do!