My Skills have limits- indulge meWhen we went to see La Boheme a few weeks ago, I was reminded of something pretty significant and constant in my own life. The character, Mimi, in La Boheme is a young woman who embroiders for a living in turn-of-the-century Paris. It is obvious that even back then, her art was underappreciated as she was living in squallor and poverty (redundant). At the end of this marvelous production, Mimi is costumed in a gown embelished with tiny embroidered roses and lilies. The idea was that at the end, Mimi had taken a position that offered her the luxury of the very thing she would make once upon a time. I thought it was a beautiful touch. I also knew more about Mimi knwing she embroidered for a living because I, too, embroider. It fulfills and satisfies the introverted side of Miss Dixie.
When I was about 8 years old I asked my mother to teach me to embroidery. I have no idea why. She didn't do much handwork really. She sewed of course but most all of her work was on the machine. She dug around in her sewing stash and came up with a little cross-stitch transfer and an embroidery hoop. She also found a large needle and some floss (that's what they call embroidery thread if you didn't know that). Beyond that, she didn't offer me much help. The first thing I tried to embroidery was an old play purse with a face on it. Oh my! It was terrible. But for some reason (and I seriously don't know why) I kept trying to embroidery. Lucky me because right around the time I got interested in learning, the arts and crafts movement was about to hit a revival. Embroidered embelishments on clothing and household items became the rage. Patterns and embroidery kits were easily found and interesting and fun to do. I mostly taught myself to do the craft. I learned by reading patterns and by trial and error. My skills in embroidery really improved. Believe it or not, I have actually saved some of my work. And I'm going to share it with you right here, right now.
Exhibit A: A vintage Levi's workshirt, circa 1972 or 73? The stars on the pockets and collar, as well as the pattern on the cuffs and the back beach motif were from a Simplicity transfer pattern I think. (there are some other views in my photos if you are interested)
Cool, huh? Notice my name embroideried in the lower right. It's pretty crude but I was only about 11 so cut me some slack.
Next, I started giving my stuff away. And I started experimenting with my own designs. I made this picture for my grandparents. Note that the sunset is borrowed from the shirt design. But Granny and Pa are from something I drew myself. Again, I was only about 12 and I was self-taught and not supervised, so cut me some slack. I guess Granny liked it. She had it hanging in her house until she died and I got it back. Granny never wore her hair in a bun but I took a liberty with that detail. Sweet, huh?
Even though I was doing my own designs, I still liked kits. I always learned something new from interesting kits. I learned how to mixed colors, new stitches and designs. This pillow I did in 1975. It is on Clayre's bed right now. and if you look close its got tatters on it.
Also in 1975, I tried my hand at another workshirt. This is the back embroidered piece on that shirt. I modified a children's book drawing for it. It isn't as nice a shirt as the Levi's one and honestly, I don't really like the design but I can't part with it.
1978, my work is improving. This is another kit pillow I still have.
In 1978, I also took on a mammoth project- a bed spread. The spread has different flowers, friuts and animals on it. This orange is the last thing I did. As you can see, I finished it in 1982. It was on the first bed Greg and I ever had. All of the embroidered pieces are thngs I adapted from pictures or drawings. I love this orange. It is filled with very difficult and painstaking stitches. My family still hauls out this heavy bedspread if they know they have to sleep on the floor or need some extra covers. It is as heavy as all git out. Once we kept another family's cocker spaniel and he ripped it in a couple of places. I patched it but it was never the same. I think about dismantling it and maybe framing each of the embroidered pieces that are left intact but the family wouldn't hear of it!
My work today. I found a lovely book with designs for craftwork from the Victorian era. They suit the embroidery stitches very well. But let's be honest. Who really appreciates this kind of work any more? Who notices the embroidery on Elf's costume? Me. And maybe a handful of other folks.
This is something I just finished. I made it into a pillow and gave it to my friend. She left for India the next day. It is pretty ironic to give such handwork to someone who is going to a country famous for their embroidery. It seemed sort of silly to me. She said she appreciated it but then I watched her sort of wad it up as we talked. I had to let that go.
I am sort of embarrassed by my craft. It seems fairly useless, really. I mean, how many pillows or napkins or tiny embelishments do you need? How many framed butterflies can you have? Not many, I tell you.
Several years ago I went to a post-funeral get-together of the grandmother of my very first boyfriend. Such an odd thing to admit, I know. I found out his grandmother had died by reading the Dallas Morning New obits. Anyway... I haven't seen John since 1977 when he moved away. I was talking to him and his wife about how we knew each other. His wife suddenly said, "Oh you're the one that embroidered that picture for John! We still have it hanging in our house. I love it!"
I was stunned. We were only 14 and 15 when we "dated" those couple of months and things didn't end well. I couldn't even remember what picture I had done. She described it to me and I then remembered how I had interposed a standing Bass with a Sousaphone (he played both). Who knew John would keep it after all these years?
So, who among you has a craft or talent that will never make you rich or famous or is undervalued or appreciated? If so, welcome to the club.
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