This, that, and the other thing

Driving mom to the airport last night was hard, but nothing like it used to be.  I used to fret about her leaving almost from the day she arrived, and subsequently get terribly depressed once she left.  I think it was a relief for both of us that I was okay with her leaving and that it felt right to be getting back to my family. 

The past six months have been so monumental in terms of getting myself together and I feel like it really came to light when mom was here with us.  Where I used to be tense (not to mention INtense), moody, fearful and judgmental, this time I just felt a real fellowship with her.  We have so much in common.  She is a quilter, seamstress, and maker of all sorts of things...creating things keeps her sane in the same way it does me.  Sometimes when I watch her working on something I see the same feverishness I feel when I'm really working something out through making things - our crafting isn't always gentle, but it's always therapeutic.

Midge looked for mom today.  I think she was happy to have me all to herself again, but she certainly seemed to think something was missing.  I wish every single day that the two of them (and me!) could be closer together.  We have to figure it out.  We will figure it out.

Look how cute they are together!  This was last August when I went home for my friend Kate's wedding:

That mom of mine is a looker!  For all of you who wondered where I got it.

I made Midge some blocks that I saw on Martha.  They are drying now and if there's light I'll photograph them tomorrow and put them up here.  For now, here's a Midge wearing a bib that I made out of a quilt block that my Aunt Jan and I made for a quilt that ended up smaller than we planned.  I have about ten of these blocks left, so I make anything I can out of them. 

What would YOU make out of the rest of the blocks?  The fabrics aren't exactly my style (we made the the quilt when I was 17), but I do love the quilt that we made out of them.  Lots of the fabrics we used have been in blankets/dresses/pajamas/pot holders dating from well before I was born, so there has to be a special project waiting to be made.  But what is it?  Hmmmm?

Comments

[hilary]

Does Elinor have a favorite doll or stuffed animal? You could make matching bibs or a stuffed animal/doll dress. Or a little cushion-cover for her little wicker chair.

I love the idea of "ancestral fabric." When my cousin and I were young, our grandmother made clothes for our Mandy and Jenny dolls from her old clothing. Pretty '60s & '70s double-knits!

[Caitlin]

I love the chair cushion idea - that's a definite go. Thanks for all the ideas, Hilary!