The Gift of Sewing

I come from a long line of creative people. My Mom, Minerva Case, taught me to sew. Her Mom, Minnie Yuncker, taught her. I have taught not only my own daughter, Jade Harmon, but many others in classes I taught in sewing, quilting, and applique. My latest student is my granddaughter, Sophia Ruvola, my son, Mykel's daughter.  Here we are learning some hand stitching, but earlier in the week she learned to sew on a tiny machine and stitched a patchwork 'quilt' for her little brother, Kai Ruvola, and then went on to make gifts for everyone, like the wall hanging she made me with fabric she chose that morning when we went to Jo-Ann's Fabric. She called it Jo-Hands and I loved that name so much more. She's a talented crafts girl and I can't wait to see her latest creations. I'll share them here, too.

What a joy it is to teach someone such a gift. It is like the 'give a man a fish and he eats for a day but teach a man to fish .... ' saying, but with warm quilts, stylish clothes, and a creative outlet that keeps on giving as long as your back doesn't give out.

For over 50 years I have made so many items for myself, my husband, and kids. Toys for Christmas, ties for work, tee pees, prom dresses, onesies, coats, costumes...whew, you get it.  I am really slowing down with weaker eye sight, bad back and just not enough oomph, but as I prepared for this blog, I found more and more photos of items I forgot. I can't complain because I certainly got my share of 'making stuff'.

Learning to sew is the greatest of all the gifts I've inherited. And, speaking of gifts, when you can sew, you can always make them a whole lot cheaper, and much more personal.

Here are some of the creations I've either come up with or loved from one of the many creative people I have in my life.<3<3<3<3