I’m trying to play catch up before I start any new projects, tidy up loose ends as it were. In some ways I don’t feel I’ve achieved much over the last couple of weeks, but a lot of it is working on existing projects with not a lot of finshes! My daughter on the other hand has been quarantined for less than a week and so far she’s made a skirt, a pretty blouse, another top and a tweed jacket!!
One finish I have is a bag for my mum’s textile memory book which I finished a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to make a bag to store it in, keep the dust off it.
There was one large embroidery of my mum’s left which was too big to go in the book, it’s a crewel work embroidery of different herbs and spices, not quite finished, but near enough.
It wasn’t quite wide enough for what I wanted but I had a plan! I found a length of soft furnishing fabric in my stash which matched pretty well so I used that for the back, I extended the sides slightly to make it a little bigger and then just flattened tube for the bottom seam. I used some bias binding round the to so I didn’t lose any length from turning the raw edge under.
It’s very simple but it does the job. There’s also room in it for a patchwork bag my mum made, I’ve put all the sympathy cards and letters we received in there, together with a copy of my tribute and also the book ‘Dear Mum’ These books were popular about 10 years ago, I haven’t seen them recently but it’s a great idea. I gave my mum the book for Christmas, it asks all the questions you never get round to asking, my mum filled it in and gave it back. It’s a lovely book to treasure now.
I’ve tied the whole bag with some coordinating ribbon and now I just need to clear a space on our old pine chest to keep it on.
thecraftycreek 
You make the most amazing stuff! What a wonderful memory book and bag for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mary, it was quite therapeutic working on it, it sort of gives me closure now the bag is complete.
LikeLike
Sending you thoughts of peace, hope you are doing ok. Beautiful bag for your Mum’s memory book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I’m doing fine really, just relieved she didn’t live another month and been caught up with everything else!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful way to honour the memories you hav of your Mum. You have created a precious heirloom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it was important to me to do something with them, it’s been quite cathartic
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so tender, so poignant. And as wild Daffodil says, a really beautiful heirloom with such a story to tell. You are amazing, Margaret. I’m so glad I found your blog!
I wish I’d had the Dear Mum book for my Mum. There’s a quazillion questions I want to ask and never can.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Prue for your lovely comments. There is a whole series of Dear…, apart from obvious questions about their early life, there were things like ‘Have you any regrets’ ‘How would you like to be remembered’ – I used that as the last line of my tribute at her funeral!
LikeLike
A lovely way to use more of your Mum’s lovely work and to keep your memory book safe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Tialys, I feel better for having made and finished it.
LikeLike
You are so lucky to have so much of your Mum to treasure. You do her a great honor. It is good to hear you have passed on your Mum’s talents to your daughter too. Peace and Hugs…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lisa, she was very prolific!! My daughter is now appreciating having her own little stash 🙂
LikeLike
Just lovely and melts my heart that you did this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sharon, it’s been cathartic sewing 🙂
LikeLike
Such a lovely memorial.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Margaret, what a beautiful bag for such a beautiful book. It’s so special the way you honoured your Mum, I do so wish I had more of the things my Mum made. Bless you. Nice to hear your daughter has taken after you. Keep well and safe. Regards Mandy xx
LikeLiked by 1 person