In the corner of her bedroom Maggie kept a quilt box with all her handiwork. She would sit with her daughters and friends for hours sewing tiny, even stitches. This was not just a pastime. It was a time of productivity, necessity, creativity, fellowship and friendship all combined.

I have some of Maggie’s pieces – tablecloths, doilies, crocheted pieces, and quilts. It warms my heart to think that I have and can use things that she made. When I use these pieces, I am able to enjoy something that is beautifully crafted and remember the person who made it. I think of Maggie and her six daughters as they would sit sewing together. Evenings around the fire and all the millions of tiny stitches. The thoughts, joys and worries, prayers and tears that went into all those tiny stitches makes these family heirlooms that much more valuable.

Here are some of Maggie’s pieces:

My girls are learning to enjoy handiwork. I find it interesting that they all have latched on to something different. My oldest really enjoys knitting, my middle girl crochet, and the littlest is surprisingly good at embroidery.

I’m glad that they are growing up knowing that you can make things by hand rather than going out and buying everything. You value it that much more for having made it yourself. And often, made by hand items are better quality than mass produced ones which means that you can pass it down to someone else rather than throwing it away. I hope that when they grow up they will teach their children how to make and repair their clothes and household linens. And when something gets too old and worn out to wear or use, many times it can be repurposed.

Here is a gallery of some of the things we have made. Not all as fine and intricate as Maggie’s pieces above, but useable and beautiful because they are handmade and their owner’s love them.

Visit my other pages of hand made items:

Crochet

Quilts

Recycled Sewing