A Very Special Influence

Hi everyone,

I hope you'll forgive a different kind of blog post from me, I promise to keep it short!

On Friday evening, my Grandma passed away surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Of course I've spent the last few days in a bit of a daze, but I've also spent a lot of happy time thinking about her and everything she meant to me. I thought I'd share a little of that with you.

I really think a lot of my creativity can be traced back to my Grandma. I distinctly remember her sitting me down and teaching me lots of different embroidery stitches on a piece of linen. Grandma showed me how to combine satin stitch, and chain stitches, and a multitude of others to create flowers and other decorations. She also showed me how to sew a button, and even how to darn! I've long loved Cross Stitch (it was my biggest crafty obsession before stamping!) and I think this has a lot to do with Grandma, as well as things my Nana and Mum showed me.

I also love jewellery making. I love beads, and anything shiny and pretty really! When I was younger, I could spend hours going through Grandma's stash of buttons, sorting by colour, or type - only to put them all back in a jumble. When I discovered beading, Grandma would often give me an old necklace of hers, or something she'd picked up in a second hand store for me to take apart and use.

Of course, I love paper craft - and Grandma always appreciated the time and effort put into a card or other project. It wasn't unusual to see a card I'd made her on the sideboard months after the fact - and I loved seeing the amazing creations her friends would make her too.

Of course, my Grandma taught me a lot of other things. How to bake - especially how to make piklets on her iron griddle, and although I have her recipe (she'd make them from heart) mine will never be the puffy delights hers were! I remember her showing me how to draw - or at least, trying. I still can't draw a straight line, but I can remember every detail of the wee sketch she showed me explaining perspective and depth. I used to draw that same scene over and over!

Grandma never raised her voice, loved to give little presents, always had lollies in her jar for going home with, gave the best hugs, and somehow made butter and vegemite on toast the most delicious thing you'd ever tasted! She will be missed greatly, but I know that as I have over the last few days, I will always think of her as I use my hands to create something beautiful - and will smile and thank her for her very special influence.