DAYS GONE BY.

All my life I've been interested in textile arts.  Weaving, handspinning, quilting, beadwork, embroidery, and rug hooking in all its forms.  I started traditional rug making with a hook in the early 1970s, but put it aside for nearly 20 years, the first ten of which my life was in chaos.  The next ten, I was just too busy.

But in that "next ten"--the 80s--I tried out small, quick pieces using crewel work, needlepoint, cross stitch, and quilting. 

Today I visited with an old friend whom I met in the early 70s and who has lovingly stuck with me ever since.  She is a gift in my life.  We don't get to see each other often, but we did today.  While I was at her house I remembered doing this cross stitch embroidery sampler for her.  It's now 35 years old!  Finally, today, I got a photograph of it.

I'm so happy to see it looking as good today as it did a thousand years ago.  (Ok, 35 years ago.)

I definitely used a pattern--I did not design this but I wish I could remember who did.  I'd love to give the designer credit.

Every time I see this piece, it's like visiting an old friend--just as I actually did this afternoon.  If you read the words ("I love apples; I love apples; I love apples...Cobblers and Cakes and Strudels and Pies; Yummies for the Tummy, A Feast for the Eyes," etc.) you won't be surprised to hear that while I visited with P today, she was chowing down on...wait for it...a large apple. 

We had a discussion on a great place to buy local Honeycrisps.  She still loves apples as much as she did 35 years ago.

And I love her! 

Thanks for being my friend through thick and thin, P.

"We didn't realize we were making memories.  We just thought we were having fun."
--Anonymous