This post is dedicated to my Grandma Marie. She has been gone for quite awhile, but she will be in my heart and memories forever.

My siblings and I always loved going to grandma’s house. Her home sat high on top a hill the backyard had a garden full of fresh veggies, grapevines, and lots of ground to play on.  On weekends the whole family, seven of us including my parents would go there and stay.  I remember sitting around the dining room table in the evenings and having the most delicious home cooked dinners.

The house was old and smelled of moth balls, the funny thing is, to this day I still love the smell of mothballs. It’s not a common smell anymore. Sometimes you’ll get a wiff of it here or there in an antique shop or second hand store and it immediately takes me back to grandma’s and all the special moments spent in her home.

I created a new piece this week titled “Memories of Her”.  I had no plans to create a piece with her in mind but here it is…

"Memories of Her"

I love using old pattern paper and found objects in my art. I have also started incorporating sewing into some of the work.  So how does this piece relate to her?  When I was 10 0r 11 she gave me my first and only sewing machine.  She ordered it from the Sears & Roebuck catalog,  it’s pretty antiquated, has no bells and whistles, and weighs a ton but I don’t have the heart to replace it.

Actually, it still works and I used it on this piece. The rectangles behind each small work of art was stitched using that machine.

I think she saw creativity in me at a young age and always tried to encourage me in her gentle loving way.

Thanks Grandma, love you and miss you still.