Two different hand stitched letter holders ...

 I gave you a glimpse of the letter holder I have been busy making since I got home from South Africa late November. I asked for one of my late Dad's shirts to be kept for me so I could use it in a sewing item & I had it in my mind to make a complimentary letter holder with it. 

I made a letter holder to keep my Mothers letters & cards in nearly a decade ago when she passed I used a vintage cloth that belonged to my grandmother, then used by my Mother as the base for her hand sewn holder.  This is her letter holder  - very feminine & in the colours she loved. The little crochet work was some of my grandmothers & I used them on this work. 

For my Dad's, I used the shirt as the main part with the button flap visible. I had bought some fabrics with a milagro heart print on it in black, red & gold. Dad was spiritual rather than religious so this fitted well as it is a sign of love for humanity, the flame reaching out of the heart with a cross evident.  I have a large gold milagro heart at home & I like the symbolism  of it. 

This was some of my standby fabric in case I did not have a shirt to work with. I also bought some fabric with inspirational words that fitted & knew it was dependent on the shirt colours & patterns. 

My Dad loved the comfort of denim & he wore it so well with his tall, lanky frame so I always knew some additional denim would be needed. The round patch on the front of the holder was one from the shirt sleeve, the sort of elbow patches we had on our high school blazers & it was a perfect shape for the front.  I used the epaulets from the shoulder in the inside as flaps - I had no pattern, it just flowed as I sewed  & cut. 

I made a second, more flat letter holder with various fabrics layered over it - stitching heals the heart for me; this is backed with denim again & is a perfect size to slip the old photos & documents in. 

These two masculine letter holders join my journals & my Mothers letters on my desk upstairs - within easy reach to re-read the news but safely kept together. 

It is a relief to have completed something tangible but useful - it really is the small things that matter in how we remember people & keep memories safe. Have you done anything similar? Please share ... 

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read, 

 Dee 💕

My desk holds the special memories ...

 Hi all, 

I apologise for the silence but sometimes life makes you just take a step back. I shared the loss of my Father to Covid in January 2021  and I just needed time to adjust.

Many of you are familiar with my desk, in my private space at home. It is where I keep my sentimental things, the ones you don’t want to share because they are part of your soul. My Henry Macbeth Raeburn lady she has occupied this space. Her calming presence is very welcome each day ... 

These are some of the cards sent by my late Mom, I like seeing them & remembering that connection to being someones daughter ... 

A hand sewn letter holder I made to keep some of the many letters my Mom wrote. It was a labour of love, one that helped me to sew through my sadness ... 

A long time blog follower & Instagram ‘friend’ Lynda reached out again because she sensed the silence & shared some of her experience at losing a parent, she understood the feeling of being an orphan, the loss when you no longer have any parents. I found this so moving & it helped. She sent me some beautiful hand painted cards she paints. I had sent my Dad one of her last ones in October 2020 because I knew he would love it too. Some might remember this needle case I made her during lockdown after she sent me some cards. Reaching out & giving someone some of your support & counsel means a lot. 

How absolutely beautiful are these cards? They just lifted my spirit & she shared her experience of adjusting which helped me greatly. No one prepares you to be parentless, an orphan. 

I have shared photos of my upstairs desk in my bedroom before - my letter holder is at my desk because it contains some of the many letters my Mother wrote to me. She just loved sharing stories of their life & in return, I would write back several times a month, sending cards, letters, photos, newspaper cuttings etc of our life to bridge the gap of living on different continents. 

When she passed, my Dad who has never really been the writer, would send the occasional letter in his neat, copperplate handwriting, always neat, measured writing, a reminder of his time as a technical person & so these are very special to have. 

I have bought some fabrics which I think will contrast nicely with a shirt of his my sister has kept for me to incorporate (at my request). The bias binding / braiding is reminiscent of the airmail stickers used on our post to each other. The two letter holders can then sit side by side on my desk so I have them near me. 

Today marks 9 years since we lost my Mother to cancer, I marked 5 years, a milestone in my mind. It is also the year my devoted parents are together again. I think a second letter holder will be a good way to sew through the adjustments.  

These quote are special .... 

"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those we love, time is eternity. "

"Don’t be sad for me, we all come to this world as tourists, to enjoy life, go sightseeing, do good deeds. I just happen to be leaving earlier than others."

Thank you for your time to stop by & read;  each & every visit & comment is much appreciated. in these trying times it is needed, especially by those who give it freely.  Most of all, be safe all please 💖

Dee ~💕~

My space ....

I thought I would share one of my special spaces which holds my memories.

This is my desk, tucked in the corner of my bedroom with my gorgeous large framed painting that I am very fond of. It took me a long time to find out her name & I just loved this mezzotint from the first time I saw it & knew she was going home with me. Her demeanour is just so elegant & peaceful that I feel she brings a sense of calm to the space. Her story is told here ...

The desk used to be a horrid dark colour but being a solid wood desk, I painted it to fit in to my space & be something I love because it is beautiful & useful.

Being my personal space, away from visitors, I keep my favourite things there - cards from my lovely daughters, the last birthday cards sent by my Mum, little special things that have sentimental value ...

A card the girls made for their Grandmother that is now with me, held up by one of a pair of vintage brass Indian elephants ...

Two tiny stained glass Ethiopian angels for my girls, memories of fabulous times spent together in Ethiopia & the angels in the church in Gondar ...

A small silver Indian elephant that Ms M & I exchanged on our trip to India - we bought one for each other as a memory of our trip ...

My lovely statue busts wear my 'bling' that I like to see - costume / paste jewellery, some of it quite old but I love having it out as it inspires me to use it more often ...

A vintage glass & metal container with holes from the bedroom I always used at Olive's home.  It was always on the dresser 'so you have somewhere to keep your earrings safe when you visit' . It now keeps my pretty bits handy & safe, as well as serving as a reminder of time spent with Olive

But my desk especially contains letters from my late Mom. She was a great letter writer & it was always a joy to open the door & find a letter on the mat from her as I knew it would contain both news & interesting bits.

I made this letter holder after attending a Gentlework hand sewing day. It is made out of a cloth that my grandmother & mother had on their dressers & so it is a connection to them ...

I love getting letter or a card. I  regularly write cards & letters to my Dad in South Africa because he loves getting post so this is a contact from our life to his.  Emails & texts are welcome but they are not the same as letters which can be savoured & reread - emails are just not letters ...

This is where I write my letters - away from distractions, at my desk. This lovely Spring card is winging its way with Easter greetings & news ...

I use a vintage brass cigarette container as my stamp holder. It is a family item that is repurposed & it is in regular use.

We remain connected to our past if we hold memories dear ...

Do you have a space to call your own? Do you still write letters & cards or is email & texts the accepted form of correspondence now?  Tell all & thank you for taking the time to stop by, read & comment ...
Dee ~♥~