In keeping with Valentine’s Day and all of the sweet projects that are posted this time of year, I want to share a gift I made for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. They celebrated 25 years back in 1980, several months before I turned 20. I haven’t done any embroidery for years and years. I remember making this piece and a few things for the boys’ room when they were babies but I don’t think I have done any since then.
This project was made from a kit that I purchased. After hanging on the wall for the past 35 years, it is a bit dusty. Last fall when Mom was recovering from her surgery, I looked at this which is still hanging in their bedroom. You know what? I am absolutely sure that I don’t remember how to do this!
I am sure I could still do a satin stitch, a running stitch and some french knots but the other stitches are no longer stored in my memory bank. Like the raised center of the upper flower – that looks pretty interesting but beats me how I did it. 😉
On the uppermost flower, toward the left, I rather like the petals with the vein running down the center. Again, no recollection of how that stitch works. And the center of that middle flower? Very pretty and again, no idea how to stitch that!
The stitching on the words is a bit herky-jerky when you see it up close. Overall though, this is a sweet tribute to my parent’s amazing marriage. They will celebrate their 61st anniversary this spring and I believe they are still each other’s very favorite Valentine.
Linking to A Quarter Inch From the Edge for Throwback Thursday for her February link up. There are others that will be posting about projects from the past so go ahead and check them out!
This is absolutely beautiful and your stitches look amazing. I’m sure there is a lot of love in every stitch.
Thank you! I made it while away at college. (A long time ago!)
This is gorgeous and has stood the test of time! Those flowers…wow…your needle work! I love that they are still sweethearts too!
Thank you Jayne. It makes me want to find a project to stitch and see if I can remember how!
Yes, they are definitely still sweethearts. 🙂 I love that as well.
What a lovely piece of work. Amazing that you made it when you were so young. I made a few pieces of embroidery from age 40 to 60 and have big book on how to do the different stitches. I tried embroidery again last year, and now it hurts my hands.
It would be fun to give embroidery a try again some time. I am sure my eyes would go a bit crazy – I wasn’t wearing glasses back then. Thanks for your sweet compliment Linda.
What a wonderful tribute to your parents’ love! 61st anniversary, how special! Your work is beautiful, has held up well. Those stitches do look complicated. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Paige! I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
I love that piece, Bernie! And don’t be too hard on yourself….at least you remember that YOU made it!!
Well just barely…. I know I made it but I sure can’t visualize doing it. 🙂
This is so sweet, and I can just imagine you as a teenager working away at it. Your work is lovely. And the fact that it still hangs in your parents’ house makes it all the more special. Happy Valentine’s Day to them, and to you, too. Isn’t it fun to think back to the kinds of needle work you used to do but don’t do anymore? Quilting trumps all. (Well, that’s the way with me, anyway.)
Yes, very fun to look back. I have always liked to make things, sew, stitch, etc. But for the past several years, it has been all about quilting. And happily so.
What amazing work! Thanks for linking up with Throwback Thursday @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge!
Thank you Jenn. I am really enjoying reading all of the throwback posts!
What a beautiful piece of work! 🙂
lovely!!!
Thank you Elle!
It is beautiful and reminds me on our own wedding embroidery we have. (I should have included it in the post….oh well…next time.)
Thank you Valerie. This will spur you to write a post about yours now! It is nice to have a place to document and share all of these projects.
Lovely! Beautiful stitching. Thank you for sharing.