December 30, 2009

Finished - With A Surprise...

The wedding hankie project is complete. I picked up the last one from Adele last night and to say they're breathtaking would be an understatement. Adele tells me that she and her mother used to sit for hours working on hankies together, and although it's been many years since she's done one, she rose to the occasion to create true heirlooms.

The bride and the recipients of the other hankies will be speechless when they receive them. Adele did most of the magic, but the monograms were my work, and I think the result of our combined effort is truly elegant.
When Adele gave me the last hankie, she said she had a little surprise for me, too. I looked into our project box and saw four pattern booklets. She told me that they were her mother's - and they were duplicates - that she was gifting to me...TO ME!!!

I had told her that once the holidays settled and my projects were caught up, I'd really like to learn how to do the hankie edgings. Her response was to give me four of her prized booklets, along with a promise that she'll be there to help me when I'm ready to try to do what she seems to do so effortlessly. (The booklet on the top of the pile in the second photo is the one she used to make the edgings for these hankies.) These pattern collections are from so long ago that they were priced at 10¢ and 25¢ per booklet! The copyrights are from the 1940s and 50s!!

I was nearly in tears when I realized the wonderful gifts she'd given me...not only the patterns, but also the promise of the gift of her time to show me how to do what she does with such finesse. I'm really looking forward to the special time we will spend together.

Thank you, Adele, my dear, talented friend. I know that your efforts will make one bride-to-be very grateful. I also know that I am excited to be looking forward to learning at the knee of one talented needlewoman. Happy New Year to all of us!
JoySignatureBROWNSM
Thank you to each of you who left anniversary wishes from my anniversary post (both here and on my FB page). Handsome and I really enjoyed reading your kind comments. They meant the world to us. xoxo

8 comments:

  1. truely is a awesome gift...and what lovely hankies..I haven't done edges since I lost my grandma...beautiful works of art

    ReplyDelete
  2. They are real heirlooms. I have edging books similar to those which my grandmother gave me. How fine was the thread that Adele used? They are simply beautiful.

    Minimiss

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful post, not only those gorgeous, I mean, GORGEOUS hankies, but your words were so lovely! The bride will surely flip when she see those beauties!...Wishing you lots of happiness, health, fun and plenty of creative time in 2010! xoxo Paulette

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, how sweet! I love that photo of the two of you at the top there! Your smile is radiant!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the new picture of you and Handsome kissing. You both look so happy congratulations on the your 25th. That is a blessing.
    This post is so neat. I love stopping by here and seeing what is new with you.
    Really a sweet gift to receive and I know it will not be long and you will be doing all of the work yourself.
    These are beautiful aren't they
    Happy New Year to both you and handsome
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations on your 25th anniversay. What a beautiful friendship heirloom from Adele. And you so deserve it. The hankies are absolutely gorgeous, delicate works of art! Happy New Year sweetie, and here is to a great year in blogging.
    Linda
    Robin's Egg Blues

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those are just sooooooooo gorgeous! They will truly love and treasure them! Those edgings make me swoon!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my what wonderful hankies you both made together. How lucky to find a special teacher in the art. Wonder what you will come up with next.
    Marcie

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment today. I'm using new settings on my comments so that I'll be able to respond to your messages to me. Be sure to come back to see my replies!

Blessings, Donna