Sweet Gifts

I am honored to have this needlepoint hanging on the wall next to my workspace. It was a surprise gift that the recipient had placed above her sewing machine for decades. Family members could no longer remember who needlepointed the piece but noted that it was always in the sewing room. And, now it resides in my creative space.

These 4", modern-day, Victorian style needle cases were recently gifted to me because of my love of sewing and quilting. Needles have always been an important tool and were kept in ornamental boxes or cases. During the Victorian Era, needle cases would have been made from sterling silver, bone, wood, or pewter.

A special treat that these needle cases were presented in the original boxes with a notation of the type of wood they are carved from.

Here is a fascinating article about another type of needle case: "Art Curator Digs Into History of Traditional Inuit Needle Cases." When Krista Ulujuk Zawadski came across a collection of Inuit containers for sewing needles, also called kakpiit, from the 1800s, she wondered why, when growing up in Rankin Inlet, she had never heard of these unassuming little objects that were once vital to Inuit survival.

Upon interviewing locals in the community, Bernadette Henrie, who was both a friend of Zawadksi and an elder in Rankin Inlet, initially did not recognize what the kakpik was, until Zawadski referred to it by that name. Once she did so, “the knowledge came flooding back.”

Henrie was able to tell Zawadski about how kakpiit were used during her childhood and the types her father used to make and carry with him when he went hunting. She also recalled how the traditional kakpiit were replaced by metal tins, which are still called kakpiit by some women, including Zawadski’s mother.

Zawadski said this conversation with Henrie, who has since died, underlined the importance of “the knowledge that is buried within our knowledge holders.”

“If we're not talking about these things and passing along our knowledge, it's lost.” ~Krista Ulujuk Zawadski

While touring a lovely Victorian house in San Francisco recently, I took photos of two beautifully displayed needlework canvases. This one with quilts on the porch:

And, this familiar quote by French novelist, George Sand (Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin):

When I inquired a month later if the needleworks were available for purchase, I was told that the house was undergoing an extensive remodel to be offered for sale. All furnishings were donated or placed for auction.

Well, those were two that got away. Here's hoping that they went to different homes to double the appreciation of their artistry by adding beauty to a wall, alcove or shelf.

Do you have something in your creative workspace that was given to you as a sweet reminder of a loved one?

Thank you for stopping by.

XOXOX