Saturday, April 10, 2010

Treasures that teach: :

As a young girl I was blessed to have some amazing influences in my life. Many of those people have moved on and are no longer with us, but lately with all the reflecting I have been doing, I have been spending much time thinking about and appreciating what those I admire and aspire to be like, have left behind. For years now, before I even knew my husband Kevin, I knew his Grandmother Fern. I grew up babysitting for Kevin's mother, in her beautiful home full of the work of her mother, Fern Shaffer. Fern lived there for awhile and I was able to spend some time with her, but she wasn't well during those years. I remember how much she enjoyed watching her grandchildren laugh and play throughout the house and telling her that I loved her "pictures." As much as I always enjoyed seeing them, I never realized until just the other day, exactly how amazing they are. Lately, when I find my hands getting a little tired of all the knitting, I am enjoying sewing again and now - embroidery. Learning this new craft has made me look and appreciate so much around me in new ways - our clothing, pillows and lampshades throughout our home, the simple graphic patterns and how they come together on, well, everything, and again, at Fern's "pictures." After all these years, I am seeing her artwork in a new way.



I've always loved the light that comes into her home, but it made it difficult for me to get many pictures. I was only able to capture the top piece well, but that just means I'll be sharing more another time. To think of all the hand-stitching that was done to create every detail and each picture, is unbelievable. I love the combination of the soft watercolor background, with the texture and color of the threads. I am so grateful to Fern for sharing her talent. Her work will continue to teach and inspire us. We will enjoy their beauty and the light that shines from what she left behind. Thank you Fern.

13 comments:

  1. How neat!

    Fern is such a wonderful and different name!

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  2. That is really amazing!

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  3. Oh my goodness - those are INCREDIBLE! They are truly works of art.

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  4. I dabble in the art-- but Fern was certainly an artist!

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  5. its always great to see adults thankful for who they grew up with. as a preschool teacher i just dont feel that way at times...but when isee adults say things like thast then i feel a bit better

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  6. How beautiful - she truly was an artist with a needle and thread:)

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  7. Thank you for all the sweet comments. Fern's work is amazing! There are about 10 pieces in my mother-in-law's collection and I will surely share more. I sent her the link to the blog post and she was really touched and let me know that this type of work is called Danish Needle Painting. I plan on researching this medium before I share more. Thanks again everyone!
    ~ Maureen

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  8. Wow, These are amazing!
    Also, is Barbs maiden name Shaffer?! I didn't know that

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  9. Biz, Ms Shaffer is your sister Catherine!

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