Sunday, May 9, 2010

My Mom - Sew Perfect!

When I saw this Hero Arts SIMPLY HANDMADE set I immediately thought of my mom!

My mom was a Home Ec teacher. She spent 30 years teaching in the same classroom in Lamar (Colorado) Junior High (Middle School). In the beginning (1967) she taught girls the basics - cooking and sewing. By the time she retired (1998) she taught girls and boys (thanks to Title 9) consumer education, sex education, and basic cooking skills. Since we lived in a town with one Jr High and one High School - I had her for 8th and 9th grade Home Ec. There we both learned things about each other. She didn't want me to call her "Mrs Corder" and I didn't want to call her "Mom". So I called her "George" (in a house lacking any male influence most things became "George", "Frank", etc). I learned that even though it appeared chaos some times reigned in her classroom - she had iron control (she can still organize a group of people with a few direct words). She learned that I had a eye for color (my 9th grade sewing project was a struggle over material/color - I won - she later agreed it was great). So this set really reminds me of that time and was perfect for a Mother's Day card.

There's not much new or different here. I stamped the pattern image on more of that old pattern I used a few weeks ago for the sewing tag. I did some sewing around the edge of the pattern/gingham paper. That's a first - I've been wanting to sew on my card for awhile, just never got around to it! The most interesting thing is the thimble. I used a SCS method called FAUX METAL - where you layer/heat embossing powder and then stamp in it. And can I say that Cosmo Cricket MATERIAL GIRL paper is PERFECT with this set?!?!

Here's a close up of the Faux Metal thimble. Even the acrylic stamp got some good dimension in the EP.

Stamps: Hero Arts SIMPLY HANDMADE
Paper: Cosmo Cricket MATERIAL GIRL, pattern tissue
Ink: Distress Ink: OLD PAPER, BRUSHED CORDUROY, WALNUT STAIN
Accessories: Sewing pins, Tatted Ribbon, Button, Scrapper's Floss, SU! border punch, and sewing machine

I've been scanning a lot of old family pictures into the computer as part of the genealogy work I'm doing. We have some old tintypes that are about to fade away!

When I was younger, my mom sewed most of my clothes. Here I am on my 1st day of kindergarten in a dress she made for me. I loved the dress but hated the bib - it always got in the way! After my parents divorce and my mom went back to work full time, she started buying the school clothes.

Here we are in her class room on her last day of teaching before retirement. I surprised her by driving down to spend the day with her.

This is my mom a few years ago in Alaska. My friend, Anne Lise, snapped this picture of her and it's still one of my favorites! The silver hair and blue Norwegian sweater are a great combo!

LOVE YOU MOM! Happy Mother's Day!

10 comments:

  1. A wonderful tribute to your mom, Deb; now we know where you received your crafting genes! Love that card -- the DP is not only perfect, but so are those embellies!

    Great photos, too!!

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  2. What a beautiful tribute to your Mom, Deb! Love all the photos--you're adorable! Her story is a wonderful one...thanks for sharing it. What a dedicated mother and teacher. I'm sure she's affected so many lives for good.

    A very happy Mother's Day to you and to your dear mother today!

    And LOVE the card, Deb--perfection!

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  3. hi Deb...this is the sweetest story..thank you for sharing it on Mothers day- glad to know u appreciate your wonderful mom...wish mine was still here- but I do have a wonderful family now! :) hugs! omg- and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this card- one of my favs of yours!

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  4. Deb, what a great tribute to your Mom. Your card is so sweet and I love everything about it.

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  5. Wonderful card, sounds like a perfect card for your mother. Love the photos and little tidbits about your mom, too. I'm sure your artistic talent comes from her.

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  6. Deb, this is such a touching tribute to your mom. It brings tears to my eyes as I recall all the sewing my own mother did for our family of 3 girls and a boy. Your closeness as adults is also so special. My mother died about 10 years ago and weekly I think of things I wish I had asked.

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  7. What a lovely card for your mom. It definitely seems to be a PERFECT fit after reading over your post about you and your mom. It was SO nice to see your photos and learn a little bit more about you, dear friend! Hugs, and hope you and "George" had a wonderful Mother's Day together! Hugs, Kel

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  8. beautiful to see the wonderful mother-daughter love! your card is stunning. i'm sure your mom loved it!

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  9. Hi Deb - cool card and fun to read about your mom and sewing. I sewed an outfit for the first time in 7th grade and LOVED it! I became a lifetime sewer! Just something about that creative process. Made me smile!
    Pam Going Postal

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  10. Wow, this is so awesome! I love your thimble and the real pattern tissue that you stamped on...way cool! I'll bet your Mom loved it!

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