...had a wonderful, embroidering grandmother

My father's mother was one of the most creative persons in my childhood (along with my parents). There was nothing she couldn't do - and she could make the most wonderful things out of nothing... I loved to go to my grandparents' house i.e. on holidays, and eventhough it was hard for me to be away from my family for 4-5 days (I was terribly homesick) I always enjoyed it. My grandmother loved to embroider - mostly cross-stiches, and she gladly taught me how to handle the needle and embroidery cotton. At my 9th birthday the present from my grandparents was a little drawer full of embroidery cotton, needles, embroideryfabric and patterns which she had torn out of magazins. I was so proud of my present and felt such a freedom to make everything I wanted. The embroidery drawer and the fact that my mother always gave me the opportunity to create crafts, such as knitting and sewing, meant the world to me.

I believe that it is essential to take a child's need to create very seriously. To show the child that it is a wonderful way to express oneself and get peace at mind. I try to give my own children the same possibility to be creative with their hands and their minds....maybe that is why I have heaps of fabric and yarn, beads, paper and all that stuff?

At the picture you can see what I have been embroidering lately. A heart with wings. A kit I bought a while ago from a company that unfortunately no longer exists: "Den Røde Tråd". The people behind the company are two fantastic women: Helle and Björk. Helle made this amazing book for children and this one about embroidery in a modern way. Björk is from Iceland and used to be my embroidery teacher at Skals Håndarbejdsskole's evening course.

Well, I had better finish my little heart. It is a present for a sweet and thoughtful woman....

PS. Talking about embroidery you should keep an eye on this website: www.nalin.is, which is an Icelandic shop/website. One of the women who own it, is the mother of a boy who used to go to my son's class. She is extremely good at embroidery and used to go to Skals Håndarbejdsskole and Textilseminariet.