Thursday, November 6, 2014

My Mother's Clock


I might have talked about this clock before....I can't remember.  That's okay because time has passed and as it does I get older; my body has changed - not always for the better, my eyesight has dimmed, and while my mind might be a bit slower my memories are strong.  This clock hung in my mother's house for as long as I can remember.  When I was about 10 or so (I think) my mother was in the hospital for something I've long forgotten and my dad bought this for her as a coming home gift.  When she left us to join Daddy in Heaven I got the clock.  Maybe I just took the clock.  :)

There are two things hanging on it that have been there so long they are faded beyond recognition.  One is the tassel from my high school graduation.  The other is the one and only ribbon my mother ever won for one of her quilts.  She'd have won more except that she never entered one in a show or competition....I entered one secretly in the county fair and that's how she won this ribbon!

I look at it every day and I am reminded of several things.  First, that she loved me so much that she kept that stupid tassel right there in sight.  High school graduates were non-existent in her family or in Daddy's.  When I graduated from college they were right there front and center, and when I got my Master's, oh my goodness that was beyond anything they had dreamed for me.

That ribbon reminds me that being modest is okay, but we should all have dreams.  We are empowered by our dreams....moved forward by our dreams....enriched by our dreams.  I'm not one to compete either; I'm so much like my mother in that way.  But whether or not we put our quilts out there for competition is irrelevant.  What is important is that we constantly strive to get better at our stitching, to learn new skills that showcase our ability to improve, and to pass our love of sewing on to others, teaching and sharing wherever we can.  One of the joys in life is seeing something of ourselves in others, or maybe, in our case, on others.  A quilt covering a newborn baby, a purse slung over the shoulder of our sweet teen granddaughter, a well loved Christmas pillowcase, or tooth fairy pillow, a quilt made from a loved ones shirts, .... I could go on and on and on.

Those of you who, like me, spend way too much money on fabric and tools and then make things you give away....you know exactly what I mean.  Your heart is in every stitch.  You pray over the things you make, asking for all good things for that loved one.  I'm so glad I learned to quilt.  I'm so glad my mother and both of my grandmothers made quilts that I can hold so that I am reminded of their dear, sweet faces.  That's what I want for my children and my grandchildren....years from now I want them to pull something out, hold it in their hands, and remember me.

26 comments:

  1. What a beautiful wish.

    I enjoyed your story immensely.

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  2. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful post! The reason I began quilting just short of two years ago was for a gift for someone who was ill. It has since been passed on to someone else, but my heart was in every stitch! xox

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  3. I was touched by your beautiful trip down memory lane. Thanks for sharing these sentiments with us.

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  4. The clock is beautiful and so are the memories that go with it.

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  5. I, too, spend way too much to make things to give away. It's always a part of me that I am giving along with the prayers and actual item. Thanks for sharing today. ~Jeanne

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  6. What beautiful memories and what a gift of love your mother gave to you.

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  7. Just goes to show how precious treasures from our past can hold special memories. The clock is beautiful, the memories priceless.

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  8. sentimental am I ...I cried...just lovely Marlene....I do not have an old clock...I don't even have a watch lol

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  9. Lovely story. Isn't it amazing how something as simple as a clock can hold such wonderful memories. I have my mother's clock hanging in my living room and think of her every time I wind it.

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  10. Beautiful. Lovely memories and lovely sentiments. I hope for the same things.

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  11. That was very touching! I have my great grandmother's old clock and there is a small trinket inside of it that I have no idea what special memory it held for whoever put it there. I have left it there and always wonder what it meant.

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  12. You write beautiful words and have such a way of story telling that I want to know more. Thank you for sharing the story of that clock.

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  13. I have read every word Marlene and I am very emotional regarding what you have written and how precious life is. Every time I see or touch or use something my family has handmade for me I am reminded of the love and time spent. I was taught to make gifts for loved ones and I try to do that every year...all year long. I am saddened by those who do not apprectiate such gifts. Thank you very much for putting feelings and love into your shared story. Blessings and Creative Bliss...
    P.S. Lovely Treasured Clock.

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  14. I, too, have a 'mother's clock'. Thank you for sharing your sentiments and reminding us what's important in this life and why. Sometimes we get caught up in day to day living and forget. This post was beautifully written.

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  15. Your last line sums it up perfectly for me. That is where my joy comes from in sewing anything. I guess we all want to be remembered for something special we did in our lives. Being a servant of God is a part of that I think. Wanting to sew for other's pleasure. Giving gifts.

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  16. Thanks so much for making me smile today, Marlene. What a beautiful clock, and even more beautiful story. I love that your dad bought her that clock as a welcome home gift. Surely a sign of extravagant love.

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  17. Clocks represent so much!! I have one that I very vaguely remember being in my Grandmothers kitchen! (Mostly because I was 5 when she passed and then it came to live in our kitchen!) It was purchased around 1922 ish. But the original wood is long gone! My uncle redid the outside of it due to years of heavy build up in the early 80's (shortly before it came to live with my Mom!') I got it when my Mom passed 10 years ago and until about 6 months ago I had it running!! I have to take it in and find out why it stopped!
    Thanks for sharing yours with us!!

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  18. What great memories the clock holds for you. Loved reading your story. PRICELESS

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  19. Beautiful clock, beautiful memories and beautiful post from a beautiful heart.
    Bleasings
    Tonia

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  20. Wonderful thoughts! Thanks for sharing them in your post :)

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  21. Thank you for expressing so eloquently why so many of us make things to give as gifts as opposed to buying. Hoping to be remembered. Yes Beautifully written.

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  23. My hope exactly. In this technologic and fast paced world people will always need comfort. That is the beauty of quilts. Loved your story. My great aunt quilted... The moment I saw her quilts I knew I wanted to make a quilt someday. I'm thankful for the women in my life who have encouraged me along the way. I do not have a strong history of sewing/quilting people in my family. Thanks for the encouragement to keep working to improve my sewing. I appreciate that you are following along at The Girlfriend Gap. :). Means so much. Thank you Marlene. Janita

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  24. I loved reading your post. I like things like your clock that remind us of the good old times and many memories that we have of the people we love. :)
    -Brittany

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