Roses in cross-stitch: Life Lessons

This tapestry that has a pride of place in my home, dates back nearly 36 years. I was around 10, and my father was posted to Jorhat, Assam.

There were very few entertainment avenues other than the deep social interactions among the Air Force officers wives those days. Activities like this would become a trend, and so did a couple of these embroidery activities. One of them was this cross-stitch of roses.... So many colours, such small stitches and that too on a black casement, which were bought in bulk and soon many homes had the same embroidery up on their walls.

I remember my mother's face of joy, accomplishment and satisfaction the day she completed this piece. It is etched in my mind.

There was a second one too, I remember vividly. Red casement, bigger stitches, white wool and a picture of two bunny rabbits. So many homes had both these wall hangings - the roses in the living room and the rabbits in the children's room. Unfortunately our rabbits embroidery got damaged in our many moves and was hard to preserve. So that one continues to comfort as a childhood nostalgia.

As a young girl I remember being inspired to do one of my own. It was a little girl swinging on a swing attached to a tree. I didn't fully complete it although I went back to it many times. But knowing that such pieces can be completed and that I tried, gave me the lesson on perseverance, humility and appreciation of handmade crafts.

I wonder if I'll be able to pick up such an elaborate embroidery to make, although it's such a rich heritage, legacy and childhood memory to build. So I do toy with the thought....

#storytelling #embroidery #legacy #childhoodmemories #perseverance #humility #lessonsfromHobbies #crossstitch #handmade #inspirations