My Mom…aka….Grandma Jam

I thought I would talk about my mom today, since it is Mother’s Day!

This is my mom.

She is a creator of many things useful and beautiful. She loves to cook, craft and sew. Cooking has been a huge part of her creative energy. She loves to try new recipes and also loves to feed all her family. Hence the name Grandma Jam, she makes the best homemade freezer jam and homemade rolls. She also makes yummy cinnamon rolls and of course fudge, that is her weakness. I could go on and on…..

Being a farmwife, she is also very resourceful. Back in the day, when money was for the needs of the family and the farm; my mom decided to make her own carpet for her wood floors. She made a braided rug for the living room out of old wool coats and men’s dress pants. I wish I had a picture of it; I used it for many years in my home over my wood floors until it started to wear thin and then it retired to the cabin.

Mom recently made me a braided rug out of my long wool coats and a cape that she made for me when I was pregnant. I love it! And I love that she still is making things for her kids at 84.

Braided Wool Rug (2012)

Embroidery is also one of her skills. She has made many beautiful pictures and pillows. If you go visit her they will be on the bed and walls decorating her guest rooms. I appreciate this skill, because hand embroidery isn’t my favorite hand work, but I do love looking at it.

Embroidered Pillows

My mind is spinning as I am remembering things she has crafted. Dolls, doll clothes and blankets, stuffed monkeys and bears, Holly Hobby dolls, ski mittens and baby blankets, the list goes on and on……

Mom has always had a sewing machine. She made prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and remade dresses to fit properly. She even made my sister and me, when we were in high school, ski coats and bibs! Now that is a picture I’m glad I don’t have! When my daughter was small she made a beautiful tweed wool coat with velvet trim. This coat has been passed onto friends and family to be worn for special occasions.

Hannah’s Coat (1988)

She has moved on from sewing clothing, except for the altering part and now is quilting. She has made many baby quilts with embroidered blocks for the great grandkids and she is making table toppers and runners for her families tables. I have a beautiful wall hanging that she made me for Christmas this year. It even has a black dog in it for ‘Mac’.

Quilted Wall Hanging (2011)

Mom also loves flowers and they seem to flourish under her care. I remember a beautiful orchid that we had in the living room for years. Well, I just have to show you the orchid she has now, it has 10 blooms on it and 6 more not yet opened. She pointed out that it has new leaves coming and a new stem. It is beautiful!

Orchid

Happy Mother’s Day, mom! You have passed me your gift of creativeness and I thank you! I so enjoy chatting with you about everything and anything. I love going to quilt shops with you and buying fabric for who knows what! I love discussing patterns that didn’t work and learning from you what you did to make it better. I’m still learning that lesson from you, the ability to see an idea and make it work for you. God has given us these gifts and I appreciate and love you for your encouragement.

I thought I would end this post with some pictures of some of mom’s creations. I am also creating a private group on Facebook for those of you who are family and friends and would like to upload pictures of ‘Grandma Jams Creations’. I thought this would be fun and it could also be a showcase of her creations through the years. So take some pictures of those dolls, wall hangings and many other items she has created for you. I want to see them!

Hannah’s Elephant (2010)

 

Jesse’s Wall Hanging (2011)

Happy Mother’s Day!