Sunday, October 12, 2008

Sixty-Eight Years Ago Today



Source: "50th Anniversary Sampler of Robert and Jeanne (Holst) Robbins", created 1990 by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff. Photographed and privately held by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington. 2008.

I created this cross-stitch sampler 18 years ago in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the marriage of my paternal grandparents. My parents attended the celebration, which was held at my grandparents' church in Polkton Twp., Ottawa Co., Michigan, just outside the town of Coopersville where my grandparents and their children lived for many years. I had taught myself cross-stitch three years earlier, after admiring the work my husband's sister-in-law did. This particular sampler was difficult to do as some of it required working with gold metallic thread, which broke easily and was flat versus the round cotton threads used in conjunction with it. Clicking on the image above will bring you to my Picasa photo album, where you can zoom in to view the glints the gold threads make.

My grandfather passed away 28 December 2003, after being married 63 years to his "Jeannie with the light brown hair." My grandmother now lives with my uncle and his wife in Michigan due to her advancing age and Alzheimer's. When one of my aunts cleaned out my grandparents' retirement home in Texas a couple of years ago, she came across the sampler and returned it to me. I haven't done cross-stitch in years, but seeing it again has inspired me. Perhaps someday I'll create some sort of heritage or family tree piece.

6 comments:

wendy said...

What a beautiful way to commemorate the 50th anniversary! So glad you have it back in your possession instead of it being tossed!

Janet Iles said...

What a beautiful remembrance of the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of your grandparents. It is great that you got it back.

I am sure they were proud of your beautiful work and were pleased to receive it.

I have often wondered how people did such fine work.

Taylorstales-Genealogy said...

I have done a few sampler's also and know how much time and effort go into them. It's wonderful you have it back again. The photo album was beautiful too. What wonderful pictures and memories.

Lisa Louise Cooke said...

Your post has re-sparked my interest in cross stitching. I took it up as a newlywed and was passionate about it for many years. I definitely need to start a new project. I have a program that allows me to scan a photo and turns it into a pattern, so I'm thinking about creating one of an ancestor. Your post reminds me that these are the heirlooms of the future. Thanks for the inspiration! Lisa of The Genealogy Gems Podcast

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

A lovely piece. I'm happy it found it's way back to you. I have a couple of pieces that I did for my father that I kept after he died. I haven't done any cross stitch or other close work in years.

Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski said...

Miriam,

Once upon a time I also use to indulge in counted cross stitch. I would have added it to my "10 years ago I ..." on the latest meme but it was more than 10 years. It was something that helped me 'escape' when I wasn't a hands on Mom and needed something that was 'mine.' I know how much effort goes into a project like this and how much love goes into it as well.

This reminds me of my maternal grandparents 50th wedding anniversary ... in fact, I think it will make a post for my blog. Thank you for the reminder.

It was a lovely post - I love your blog and hope that I can have more time in the future to visit on a regular basis.

Fondly,
Cindy