Needlecraft is something I grew up around.  My Grandma crocheted as did my Mom.  Mom also loved embroidery and Swedish Embroidery.  I have all of the wonderful things she's made over the years. They are things I treasure and will pass down to my own children. Grandma was a seamstress when she was younger and loved to sew. Many of the clothes my brothers and I wore she made for us. Her sewing machine, an ol' work-horse Singer, used to fly--she sewed so fast.  I used to lay across her bed and watch her hands and that ol' machine work up some glorious creations.  

I  watched my Mom and Grandma crochet in the evenings, as we watched television; and it all looked of so complicate to me.. My Mom had taught me embroidery, but I didn't really enjoy it much--it bored me to tears.  Today my daughter, Debbie (who has inherited that embroidery gene), does some of the most beautiful counted cross-stitch I've ever seen.  My Aunt Hilda knitted and taught me when I was in my teens. Although I don't knit now, I kept the wooden knitting needles she gave me, and recently gave them to Debbie--as she enjoys knitting wonderful creations. 

When my children were little I loved sewing clothes for them.  With four growing children it was also economical--never mind the fact that they loved having something no one else did.  I taught myself to crochet by reading one of my Mom's old crochet books.  I have several of the old books from the 1940's and truly treasure them, and have since added to my collection at garage sales and finds at antique stores.  I started with thread and crocheted doilies and some simple things for my children--Barbie dresses and sweaters for their dolls.  I didn't have a lot of spare time back then, with four growing children, a house to take care of and a full-time job.  So I packed everything away for awhile.  The awhile wound up to be several years, as life changed and the little ones grew and left the nest.

Several years ago I started crocheting for enjoyment and relaxation, and to keep my ever aching fingers moving. When my Grandson, Cory, was born 7 years ago, I picked up my hooks and went to town--sweaters, booties and blankets.  Hats and a bunting just to name a few.  After that, there were several afghans for family members and 5 years ago, I became a Grandma again--both my daughters had daughters weeks apart from each other.  I been working my hooks ever since then, and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours or days to finish everything I want to make. 

I enjoy going to garage sales and picking up whatever books, yarn, hooks, needles I can find--anything have to do with crochet.  I found a gold-mine a few years back--boxes filled with skeins of yarn and crochet hooks of all sorts and sizes, plus loads of knitting needles.  I bought a few skeins of the yarn (some of it was quite old (from Grant's and Woolwoth's, but in great condition) and all the hardware the lady had.  I went home and thought about it--the next day I went back and asked if she still had any of the yarn left--she did--all the boxes filled to the brim hand not sold.  What luck!! I bought it all and have since used most of it, and what I didn't like and knew I wouldn't use gave to a local group who sells things to support a children's activities program.

On the following pages you'll see my adorable Grandchildren modeling some for the things I've made.

Please keep returning to this page and watch it grow!