There’s still time to change my mind one more time . . maybe several more times but here’s my thinking.
I was going to do a redwork project. No color changes. I really need to finish the July project in two weeks and a one color, small project would be my best chance but . . I’m going to do Veteran’s Day at Twin Gables by Heartstring Samplery.
The Reason For The Change:
I’ve mentioned before that my dad’s brother, Charles Miller, was killed in WW II in 1945. That was before I was even born so I never knew him. I hope to see my dad in July and I would love to have this finished, at least the stitching, and be able to show it to him. My parents are getting up there in years, our relationship is a bit strained and I’d really like for my dad to be able to see this.
I want to put the initials CRM and the year, 1945, on there. Chad knows this bit of family history. I also have the letters my dad and my grandma had sent to Charles that were returned after he died, and there are some letters Charles had sent to them before he was killed and they arrived long after the news of his death. I have not read them and probably will not . . seems like an in invasion of privacy or something. I want to frame this piece and attach an envelope to the back and keep the letters with it.
Size:
It’s actually a fairly small piece. If I stitch it on my favorite 36 count fabric, it will only be about 5″ x 5-1/2″. I’d like for it to be a bit larger so I’ll probably stitch it on 32 count fabric. That will make it about 5-12″ x 6-1/4″. That isn’t a lot bigger but 32 count fabric is probably about as big as I’m going to go.
I think what I’m going to do is make the “Some Gave All” background longer and put the year and his initials above “Some Gave All” and then leave off the year and initials above that section.
Floss:
The called for threads are overdyed cottons. I had pulled out Sulky threads hoping to use just one strand on 32 count fabric but I think I’m going to be a big girl, not give in to my dislike of using more than one strand and use two strands of the called for overdyes.
This is going to be a hard one for me to stitch based on the number of tears just writing his blog post. My dad has been a bit emotional lately. I am sad about many things happening in our family but I feel this is something I need to do so . . I’ll do it and I’ll get it done before I see my dad.
Helen says
What a thoughtful and caring thing to do, Judy. Try not to tear stain your project. I have tearfully stitched some quilts in my years.
Ruth says
Old letters are like a personal history book, you learn so much that you didn’t know about someone. If you never read the letters, why save them? For Chad? Will he read them? Of course the letters are personal, that’s the whole point, that’s why they were written in the first place. There are entire Books of diaries and journals written by other people that the public enjoys reading. Pepys’ Diaries, for instance.
I’m sorry Judy, but it just seems to me that choosing not to read your relative’s letters is closing the door on a great friendship. What will you say to him in the next life? (If you believe in the afterlife)
Judy Laquidara says
I think it’s a personal choice and I love having them so if someone – Chad, Addie . . someone down the line wants to read them, that will be their choice. Neither sender nor recipient knew when they wrote the letters that he would not be returning home. I guess for me, if I sent letters to my parents on a weekly or daily basis, I wouldn’t want someone else reading them later, especially if I had meant for them to be read only by the recipient.
For someone who feels good about reading them .. that’s fine. I do not.
The first thing I will say to him will be “Thank you for serving our country!”
danielle says
I think this is an awesome project, and an awesome plan. I know you can do it! You have shown you can be a stitching machine when you want to be! I changed my plans too – and now I just saw that the order is not even going to be shipped until tomorrow…..luckily it is not a large project either but a bit more complicated than my initial plan. At least I have all my supplies for my initial plan – maybe I will go back to that one. Wonder what I could do differently with this new plan to make it fit the August requirements…..
carolyn says
I’m so sorry things are strained with your parents. I know how that feels, I went through it for several years back when the kids were younger. It was so hard, especially since it was they who chose not to speak with me for about 2 or 3 years. Thing are fine now, but I can never forget, or trust like I once did. I love that you’re doing this, so thoughtful and a wonderful way to keep the letters together. Be strong and keep stitching, this is definitely a labor of love…and respect and compassion!
Dottie Newkirk says
Your new “changed” project will be so meaningful to your father…..what a very, very special project.
Nelle Coursey says
What a wonderful tribute to your uncle. Your dad is going to love this. The last letter we got from my brother said he would be home in 2 weeks. That was the day after we heard he had been killed. He dropped the letter in the post box as he was going to the helicopter. I was the one that went to the mailbox and I opened the letter. I ran into the house screaming, he is not dead, we got a letter from him, he is not dead!! But of course that was wishful thinking on my part. That is how I know your dad will love it.
Judy Laquidara says
Oh, goodness . . that must have been so hard.
Sandi B says
Hugs and prayers. It will be an amazing gift.