Sunday, August 30, 2009

Mixed Media Monday - Stitches


The tree and flowers on this piece are called yo-yos. My grandmother saved fabric scraps and cut them into circles. In the evenings, she'd sit in her rocker, hem them with tiny perfect stitches, and draw the stitches tight, gathering the fabric into a yo-yo. She stitched the yo-yos together into colorful pillow tops and bed spreads. Thank you for this challenge, which took me back a stitch in time ......

24 comments:

  1. This brought some memories back for me too, Bev! I remember making yo-yo's with my friends when I was young. We carried our supplies in plastic bags to work on them whenever we had an opportunity. Love this colorful and cheerful piece! Hugs, Terri xoxo

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  2. Wow! You are bringing back memories for me too. I think they were called "rosettes" here. I have never heard the word yoyo applied to them but I know exactly what you mean. It seems the man who invented the plastic yoyo didn't invent the word if your Grandmother used it all those years ago.
    Your picture is a delight, Bev, and your story is the icing on the cake. Fantastic artwork and great writing.

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  3. Ah, Bev - this is a wonderful piece - and thanks for the memories of my gran making yo-yos too :-) Diane

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  4. Ah, my Grandmother made these too Bev- and fullsize quilts as well- no netflix or computers in those days! I really like how you incorporated these pieces into your art- Wonderful!

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  5. This is so cute..I do remember those yo'yo's!!

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  6. OMG Bev this is truly lovely.
    So gorgeous design. Fantastic.

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  7. Ohhh! I absolutely love this! Its beautiful and creative.

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  8. Love your yo-yo piece, Bev....over the years I have spent hour after hour making those things...creating baby quilts, and other yo-yo fabric pieces. I really love them. One of the many craft things brought to us from our parents and grandparents. Got to love the memories that go with them. Beautiful piece...thank you for sharing. Hugs, Gayle.

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  9. This is sooo sweet and so is the story about your granmother. Love the stitching and the trees and flowers on your card!!

    Linda

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  10. I love your yo-yo flowers . . . too cute! Oooooh, the memories. AND you live in Indianapolis - that's where I grew up :)

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  11. Love your yoyo Bev, great piece, would love to try one now, never heard of them before..

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  12. Very very sweet and vintage, love the yo yo tree and flowers.

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  13. This is way cool Bev!! I think my Oma was a complete poser - I never saw her stitch anything!!! Having said that, she lived in berlin and we lived in London, so... =)

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  14. I still like making yoyos, this is cute

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  15. Well, Yo Yo's vs My Little Ponies.
    I like your Mothers Yo Yo's much better and your story accents your picture beautifully!!
    Think we could introduce these to IAA? Oh oh, generation gap....."M"

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  16. This is the first I have heard of yoyos, what a sheltered life I've lead. Great piece Bev beautifully crafted.

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  17. As for working at the Scrapstore, I really should try harder to resist, but you know what it's like... you see something, get an idea and then before you know it, you have stash everywhere!! =)

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