Grandma's House...

I remember fondly the visits I took to Grandma Net's house during my more formative years. My first stop was invariably her well-stocked pantry & freezer, full of her homemade snickerdoodles, Smith's Bakery pastries, and always a handful of frozen Snickers bars. As I grew older, and more health-conscious, I've traded my pantry pilfering for a more noble pursuit: the sewing room. Anything you need, she has and is willing to share. Case in point:

She sent me home with a ziploc bag full of interfacing, a Saltine Cracker tin circa 1969, and the newest edition of Country Living magazine. (Although the case can be made that I didn't need a cracker tin or a new magazine...)

My grandma's sewing room is a room like no other. Her bookshelves are home to much creative inspiration, even causing the shelves to bend under the weight of the ideas they store. She has a fabric stash that rivals even the greatest of fabric stores, and is even willing to share if you ask. But beyond the assortment of tangible textiles and notions, her sewing knowledge is what makes the room so exceptional. There's something magical about it really. The knowledge combined with the well-equipped space creates a place where creativity flourishes. Where cotton cloth is turned into a vehicle for supporting missions around the world, via the quilt action at our local MCC Sale. Where a combination of textured fabrics becomes a patchwork accessory for a special baby. Or a pile of red silk becomes a bridesmaid dress for an appreciative granddaughter. It's in this room that our family history is both created and shared. While the iron steams and the sewing machine hums I learn from my grandma. She tells me about the past while helping me create items that will be used in the future. It's a place to both glance back and look forward. A place to appreciate family.