I come from a very crafty family. My maternal grandmother cross stitched. My mother handcrafted dolls and stuffed animals. Fortunately, their do-it-yourself talents were passed down the family tree.
My grandmother taught me to cross stitch. She tried to teach all the girls in the family, but I’m the only one who took a real shine to it. The other kids each took to their own crafts – my sister to a variety of sewing and crafting projects, and my cousin to candle making. One of my brothers has been gifted with a talent for woodworking.
My grandmother battled cancer for the last few years of her life, and she died in 1993 at age 65. I think of her often with fond memories. I remember having Thanksgiving dinner at her house. I remember waking her up while playing Operation with my sister and cousin. I remember her sweet smile and the kindness she always displayed. But most of all, I remember the cross stitching. She always had a project in hand, and she always encouraged me to do the same.
“Mamaw” always told us the story of The Cross Room. Basically, the story goes that a man was struggling in life, so he told God that his cross was too heavy to bear. God then took the man to a room full of crosses and asked him to lay down his cross and choose another. Some were like towers. Others were smaller than a breadbox. The man walked around the gigantic room and then chose a tiny cross leaned up against a far wall. “That is the cross I want,” said the man. God replied, “My child, that is the one you just carried in.”
Mamaw loved that story, and she always talked of stitching it for a wall hanging. She never got around to it. Toward the end of her life, she went blind in her left eye due to a brain tumor. Tears well in my eyes as I think of how sad she was that her ability to cross stitch had been hindered.
After Mamaw’s death, my mom gave me all of her cross stitch books and materials. I added them to the big box of my own. I am ashamed to say that I hadn’t opened that box in several years until a few nights ago. As I sorted through my many half-finished projects, I found an old newspaper clipping of “The Cross Room”. I found graph paper with half-finished patterns for the story. I found several unsuccessful attempts to stitch the story.
My grandmother’s love of cross stitch now resides in me. It always has, even though I haven’t practiced regularly for a number of years. Cross stitch utilizes fine threads, allowing you to create beautifully detailed art. Even the smallest projects take a significant amount of time to complete, but the sense of accomplishment is great.
Last night I began working on a Christmas tree ornament. I thought my skills would be rusty, but I’m progressing quite nicely. I plan to do a few small projects to get back into the groove. Then I’m going to tackle the project my grandmother always dreamed of. I’m going to design and stitch a wall hanging of The Cross Room. I am going to hang it in my living room to serve as a constant reminder that there are others who are far less fortunate than I. And I am going to honor my grandmother’s memory by bearing my cross just as she bore hers – with diligence and dignity.
August 16th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Wow, that’s a great story and I can’t wait to see the Cross Room when it’s finished!
August 16th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
That’s a very nice thing to do Tish. Sounds like your grandma was a really great lady
August 16th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I called my grandmother “mamaw” too. What a great thing of you to do…cross stitching in your mamaw’s honor and memory. You know we want pictures after you’ve completed your beautiful work.
August 17th, 2007 at 12:36 am
A very nice story. It’s nice that our realitives that are no longer with us can live on in our memories.
Oh, and i’m finally back.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Hey Tish!
So beautiful!!!! My mom used to do cross stitching (she stayed at home for 14 years to take care of us, kids): she used to make all sorts of towels (x-mas, birthdays etc)! Now, she doesn’t do it anymore cause she’s the President of a Trading company, so she stitches no more…
Your Grandma was so cute, and it sounds like she was very wise too: you were lucky :)!
I wish we would all carry our “cross” with diligence and dignity :)!
cheers!
August 17th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Believe it or not, I can cross-stitch, and although I haven’t done any in about three years, I pride myself in having done some very elaborate designs (including a couple of Colonial Williamsburg pieces). I guess it was a prelude to my painting. I always found it extremely relaxing and therapeutic. And there’s nothing quite like that sense of satisfaction one feels at the end of a project. And to anyone who argues that it’s a “woman’s hobby,” I challenge the “manly men” out there to try it and finish a project. (Now that I think about it, I actually went to a big x-stitch convention in Knoxville in the mid-90s. It was held in one of those large convention halls downtown, probably something left over from the World’s Fair.)
August 17th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I really liked the story of the cross room, that is so true and a good thought when lifes “problems” tend to get us down. do you mind if i share that story at our next ika bible study?
August 17th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
That is awesome, Tish. I love stories like that. I don’t have too many grandparent tales like that. I’ve only got one grandma left now and while I have fond memories of growing up and visiting her (and my other grandma), neither of them were into crafts like that to pass on. That’s great that you enjoyed doing it, still enjoy it and want to continue on in her honor. Can’t wait to see the Cross Room when you’re done. And please post some photos of the other ones you’re working on!
August 17th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
This is really wonderful Tish. Thank you for sharing. It struck a chord with me… my nana and I were very close and she passed away in 1995 around the same age as your mawmaw and also from a brain tumor. This really hits home. I hope you might share some pictures of your work? Isn’t it so special that she left you with such a precious gift?
There’s something over at my blog for you too! ~hugs~
August 17th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Tish, what a beautiful entry.
*hugs*
August 18th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Tish,
I remember the Cross Room story, but only as re-told by you when we were kids. Even though a 4 year age difference isn’t much, it really does effect what you remember. I have always enjoyed cross-stitching, but as you said, I didn’t take a “shine” to it. I still struggle with keeping the back stitches neat (as you were always able to do) and I have trouble with some of the more complicated stitches.
Did Mamaw teach you to crochet? She tried so hard to teach me (I was probably 13 or 14). I would make a little progress and go show it to her only to have her tell me to take it apart and try again. It was so frustrating! I still have that one square, though, that I made with her help. It was made from some red yarn that Mom used to crochet a blanket for Dad when they were dating or first married (according to Mamaw). I did pick up crocheting again a few years back, and it was a little easier for me to do.
Anyway, it was good to read your post about her. It made me recall some good times. Remember the Christmas she gave us each a box with assorted crafting supplies? That was my favorite gift!