Thirty Years Ago

Thirty years ago, my Mom was nearly three months pregnant with yours truly; Brian was nearly five and a half, causing trouble somewhere no doubt.  Nonetheless, it was then that my mommy dearest decided to undertake a very special, very time consuming, very loving art project for her first born: a beautiful, yarn wool embroidered canvas with numbers one to ten and corresponding objects to account for each number.  At one point, it hung in my room.  I remember it not hanging but being hand held.  I remember going through each of the numbers, tracing the perfect stitching with my little fingers, and I remember the "seven hearts" being my favorite.  It is a treasured masterpiece that I hold very dear to my heart.

This special canvas has travelled with me to different homes, to college, to real life outside of college, and all the way to Ohio into our new home.  Throughout all of these years, it has always reminded me of a very special part of my childhood, and I hope it continues to do so.  Unfortunately, throughout all of these years, it has also undergone some moth damage.  Those little buggers.  Some of the yarn was eaten, some of it was frayed from partial snacking, and a few weeks ago I decided to see what could be done to repair such a treasure.  Three shops, five phone calls, and two emails later I found someone who could repair my canvas. And repair is what she did!  Nine different colors of yarn wool were damaged, and the woman who worked with me, Shayna, repaired them all!

I am truly delighted that I was able to get the broken yarn strands fixed.  I cannot put words or a price tag on how meaningful this canvas is to me.  I am so happy to be able to keep a little bit of childhood with me wherever I go, and I am so thankful to have such an amazing, loving, wonderful Mom! 

(For the record, I would have been 100% content if nothing could have been done to repair the stitching.  Just having this canvas art means more to me than anything.  Fortunately, it was able to be repaired, and I could not be happier!)

PS: Happy 11/11/11!