Saving memories - remembering grandma

 Have you ever wanted to freeze something in time? Moments like when your baby wraps his arm around your necks and asks : Mamma am I your best friend? Or the letter from your parents when you were feeling lonely in a new city? I wish there was a way to re-play those moments. Sometimes memories are like warm blankets, of love, kindness and warmth.

Few months back I came across an old family trunk and was sweetly surprised by the heirloom inside. I looked at the embroidery works made by my mother-in-law and the other ladies of the house. White work embroidery seems very intricate and I admire the patience and diligence that goes in the process. I also have the embroidery hook and the scissors used by my mother -in-law.

Have you ever wondered to give life to an embroidery in a new way? I wanted to preserve and showcase the works made by my grand mother-in-law. Memory box is a delightful way to store family heirloom and pass on to the next generation. I got this memory box from Michaels.

But as I was framing the embroidery I thought I could add another dimension to the story by adding a background element. What if, if I conjure the lady who created these pieces? A simple cardboard cut out of a woman, some poster color, a tiny - weeny piece of fabric and some embroidery set the stage.The idea of making small figures to depict the real life came from Krishnanagar dolls.  Since this summer my mother was with me, she helped to draw the figure and paint it.

I treasure the work of my mother and grand mothers. My paternal grandmother ( Amma)  made quilts not only for me, but for my dolls as well! Some of those quilts are tattered and well worn while others are in perfect condition. My mother taught me to sew when I was around 10 years old. The love for fabric and thread has never dwindled ever since then. 

What is your happiest memory with your grandparents?

Mementos of the past - whitework embroidery

Last month I was cleaning an old trunk, the trunk which I found at my in-law's place. The  trunk was lying underneath a bed, forgotten, rusty, covered with dust and cob webs. Almost every household of West Bengal owns one ( or couple) of such trunks. In the days when closets were not a very common thing, these trunks were used to store winter clothes,quilts, which people typically don't use all around the year.
Sometimes these were also used by students when they moved away from home and went to a hostel/ boarding schools. My Maa still packs woolen clothes in these trunks and before stowing them away she puts couple of  Naphthalene balls inside the clothes. I still love the moment when I open a trunk and get welcomed by the smell of Naphthalene balls!!

Over the years this old trunk has moved to different places and has witnessed several historical milestones.It has seen partition of India and has followed the trail from Bangladesh to West Bengal. Later on along with the family the trunk has been to Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and now it rests back in West Bengal.
As I opened the trunk there were few surprises.The trunk yielded old journals, family books, baby quilts and other household items. The smell of vintage fabric caught my attention. I never get tiered of looking into old fabric art. As a connoisseur of fabric arts, I was quite enthralled to discover these handmade delicacies. 

A Kantha stitch table cover made by my mother-in-law

A table cover made by my mother in law

I recognized few of the table covers which was created by my mother in law.Bengal is known for Kantha stitch, and my mother in law was an expert in making quilts with Kantha stitch. But perhaps the greatest surprise of the day was when I came upon this white piece of embroidery on the delicate white cloth. 

Sample white work embroidery made by my grandmother in law

Although I am not an expert in Bengali hand weaves, but I was surprised to learn such kind of artistry exists. I am not sure about the creator of these art works. My mother in law passed away couple of years back. But I remember she spoke highly of the artistic skills of her mother-in-law. So I presume this could be made either of the two leading ladies of the house.

I had to search in the internet to find out the name and history of this stitch. Drawn thread embroidery is an old method of producing design in fabric by drawing threads from the body of fabric. Drawn thread work is also known as white work, Opus Tiratum, Punto Tirato, cut work, pulled thread work. Drawn thread work likely began in the 16th century and was popular in Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway and England. Relics of drawn thread work has also been discovered in Medieval period of China and India. The mesh work created with this stitch can be considered as a predecessor to lace work. Traditionally White work embroidery was used as an embellishment for underclothing, table clothes, church linens, christening gowns, veils and bonnets.

A table cover made by white work

Details of the white work

Another variation of white work

 Embroidering or wool - needle was often considered a form of domestic happiness. Women would gather together in lazy afternoons and would trade patterns and carry on the needlework.

The amount of labor and love that went towards making these detailed needlework is awe inspiring.Some of the linens were so old that they had lost their pristine whiteness and have turned yellowish, but nevertheless they appeared timeless.I have never met my grandmother-in-law. But as I was examining the embroidery and trying to find out the origin of the stitch, I felt I was communicating with her. May be these pieces were embroidered while she was still in Bangladesh? Maybe I am holding a piece of history which has witnessed the partition of India?

I feel I am lucky to have such talented women in our family who made them, and preserved them with care so that we can enjoy later! What was the last piece of family heirloom that you have been handed over?

References:
https://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/whitework-embroidery.html
https://textilis.net/2015/07/14/historical-reproductions-19th-century-whitework-embroidery-g-7/