Ohhh man, this little bug has got the crafting itch.

I've been working on a project for a friend who has been having a tough time.  I finally finished it and got it in the mail and now I'm dying for her to get it.  Ok, not dying, it's more like itchy.  Gosh, I'm itchy.  She's my very best friend, more a sister actually, but from another womb.  She lost her grandmother this year and as I sat at my sewing machine, that my grandmother got me, I realized how influential these wonderful women are.

I was lucky enough to spend three summers at my grandmother's house.  Three very formative summers; freshman, sophomore and junior years in high school.  As many people can attest to, you're sort of a jackass during these years.  You're figuring out what makes you tick and that's not always a pretty journey when hormones are also raging through your system.  (Sorry Dad and Mom!)

But my grandmother is as patient as a saint, seriously, ask anyone who knows her.  I think having 10 kids will do that to you.  She taught me so many things while I stayed with her.  I now know what a delight companionship is and what it means to be happy with simple pleasures.  One of my favorite skills she taught me was sewing and knitting.  To a young girl who already had the crafting bug these were new weapons in her growing arsenal.  I remember being obsessed.

One day I came home from working at the summer camp for my aunt and uncle, and to my absolute delight there was a brand new Singer sewing machine waiting for me.  I was so stunned and touched.  Being the hoarder that I am I kept the note that was attached.  Recently, when my mother shipped me the sewing machine she included the note.  How lucky a girl am I?

Every time I see that handwriting I ache, I miss her so badly.

So with my grandmother and my friend's Bessa in mind, I took up sewing a gift.  Ambitious.  Or stupid.  However you view it, I was starting an undertaking that I had no experience with in many years.  Thank goodness Gram taught me well!