To Pitch or to Save
To pitch or to save . . . that is the question? The cleaning and organization of the sewing and craft area has continued and it has slowed down considerably as there are some tough decisions that need to be made.
Aunt Florence’s Tri-Chem oil fabric paints
As mother-in-law Esther Schafer did fabric painting, so also did my Aunt Florence from my mother’s side of the family. When Aunt Florence and Uncle Norman (the Reibe Uncle that played the concertina) visited, it was always a show and tell from Florence as she was quite crafty. Norman was my Christian sponsor and we kept in fairly close contact while Orlin and I were farming. Their daughter Judy came and spent time during a summer so I could help her with garment sewing projects. Carrie and Kevin were quite young and easily entertained while Judy and I sewed.
In time to come after Norman had passed, Florence lived in an apartment in Litchfield and her fabric painting was a hobby that she spent a great deal of time on. Many years ago on a cold New Year’s Day, Mom and I called on Florence for an afternoon coffee. It never crossed my mind that when we left I would be leaving with all of her fabric painting supplies. Florence could no longer enjoy the hobby and she passed it to me. I had no idea if I would take up the painting but I excepted the gift that brought her so much joy.
Here I am years later and the fabric oil paints have become one of the last items to be dealt with in the organization of my haven. I went online and the company is still in existence that markets the fabric paints. In reading about them online it is known that the oil paint remains in good stead, but the ball point tips may be dried out from nonuse or not being cleaned at the last time of use. I dug into the supply of repair items and sure enough, if the tips are replaced, the paint is very use able.
I had dabbled with fabric paints in the 1960s. As late as this last spring a Tri-Chem painted quilt top I had done from that era was finished into a very lovely quilt, ready to be enjoyed. The Sun Bonnet Sue painted top had been in storage long enough. It needed to be finished so it could be enjoyed in time to come by someone that needed a bright quilt.
So I have decided that I will spend the time getting the paint tubes ready for use by installing new tips, and who knows what will be produced from them? Esther did dish towels with paints rather than embroidering everything. Florence produced a variety of table linens and place mats and I have a finished quilt – all via the oil paints. It is, for a sure, a “save.”
My fall and winter calendar is going to need scheduling in order for me to split my time with oil paints, piecing quilts, quilted wall hanging, counted cross stitch, crocheting bookmarks and afghans and knitting dish rags. Maybe I can con Dennis into helping out either with the sewing room or the domestic side of Stauffer Avenue. Dennis already takes over the kitchen after our meals are finished and I don’t want to burn him out. We will have to see. Needless to say, I will not have a problem staying busy, and it will bring out the peace that passes all understanding.
In life, please remember to give and have no memory of it, or take and remember it always.