That made me think about my great grandmother. She died about ten years ago, and was a great needleworker (she stitched, crocheted, tatted, etc.) While she didn't have a stash of supplies, she did have a great deal of completed needlework that she left when she died. Runners, pillowcases, doilies, a sewing machine cover and an enormous crocheted ecru tablecloth. My great grandmother had told my mother (the oldest of her grandchildren) that she could have that tablecloth when she died. Of course, my mother was the only one who knew she was the intended recipient of the tablecloth. When my great grandma died, one of my mother's cousins went over to her house and took it, not knowing about the promise.

My mother did end up with an identical tablecloth a few years later when my grandfather died. Great grandma had given him and his wife an exact copy, and my mother received that and loves it.

And that reminded me of another story. My friend made her new nephew a really neat Noah's Ark sampler when he was born. She knew, though, that the boy's mother didn't really understand the value of needlework and might possibly sell it in a rummage sale after a few years (eek!) She had the foresight to write on the back that if the piece was ever in such a danger that it should be returned to her, the person who stitched the piece.

Where will our pieces go? It's kind of a downer to think about it, but if something happened to you, do you know what would happen to your needlework and stash? Think about them at an estate sale or garage sale (or worse!) On the other hand, maybe you have a family that loves your needlework, but you wouldn't want them to fight over it, right? And sometimes your good friends might be left out of the dispersal of your belongings.

There are a few things you can do. If you want to be legal about it, you can write the distribution of your needlework into your will. If you have someone who would be handling your affairs if you died, you can also talk to that person about who would receive what.

You can also make tags for your pieces, or write on the backs of framed needlework. If you have a large amount of needlework, you could also just keep a running list that you keep with your important documents. Make sure someone knows where this list is kept.

Start making a mental note any time a friend or family member comments about how much they like a particular piece. What a nice reminder of you that needlework would make hanging on the wall of someone who enjoyed it while it was with you.

With my great grandmother's needlework, the pieces that remained were put on a table, and the grandchildren drew numbers for their picking order. That way, everyone received pieces they admired and knew they could use. An extra special gift came my way a year later when I was married. As a great grandchild, I did not receive any of the needlework outright. But at my bridal shower, my great aunt presented me with a lovely table runner stitched in sherbet shades on linen. The note said that it was from my great grandmother, and I love it.

I hope you have a wonderful June -- get some sun, and as Cynthia of the Drawn Thread says, spend some time in your garden (you MIGHT have to put down your needlework to do this - ha!)

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com