Thursday, January 3, 2008

A house full of Grandchildren

Happy New year. Let me brag and bask in the warmth of our grandparenting for a bit. Having the children out of school gives us time to enjoy them. I am delighted with the art teacher 9 year old great granddaughter Bailey Elizabeth has this year, that teacher opens so many doors for her. Some days she wants to paint and tells me which impressionist painters they are studying and something of their styles as she does her own thing on the breakfast table with my acrylic paint.

Lately in art she has been touching on weaving, so I have set up in the middle of our living room the big upright triangle loom that I made my own shawls on several years back. Together we have begun a shawl for her. We spoke of natural dyes like indigo and butternut and she knew of Cochineal, and she put in that the native Americans made red paint from it, and how to gather it. We visited a friend of mine so Elizabeth could sit at the big 8 harness McCumber loom there, and also see bobbin lace made on a lace pillow, as well as view a great first period Navaho Chief's rug on the wall. Of all we saw she was most in awe of the museum quality rug.

Elizabeth learned to rug hook at age 5. She and cousin Hailey both hook and knit. Now Elizabeth is learning to crochet also. I do not expect many finished projects from all this, but it is so heart warming to me to see them take on a love of fiber arts. Getting to spend time with them like this is pure gold! We are blessed with 6 grands and the one Great grand, all nearby. How many people get a chance to weave with a great grandmother??!! This is the best of the best. Edyth
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