From My Mother To Me

This picture was taken in 1957 at my grandfather's sewing machine store. He was a sewing machine dealer of Singer machines through several years. How fun is that? My mom was 3 years-old and she was wearing an handmade dress. 

She has had an almost 100% handmade wardrobe as a child and even as a teenager. I love going through her photos and looking closer to all her outfits. These were the days where people would go to dressmakers in order to get their clothes made. My mom has always had an amazing wardrobe, full of lovely girl clothes and of stylish teenage dresses - the 60's style in all its glory! 

She kept having some of her clothes handmade by dressmakers when she became an adult. Overall I think her wardrobe was 50-50 handmade / RTW when I was a child. But one thing was common: she had an impeccable sense of style! 

When Victoria (As It Seams) asked me to join her lovely series "From My Mother To Me" I was thrilled! I was a faithful follower of all the previous blog posts on this blog series. It was always so moving to read all the stories full of love. Mom and love are two words that go hand by hand. <3 

And this is us. My sweet mom and I, in 1979. I am wearing a handmade dress here. I have always had lots of handmade clothes as well. There weren't many clothing stores around when I was a child in our small town. I remember going to the closest big city to buy a good quality outfit twice a year - for Easter and Christmas (as would all the Portuguese kids do, it was sort of a tradition). 

All my other clothes were handmade by dressmakers. I have lots of good memories about going fabric shopping with my mom and grandmother and going to the dressmaker's several times until the garment was ready. First we would go there to take my measurements and pick a pattern. Then we would have to go there two, three times for fit checking. I loved all that process!! And I loved looking around trough all the fabrics and fashion magazines. There has always been something in sewing rooms that made me feel at home, now that I think about it.

Sadly though, I didn't get to keep many of my handmade clothes. My grandmother is a fully believer of sharing and caring for others. She is the most generous person in the world. (You would think so too if you knew her.) And that included giving away all the clothes to people who needed them, once we grew them out. She passed that to my mom and my mom passed that to us (me and my sister). So I only have one or two dresses from that time. 

Although my grandmother knew how to sew (she still has a threadle sewing machine) my mom never learned it from her. But she learned embroidery, crochet and knitting and her work is amazing! 

My mom went to a women education school. These were schools for girls only and they would learn all about embroidery, crochet, knitting, drawing, painting, etc. 

I was taught how to knit by my mom, when I was in Primary school. I didn't had much patience for it tough so I never got through the two most basic stitches...  ha! My passion has always been sewing. :) But I think I really need to learn those from her. I feel I might regret it one day later on if I don't... 

Here are some of my mom's first embroidery and drawing pieces from those times: 

Aren't these amazing? 

Her passion though became knitting and crochet. I grew up watching her using her hands to create beautiful things, every single evening. There was a sweet feeling of comfort and coziness when I would seat next to her in our living room while she was knitting or crocheting. 

I also remember going to craft fairs with both my mom and grandmother when I was a child, and watching them cuddle all the handmade goodies and really appreciating all the work beautifully made by hand. I think I learned how to appreciate handmade items because of that and it made me knowledgeable of all kinds of embroidery and crafts. 

A love for all things handmade was passed "From my mother to me". My grandmother passed  it to my mom, and my mom passed it to me. I couldn't be more grateful! 

And I hope to become a mom that will also pass this to my daughters. 

Click through these links to read everyone's stories and see many lovely photos! 

Monday May 9  |  A Jennuine Life  |  Little Cumquat

Tuesday May 10  | Gaafmachine  |  Do Guincho  |  Made by Sara

Wednesday May 11  |  La Folie Sewing Booth  |  Just add Fabric

Thursday May 12  |  As it Seams

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Miss Matatabi was really generous to offer a $50 gift voucher to her amazing fabric shop! It is one of favorite fabric shops in the whole world. Her selection is so, so good! Try your chance by entering the giveaway below! 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway


Happy sewing!