My grandmother was a dress designer for Bonwit Teller. She made custom wedding gowns. She died last February just shy of her 94th birthday. When I went through her closet I found she had sewn Bonwit labels into her clothing. I also found a stash of Bonwit labels. The sneak. She worked for them for 11 years then got pregnant with my father. The entire time she worked there she never mentioned she was married. She was afraid that they would fire her. How do you not tell any of your coworkers about the other half of your life? 11 years?
These took up most of the box.
I found these great little labels she had made up of her initials using both her formal name and her nickname. AK and GK. I wonder if she put these in the gowns she made?
I also found a wooden darning egg, a small turning tool, various wooden spindle of thread, needles, buttons, and this great portable sewing case (the brown cylinder).
This is the inside. I may just have to make one like this.
Going through this stuff tonight was tough. It cemented how much I really am like her. Do I like sewing because she did? Would I if she hadn't have taught me?
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5 comments:
I've got my grandma's stuf too. She hated sawing but wasn't bad at it. I love working with her stuff. I yesterday put her small secretaire on my workingroom. I would love to be able to write letters there.She died 3,5 years ago but I hadnt had the space for the desk till now. Her goldplated pen was in it and it wrote immediately. oh I cried..
Mijk
P./S. I emailed you with my realname couple days ago but this is the internet nick..
I love this post. Sewing, family, women--all themes that really mean a lot to me on so many levels.
How great that you got your grandmother's treasures. I have Olsen's grandmother's old sewing basket one of them). I also have my great grand's, my Bigmama's sewing machine (one of them) and just inherited my mother's old Morse--the one she sewed all of my clothes on when I was a kid. The women in my family for several generations have been great seamstresses. I love the idea of sewing and always incorporate it into my work. I guess that makes me a conceptual rather than functional seamstress.
How interesting that your grandmother sewed Bonwit Teller tags into her clothes and what a big secret to keep about her family. Wow!
I can't wait to see if you make the little sewing kit. I think that is a great idea.
Trix,
I think I picked up sewing to seek my grandmother's approval. She was a strong woman and always got what she wanted. She was a bit of a bully but maybe that was a culture thing. She was not subtle and I don't think that translates well in this country. Her brother was a professional illustrator. Her father was a shoemaker and her mother owned her own business as a fabric wholesaler.
My sewing is more conceptional than functional. Technique wise I don't have a clue. I make it up as I go along and hope for the best.
I love looking through all of her stuff. I wonder why she picked certain colors and buttons. I wonder what she had planned and why they weren't used. I wonder if Tootie will go through my stuff someday.
mijk,
Thanks for stopping by. It's interesting how certain items can bring back a flood of memories.
God, your family gets crazier and crazier.
That sewing box is in good hands.
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