38135✽
Dear Cuties!
Because I am suffering right now in tapestry and cross stitch-fever, I want to show you something. This picture has an interesting history. The hand-stitched tapestry image is an heirloom and has a size of 55cm x 91 cm, unframed. This has sewn my grandmother - in a summer. The hands and faces are extremely fine stitches, the rest of the picture sewn with normal stitches. I do not know how this is possible?! The frame has at the lower left side damage, because the image is once fell down from the wall. Supposedly at night, when my grandfather died. He was deported to Russia after the war and he's never come home again. I saved the image at the last moment from the fingers of my cousin. She appreciates craftsmanship and family heirlooms very little, and wanted to sell it cheap.
Well, now this beauty hanging in my living room. For me, invaluable! Hilde
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Comments (28)
33580✽
Beautiful and a great memory for you to hold on to.
1 comment
thank you very much ************
4440✽
Good save! This is an incredible piece of handcraftsmanship and art!
1 comment
thank you very much ***********
7275✽
What a wonderful memory for your family with great history. Beautiful work realy worth to save it as a great treasure! Thanks for sharing!
1 comment
Chess, thank you so much ************
119791✽
this is beautiful art work and irreplaceable memory of your grandmother you did very smart save ---ENJOY----Maria
1 comment
THank you so much Maria. I think my grandparents are sitting somewhere up there looking down on us and smile. You must be satisfied. LOL Hilde
9888✽
It is beautiful. So glad you were able to preserve it.
1 comment
Thank you patsy28. *******
1136✽
Hilde, this is a wonderful keepsake. The hands & faces are probably done in pettipoint. Usually stitched over 1 thread of the background material, while the rest is done over 2 threads. thank you for sharing this with us. It is really a treasure. Debbie
1 comment
Debbie, thank you so much for your expert explanation. I heard of this technique before, was long ago. I've studied the picture with a magnifying glass. Can the size of the stitches just say: 4 small stitches are as big as one big stitch. Hilde
27358✽
I'm glad you were able to save you family heirloom.
1 comment
Yes, in all the last minute. Hugs Hilde
211079✽
by
shirlener88
20 Feb 2011
+4✽
Hilde, this is stunning workmanship - I am thrilled for you that you got it out of the fingertips of your cousin and it is save with you. You must also write the history of it up and place it behind the frame - so that if for any reason - you are not around in the future - that the whole story is saved with this lovely cross-stitching by your grandmother. *4U
1 comment
Thank you Shirlene. Writing down the story behind the frame like it very much. I think I'll do it. Hugs Hilde
24961✽
Some treasures are priceless! These are the ones that have heart value to them. The picture is gorgeous and if it were me, I would not touch the frmes structure. It has real history behind the almost not noticeable difference in the corners. This is your family and your families history and I would try to preserve the value of it as it is now! All of our lives have hard bumps and even some breaks in it. I would let this serve as the history it has already made. I am so glad you retrieved this before it got away from the family! Some things have more value than others. What is a treasure to some many not mean anything to others. Family history and ties to the past are worth more than money can buy! Please record the history for the family so that it does not vanish in yrs to come. It is very lovely. You are very lucky to have this piece of the past with you!
1 comment
Thank you very much for your very nice words. I thought for a long time to restore the frame, but I think You're right. If I raparire, then as if nothing had happened. And then you forget about everything. And that would be a pity. If these stories would not have been, then we would perhaps not there. Hugs Hilde
15982✽
by
theduchess
20 Feb 2011
+4✽
How beautiful.You might consider framing it in a BOX frame type that is used to hold mementos such as glasses etc. This way the glass would not touch the stitching and dust would stay away more.Check a local frame shop.This is stunning.
1 comment
thank you so much for the idea *********
85867✽
Wow!!! this is a wonderful keep sake to have. I know you are so proud. My Mother painted many oil paintings when she was young, but they all burned up in a house fire in the 1930's. When I got married in 1961, one of my Mother's special friends gave me a painting that my Mon had done for her as a wedding gift. I treasure this in the same way I know you treasure you tapestry. Kay
1 comment
Thank you Kay. These are the most beautiful and precious things which will remain as a reminder. Hilde
62461✽
Lucky you. That was a lot of work to be done in a summer.
1 comment
Yes, indeed. And this is just one of the 2 large pictures that my grandmother has sewn. Hugs Hilde
360671✽
I had a frame very much like this from my grandmother to.She also believed some odd things ,about death & babys being born.I just think there old wise tails BUT who really knows !! I have the frame in a corner now with no picture in it lol carolyncarolyn
1 comment
It's amazing what people believe anything if it is to love. Hugs Hilde
299559✽
wow I bet this is more valuable emotionally to you than any monetary value! I am the same way! It's a part of your history! I'm sure that your grandma is pleased that you have it & have cared for it all this time! Hugs Loralye
1 comment
Loraly, thank you so much ******
20661✽
Great save! What a treasure you now have in your posession. I'm so glad you were able to save it from someone that would only want it for what they could get out of it. I too cherish things from the past our grandmothers did such lovely handwork but then so did my own mom. Cherish it always.
1 comment
Thank you very much ********
5455✽
le cose non hanno valore in se stesse,i valore è il sentimento che suscitano in noi.
things have no value in themselves, the value is the feeling aroused in us.
things have no value in themselves, the value is the feeling aroused in us.
1 comment
How true! Thank you reanav **********
48168✽
so beautiful, glad you saved it.
1 comment
thank you very much ********
29801✽
This is so beautiful. I wonder how many hours it took.
1 comment
thank you very much ********
255054✽
This is really something to treasure.
1 comment
airfairy, thank you very much ********
2079✽
The picture is beautiful. Since you asked how it is possible for the stitches in the faces to be so small, the reason is that they are done in mini cross stitches done over probably one thread. That gives them the detail.
Maureen
Maureen
21543✽
25169✽
by
snowbird42
23 Sep 2013
+3✽
This is so beautiful I can only imagine the hours and hours of work in this treasure and I am so glad that you have it to love....soozie
30656✽
What a beautiful masterpiece. I am so glad you were able to keep it. I know what its like to loose something to someone that doesn't appreciate the value it has to others. My Grandmother had a beautiful ornate kidney shaped dresser. When she died, I asked for it, but my other cousin took it, she then proceeded to paint it white. It was originally oak wood. I cried when I saw it. She still has it and it is stuck in a room with a bunch of other crap. She still won't give it up, but will never use it again. So sad that people think this way. My daughter wanted it for my GD and would have restored it to its original wood.
Hugs Jerri
Hugs Jerri
318555✽
by
dragonflyer
23 Sep 2013
+2✽
This is just beautiful...so glad you were able to get it and appreciate all of the work and love that went into making such an heirloom....
299559✽
This is just FANTASTIC! I am so glad that you were able to save it & you will appreciate it & the wonderful history that goes along with it. Hugs & ** Loralye
85867✽
234507✽
The term for the fine work is called Petit Point. I've done this on a tapestry I did for Amy when she was 11!
I notice this post was from a couple of years ago!
Love Chris
I notice this post was from a couple of years ago!
Love Chris
1 comment
My I should have finished reading your post also Chris...
25546✽
Hilde, this is truly amazing and the depth in it is wonderful...So glad you savoured it. Lovely to see you on here again...often think of you. Love Kerry
1 comment
well that will teach me to look at the date this project was posted only a couple of years ago.....oh well maybe Hilde will pop up here again sometime soon I hope.