Handsome Handiwork Features Flowers

This is a small pillow, 9 x 11 inches which I believe was made by my mother. She always kept it in her cars, I think for good luck more than any type of support or fashion reasons. It's a thin cotton fabric over what feels like stuffed cotton. The flowers and leaves applique look like it was cut from an old piece of fabric, a tablecloth perhaps, and is sewn to the denim-blue backing with decorative stitching. It has definitely seen better days—it's faded, the stitches are loosening up and are ripped in places. It must be at least 40 years old, so I guess it's allowed to be a bit worn. . . I usually keep it in my Infiniti these days. On the rare occasions I actually drive anywhere, it's a silent reminder of where I came from and who I am.

Needlepoint roses crafted by my Uncle Bill, Hoohoo's husband and my father's brother. He did all sorts of handiwork from kits—needlepoint, crewel, pieces made from wire, even paint-by-numbers. One of my favorites he made is a framed needlepoint Mona Lisa. How many people have one of those, lol? This piece was going to be a pillow with a fabric backing, but he never finished it. I have several more pillow fronts in various techniques he made, and now that I think of it, several more items he started and never finished. . .