Masks…an Inadvertent Legacy?

Both of my grandmothers were gifted seamstresses. Lillian, my paternal grandmother did it professionally. Living in Syracuse, she even sewed for the wife of the chancellor of the university. That may not sound like a big deal but in “Orange Country” that’s like sewing for the First Lady.

In my unsuccessful search for a certain photo of her, I was amazed to find this business card with May 1950 scrawled on the side.

I still have an image of her sitting at her sewing machine table in a “proper” dress that she’d crafted herself, and size 4 high heels. Her long gray hair was twisted in a bun held with tortoise shell pins. Her pince nez glasses were perched on the end of her nose. In the side drawer of the table were Silver Mint candies for the grandkids to find.

I inherited no talent from either grandmother. Reattaching a loose button is a challenge for me.

ELBEE  I’ve seen it. It’s sad.

In my college days I gave knitting a shot. So many people were doing it and told me it was relaxing. They lied. I tried making one of those two color scarves that people wear to sporting events. It ended up being four stripes wide.

My cousin Janet, on the hand, inherited the sewing and crafting genes from Grandma Lil, who was actually her aunt. She knits, crochets, quilts and sews.

Shortly after sheltering in place began and masks were strongly suggested whenever you couldn’t practice social distancing, I received a package from Janet.

STANLEY I really don’t understand social distancing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I opened it to find the most perfect gift…protective masks. As far as protective masks go, they’re fabulous. Constructed out of pretty fabrics in bright colors, Janet has even personalized some of them. Mine, of course, have dogs on them…and at the moment dogs in them.

The best part is that they’re simple to use. I admitted in an earlier post that I was having an issue with the strings on the paper surgical masks. Taking one off and then trying to tie it back on again made it impossible to sneak a snack when I was grocery shopping.

With the ones Janet sent me, all I have to do is hook an elastic over each ear. What could be easier?

ELBEE I shouldn’t say this but when has that ever stopped me. I’ve noticed that as people age their ears get larger so this was a no brainer.

Janet told me it was her love of fabrics, something she’d inherited from Grandma Lil, that initially inspired her to make the masks for friends. It had grown from there.

My grandmother wasn’t alway open about sharing her feelings, but I know that somewhere she is looking down and is very proud of what she inspired.

ELBEE She is also wondering why a certain someone is wearing her pince nez glasses.