photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

She gave it to me, and I had an idea….

For years,

my sisters in law

had been giving each

other the same

cardboard box

back and forth

back and forth

at Christmas time.

That little box

held many gifts

and many memories.

It got shabbier and shabbier as the years went by, but, it became more precious even, than the gifts it contained.

We all would look for ‘the box’ to see how it was holding up.

Well, when the polka dot bear came in the door, I thought… ‘Hmmmm, what if I make an addition to this bear, and give it back to her?’

I asked Sis if she’d like to designate  Blue Polka Dot as a ‘Sister Bear’.

She agreed enthusiastically.

So, for several years, Sister Bear would travel back and forth from her house to mine, whenever she came back to Canada for a visit home.   Sister Bear lived with Sis  for about 6 months, and then me for about 6 months. Although, sometimes, if visits were more frequent, Sister Bear might pass back and forth more frequently.

Sister Bear became more and more elaborate, as each of us added more embellishments.

Sister Bear made a sad journey back to me 3 Christmases ago, after the death of beloved Sis……

Sister Bear  has lived with me since then, and has been the recipient of many hugs, and a fair few tears.

She has begun another chapter of Sister Bearhood, as Jim’s Big Sis has taken Sister Bear home with her.

And now, Sister Bear will pass back and forth between us, and each of us will be adding new touches to Sister Bear while we have her.

Perhaps this is an idea that you and your sister or dear friend would like to adopt…… it’s amazing how precious Sister Bear has become to us.

If you decide to create a Sister Bear, please let me know! I’d love to see pictures.

I’ll take pics of Sister Bear next time I see her.  That will probably be next summer…. I wonder what Big Sis will have added.  I have plans for my next addition….

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

It’s a very bad idea to read a hysterically funny book when you are in bed, and your exhausted husband is trying to sleep.

Last night, I was reading with my wee tiny light, trying oh so hard to be inconspicuous…. well…. oops!

I am reading the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, and the gentle, but hilarious adventures/misadventures in the agency and garage had me in stitches. Which meant that the bed was shaking like a windswept leaf.  Poor seasick (awake) hubby!

There was one passage that struck me as being totally ‘Winnie the Pooh’. That made me want to be able to share it with my sister-in-law who was also a Pooh fan. Sadly, as the characters in the book say, she is now ‘late’.

Today, I was rummaging around searching for a missing earring, and there were two heart earrings that she had given me, right beside a little amulet bag that had a Piglet pin (also given to me by her) on it. It felt like a message of love and connection to her, from her.

So, today, I am wearing my Piglet Pouch and heart earrings, feeling connected to a sister who has gone on ahead.

I wove this pouch on this cardboard loom:

Cardboard Loom 

and then added a seed bead fringe. And a Piglet pin, and happy memories.

Oh, yes! Because of Mma Ramotswe and her Ladies Detective Agency, I was wondering what the textile traditions are in Botswana. Crochet is mentioned in the books, but no weaving, basketry or knitting.

So, I did a search on Youtube to see if there were any videos of weavers in Botswana.  Yes! there are!

But – they are all birds ….. Weaver birds

If you haven’t discovered the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and are open to a charming, gentle, wise, funny and engaging, but oooooooooh so addictive read, then you’ve got some lovely summer reading ahead of you!

Image source: Noreen Crone-Findlay 

Post from: Hankering for Yarn