I do believe I have mentioned my Nana before but I really feel like she deserves to be mentioned a little more. My Nana turned 90 at the weekend and we went up to Sunderland for a gathering at her house to celebrate together, it was quite the turn out, with many of us sitting in the garden as the living room was packed.
My Nana and Granda brought me up when my folks divorced and I lived with them from age 1 to 7. They were the best parents a little girl could wish for; loving, kind, funny and always with plenty of time for us.
When I moved back in with the parentals in later years I still spent a lot of time with the Grandfolkage, there were the weeks I spent with them in summer and long weekends in the School holidays.
I think my love of vintage probably stems from having a quite an old fashioned upbringing in a lot of respects. I have a fondness for musicals and old films that stems from watching them with my Nana and Granda in the holidays. I distinctly remember begging my Nana to let me watch Gone With the Wind when I was 12 or so years old and being amazed at it, in all of it’s 238 minute glory.
My Nana is the reason for all of this, including this blog. I remember her teaching me how to knit when I was very young (hand knitting is still not my forte!) and she taught me to embroider and hand sew.
My holidays with them were not complete without my Nana taking me off to Newcastle to the craft shops for some craft kit of some kind.
I think she noticed in me at a young age that while I loved reading I wasn’t particularly academic (my dyslexia was never diagnosed at school – even thought I was tested) and so she encouraged me to make things and that’s where my passion ignited.
There isn’t only this I have to thank her for though. I have to thank her for everything; for her and Granda giving up a lot of their retirement to look after me and my sisters, for doing without so we could have things, for making me clothes and party dresses for School, for giving me unconditional and endless love, for teaching me to be kind, considerate and loving and being able to find the light when things seem dark, for being the strong, no-nonsense tough as old boots woman she is but with the kindest loving heart, for showing me that no matter what life throws at you, you should dust yourself off and get on with it.
So Happy 90th Birthday Nana & lots of love, you’re my sewing inspiration.
I hope to one day be as good as you are, in many, many ways xx
9 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE – IT’S SUPER CLOSE!
If you liked this blog please vote for me in the NVAs as I’ve been nominated under the Best Vintage Fashion/Lifestyle Blog category. Voting is open throughout May and it’s a simple click to select Stacey Stitch and then enter your email address to confirm the vote (you wont be spammed). Clicking on the photo or links above should take you straight to the website. It’ll only take a few minutes of your time if you have it spare! Thank you!
Stacey Stitch 