Friday, January 19, 2007

Virgie Bell's View: The Lost Arts

For years and years I have saved my magazines and books concerning events that I consider important to me: deaths, births, etc. I treasure my book collection which I must admit, is extensive. I have moved stuff with me over and over again. I also want the readers of Gunz Up to know that I will do postings and original stories with these for back up articles. The editor of this famous blog (my daughter) is now on to me about wanting to copy these originals. Being a writer myself, I wish the reader to know that she and the rest of my children are of the toss and throw away society. Like my mother, I am of the save everything society.

One day I was over at Lisa’s and she said, “Here Mom, I want you to see this drawing that Kayla did before I throw it out.”

Let me tell you, dear reader, I was absolutely floored. Said I, "You are going to what?"

Lisa told me that she knew what I would do and she didn't want to hear it. Long ago I gave her a Barbie paper doll collection. Well, it ended up tossed away. Before that, it had ended up in her storage house with lawn mowers and garden hoses, etc. Of course this little folder was taking up too much room and Roy threw it away. Last time I checked it was worth $900.00.

I have in my photo collection a picture with a military hat on and I’m saluting with a big smile. (I was precious.) It would be perfect for this, but alas, it sets in a storage building. Jerry has assured me that he hasn't thrown any of the stuff away. He said that, but at any rate, I found out later he used false facts.

Jimmy Carter will make this term famous, so I will go right ahead and get on with it. I can only hope that it holds true. I intended to go to our Christmas tree at Littlefield and let each member of my family have a piece of crochet done by Mama Curry from back in 50’s. I have asked my children to pick out what they want so I can distribute among Mama Curry’s family.

Judging from the colors of the crocheted pieces, it wouldn’t be remiss to say that I must have pestered my grandmother every week about what I needed for a brown chair and divan covers. I need red. I need beige. I need. I need. I need. Etc., etc., etc. I always wondered why Papa Curry would get aggravated with me, but in retrospect, I realize I cost him a fortune in thread.

My children have yet to pick out even one thing. Next time Kayla is here, I want her to pick out something before it all ends up in the garage sale of the century. She is of the save everything society.

One day her mother was cleaning my house and she said to Kayla, "You could get in there young lady and clean your room (she has a room at my house) and throw some of that junk away."

Well, of course, Kayla ignored her. I went in there to help this child see what she could throw away. I finally settled on a plastic pop-apart-bead-teething-ring. I brought it to her and told her she might want to throw this away.

She turned around from the TV and with a critical eye she said, “Wasn’t that mine from when I was a little bitty baby?"

“Yes,” said I. She looked at me as if I had lost my mind and she told me, “No, I think I’ll just save it.”

See ... I rest my case. But she might want to borrow back my Mom’s set of encyclopedias. They would record all important events of the 50's. At least I am sure Karen wouldn't mind. Karen is also a saver. We ate over at her house at Thanksgiving. I had hand embroidered each of my children and grandchildren a set of cup-towels. Hand embroidery is a lost art, and Mother that I am, I did this. When the Thanksgiving meal was over and I asked her where her cup towels were, she told me she put them up because she didn't want to get them dirty. I insisted, and they finally were pulled out. They never got used though. I saw her sneak them back out and hide them once more. At least I know she likes them.

De'on might want to take pictures of hers and show them on Gunz Up. The pattern that she has was also given to me by Grandmother Thomas when I was 12 years old. It would be interesting and so very original. Dear reader, I ask also that you SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

15 comments:

De'on Miller said...

Of course we'll get a picture, but I don't iron mine like Lisa does. Shouldn't we take a picture of hers?

And I would also like some that have the little chore days, like Monday ironing, Tuesday, baking. Like that. I remember MaMa had some of those, or maybe MeMa.

But I absolutely won't use mine for anything but dishes. No hands!

And I certainly don't throw things away.

Anonymous said...

I used to save everything. As a journalist, I collected umpteen boxes of magazines and newspapers that I thought I'd need for research at some time or another. I never used them, though, because it would have taken umpteen years to find the one article I needed. It's much easier to use the Internet.

I had a garage sale a few weeks before I went to Iraq and sold about 98 percent of everything I own, and I have to admit that not having all that stuff is liberating.

But I'm with you on certain things, Virgie. My grandmother was always busy with a needle of some sort, and I have about 10 quilts she made, a crocheted tablecloth, a couple of dozen doilies and an assortment of other things she made. Grandma was a busy woman, and when she sat down she immediately picked up whatever whe was working on.

I have my great-grandmother's shawl that is about 10 feet long and a pair of pillowcases she made in the early 1920s.

When I moved from Georgia, I lost a couple of boxes that contained all the papers I had saved from the 1st to 12th grades. Until recently, a rooster I had made from assorted beans in the 5th grade adorned my grandmother's kitchen. One of my aunts threw it out when Grandma died, proof that she has always resented the fact that my skills exceed those of my no-neck cousins. She also threw out a red Cadillac convertible my grandparents had given for Christmas in 1964. It was awesome, about three feet long and was remote controlled, which was something in those days. I had kept it forever at Grandma's house, even long after I was no longer there. Well, my aunt tossed it. She's lucky I wasn't there. I would have ended up on the six o'clock news after I shoved her under a bus.

I digress.

But, Lisa, how can you throw away a picture Kayla drew? Send those things to me if you don't want them. I mean, really. When Kayla is a famous dancer, I can sell it all on eBay!!!

Gosh, Lisa. Think, woman. Think!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Steve for the back up on saving stuff...I know it is easier to get off the internet but it is less informative. I have tried to make my children aware of how important it is for Bean and Macaroni drawings. I buy at the end of the year the Time Life books that condense the years events...I dont see how it does much good for all will go to my throw away society children. De'on couldn't you just take pictures or get Emilie to iron them when she comes Tuesday. That is the same pattern that I recieved from Grandma Thomas when I was but twelve years old. Lisas are the same as the ones we had at home and I made Uncle Bennies only Grandaughter the ones like he used when he dried dishes that I washed. I want so much for my children to have something that relates to the childhood they enjoyed. At one time no self respecting household would think of not having embroidered cup towels. Back then you put your dishes in the drainer and covered them with the beautiful cuptowels In the midst of the depression that was sometimes the only thing a household possessed of beauty. The cup towels were made out of flour sacks and with a little bit of thread a poor household could have a bit of decoration. These were also hung in kitchens on towel racks. It was art and I wish we could hang on to something that was so prized by my ancestors. De'on I think Grandma Coulson made MaMas. You could use the name of CUP TALES for this little bit of history. For it was also a war time activity for our ancestors..I think it would catch on to readers of gunz up

Anonymous said...

IN history a refined woman was known by the art of her stitchery. Steves Grandmother was refined. My Daughter in law is refined. My daughters I am afraid are diffently not refined. Therefore I guess are slobs of some sort. De'on does hem and seams in glue. tape, and staples.

De'on Miller said...

that's a great idea. I like the name too. And the sentiment is great. I love mine. I'm not sure how much history I can find on themm b/c I remember trying before when you first started making them.

And I agree with you on the difference between the Internet and the primary source being something you can hold in your hands. I love my old Life and National Geographic mags I have.

Anonymous said...

Virgie, you're hilarious! I can picture De'on fixing a hem armed with a stapler and some duct tape!!

From where I sit with this laptop, I can see into the kitchen. Next to the sink is a a contraption that holds cup towels. It has three arms that swing out ... you probably know what I'm talking about. All my life, my grandmother had cup towels hanging on there. Then there was another towel attached to the oven door.

My grandmother always had an apron on, and she made all of them from flour sacks or feed sacks. Remember those? She also would convert them into pillow cases.

My grandmother ironed everything. I mean everything ... including my granddad's boxer shorts. Those were the days when all the sheets, etc. were 100 percent cotton, so she ironed them. Back then, I thought everyone ironed everything, so when I saw my uncle's new wife take her sheets down from the line and fold them them up with no intention of ironing them, I was shocked.

Come to think of it, Virgie. I don't know if I want to be near De'on while she's holding a needle!

Anonymous said...

Virgie, you're hilarious! I can picture De'on fixing a hem armed with a stapler and some duct tape!!

From where I sit with this laptop, I can see into the kitchen. Next to the sink is a a contraption that holds cup towels. It has three arms that swing out ... you probably know what I'm talking about. All my life, my grandmother had cup towels hanging on there. Then there was another towel attached to the oven door.

My grandmother always had an apron on, and she made all of them from flour sacks or feed sacks. Remember those? She also would convert them into pillow cases.

My grandmother ironed everything. I mean everything ... including my granddad's boxer shorts. Those were the days when all the sheets, etc. were 100 percent cotton, so she ironed them. Back then, I thought everyone ironed everything, so when I saw my uncle's new wife take her sheets down from the line and fold them them up with no intention of ironing them, I was shocked.

Come to think of it, Virgie. I don't know if I want to be near De'on while she's holding a needle!

Anonymous said...

Oops. I didn't mean to post that twice!

De'on Miller said...

well, just don't put your jeans in the dryer after you've used super glue on them. the glue leaves a different color, which isn't so bad on the hem, but the seam on the backside can cause people to wonder. Or wear a long shirt.

Anonymous said...

My mother had one just exactly like that with the three rods that swung out. De'On why not challenge yourself to do that. Americana is what our militery has always fought for.

De'on Miller said...

I would love a cup towel holder like that. I remember them.

I'll ask Greg.

Thanks, Mom. :)

Anonymous said...

You cannot buy a towel rack like the one steve is talking about. I lookedeverwhere for one like it to put in the motor home. I made jerry a set of cuptowels with little farm boy fishing and etc. If Greg male you one do have him make me one. You should see my Desert Rose Dishes up over the top of the cabnet. Sante Fe eat your heart out

Anonymous said...

I have an extra one of those towel holders that I found at a flea market. It has the three arms that swing out, and the arms are made of green glass, so I'm thinking it's from the 20s.

I wonder if there's anyone who might want it?

Anonymous said...

I do Ido and I am the first to say so so I get first dibs.says Virgie Bell

De'on Miller said...

Well put my name on it for when you dearly depart.

Oh, right, I'm sure. We're bound to be roommates here on this earth with Susan Sarandon as pres. of the UN while everybody else is having a high time in Heaven.

We'll share it then.

Here I've been working on a post while everybody else is dibsing.