Not So Plain Jane

I recently joined a Facebook group that sews and celebrates the work of Cheri Payne.  I love the homespun/primitive aspect of her work, and as I looked through I saw a pattern called Plain Jane.  It is quite simple - a pieced background made out of neutral fabrics, some applique and embellishments, and you end up with a very cute wall hanging (the pattern is free if your join the FB group).  I thought that it would make a great memorial for my very beautiful sister Detsie passed away unexpectedly in 2005 and her death is something that I continue to struggle with.  Whenever I see something that references sisters, my eyes tend to leak a little, and I am always on the look out for something to make as a memorial to her.  Perfect.

So let me tell you a little about my 'not so Plain Jane'!

She has curly red hair - just like my sister.  I had straight brown hair and Detsie and I always wanted to swap and have each others hair!!  There are three shell buttons on the strip of lace across the top, representing my brother, Detsie and I, the three children.  There are 36 kisses, one for each year of her life as well as quite oa bit of stitching that I did in neutral thread which doesn't really show up on the photos.

There is a flower (you can see part of it against her dress)

and two hearts - one for each of her children,

A star next to her face and another kiss over her heart.

I found this strangely cathartic, and just need somewhere to hand it.  I really enjoyed the handsewing and embellishment and am now planning one for my mother who was a dressmaker - the motifs for that will be fun.

I think Detsie would have like this.  She would probably want to know where the representations of her beloved dogs, motorbike, books, earrings, etc, etc, etc, were.  But yes, I think she would have like this.

xox