MY MOTHER-IN-LAW EDITH
On April 23rd a beautiful soul left this earth. Edith, my dear mother-in-law, who lived with me and my husband these last six plus years in Elk Grove Village, Illinois died and was buried last week.
She and I celebrated our birthdays last November with the whole family filling the townhouse. She turned 88 and I turned 60. It was a weekend of playing with Zoe, then 2, eating, talking, laughing, and sharing stories and photos.
My favorite memory came on Sunday evening. That day my sister had arranged a women's celebration, so she sent the men off to a huge technology type of store. Then Iris proceeded to bring out all of her belly dancing scarves, spangles, bangles, music, "hafla juice" (Champaign) and cream cheese, walnut stuffed dates.
We had a great time trying to dance while Edith chose to enjoy the music but sit and watch the "younger" girls. That is until the men came home later that evening. As she bid her good nights she told the men that they had missed quite a party. Then she stood up and shook her hips and waved her arms to show them exactly what she meant. We all laughed at how she had saved her dancing until she had the biggest audience.
Brought from Germany as a small child and a widow these past 40 years, Edith had moved along with us since 1982, as we moved from South Dakota, to Colorado to Indiana to Illinois. She had always taken an apartment nearby, but she was 82 when we moved to Elk Grove Village. We created a granny-flat apartment downstairs just for her, shortly after we moved to the townhouse. It provided privacy and company for each of us.
Although I had been Edith's caretaker in the last few years she had taken great
care of me in 2003 when my fractured ankle put me in a wheelchair for 7 weeks.
She also tended the cats and my gardens as I traveled to Guilds and
conferences. I miss her greatly and know how special it is to have had a
mother-in-law like Edith.
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CARL AND ROOPA'S WEDDING What an exciting year! Last September I celebrated my son Carl's marriage to Roopa Vasan. It was a
very special Hindu-Lutheran celebration in Cincinnati,Ohio. They are both
young engineers and live in Maryland. Many more pictures can be found at my
google public web album,
http://picasaweb.google.com/spinninguru. |
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A GRAND DAUGHTER NAMED ZOE Four weeks earlier than she was due. Little Zoe Martha Gwinn was born to my daughter Ann and son-in-law Chris, October 11. Although she was small she was healthy and beautiful. | ||||||||||||
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I had a short break in my hectic schedule and was able to drive to Minneapolis
to be of help to the new family. I stayed for 10 days and watched this little
one grow before my very eyes. It was truly an amazing gift to see and hold my
daughter's daughter.
 
She grew quickly and and in January 2007 we celebrated her baptism. My husband
Rich did the honors and baptising a happy, alert Zoe. She wore my daughter's
baptismal dress which had been crocheted 31 years earlier by her Grandmother
Edith Z. | 
Here she is. May 2007, ready to share her tulips on Mother's Day.
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| NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA 2004 After a hectic spring, summer of 2004 started out with a 3-week trip down under. My husband Rich had a Global Conference to attend in Brisbane, Australia. Of course I could not consent to him traveling there alone. Since I went along, we added a stop in New Zealand. Here I am in NZ enjoying a rainbow on the beach with Pat Old. | |
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The first week of the trip was in Brisbane, Australia. While he focused on his conference at Griffith University I was able to attend the Greater Brisbane Spinning Guild and enjoyed a fine Saturday with the members. The building they assemble in is a converted church building shared with weavers, felters and basket makers. The various groups meet on different days and evenings and split the expenses. The renovated sanctuary is used as a collective store for members to buy and sell their goods, while the various groups meet in the fellowship hall. This room is outfitted with a kitchenette, tables, chairs and 2 or 3 large looms on the stage. Although I was just a visitor I was sent on my way with a delightful bouquet of flowers to brighten the Dorm room. | |
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Then Rich traveled with me to New Zealand, where Pat Old, had arranged a
Festival trip, 4 days of classes, and an engaging day in the middle to exchange
notes with local textile tutors on the North Island. I think the photo of us
standing under the rainbow, on the beach, in the Bay of Plenty says exactly how
we felt. The first day we went to Opotoki for the Fibre & Fleece Festival. This is a 3-day festival with an art show, a large market, several classes and an inspiring Fashion Show. I was delighted to watch a number of Maori women preparing and weaving with New Zealand flax and feathers. | ||
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| We stayed with Pat and her husband Gordon, he farms cattle, sheep and deer while Pat teaches spinning classes. The classes went well, both in Cambridge and Tauranga. Since it was winter and few buildings were heated, I was able to parade about my many handspun items. Although it was a spinning class the students were very interested in my mobius that was on my knitting needles. | 
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While teaching in Tauranga we stayed with Glynis and Owen Poad, owners and creators of Majacraft Spinning Wheels. Their family operated business is situated next to a kiwi field. I became familiar with and very impressed with the Little Gem spinning wheel as I taught on it the four days. | |
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When the week of teaching was finished we then flew to
Christchurch in the South Island for a quick bit of relaxation. Edward and
Anne Field hosted us in their new townhouse and showed us around the city and
even up on the mount. She has a lovely working studio and had just returned
from a teaching trip to the US. I was also very please to meet my friend
Margaret Stove, who lives nearby. Christchurch also has a busy Guild of
Spinners and Weavers. We stopped in on Saturday during the chat-and-work as
you wish session and then Anne, Margaret and I attended the Guild meeting on
Wednesday night.
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Before we left we took a short bus trip further south to
Ashburton and stayed a night with Richard and Elizabeth Ashford. Of course we
toured their spinning wheel factory and I was able to spend some time spinning
on the newly upgraded Elizabeth double drive wheel. I was also excited by the
improvements and ease of spinning on their wheel. Pictured from the left: my husband Rich, Elizabeth Ashford, my self, and Richard Ashford.
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| I am pleased and thrilled to say that both companies are continually improving their products and today's spinners have some truly wonderful spinning wheels coming from New Zealand. |
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2000 MY DAUGHTERS WEDDING AND THE DRESS Most of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. This photo is of my sister Iris Goodman, a hydrogeologist, Ann, the happy bride, and me. The wedding was great fun as you can see by us kicking up our heels. My largest project to date was the design and construction of my daughters wedding dress in 2000 and the spinning and knitting of the matching cashmere and silk shawl. When we could not find a proper ready made dress to compliment the handspun shawl that I had started, I begin the design and construction of this dress. Ann's ivory dress is a two piece dress from commercial silk shantung. | |
 | The off the shoulder top has a lace overlay in a princess design. This is an imported lace created on sheer silk chiffon. The lace seems to float upon the silk shantung. The bodice lace is edged with a small floral lace trimmed with fresh water pearls. | |
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The shawl was created by a variety of handspun yarns. These include handspun silks, cashmere fibers, silk/cashmere combinations and blends. The simple lace, arrowhead shaped shawl was also knit and designed by Patsy. Tassels of yarn and seed pearls guarantee that it stays on the shoulders. | |
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Four large box pleats give the a-line skirt its fullness. The short train has an overlay of lace with a sprinkling of fresh water pearls sewn on top. The hem is also edged in seed pearls. |  |
When the train is bustled up, the full eight yard skirt, twirls like an old
fashioned ball gown as the young couple dance. | ||
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