Thursday, May 28, 2009

Do you ever Wonder...

about LIFE?

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{My first key chain made of Swarovski crystal. It was the same color as my first new (to me) car in 1985. I still wonder how she felt when I totaled it within the first 3 weeks of driving it.}

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{Her De Colores pin she received when she made her Cursillo in the 1980's}

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{A lapel pin she wore proudly in honor of her son in law & all military service men and women across the world who served in the Gulf War in the early '90's.}

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{One of her favorite brooches even though it is missing many rhinestones. She said it was still too pretty to throw away.}

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{Another one of her favorite pins, totally scuffed but she said it still had life.}

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{The hummingbird was her favorite bird of all. She kept the feeders full daily and would just sit and watch them for hours.}

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{A reminder of her garden...oh her flowers were so beautiful!}

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{And every flower garden needed bees! (so she said)}

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This is my Mother's pillow. She was my best friend 33 years out of my 38 years of life. About a year before she died, she took an ordinary pillow and she made a collage of her life. Extraordinary.

Each pin has a story and it was her way of documenting them in the most creative way. Almost 6 years ago, I pulled this pillow from the center of her bed. I knew where almost every pin came from. It was the story of her life on a pillow...

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I often wonder about LIFE.

When I look at my Mother's pillow, I am reminded that with every LIFE, there is ART.  

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I keep my Mother's pillow on a chase in my bedroom. It is one of my most prized possessions of ART...

I challenge you to find the ART in your LIFE and share it with someone special...thank you for letting me share this with you~

26 comments:

Linda said...

This is one of my favorite blog entries EVER. I love this. Thank you so very much for sharing this precious bit of your life with us. The memory pillow is such a beautiful, exquisite idea. I think I may have to borrow that idea from your dear Mom.

My heart goes out to you and I'm so glad that she left you with this lasting, precious gift.

Linda

Anonymous said...

Oh Jodie this is so sweet. And what a lovely story of your Mom. Wow, and I really mean wow! What a wonderful way to document all those events. What a nice way to remember her by. And what a beautiful day to share to your children and mayber your grandchildren the life of their grandma just by having that pillow - very rich of memories.

This is a very nice tradition to follow.
Li

Pam @ Frippery said...

Jodie, what a beautiful keepsake and reminder of your Mom. I think this is such a wonderful thing for her to have passed on to you. Such a thoughtful and creative way to share her memories and mingle them with your own. I imagine it gives great comfort to have it nearby.I agree about sharing this tradition. I think we all should think of a way to share memories with our children once we are gone. Hugs, Pam

Robin Thomas said...

Wow. That is so touching. You lost her way too early. This pillow must be a real connection to her. Sad and beautiful at the same time. What a lovely, difficult post. Huuuuuug.

June said...

Hi Jodie,
Your beautiful writing this morning has made me cry. I love coming to your blog and getting to know you better. You are so blessed that this pillow reminds you daily of your mother's life. It is an amazing piece of art. I'm sorry for the loss of your mother at your young age. I'm sure you feel it everyday. I know this little piece of her is a great comfort.
Hugs,
June

trash talk said...

Jodie,
This was one of the most tender posts I have ever had the privilege of reading. I see where you get your artist's soul.
I had never heard of Cursillo and I looked it up. Thank you for the lesson as well...I love learning new things. I feel it keeps me from becoming stagnant.
Between you and Pam, I need to go drink a glass of water to replenish after all my crying.
Thank you for sharing such a personal story.
Debbie

Anonymous said...

Words can not describe missing someone so dear to your heart, and my dearest Jodie, only YOU can be so eloquent. I know how much you miss her. What a tribute to the one person we take so much for granted! Love You! Miss You MORE!

The Texas Woman said...

Your mother certainly had a wonderful idea in that decorated pillow. I know you treasure it.

The Texas Woman

Tara said...

What a beautiful way to remember all of those little stories that make up your Mom. The pillow she created is beautiful.

Marlene said...

What a beautiful post..A memory pillow..I will remember that. Thank you for sharing this..I have seen your name and blog throughout my blog travels and had never stopped by..how wondefful the inspirations and amazing people you find here..just a click away! I will be following your blog to see more..Thank you! Marlene

lorhen82 said...

Jodie, I love this post! What a special thing your mother left behind...it reminds me of something out of a movie! I can see why you treasure that pillow, and I love that you have it to remind you always of your mother and the life she lived.

OK, I have to go find some Kleenex now! ~Lori

The Victorian Parlor said...

Jodie,

What a beautiful post. This is such a wonderful way to document the story of one's life. To be honest I am at a loss for words. The pillow and the story that goes with it is so powerful-words just don't seem to say what I feel.

Blessings,

Kim

Sandi said...

What a beautiful,beautiful pillow and idea. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And stories of your mom. Priceless.
VictorianGypsy

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

Jodie ~ this is an amazing and heart touching story. What a lovely memory of your Mom and a beautiful gift for you to treasure! ~Stacy~

Patti's Artful Design said...

Oh Jodie! Your posting brought tears to my eyes. How artistic and insightful your mother was....and how wonderful that the artistic legacy lives on in you.

Sonia said...

Oh Jodie, That pillow is amazing. I love the story and all the pins with all the memories from your mom. Lovely post!!

Debby said...

Jodie, this is such a sweet and wonderful post. The memory pillow is incredible.
Hugs,
Debby

Feedsack Fantasy said...

Poignant! What a lovely gift your Mother has given to you ... so glad you enjoyed the stories of the 'where each piece' came from. TY for sharing this touching piece of art.
TTFN ~ Marydon
PS Pop over for a visit

The Pink Birdhouse said...

Hi, and thank you so much for leaving such a nice comment on my recent friday shoot out post! I am always thrilled to have new friends drop by for a visit.

I read thru this post, and looked in detail at each picture, and it just brought a tear to my eye! What a lovely, lovely thing for your mother to put together. I recently lost my mom and on a recent visit from one of my sisters, i was given a box filled with bits and bobs of my mother's jewelry. Of course, it had already been picked over by my 3 other sisters, so there is nothing of great monetary value in the box. BUT, I remember sitting on my mom's bed as child, loving looking thru her box of jewelry, and I too remember where each piece came from, a little story behind it, and just the memories of being with her and talking about her beloved pieces. I am taking all the pieces that I have and putting them together in a collage in a shadow box to hang in my room, a frame filled with jewelry as well as memories and always right there close to me!! Thanks so much for sharing such lovely pictures and a wonderful story of your mother!! have a good weekend, Debby

Andrea said...

What a lovely blog you have! This is my first visit. I dropped in from Kim's, who is a dear friend and has made me feel right at home in the blogging world.

The pins are extraordinary! Exquisitely beautiful! The story of your mother touched my heart, and what a precious keepsake you have, as you remember her each day.

God bless you.

Andrea

L Melohn said...

Wow! What a great keepsakes!

Teacup Mosaics said...

Oh Jodie! This post is beautiful! The pillow is a true treasure, you must get your talented eye from your Mom.
Very moving a wonderful tribute to your Mom.
OXOX, Kelley

miss lynn said...

oh jodie, what a
beautiful keepsake.
i love it. totally
prec-ious.

Stephenie said...

This was such a beautiful post in every way...I loved the pictures, your wording and the beautiful jewlery...A memory pillow is such a great idea...
Stephenie

Anonymous said...

I miss Mama too Jodie...
Her wisdom, her creativity & talents, her ever-present availability to us, her beauty, elegance, her lessons and example on living, her unconditional love, her forgiving heart, her cooking, her 'home'.... always open, always welcoming, always giving, always emptying of herself for others...
When we put all else aside... we were truly blessed with a woman of strength, of beauty~~both inside and out, of faith, of survival & courage, her smile, chuckles, & laughter... our mother!!! Gone but never forgotten... memories of her held in our hearts everyday of our lives!!! She lives on in each of us. It doesn't matter how old one is, or how old a mother is when she dies. We will miss our mothers.
I love and miss you Mama, and I love and miss you Jodie~~~
~~Karen~~
OXox+OXox+OXox+OXox+OXox+OXox+OXoxOXox

Patti said...

Hi~ I found your blog through Katie's at Ragamuffin Gal- that brecelet she won is GORGEOUS. I LOVE your blog but was especially drawn to this post. I so wish I had seen it last weekend. My mom passed away recently and last week I had an estate sale. It NEVER occured to me to do anything like this with her extensive pin collection. I took a few to keep but let the others go in the sale. Talk about major regrets- this would have been perfect. Oh well... Thanks for sharing the story and idea ~