Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Tuesday Treasure at Melody's

Those special Tuesdays when I am organised I like to join in with Melody's Tuesday Treasure where we can tell about something we are treasuring.....


My Grandmother and my mother were both very community minded women and were active members of the Womens Institute (WI) which is similar to the Country Womens Association here in Australia.  The WI would do a lot of fundraising, crafts, teach each other skills but also an important work of advocating for new laws and rights for groups in the country.

Well, life happened and we had to move both grandparents and parents in the last 1970's away from the country town they loved and into a more secure city location...... and I think they both missed their beloved WI where they had played leading roles at one time or another (Chairperson, Secretary etc.....) and served on countless committees..

The WI hall was sold and that part of our history was over.....

6 years after we had immigrated I got a call out of the blue from a friend from way back and who I had lost touch with.... only to discover she lives 15 minutes away - it was wonderful to rekindle an old friendship .... we get together regularly and one day she brought me a gift....


Can you believe it these are chairs from the WI hall

The seats are made with leather strips (rimpi) woven and are surprisingly comfortable - much better than solid wood for sitting through meetings!!

Of course I am thrilled to have these in my home - and to think Granny and Mum would have sat in them and they travelled around the world to come and live with me...  They are great for spares around the dining table.

These are some meeces I have made
(I actually made them a while ago but poor things got forgotten)


I have weighted them with a bit of rice.....


the pattern is from Bustle and Sew  

I couldn't see the pattern there now (there have been some changes to the blog) but there is always lots of fun things to see and quite a few patterns available....

They are rather addictive to make...... mmmmm

I hope you find time to visit your Happy Place

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

lovely post Fiona,great story about the chairs and i love how the mice have their nose up in the air,lol.

Wendy said...

It is a lovely post Fiona and the chairs look beautiful and so nice to have a piece of your history! The mice a cute too!

Melody said...

How fabulous to have those chairs arrive through your friend. I love the little meeces too. I agree Bustle and Sew have some lovely patterns,

Bev C said...

Hello Fiona,

It really is a small world. The chairs look lovely and so glad to hear they they are yours now.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Carolyn said...

What a great story about the chairs, an amazing link with your family. Cute mice too!

Nicky said...

I love the story of the chairs - brilliant! Your little mice are cute as can be. Have a great treasure-filled Tuesday!

Vintage Cate said...

What a Treasure Fiona, to think your Mum and Grandma may have sat in those chairs. I so treasure links to the women in my family so I can imagine how you feel about those chairs.
Have a very happy Tuesday.

Kaylee said...

Thankyou for sharing your lovely story about your Granny and Mum and the chairs. The mice are cute. Cheers Kaylee

DeeDee said...

I seen these too... they are so cute... lovely patterns..

I love the chairs too.... :D

rosie said...

That's a fantastic story Fi, and as Bev said, it really is a small world.. Love the mice..

Karen said...

I think the chairs are great. I love the leather webbing on the seat.
Cute mice, too!

Tracy said...

That's a lovely history for your chairs. It's so nice to have treaure with a story.
Cute mice.
Tracy

Briar Rose said...

What a lovely surprise to get those chairs from a kind friend,they are a great keepsake.Very cute little mice too, the only good sort. cheers R.

Chrissie said...

what a lovely history about the chairs, I love things like that, sweet little meeces too

Michelle Ridgway said...

What a wonderful story Fiona and to think it was a friend you bought them to you. I bet your Mum and Gran would have loved you to have them too.

Valspierssews said...

A great story Fiona. Amazing what a small world it is. The chairs look fabulous and to think your mum and gran may have sat on them. The mice are very cute.

Rochelle said...

Oh Fiona, what gorgeous chairs and such a lovely story that goes along with them. Your meeces are mighty cute too :-)

Marilyn said...

Those chairs are a real treasure. Love hearing the history behind them.
Cute little fellows.

Lindi said...

That's a lovely story about the chairs. Nice to have something like that from your past.
Cute mice, too. :)

In stitches and seams said...

it's truley amazing how small the world is for your friend to find you and also to gift you the those unique chairs

Allie said...

Those chairs are a wonderful treasure - such history and family memories! Your meeces are adorable too!

Sheila said...

What a great story Fiona and so nice that you have those great chairs in your home ,I love the style of them . The mice are just sweet , the kind I like that won't roam around your home at night ;-)

Miss Hillbilly said...

I wish that women's organizations like that still existed. Around here there are quilt bee's and such of course, but I am not a lover of "Quilt Police" so I don't attend them.

Talin's Corner said...

Lovely story. It is amazing how small the world is and how you reconnected with your past.

On another note, I love your mice.

Jindi's Cottage said...

How wonderful to have those chairs for you to treasure...cute meeces...

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