A Stitch In Time

The Large Posted Picture ABOVE .. IS of My Dad and Myself when I was 15 yrs. old... My Father is My Inspiration and Hero...He told me that one day everyone finds their Natural Talent and that Talent isn't taught, its from the Heart. Past down from Generation to the Next.. I believed him.. Little did I know then that 40 yrs. later I'd be using that Talent to start my Hearts Tradition...

One Day in about 1964.. My Dad ( Willard M. Kirby ) Caught me using his mothers old Sewing Machine.. At first he told me to STOP using it, because it was Dangerous.. So I used it when he and mom weren't home...A few months later I was so intent on sewing doll clothing, he caught me again.. BUT this time, I guess he watched me for a time...When I finally seen him, I stopped and told him I was sorry but I just LOVED to sew.. He just smiled and walked away... At supper that night Dad asked me if Id like to take lessons in sewing.. Of Course I said YES... He explained that I was too young but before long he'd set it up... He promised that I'd have proper instruction and he knew of a few ladies that would love to teach me. I had to wait 4 yrs. for it to happen, after all.. I was only 6 yrs. old.. When I turned 10 yrs. old, and out of school for the Summer.. Dad told me that it was time. He drove me to Rocky Mountain House to be with my Aunts for some of my summer holiday's That first 2 weeks was the hardest.. I'd never been away from home and on my own... BUT I was sure kept busy... My days were full.. I spent time with 4 of my Aunts.. Eller, Jessie, Maggie and Annie... Maggie and Annie had a Fabric Store.. I learned all about material, cutting it, patterns and ALL the other things that I needed to know before I got to sewing.. Jessie taught me to crocheting, petty point, advanced knitting and corking. Eller taught me how to pick out a pattern and how to cut it out. Maggie taught me how to sew the pattern together. Annie taught me the basics of how to take care of my Sewing Machine.. Mostly though.. I spent most of my time with Eller and Jessie.. As the years came along, those 2 ladies were the BEST at Everything I wanted to try. We all loved Eller, but Jessie was My Heart.. She was that quiet lady that had the Answers for all my young hard questions.. After my Dad was killed in a Car Accident, it was Jessie that would call me to come for visits.. I swear, She saved my Sanity...My Heart Break was hers too.. I loved my Aunts, but She was Special.. So.. Sewing was part of my Dads side of the Family...From my Grandmothers home made patch quilts she made for Each of her 12 living Children and my Aunts for all their Talents.. Thanks Dad... Its because of you that I'm here doing this now...