The Craftiest Workshop

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix entitled “The Minimalists Less is Now”. They suggested that our memories are not in our things but in our mind. When you pick up an object, even though it brings forth a memory, the memory is still there even if you no longer own the object.

I beg to differ. I feel that objects do hold the key to memories and it is a good idea to keep things that remind us of positive memories. On the flip side, I would also argue that getting rid of objects attached to a negative memory can be very liberating.

This brings me to the Afghan blanket. My dad’s mother, from my earliest memory, could always be found sitting on the couch with crochet needles in hand creating either doilies, mittens, slippers, potholders, blankets or even a turtle for our dog. I often visited my grandparents after school, dropping off leftovers or baking. Grandma would always want to show me whatever she had made since the last visit and she would ask for suggestions about what colour to use for her next project. She even asked me what I thought of a blanket she was working on for my wedding but didn’t tell me that it was for me. I have a number of her Afghan blankets in my home.

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Every morning when I sit in my recliner, I cover myself in her Afghan and think of her even if it is for just a brief moment and it makes me smile. The same thing is true of the crocheted potholders I have in the kitchen.

I also have a blanket from my Mom’s mother, my Mémère, a red backed cotton patchwork blanket. As some of the patches became torn, they were replaced with scraps of material from clothing my children wore.

I used this one as my cover up blanket when we lived in Ontario as our winters were not quite so cold and the cotton blanket was a perfect weight.

On the other end of the spectrum, a negative object for me would be a mug that I received in a Secret Santa exchange from a co-worker that I did not get along with.

The mug is cute and has reindeer on it, a heavy weight (which I prefer) and a good size.
I could not bring myself to keep it in my home.

I took it to work and put it in the communal cupboard there.

The co-worker left not long after and got another job.

Even so, each time I went in that cupboard and saw the mug, I would be reminded of this co-worker and a feeling of tension would wash over me.

Now, because I no longer work there and don’t see that mug every day, I rarely think of her.

Keep sentimental things made by loved ones and use them in your every day life.
This will keep the memories of them alive and always close to your heart.