Square Root Day aka My Mom's Birthday

Today is my mom's birthday. We are almost exactly 30 years apart (my birthday is also in March). A couple of years ago, when I turned 30 and she turned 60, we celebrated these milestones by going out of town for a weekend, just the two of us...something we'd never done before. My mom is my craft and sewing hero by far. Growing up she made us lots of clothes. She even made us swim suits and biker shorts (it was the 80s after all) and homemade "Cabbage Patch Kids." Over the years she has also been known to crochet, make candles and do ceramics.

I discovered about a month ago that my mom has a bazillion table runners. I don't know how I never noticed this before. I probably didn't need to add to my mom's collection, but since she clearly likes them, and none of them were handmade, it seemed like the perfect birthday gift...just in time to change them up for spring.

This project again reminded me of the healing power of craft and creating. All these firsts without my dad are so overwhelming at times. Making things truly does something therapeutic that I cannot quite describe. And I think receiving something handmade, especially if you value handmade items, can also be a healing thing. Choosing the fabric for this was by far the most fun and challenging part of the project. I really had to put myself in my mom's shoes. The fabrics were all carefully chosen with my mom in mind...she loves florals and soft colors, especially pinks!

The pattern is modified from a quilt pattern in an old Quilts and More magazine I had on hand. I just eliminated the batting and then top-stitched it after turning it inside out. I definitely might be turning more quilt patterns into table runners since there isn't as much of a time commitment as a quilt and since I now know just who to make them for!