Giving Thanks: My Mother’s Dishes

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

Mom's china hutch and fancy gold dishes always presided over our dining room.

When my Mom passed away in 2008, one of the hardest things to do was clear out her little home.

Gold leaf on white china was the height of elegance in the 1950's when Mom & Dad married.

I was anxious about her fancy dishes. The ones she got as wedding gifts in the 1950’s. The dishes we ate every holiday meal from. The fancy gold-leaf dishes that could not go into the dishwasher, let alone the microwave.

Happy Thanksgiving (circa 1982)!

They are more than dishes to me. They are the spirit of my Mom during the holidays. I’m thankful I was able to get them safely across the country. Tomorrow, I’ll get to use my Mother’s dishes for the first time.

Wishing you a cup of kindness this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!

New Embroidery Design for Felt Hats: Mandala of French Knots

Posted on 26 August 2009 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

New freehand embroidery, with variegated french knots in wool on felt.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit me at this year’s League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair, you missed seeing my latest design: Mandala of French Knots.

According to Wikipedia:

“Mandala […] translates as ‘circle-circumference’ or ‘completion’ […]
a concentric diagram having spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism.”

That makes sense to me. I’ve been thinking a lot about Mom. And the circle of one year of grieving was completing just as this design was born.