When I saw the picture, I remembered both grandmothers had one of these.
I also remember when Rochelle made me this very wonderful thing on her own sewing machine. So, I wrote a story about it. See the pictures of it after the story.
This first appeared on July 25, 2013.
Photo by the wonderfully gifted Sandra Crook.
At her Hanukkah party, Shelly gave her cousin Chaim two wonderful presents: a homemade gold-fringed prayer shawl and an introduction to her friend, Nina Abramova. Nina admired both the shawl and Chaim. They sat at the table noshing on potato pancakes while Chaim offered Nina rich and meaningful conversation all night long.
On their wedding day, no one at the synagogue could find the canopy, just the poles.
Nina panicked. “What are we going to do?”
Chaim smiled, removed his shawl, attached each corner of it to the poles with rubber bands. “It brought us together once, now forever.”
+++++
Handmade, hand-painted, done by master craftswoman Rochelle who became a writer. This is my MOST prized possession. Next to my Lost In Space Robot toy from Remco.
(Yes, I can hear Rochelle saying already — “My hard work playing second fiddle to a ROBOT????”)
Well … it WAS there first. 😉 And as beautiful as it is, unlike the story, it’s not a chick magnet. Still, though, I love it.
wmqcolby 
A beautiful memory,thank you
It’s a wonderful gift, the homemade stuff. I love it.
Sweet story and cousin Shelly seems to be an awesome person 🙂
I think so, too. 🙂
Cousin Shelly is a person of many talents. Lovely story, and pictures. But what about the robot?
He’s still standing near my desk, guarding over all my projects. “Warning, warning!” 😉
Lovely tale. I too would like the robot to feature in a future story 🙂
Hmmm. I might just do that. Thanks for the idea.
Dear Cuzzin Notnek,
An oldie but a goodie. Yes, folks, he jumped up and down and squealed like a school girl that night. BTW, my sewing machine isn’t much newer than the one in the picture. It is electric but my mother bought it used in 1942. As for the robot…he’s a tough act to follow, you bobble headed boobie.
Shalom,
Cuzzin Shelley
That’s why I decided not to mention the school girl part and let you take it from there. I’m sure you took it as the best compliment ever. Besides, you were about the same with the Tom Thumb chair, so favor repaid. 😉 I think we gave each other wonderful gifts, don’t you agree?
One of my cousins had an old sewing machine, but she said it was hard to find parts for it. Maybe they have them now since demand has gotten bigger over the years and people want simpler items.
It’s “bubble-headed” not “bobble-headed” although I’m sure there might be some LIS robot bobble heads coming out soon. You never know. I like bobble heads.
That was a lovely story, rich in traditions and culture. Beautiful photos too. Well done, Kent.
Thanks, Sandra. And thank-you for that sweet picture. Nobody went dark this week (so far as I have read), which was nice! 😀
What a wonderful story… love the wonderful use of the shawl…
Yeah, it’s great eye-candy. It’s also big enough to be a bed spread!
Nicely worked romance, Kent.
But, risking the wrath of the mighty Lady R, are you ultra brave or just plain crazy?
She not only made the shawl, she also wrote that ending line which made the story sing. We work like Lennon-McCartney when it comes to collaboration.
No, it’s not risking the wrath of Lady R. We just BOTH happen to be ultra brave … AND plain crazy! 😀
Ditto what Sandra said. Thanks for sharing stories and memories.
Well, thank-you for reading, Alicia. It was a fun story to write back then. Might still be … 😀
Lovely story and memory. And that is an impressive piece of sewing!
Rochelle has many talents other than writing, believe me.
Yes, occasionally she posts one of her drawings/paintings alongside her stories. Very impressive.
Great story, and lovely to see how well appreciated such a well-crafted gift has been over the years. Nicely told 🙂
Thank-you, Lynn! I really like it!
Thank you 🙂
What a sweet bond you have with Rochelle. I agree homemade is the best. There’s never another one like it! Great story. I give you 5 out of 5 tassels!!
Thanks, Amy. It’s a story that’s one of my favorites. Who knows? I might even shoot a video presentation of it. It’d make a nice little short film, huh?
Sure! You should do it.
Lovely story, Kent. Beautiful handmade items are priceless. They’re made more so by the love behind them. Good writing. 🙂 — Suzanne
You are so right, Suzanne! I once tasted a meatless lasagna twenty years ago and the guy who made it (he was Italian from Chicago) said, “When I cook something, I always put a little love in it.” Make things with one and passion and it becomes priceless. Rochelle put the love and conviction in it.
What a lovely story. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank-YOU, Clare. 🙂
Awww,,,I love this!
I figured you might, Dawn. 🙂