Special Delivery... a new addition to my knitting corner...

 There's a lovely new addition to my knitting corner...

It's a handmade cradle. It was made by my grandfather (my dad's dad) in the mid-1920's. He made it for his children.  Heart cut-outs, hand painted flowers, no screws or nails.  Fashioned out of modest pine wood with carved square pegs holding it all together.

My grandfather and grandmother came to the United States from Switzerland in the mid-1920's (corrected 09-07-2011... thanks, Dad!  I was off initially by over a decade... Eeek!).  They lived in New York... first in Brooklyn, and later on Long Island.  I am not the best family historian so I don't have a lot of details.  Sadly, I never got to meet my grandpa, but did get to know my grandma better after she moved to Oregon when she could no longer live independently on Long Island.  Over the years, I've heard stories about my grandfather, but there are several things represented in this special cradle which make it such a special heirloom to have in my home.

My grandfather worked with his hands.  His hands were strong, but he crafted delicate beautiful things. He enjoyed gardening and painting.  I grew up with a few of my grandfather's oil paintings on the walls in our family home.  One painting of The Matterhorn in Switzerland is etched in my mind.  I heard stories of how his home garden on Long Island was quite spectacular and even included fish ponds.

The four cradle-legs have since fallen off, but I still think this piece is precious. When my dad offered to mail it to me, I told him I had a special spot and a special purpose in mind.  The cradle now sits by feet in my knitting corner between my comfy chair and the window with a nice view of my back yard.  It holds my collection of needles and knitting work(s) in progress.  My grandfather worked in textiles. He created the designs for garments (such as neck ties) so that the designs could be woven into fabric.  I hope that he would have approved of how I am now using the cradle he crafted so many years ago...