Monday, April 20, 2009

Who Are Your People?

If you live anywhere near the Mason-Dixon Line, a traditional southern question when meeting someone new is “Who are your people?” It’s just about the first question you ask someone. It’s not meant to be rude but a way to understand familial associations. In today’s more transient world, this often brings a blank stare in response. For born-and-bred southerners, however, learning about a new acquaintance's family tree is our way of making connections.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

North Carolina is one of the original thirteen colonies, my birth state, and where I call home. My mom stitched a piece in 1985 to honor our state but never got around to doing anything with it. I made it into a pillow over the weekend as yet another of my “Spring to Finishprojects.


© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

In a lovely bit of serendipity, Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 last night. In case you’re southern and need to know about her people, her mama was a Boger and served as Miss North Carolina USA in 1982. Kristen hails from my old stomping grounds of the coastal city of Wilmington.

13 comments:

Shauna said...

June, this is beautiful! I never had much artistic talent (music doesn't count!), so I'm incredibly envious of your ability to create such amazing pieces. If you ever need a place to "store" your pieces, or if you would like to see some of them framed and hanging on walls somewhere (our house is so empty!), we're always happy to help! ;)

Love,
Shauna

Niesz Vintage Home said...

What a gorgeous pillow!
Such a nice collaborative effort by you and your mom.
Love the tassle fringe.

Kimberly :)

MaddyLane Designs said...

Hi Junie, This pillow is so precious. Your work is so enchanting, such lovely details and colours. True creations with care and soul.
Have a wonderful day! ;)

homespun living said...

Gorgeous pillow!!
~Deb

African Kelli said...

What a beautiful project. I can't believe you just had this in the house to finish! Amazing.

Together We Save said...

This is very pretty. You are much better than me.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I can where you got all your wonderful talent from!

All these beautiful sentimental cross stiched pillows are sure to dress up your home, June! Are your grouping them or scattering them in different places?

Thimbleanna said...

It's beautiful June! I love how you're finishing so many UFOs!

Anonymous said...

June that is so interesting. Up here if someone were to ask that question, a person would really look askance if asked that question. Though I must say I can fully understand how that question came to be asked and it must go a very long way back. I love learning little tidbits like this.
I love this beautiful project you finished. What a wonderful way to honour your mother.

Anonymous said...

Your mom did a beautiful job creating the cross stitch of North Carolina and you did a wonderful job making her artwork into a lovely pillow. The backing and fringe you chose really set off the details in the cross stitch.

It must feel so good to be finishing up projects! Thanks for the inspiration.

Barbara

dutchcomfort said...

Lovely new purpose for the cross stitch project made by your mum.

Mademoiselle Julie said...

HAHA! The question wouldn’t startle me at all! Very COMMON question to ask around here! Love how you finished mom’s project… Reminds me of the state dish towel I have saved in my wish list to order one day. To make pillows out of them is a great idea! I’ll let ya know what I came up with once I finally order them – or better yet, hunt a vintage one down maybe!? Have a great day! Cheers, Julie

sherri s. said...

This totally cracks me up! I'm from Kentucky, and of course it's a familiar question from my youth...when a friend of mine from Calif. did her medical residency in Virginia, she got asked this exact question and had NO idea what it meant! She called me up to ask for advice about how to answer! So funny...she also had to get used to sweet tea. BTW, I echo the pillow love!