A Supreme Project & Giveaway

By now most of you know that I am one of Stephanie over at Loft Creations “Supreme Pattern Testers”.  It’s a “job” I love more than any I’ve ever had!  In exchange for making sure her pattern directions are tried and true before they are published, Stephanie allows me to choose any fabric I want to use for testing her creations!  Who wouldn’t love that!  This time she asked if I would like her to send me some fabric for this particular pattern.  Stephanie and I have a similar love of the color green, but she said this wouldn’t be green.  I said fine and was just delighted with what arrived in the mail!

The pattern is called "All About Anna" and is named after Stephanie's grandmother.  The top of the bag is It’s a Hoot by MoMo for Moda, and the bottom is a lovely, soft corduroy.  I found the handles in Oregon and they come from Cindy's Buttons in Idaho.  There are three wonderful outside compartments in front, as well as one inside.

My maternal grandmother’s name was also Anna!  Her maiden name was Anna Dovika (pronounced - doe-vee-ka).  I always thought it was such a pretty name.  As I show off Stephanie’s bag, I thought I would also tell you a little about Anna Dovika. 

Here is a photo of my grandmother – or Gramma, as we called her.  This was taken on her wedding day.  I’ve always loved this photo and her Gibson Girl hairdo is to die for!  They didn't have much money in those days which leads me to think this photo must have cost a pretty penny.

 

Gramma was born in 1878 in Vilnius, Lithuania.  Because the Russians were recruiting Lithuanian men for their armies, most of my Lithuanian ancestors chose to come to America for a better life.  Gramma came to this country on a ship around 1910, her sister having come ahead of her.  She came alone at the age of 32, a single woman who knew not a word of English.  My aunt Martha was already married and settled in Seattle, so Gramma had to travel across the country on a train.  While she was being processed through Ellis Island, a porter convinced her somehow that he would watch her trunk full of possessions.  After being processed, the porter and the trunk were long gone.  The story is told that somehow she made it by train across the country with nothing but the clothes on her back and help from the kindness of strangers.

Here is the back of All About Anna.  Check out Loft Creations website for Stephanie's version of Anna and see all of her other great designs!

Once Anna Dovika arrived in Seattle she was wed in an arranged marriage to another Lithuanian.  She didn’t learn to speak English until my mother went to kindergarten where she herself learned English and in turn, taught it to Gramma.  From then on the family was strictly "American" and Lithuanian was no longer spoken at home.

Here is a close-up of the handle.  They’re really sturdy, and oh, so cute!

I remember Anna as being strong, lean and full of vigor.  She had a wonderful sense of humor, and loved watching the Jackie Gleason show on Sunday with her weekly “stubby” – a beer in a short bottle.  She would sneak Cheese Nips out of the cupboard for a snack, and we always knew we were getting close to her apartment as we could smell salami and Limburger cheese coming from her door!  She divorced my grandfather at some point and supported her two children as a tailor in Seattle’s Public Market.  It was from her that I got my love of sewing.

Thanks for allowing me to tell her story.  My heart is warmed each and every time I think of her.
Would you like to win a copy of Stephanie's "All About Anna"?  Just leave a comment here and I'll pick a winner at random on Wednesday!  If you don't have a blogger account, your comment will show as Anonymous, so be sure to leave me your contact info!