Hello friends! A couple of months ago, I introduced you to my dad and his important support for me as an artist. This month, it’s my mom’s turn. 🙂 May is an appropriate month to shine a spotlight on my mom for two reasons: 1. Mother’s Day is in May, and 2. my birthday is also in May – and I wouldn’t be here without her! This month’s story will be about creative pursuits outside of painting but don’t worry, paintings will be back next month. I hope you enjoy this story!
Back in 2018, I picked up knitting again after learning how to as a child. I was inspired by all the pretty shawls I saw on Pinterest and decided to try it out. I also heard about prayer shawls and loved the idea of being able to pray for people through knitting; that prayers could be carried by each stitch.
I wanted to knit some shawls for my mom and mother-in-law. I had found a place online that sold reclaimed silk yarn and bought a couple skeins in two colours. My plan was that I would knit a silver shawl for my mother-in-law, a purple shawl for my own mom, and a third shawl with a mix of the remaining yarn for myself. (That third shawl is still sitting half-finished in a box under my desk.)
What I I didn’t know when I started my mom’s shawl was that I would be working on it during my emergency flight to Toronto when my dad was dying. Or that I would finish it in time to gift it to her on her first Mother’s Day as a widow during her visit to Vancouver. But that’s what ended up happening. I chose a pattern called, “Close to You,” which reflected my hope that every time my mom saw or wore the shawl, she would remember our relationship and know she wasn’t alone.
Many people have asked me where I get my “artistic genes” from. Both my parents are creative, but if I had to pick one parent, it would be my mom. Shortly after I was born, my mom quit her job at the bank to stay home and raise me. It didn’t mean she didn’t work though. Growing up, I watched her employ her wide range of skills to create goods for people. She made intricate multi-tiered wedding cakes with gorgeous piping and realistic gum paste flowers. She sewed curtains. She put together bountiful gift baskets tied with handmade ribbons. Being surrounded by her creativity nurtured my own.
Being my primary day-to-day caregiver, my mom was also my chauffeur; driving me to and from school nearly every day, all the way until high school. She was also the one who would go shopping for art supplies with me. Remember the garage door frogs that I shared about a couple months ago? Guess who brought me downtown to a specific paint shop so I could get a particular paint brush to do that project? That’s right, my mom.
My mom moved to Vancouver a few years ago to be closer to me and our family. Since her move, once a week, she picks up my kids from school, makes us dinner and stays to eat with us. She is often one of the first people who sees what I’m working on. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to have a longer, uninterrupted chunk of time to focus on my art so regularly. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to build my art practice and business. Last Christmas, I gave my mom a very special painting for her place. I won’t write about it this month as I’m planning to include it in my 2025 calendar so I will share that story in the future! (How’s that for a teaser?)
To say I’m grateful for the support my mom has given me is a major understatement. I literally would not be here without her. Thanks, mom, for everything!
Questions for reflection, if you want to go deeper: Who in your life has supported or served you in small, daily ways? How can you show your appreciation to them this month?
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As always, I love to hear from you! If something in this story resonated with you, if you’re interested in commissioning a painting, or if you have other thoughts, feel free to email, or connect with me