Sarah Eunice Sullivan McCuan was my great-grandmother. She went to heaven when I was only 6 so I have very few memories of her but this picture above is how she lives on in my heart. While Sarah Eunice did many wonderful and notable things in her lifetime, there is one thing about her that has captured my imagination. Sarah Eunice lived in southern Oklahoma with her husband, Moody. Our family tells the story that during the 1950's every Saturday, my great-grandparents would hop in the pickup truck and head for a nearby town to socialize. Moody would hang out on the town square with the other men and whittle all day. Sarah Eunice had a best friend who was the "attendant" in the ladies lounge at the courthouse. Back in those days, the ladies restroom had an adjoining lounge with sofas and chairs and an attendant to provide any assistance that the visiting ladies might need. Sarah Eunice would spend Saturday with her friend in the ladies lounge and they crocheted. Yes! For these friends, crochet was not only a hobby and creative outlet but it was a way to bond and connect with each other!
Fast forward many years and I learned to crochet from a teacher at the age of 12. I fell in love with the yarn, the textures, the colors and the concept that I could just think something up and then make it real. Crochet became a steady creative outlet in my life. In the late 70's, crochet was not cool but that did not stop me from taking projects to my high school classes and crocheting during those boring lectures. If my hands were busy, my mind could concentrate better. Anyone relate to that? :-) I did not know about Sarah Eunice and her friend connecting over crochet until many years later. I also have a couple of friends who crochet and I love sharing our projects with each other. I've never really sat down and spent a full Saturday crocheting with a friend but it's always there in the back of my mind! Maybe someday that will happen. {Looking at you, Kristin!} When I began to sell some of my crocheted projects, Sarah Eunice was the obvious choice for the brand name. While crochet for me has been a very fun hobby/business, Sarah Eunice established many years ago what I wish all creative endeavors could be. We can create in solitude or we can create with a friend. Both are good but creating with a friend is always better. My great-grandmother Sarah Eunice has been an inspiration to me. I pray that my life and my creative choices will inspire my own grandchildren. Creativity does not always look the same from generation to generation but the heart and the passion that drives it is eternal. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 |