Ever since I was little I can remember staring at these Sun and Moon frames hanging above my mother’s headboard. I always adored them but it wasn’t until they were gifted to me in 2018, that I understood their full meaning.
My grandmother, Mimi, as we call her loves to craft and do handmade projects. Knitting, cross-stitch, embroidery, you name it, she can and will make it for you. Long before I was a thought, my Mimi made my mother these celestial cross stitch pieces as a Christmas gift in 1994. These pieces were made from a pattern booklet, The Definitive Book of Celestial Designs, made in the early ’90s. These pattern booklets were all the rage back then and Mimi to this day has saved every single pattern she has ever made, a whole cabinet full to be exact. These pieces are made with what is called four-point cross-stitch and are a simple stitch in the embroidery world. These elaborate Sun and Moon pieces were made stitch by stitch, and as Mimi claims only took her a few weeks to complete. These pieces were then framed in an 8 x 8 wooden square frame which allows it to be hung up as a wall decoration. My grandfather, a handyman and antique dealer, found these frames at the garage sale and repaired them to fit. It was almost serendipitous how it all came together in time for Christmas morning.
My mother has always had these hanging up since that day no matter where she is in life. They followed her to the first college dorm at SUNY Purchase, then transferred right along with her to SUNY New Paltz of all places. When I came along in 2000, I can remember them always in her room above the headboard, on the side by the window, and even hanging on the back of the door. I always loved them and admired them from afar never questioning where they came from or even knowing that my Mimi had made them. It wasn’t until I was getting ready to move to my first college dorm here at SUNY New Paltz that my mother gave them to me to hang up and told me the story of how they came to be. Since that day in 2018, I have had them in both of my college dorms and now in my apartment, they hang above my bed.
These celestial pieces have become a sort of family heirloom and something I treasure dearly, but the meaning goes beyond just that. My Mother loves anything celestial and she has in more ways than one passed that love down to me. Both my mother and I were born on a full moon, and we are both Pisces. For us, this love of the celestial beings goes way beyond just being about the sun and moon, but rather is more about our connection, our love, and how in a way it was written in the stars.
The Materials of History, Thought, and Art 
Hi Zoey,
I loved reading your post about these celestial decorative pieces. Handmade art work is really cool to admire, especially when you know the person. In my opinion it gives the work so much more meaning because you could just imagine your Mimi sitting there weaving the stars together. It’s so fully circle that your mom took those pieces to SUNY New Paltz and 21 years later her daughter is doing the same. I also really enjoyed learning about how much celestial items mean to your family and how it is more than just beautiful weaving!
Hi, Zoey! I really liked your story about these cross stitch pieces. Handmade items are so unique, and it’s interesting to learn about the processes it takes to create them. I can picture the amount of love and care put into these pieces, down to the frame they were put in. It’s amazing to hear about all the different places these pieces have seen, and how they got to revisit the same place 20 years later. It also seems fitting to hang pieces like these above your bed. Great job!
I loved reading about the history of these gorgeous cross stitch pieces! There is just something warm and fuzzy about knowing something you love and care for is handmade! To find out that these pieces were made by your grandmother must have felt wonderful – a connection to her through these beloved works of art, and you had not even realized it. It is very sweet. I also love the way you told the story of how they came to be in a frame.
This is a little off-topic, but I wonder what cool, unique, and interesting items your grandfather has handled and worked with as an antiques dealer! I hope we get to learn more about that in another blog post!