baya & a basket ~ posted by Melissa

Last year during the holidays my husband, who never asks for anything, came home from work and asked if I would mind making a hat for his coworker's daughter.

 

Silly man ~ of course I don't mind.  A few days later these were on their way to be delivered:

 



 

His coworker, Dre, was thrilled and bought his daughter new outfits to go with each hat.  To hear how much they were appreciated by Dre and loved by his daughter was more than enough thanks for me.  What knitter's heart doesn't melt when something they make is truly loved?

 

This week I cast on Baya ~ a PomPom Magazine shawl that I have been so anxious to get on the needles ( ravelry notes here ).  The same day I cast on, my husband came home with a thank you gift from Dre in return for his daughter's hats.  Oddly enough, it exactly (exactly) matches one of the yarns I had chosen for my shawl:

 

 

How incredible is that?  Want to hear something even more fantastic?

  Of course you do :)

 

Dre has spent the last year making this basket for me...himself...by hand.

 

Dre's heritage is Cheyenne and Nez Perce Native American.  He learned basket making from his grandmother so that he could pass it along to his children.

 

 

I feel so lucky to have such a treasure given to me.  Dre told Jason to tell me that it isn't perfect and I told Jas to tell Dre that yes, indeed it is.  I was speechless when I saw it and have spent much time looking it over in awe.  I think it's wonderful that his daughter will be able to learn this craft from him when she is older, and that he wanted to be able to pass some of her history along to her.

 

 



That's it for now ~ I've got a bunch of stuff I want to post but I really wanted to take the time to share this right now.  I'll be back soon, promise.

Have a great holiday weekend, all!

~Melissa