My dearest friend and stitching teacher Adriana Valks has died at the age of 97.
Adriana was at stitching Thursday stitching away on a piece and three weeks later she is gone. My head is spinning and I am so very, very sad. I loved her so much. Here she is smiling, sitting at my dining room table with Christin and Judie during a stitching get together.
The very first piece of stitching that I ever attempted was Lavender and Lace Nantucket Rose. It was beyond my capabilities at that time. Adriana said to me "Give it to me and I will stitch it for you. But I will not stitch another. I will teach you to stitch." And she did.
Here is Nantucket Rose.
We have stitched and shared our lives for many, many years.
She and her husband Martine were part of my early life with my first husband. Martine had cancer at the same time as my husband and he was so very sad that he was going to live and my husband was not. My husband was 22 and Martine was in his 60s.They consoled me many times as I dealt with the sickness and death of my husband. We drifted apart.
Several years later I met them again and they introduced me to my BFF Beatrice (Their daughter).Beatrice and I have been best friends for 33 years and I could not imagine my life without her. What a gift her parents gave me!
Adriana and I have stayed good friends and we have shared much these past years. But, most of all, we shared our love of cross stitch. We have stitched and stitched and talked forever. She has become like a second mother to me. I will never put a stitch into a piece of fabric without thinking of her and thanking her for her precious gift.This is one of her very recent stitched pieces.
I will miss her terribly.
30 comments:
What a wonderful post on such a sad event. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.
Take care & big bear hugs, dear friend.
Carolien
Kathy, I'm so sorry for your loss. Adriana's love is still with you and always will be. How precious that you have treasures you both stitched together. She sure inspired you to stitch and you've created some beautiful samplers.
Prayers for Adriana, her daughter, you and family.
love Annette
Well said Kathy. We are all going to miss a remarkable lady.
Clare
What a lovely tribute to your dear friend.
((((( hugs )))) So sorry for your loss, Kathy. I'm sure she'll be provided all of the stash she can handle.
How wonderful that your friend was doing what she loved at the end of her life. She sounds like a very inspiring woman who touched many lives.
Cynthia
Oh I am so sorry for your loss. And I am so sorry to hear that your husband passed away so young!You have angels looking at you from the sky!AriadnefromGreece!
Thank you for sharing your story and my condolences on the passing of your dear friend.
What a lovely tribute to your dear friend..
Sending you big hugs x
Oh, Kathy, I'm so very sorry to read this. I had always marveled each time you posted a photo of Adriana--how I hope that we can live and stitch until our 90s :) She sounds like a most special woman--I know you will miss her so very much, but part of her lives on through your dear friend Beatrice... Sending a warm hug your way!
Oh Kathy, I didn't know Adriana, but I felt as I did through your posts and Beatrice's posts...I am so very sad for your and Beatrice's loss. But I'm happy too, because like you, I know that Adriana is in a happier place with her husband and the angels. I will keep you all in my prayers. May she rest in peace.
Kathy,
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss as well as Breatice, please give her my condolences
its great that she will be remembered in these stitching pieces
So terrible to lose someone so early in life
(((hugs))))) to you and Breatrice
A beautiful post to honor your friend. May all the memories bring you comfort...
A beautiful post to honor your friend. May all the memories bring you comfort...
Sorry to hear about your loss Kathy.
What a lovely tribute Kathy.
Even though 97 is a wonderful age to reach, it doesn't make it any easier to lose a friend and loved one.
I am sos orry for your loss, Kathy. May Nantucket Rose keep the memories alive and a smile on your face.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I feel like we have all lost a friend too as you have blogged about her regularly. I always think she is an inspiration to us all who hope to still be stitching into our nineties and beyond.
Sending (((hugs))) to you and all Adriana's family too.
Beautiful tribute to an amazing lady
I'm so sorry to read about your and Beatrice's loss. I remember Adriana from many of your and Beatrice's blog entries. Your post is a wonderful tribute to a great stitcher.
HUGs I am so sorry you've lost someone close. You've written a lovely tribute to her, and I'm sure she knows how much you love her. She'll never be forgotten, because she lives in the hearts of those who love her.
I am so sorry for your loss! Hugs and prayers!!
As they say, gone but not forgotten. She truly was a lovely, kind lady that we were blessed to have known. Thinking of you.
What a beautiful tribute to your friend. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Thank you Kathy for the lovely tribute to my Mother.
Thank you to all of our stitching friends for the prayers and kind words!
So sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing your memories.
Kathy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. Your tribute to her was lovely.
Kathy, I have heard talk of the wondrous Adriana. She was a remarkable woman, seeming to live a happy and full life. What a lovely tribute to her. I'm so sorry for Beatrices loss and your loss of a dear friend.
So sorry for your loss. She sounded like a wonderful woman.
So sorry to hear this, Kathy, but she certainly left you with a wonderful legacy. Big hugs.
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