The Family Tablecloth
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There are not many things much more fun than gathering around the table to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Over the holidays we visited my in-laws on their farm in North Carolina. I was happy to see this family tablecloth on the table when we arrived.
My mother-in-law began this in 1995. Every year, when we all gather together around the table, each family member who is present, with pencil in hand, adds a little more.
Sometimes it’s a poem about what happened that year.
Sometimes it’s a drawing. Or maybe it’s a simple outline of their hand.
Whatever the author chooses to add they sign their name and date it. Then, before the next holiday season arrives, Nanny needlepoints each mini artwork, readying the tablecloth for more. Nanny made the tablecloth from simple sheeting and attached red trim along the edge.
It’s been such fun to see it fill up over the years. The kids really get a kick out of looking back to what they had to say years ago. What a great idea. I hope we continue the tradition until there are no more white spaces left.
Do you have any cool traditions you’ve began with your family or friends?
How cool is that? That’s the neatest thing I’ve seen in a while. I may have to start that tradition with my family since we have a grandchild now.
I trace my children’s hands on paper every year, date them, cut them out, laminate them and hang them on a ribbon. I have 16 prints for each of the older children (they made me stop after that – their hands aren’t growing anymore they said) and 9 for Ethan so far. It’s becoming quite a long garland nowadays, but I love it!
Hey!
What a great idea – would love a garland like that!
~ Amy
I love the hand garland idea. I’m gonna do this with my toddler.
We have a simple green tree skirt and each year we put paint on my daughter’s hand and/or foot and add it to the tree skirt….
Wow, that is amazing! What a gorgeous tablecloth and an amazing family tradition! 🙂
this makes me SOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this so much – wish i had a Nanny!
Oh I just love this idea!
What a great tradition! How fun to have something in addition to photos and stories to remind you of the past. I absolutely love the idea. Thanks for sharing.
What a great idea! We often host college students during the holidays, med students who cannot go home. What an interesting way to remember each of them by making a tablecloth like that!
Thanks so much for sharing this. What a beautiful tradition and such an awesome idea. I’d love to do something like this.
What a beautiful tradition! Love this!
I love this idea. My mom did dishtowels with all of the kids when we were younger, and I love the ones she did recently with my kids, but a tablecloth that everyone participates in is perfect. What a great keepsake.
What a wonderful tradition! I love this idea. Such a beautiful heirloom.
A friend of mine has birthday tablecloths for each of her children. Each year they paint their hands and place a print along the hemline. She then dates it for them. Her eldest is 16 now and still loves it when she pulls it out each year. So special.
I could not love this more!!! How AWESOME!!!! Would love to see a big BIG picture of it!!
THAT is FABULOUS!!! ♥♥♥
That is beautiful.
So beautiful! This is an absolutely sensational idea. Thanks for sharing!
That is so pretty! I love that tradition!
Neat idea! Holds so much family history!
Girl, you made me tear up!
OMG I love that. I mean, I really, really love that!
What an amazing idea! I bet you can’t wait to sit there and look at everything each year!
This is incredibly special. Love it.