My maternal grandmother died when I was 13. One of my last memories of her is watching her bead an entire dress (by sewing beads onto the fabric.) The dress took 6 months to complete. Unfortunately when she died, one of my mother's sisters took the dress and sold it, which my mother and I will never really forgive. The good news is, I have 3 of her hand-beaded purses, which I treasure.

Two years after her death, I started doing beadwork, which (if you haven't figured out from my screen name) I continue to do today. Thanks, Grandma!