I had forgotten until recently, that many years ago my mom stitched my dad a cummerbund.
I remember being about 8 years old and waiting for my parents to get dressed up to go out for a black tie work function.
My dad came downstairs in his tuxedo, and his needlepoint cummerbund. I vaguely remember a lot of bright colors, flowers and the image of a woman.
It wasn’t until recently at work, when we were discussing old “ghosts of needlepoint past” that memories of it started resurfacing….
Uhhhhm… WHAT were my parents thinking?!
Firstly, I can’t believe that my mom not only purchased this canvas, but also stitched it and had it finished…
Second of all, I can’t believe my father actually wore it… and to a black tie event at the office, no less?
Apparently, this lovely needlepoint treasure is based on a very famous Rousseau painting called “The Dream”, which can now be found at the MOMA in New York City.
(Yes, I found this information out as my mother tried to justify her decision to me…)
Really though…? Who thought it was a great idea to put a naked lady on a cummerbund?
How about the peeping animals spying on her from the bushes? And I’m really not quite sure what’s going on with the man over there on the right hand side…
Guys, I wish I had a better explanation for this one, but I’m really at a loss.
Who knows?
Maybe one day my children will look at my projects and say the same thing!
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
One thing’s for sure though… I don’t think I’ll ever let my parents live this one down!
That’s a keeper!
I, for one, would wear that cummerbund in a hot minute! The three I have suddenly look in-inspired. Give your mother (and father for wearing it) my kudos!
Un-inspired, not in-inspired…fingers on a phone, what are you gonna do?
Don- you’re too funny! He used to wear it out all the time. But he seems a little less inclined since all his children have started making fun of it! Hope you all got home from market safely!
You have given me a good laugh here at the end of a long day!
Your mystery man seems to be playing the recorder, or a version of a recorder. A kind of Indian Orpheus, I suppose, which would account for all the improbably tame animals hanging around. I must agree that it seems an odd choice for evening wear! But, to be fair, your mother did a remarkably good job on the lady’s toes. Very tricky body parts, toes, and hers look both convincing and pretty.