My grandmother, Maria Alexandrovna Egorova, always liked to craft with her hands. Embroidery was one of her hobbies. At about twenty years old, my grandmother embroidered a tablecloth with a pattern in Chinese motifs. A Chinese house with a garden with cherry blossoms is embroidered with smooth stitches, one to one.

This pattern for me is a portrait of my grandmother’s love for peace and harmony.

With acrylic markers I transferred the “grandmother’s garden of love” to a decorative plate. It takes a special place in our house.

Grandma Masha was born in one thousand nine hundred and twenty-ninth, and in the fortieth year the family moved to live in Karelia. Her childhood and youth fell on difficult times, she survived the war years.

When the Great Patriotic War broke out, my grandmother’s family was taken prisoner by the Finns. She was only twelve years old. Grandmother lived in a Finnish family, did housework and took care of a small child. Only after the war ended did my grandmother return to her homeland.

My grandparents worked in the state farm “Bolshevik” all their lives. They were real hard workers who were not afraid of hard work and did it with love, for which they were honored with various awards. At the same time, they raised three children, my mom being the youngest child. My grandparents are my role models and my pride.

A year and a half ago my grandmother was gone, and I cherish in my heart the memory of her –  so kind, loving, and caring, always with optimism, and faith in the best. She taught us to be honest, hardworking, and to help other people. I miss her very much and often recall her wise words and kind advice.

Margarita