When I was only 8 years old, my mother made the decision to leave the family mansion, renouncing to luxuries and comforts, to become independent with me after her divorce. It was a brave decision, considering that she had no education or professional preparation to make her own way. On the other hand, she had been raised very dependent on the family's money, who denied her support for her decision. But even so, she did not stop. She had two sewing courses, one of them distance learning, and a sewing machine that her father had given her when she was a teenager. With that sewing machine, my mother set up a business in the house and started making costumes and lingerie, as well as mending clothes, gluing zippers and making hems.

This heirloom, which dates back more than 70 years, remained in my hands as one of my most precious heirlooms. It is already very old, you can see it in its structure, but it still works. It has served me many times to mend some pieces, and even to make lingerie. I was never very good at sewing like my mother, who used to make beautiful dresses, bridal gowns, communion dresses, even layettes for a baby. My mother tried to teach me, but I only learned the basics, even though I could do some things.

I kept it in the closet since she got sick. She always asked me about her machine, she thought it no longer existed, in her lost memories she told me that she had sent it to be repaired and it had not been returned, so I had to repeat almost daily that I kept it in a box in my closet so that she would feel at ease. A few days ago, organizing the things I had stored, I decided to take it out and clean it, to take it for maintenance. It has not been used for a long time, and I would like to put it to work to make Christmas ornaments, many of them need sewing for their elaboration.

The parts of this machine are very worn, some are broken, mom used to glue them with teipe, she always managed to fix any problem with her machine, no one knew it better than her. The last few years, before her memories were completely gone, she did some sewing. She would always call us to thread the needle because she could no longer see out of her little eye. I confess that today I am the same way.

This sewing machine has a long history, grandfather gave it to my mother when she was a child because she wanted to learn how to sew. She took a course with a lady who was a neighbor of theirs in Cumaná, where they lived. As time went by, she made her own clothes according to her own taste. And wherever she went, she took her machine with her. When El Tigre moved, she brought it with her, and it became her source of income. To me, it is a priceless treasure, an antique, and I have kept it intact, but I would like to have it repaired so it can last a few more years.

For now, I'll just have it serviced and try to make the most of it this coming Christmas.