Crafty Hands

Ernestine D’Souza is 93 but hasn’t let age come in the way of her passion for creating beautiful embroidery. 

Embroidery by Ernestine D’Souza

Handmade crafts are a skill that is fast disappearing. How many of us can weave magic with a knitting needle and wool like our mothers and grandmothers used to or create delicate designs with nothing more than a needle and thread? Ernestine John D’Souza, a resident of Thane, near Mumbai is one of those magicians with a needle and thread.

At 93, there’s no stopping this intrepid lady doing what she loves the most — embroidery. Ernestine loves to embroider everything from napkins, table covers to bed sheets and even at this age, has a steady and skilled hand that is adept at creating beautiful and traditional floral designs.

Ernestine D’Souza

A housewife all her life, Ernestine was born in Mapusa, Goa, though she moved to Mumbai years ago. “I don’t even remember when,” she laughs when we speak on the phone, pausing to ask, “Tere liye ek bed sheet banau kya?” (should I embroider one bed sheet for you?)

Embroidery was perhaps a much escape for her from the daily monotony of life. “My mother has toiled all her life,” says her son Michael D’ Souza, adding that she came to Thane about 70 years ago, when the Portuguese still occupied Goa. “She and my father did not have much family left, nor did they have a house in Goa, so they moved to Thane to stay with another family, take care of their children and do the housework. It’s a story of struggle,” he adds.

Micahel remembers his mother as a hard worker and also a person who was full of life, despite having seen the dark side of it. “She did beautiful embroidery but never thought of selling her stuff, she just gave it away as gifts to friends and close family members,” he adds.

A few months ago, he posted a few photographs of mother’s creations on his Facebook page. There was a flurry of reactions, needless to add complimentary, from his friends and acquaintances.

When I say this to Ernestine, she has an embarrassed laugh but it rings with the assurance of someone who knows her work is wonderful. “I have been doing so many things,” she says, “Bedsheets, pillow cases, napkins…” Has age made it difficult for her to work on the minute details? “Oh no,” she brushes it off, “I have never had any difficulty with my eyesight.”

Ernestine has two daughters and a son. One of her daughters, who is interested in embroidery herself, helps her out. It takes her 15 days to complete embroidering a single bed sheet. “This is y hobby, she says, using the typical Mumbai slang, ‘timepass,’ and also what makes me happy rather than just sitting.

What else keeps this energetic nonagenarian happy? Cooking, pat comes the reply. “There was a time she cooked a lot but now with age, it’s just restricted to batata bhaji (potato curry) and some leafy vegetables, as she gets tired,” Michael adds.

If there’s one area that Ernestine doesn’t tire of, it’s certainly the magic she is able to create with the needle and thread. Let’s hope she is able to continue that for many more years to come.

To place an order with Ernestine John D’Souza, please contact her son Michael D’Souza on mike61@rediffmail.com.

All pics courtesy: Michael D’Souza