Where did THAT name come from?
One of the frequent questions I get
asked is WHERE did you come up with the name "THE WILTED MAGNOLIA"? I
always laugh, but it's a name born of hope, hard times, strength, and
just plain old stubbornness. (As my Mom would say!)
My sewing groups always called me "The Southern Magnolia" because I type, just like I talk...which is at the least VERY southern. Born in GA, raised in GA and regardless all my travels, this is where I come back to.
I'll try to make this short, but if you've ever known a southern raised person, you KNOW we can't just spit it out, there's always a story!
At age 44, my life took a very sudden turn with a divorce, which in turn caused a bankruptcy just to keep my home and lots of stress! I had been a housewife for l0 years with not a lot of job experience at that point. So off I went to work. A few months later I was in the hospital for l0 days, very ill (thankfully to drugged to know much about it). Ironically enough, the hospital bill was exactly the amount of the bankruptcy!
To say life was difficult at that point in probably an understatement! I just kept thinking, "This Magnolia is very wilted right now".
I started writing about my crazy, funny, days (it was laugh or cry, ya know?) and sending letters to the troops who had just been deployed overseas. The dad of one of the soldiers started a program where he sent all these letters to his son, who gave them out to soldiers who didn't have family and never got mail. So funny stories about a crazy life seemed to fit. The letters I got back saying how I had brightened their days with letters kept me going. Who was I to complain?
So the pen name "The Wilted Magnolia" was born. It reminds me of where I've come from, what I've overcome and that I will always have the strength to "make something from nothing".
Thank you to all of my customers who have loved and worn my creations. I love you all!
Brenda
The Wilted Magnolia
My sewing groups always called me "The Southern Magnolia" because I type, just like I talk...which is at the least VERY southern. Born in GA, raised in GA and regardless all my travels, this is where I come back to.
I'll try to make this short, but if you've ever known a southern raised person, you KNOW we can't just spit it out, there's always a story!
At age 44, my life took a very sudden turn with a divorce, which in turn caused a bankruptcy just to keep my home and lots of stress! I had been a housewife for l0 years with not a lot of job experience at that point. So off I went to work. A few months later I was in the hospital for l0 days, very ill (thankfully to drugged to know much about it). Ironically enough, the hospital bill was exactly the amount of the bankruptcy!
To say life was difficult at that point in probably an understatement! I just kept thinking, "This Magnolia is very wilted right now".
I started writing about my crazy, funny, days (it was laugh or cry, ya know?) and sending letters to the troops who had just been deployed overseas. The dad of one of the soldiers started a program where he sent all these letters to his son, who gave them out to soldiers who didn't have family and never got mail. So funny stories about a crazy life seemed to fit. The letters I got back saying how I had brightened their days with letters kept me going. Who was I to complain?
So the pen name "The Wilted Magnolia" was born. It reminds me of where I've come from, what I've overcome and that I will always have the strength to "make something from nothing".
Thank you to all of my customers who have loved and worn my creations. I love you all!
Brenda
The Wilted Magnolia
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