Recently, my house became a movie set for the short film Nowhere Normal, written and produced by my talented friend Heather Morrow. Thanks to its 1950s origins and our collection of well-loved, hand-me-down furniture, the house was a good choice for the home of the story’s grandmother. Among the most important final touches to the setting was to add a proliferation of textiles that would, at a glance, provide a sense of presence for the grandmother, a character who had recently passed away.
One of the first things that happens after you agree to let a film crew take over your house is a production meeting where they check the space to see if it really will work. We showed everyone around and were met with frequent exclamations of, “This is perfect for a grandma’s house—no offence!” “None taken,” we replied, pointing out the Formica table, and my great-grandmother’s sewing box. I overheard, “I have a fever, and the only cure is more doilies,” so I showed them the ones that my Oma had made, pouring her time and love into them. Oma never did see our house, but her handiwork is part of our lives and the lives of the great-grandchildren she never met.
Doily and doll photos by Jessie McKitrick; featured photo and all others by Kristin Breitkreutz.
