Grandma Emms" Rug Company

Like Mellencamp says, "I was born in a small town." Virden, Illinois, population 3800. My whole family is from here. My momma is from 14 brothers and sisters, the Matattall kids all lived there youth out here. My dad's whole family is from here. My great grandma Emms is the matriarch of the Walls' side. She had 5 girls. My grandma Walls, aunts Margie, Dorothy, Darlene, And Helen who passed shortly after birth. She was literally the coolest human being I've ever known. She lived to 1 month before her 100 birthday. She made munitions during world war 2. She helped found an United Assemblies of God church in Virden. My grandpa Harry was killed by an exploding tractor tire in grandma's 30's and she never remarried. She played the banjo, she was the best Jeopardy at home player I've ever seen. Our houses were right next to each other. Her and my dad grew side by side gardens every year until she couldn't physically tend to it anymore. I was born in 1980, grandma was already 72. The coolest thing she did was make handmade rag rugs on an old loom. People from our town would bring their old clothes in trash bags to her, and she would make them a rug. She charged 10 dollars, i guess it was enough to supplement the little money she got from social security.

When I was 5, I went completely deaf in my right ear. I was the kid with all the health problems. Insane allergies, I got shingles when I was 8. So I spent most of my time at grandma Emms' house sick or whatever because both my parents worked. We would sing songs together, watch the wheel and Jeopardy every day, and most importantly, she would feed me! She made the best zucchini bread ever made. Hands down. She had a little 2 bedroom house, and 1 room had a loom and an old Singer sewing machine. Not electric, the pedal kind. She would sit in there and hum hymnals and make rugs, and I would sit in an old chair in the next room and listen and play. She was my idol, man. A Rockstar in my eyes. The coolest chick I ever knew.

I left Virden in 1998 and travelled the country to sell magazines door to door with my high school sweetheart, Apryl. 40 states, wild adventures, 1 of the greatest times of my life. An unforgettable experience. We traveled with that crew for a couple years before settling in Texas where we started our family. When my kids were small, we would come back to Virden for holidays and whatnot. We always loved it, seeing old friends and family for thanksgiving and Christmas. I can remember grandma Emms holding my son and daughter for the 1st time, as I'm balling rn trying to type this out. What a strong soul she was. So much power and beauty and grace exuded from her. She was my hero. Grandma passed in 2007, 1 month before her 100 birthday. Being from Illinois, we always joked that grandma would outlive the Cubs' goat curse(lol) but it was the year after that they finally won it all. So close grandma!

2020 was quite a year for everyone, but my journey has been an interesting 1 too say the least. As I sit here in the middle of a divorce from my high school sweetheart, I've had quite a spiritual awakening and journey. Leaving Texas after 21 years, raising 2 amazing kids who are both in college, a small business, a whole life, I came back home to Illinois. Mostly to find myself again. Mid life crisis? Maybe, but im not into sports cars, so something had to give. At grandma Emms' funeral, 1 of my aunts gave me 1 of grandma's rugs. Its my most prized possession. I carry it everywhere i go. Literally, its in my bedroom on the floor next to my bed. Its gorgeous, its in immaculate shape, and its 40 years old. I posted a picture of it on Instagram about a month ago, and my best friend since kindergarten, Miss Valerie Wolfe, asked a simple question that showed me my purpose in life. My why. She simply said" That's amazing, why aren't we doing this?" It was exactly the question id been asking myself, but couldn't get the words right. What's my life's purpose? What do i want my legacy to be. So I started Grandma Emms' Rug Company in honor of the coolest chick i ever knew. To carry on an old world family tradition. To give back and do something good and right in this crazy world. To take my life back to a simpler time when things seemed right. to upcycle old, used clothing and materials that are worthless and make them into practical art.

I went to see my aunt Margie to see if she could help me on my path with information or memories of the process that grandma used to make the rugs. I also began the search for her old loom. Aunt Margie is so awesome. She always happy and smiling. A true inspiration to me. When I got there, in normal aunt Margie fashion, she fed me. God bless ya lady! As we talked about grandma, she said she had 3 rugs left she had saved. They still look exactly like the day they were made, just a little weathered from being used for 40 or so years. Amazing. I took the outside to get pictures of them to show people, and had to get a pic of her with the rugs. She texted me later,(ya you heard me, she's almost 80, and texted me with emojis) did the pics break my camera? What a pure soul, i love her to death! Aunt Margie told me that she thought uncle Kink and aunt Darlene had taken the loom back home to Texas with them. Of course they did, i just came from there(FML). The next day I get news that breaks me to my core. One of our best friends in the entire world, my family, passes away at 47. What the F??? no, man. Come on. Kelly Ann Zoppi. Part of my heart ripped from this world way too soon. Jesus. One of the sweetest, purest, most influential people in my life. Gone. Rest in Peace beautiful girl. I love you my dude. January 29th, 1974-April 13th, 2021.

So begins the next leg of this journey, heading back to Texas for a few reasons. 1- go see Darlene and Kink and talk about a loom and rugs. 2- go back to the house to see my kids and try to reconcile with my soon to be ex and prepare to go to Michigan for a funeral. 1 more chance maybe, we've been together our whole lives. Number 1 was a success! Number 2- well, the kids were good. Half a success, ill take it. So I go to Darlene and Kinks to hang out and talk rugs. What I didn't know is that Uncle Kink actually came back to Texas after Grandmas funeral and made and sold rugs for a short time. He was already way retired, so he did it for fun and to stay creative. I also found out that the loom was left in Grandma's old garage because it was soo old and inoperable. She used it for at least 2 decades, so she beat it up pretty good. My idea to use her loom wasn't gonna work, so i began to search for a loom of my own.

My bff Miss Valerie has already been on the hunt for 1. This is why I call her the brains of the operation. I'm the idea guy, and for the most part I need a full time handler to reign me in. We locate 1 and make arrangements to get it. I gotta change up plans because of the funeral, but the guy is accommodating, and holds it for me. I stay in Michigan for 10 days or so hanging with the Zoppi/Senner clan, but mostly with my guy Ricky(Kelly's husband) and Brightyn, their daughter. They make me feel whole, like I'm home. When I leave I have to come back thru Chicago, I decide to make a pit stop to see our friend Vail. She is my ex's childhood best friend, and another 1 of the greatest souls I know. She's amazing. Her and her wife Emily are the coolest couple i know. Vail is smarter than me, and that's hard for me to admit, but we vibe on the same level. She is able to refill my cup when it gets low, literally. So we hang for the night and get wine wasted and talk about life. She is the most amazing hostess, she anticipates everything before it happens. My cup was never empty, hence why I was hammered. During our conversation, she asks me maybe the most important question anyone's ever asked me. We were talking about the rugs and design styles, the process and whatnot, and she says "what's your why?" Great question. My why is my family legacy. My why is my life's purpose to make things around us better. To give back. My why is Reva Emmons, Grandma Emms. Vail says I'm the 1st person to give my why out of all the people she has asked this to. People approach her with business ideas all the time because she's successful, but most answers were about money. Personally, I don't care about money anymore. I chased that dragon for so long, and is what got me in this pickle in the 1st place. I just wanna do something good in this world and help. That's gonna be my legacy. You cant take material things with you, right? So what will you be remembered for? Thanks Miss Vail, your the realest of the real. Family for life. My soul tribe.

I head back to Peoria, IL to Valerie's house to rest and get the loom. She lives right beside the Illinois river, and its so peaceful. I need the rest. I've been on the road the better part of a month and I'm physically and emotionally and spiritually drained. And I need a shower. After a few days I go to get the loom. The guy who has it is retired navy, super cool, lives right next to the river. What a life. I tell him my story and his is similar. His grandpa made rugs in California when he was young, so he decided to give it a shot. After he gives it a few tries, he decides its not for him. He also makes the coolest metal art out of things around his garage. Very talented. a dragonfly out of nuts and bolts, a spiderweb fence gate, a super cool wine bottle rack thing. He hooks me up with extra warp and tools for the loom and helps me load it. Good dude, thanks buddy. I go back to Valerie's for another day before i head back to Springfield to start making rugs. Time to set the plan into motion.

When i get home I have to take the loom to my buddy Harper's garage because I don't have room for it anywhere else. His wife hates the idea at first, but comes around after some coaxing. But 1st, we gotta go to hobby lobby to get supplies to prepare the materials to be made into rugs. This is where Fiskars comes into play for me. I bought 2 pairs of titanium Fiskars scissors and 2 24" roller blade kits. It was all I could afford at the time but I have faith that I can sell the rugs I make with the things I have. Faith. Its what I'm living by. I know if I do things right, and with integrity, that god will help me by successful on my journey. As long as I do things from a place of love and I follow my passions Ill never feel like I'm working. I just create. Its what I do best. Its my sauce. Its what makes me happy, and what else is there really? Life is crazy short, I just wanna live the best 1 I can. I keep the good memories and upcycle the rest. Its my path. I hope and pray y'all find yours. It takes a village, but you can do it. Just believe in yourself. Stand in faith. As my old buddy Clayton always says, Love you Lovelies'!!" And thanks for letting me get this out. I needed it. Stay Lit!