Sometimes I am gifted fabric and this latest quilt was made with one of those fabrics.
The fabric is 100% cotton batik from Thailand but my friend picked it up in Kenya many years ago (think 30).
I had to wash it several times in my tub as I thought it would bleed. And bleed it did. It took several rinsings for the red dye to settle.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it at first since the fabric has its own special design so I decided to use a red color for the back and binding. Keep it simple I told myself.
This quilt will be gifted to an organization that distributes quilts throughout the world and perhaps, just perhaps, the fabric will make its way back “home.”
In early spring we received a real estate solicitation in the mail that included a packet of zinnia seeds. I didn’t really think they would grow but I planted them in small containers anyway.
In early July, to my surprise, the seeds had started to grow. I had Phil plant them in the ground where he saw fit.
And they grew and grew. But something was wrong. These looked like weeds ~ tall lanky weeds with flowers that I was sure was going to spread “weed seeds” all over my yard and I was ready to pull them out.
Instead, I decided to take a picture of them and to my surprise, they were milkweed plants. Well, alrighty then, I thought to myself. That’s a good mistake! I like milkweed plants.
As I looked out my bedroom window one afternoon a beautiful monarch butterfly had landed on the flowers. It fluttered back and forth ~ in the air and on the flowers. I went outside to take a closer look at the monarch but it wouldn’t let me get close.
One day, much to my delight, Phil summoned me to the plant.
The monarch butterfly had deposited hundreds of yellow eggs on the leaves. I was giddy ~ something I haven’t been in awhile.
Monarch Butterfly Eggs
So now ~ we wait. From eggs to larva to pupa to butterfly.
Can you imagine if I had pulled the “weed” and not examined it to see what it actually was?
And such it is with people ~ sometimes we see what we think is someone who is incompetent or rude or prideful and we want to pull them out of our lives.
If we look a little deeper ~ they may have been doing their best with the life they’ve been dealt.
There is so much unkindness in the world that it’s easy to lash out and unfortunately, I have been guilty.
Oh that I might be like my Father ~ “…. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
As I waited on the Chicago train platform heading to work, I noticed a man in a mustard colored knee length coat. He had dark hair and a smooth silky complexion.
In the upper left corner of his coat was a pin with writing that I couldn’t make out. Curious, I edged closer.
“I FOUND IT.”
Now I was even more curious. “What does your pin mean?,” I asked.
A broad smile came to his face. “It means that I have found salvation in Jesus.”
A Christian.
I had grown up going to weekly Catholic church services. But it had been a long while …
He introduced himself ~ “My name is Elvie.”
Then he proceeded to tell me about Jesus and the love he had found in Him.
He invited me to attend a meeting that was held in a house with other believers.
His face was angelic ~ full of care and love for Jesus. I could tell Jesus had made a difference in his life.
So I took the address down and attended. There were about 10 people there. Couples and some singles ~
We sat in a circle of chairs, opened our Bibles and read Scripture.
There was a wonderful spirit of community. People laughing and sharing.
I don’t remember how long I attended the weekly meeting as I was a single mother and didn’t want to bring a toddler along. But sometime later, I stopped attending.
And then I saw Elvie on the train platform again. He had something for me ~ an index card with different handwritten Bible promises.
One chance encounter ~ or was it? I believe it was God ordained. A simple pin on a jacket ~ sharing our love for Jesus can be so simple.
Almost 49 years later, the index card is still in my Bible. Praise God for continuing to lead me all these years.
Hearts sometimes get “swamped“ and lose their direction. But even in swamps God raises up beauty.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
I’ve had this rose in my garden for the last couple of years and it has not failed with it’s rose and yellow colors to offer beauty and a smile to my face every summer.
As I looked out my window, I saw a robin seeking shelter from the heat and humidity that we’ve been having. In this crazy world, I find it in the relationship I have with Jesus. You?
Robin Under Tree Seeking Shelter
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1,2
When she was transferred to a hospice facility in September 2021 from the hospital, I entered the room where she was and they had laid a quilt across the bottom half of her bed. I was feeling so many emotions but this brought peace to my heart – like this was where she was supposed to be at this moment in her life.
After her death, the hospice facility gave us this quilt and I brought it home with me.
Quilt
In late 2023 I decided that I wanted to “pay it forward” by donating some quilts back to the facility where my mother died. I called them and offered to make quilts for them and they were grateful for my offer.
The three quilts below are the ones that I donated. They vary in size – one twin, one throw and one lap quilt.
Scrappy Quilt – FrontScrappy Quilt – BackRainbow QuiltRainbow QuiltQuiltQuilt Back
I‘m hoping to make this year a “pay it forward“ year.
The last 5 years have not been kind – 21 family/friends have died – about one a quarter. One week I went to three funerals so it was hard to recover from one grief to the next.
But by the grace of Jesus my heart keeps healing – looking back at each person and the wonderful moments we shared.
So if you’re experiencing “down” times, I can tell you that Jesus cares – every tear, quiet scream, heavy sigh – He draws closer and closer and will never leave your side. You don’t even need to “talk about it” because He already knows.
I made this quilt for a friend who just finished cancer treatment.
Stars & Stitches Quilt ~ Pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Purple is her favorite color so I made the back purple to symbolize her life. The front, with varied shapes and colors, are the people in her life who she has “touched” with her gift of massage and her vast knowledge of “natural” cures.
I sewed diagonal lines on my Janome sewing machine.
Stars & Stitches Quilt ~ Pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The pattern is called Stars and Stitches by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Stars & Stitches Quilt ~ Pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
During Christmas, our son and his family surprised us with a visit.
Our 4 year old granddaughter wanted me to show her how the sewing machine worked so we sat and played around with it til it was time for them to leave.
Then she looks at me and asks if I could make her a rainbow quilt. I told her I would but wasn’t sure exactly what size to make.
My son assured me it wouldn’t matter so I set out to purchase some “rainbow” fabric. I made the front out of one piece of fabric but added some red strips to break up the pattern. I made the back with the Kona Cotton – New Bright Palette Roll Up.
It worked out quite well. The palette roll up has different gradations of color that makes for a beautiful backing.
My granddaughter was pleased with the quilt but said it was too large. I offered to bring it home and shorten it but she did not want to part with it.
Although the quilt was smaller than a napping quilting and bigger than a crib quilt, I think it will “grow” on her.
A year ago I decided to make a twin “scrappy” quilt (a quilt made from leftover fabric from other quilts).
Then I decided to veer into uncharted territory ~ instead of sending it to a longarm quilter, I decided to “tie” it. I had never tied a quilt before in my life so was really hesitant. It took some time but I finished it, put the binding on then put it in my closet.
Why? Because I was afraid that the “tying” wouldn’t hold if I washed it. There was no reason for me to have this fear as thousands of quilters tie their quilts. But in the closet in stayed … until last week when I took it out of the closet, looked it over and washed it today. And ya know what? The tying held perfectly.
My fear was for naught.
Isn’t that how many things in life are? We procrastinate because we’re not sure how things will turn out til we finally take the plunge and all is well.
I was so elated when I took it out of the dryer and a soft tied quilt greeted me.
