I’m not sure if there is a verse in the Bible that more accurately describes me than the one I chose for this week. My grandma taught me to crochet when I was four and I have had a needle of one kind or another in my hand ever since. I could not even venture to guess how many things these hands have made over the years and I never grow tired of the process.
I do seek, all the time. The joy of finding a beautiful new material, whether it be fabric, floss or fiber, is something that makes my heart sing. Or maybe it’s finding joy in an old thing. Finding beauty and joy in small things is what fills my heart to overflowing. I was created to create, in that I have no doubt. I do it willingly. It is not drudgery to me. While I enjoy many, many modern conveniences, indoor plumbing, refrigeration, my old van, I also truly enjoy the old way of doing some things, with my hands. I have never hand pieced a quilt and don’t ever see myself doing that but I do love so many forms of handwork.
I have a collection of wooden spools that I just love. I keep them in an old Ball canning jar. Some are still full of thread and others are almost gone but they all tell a story. Someone collected that thread a long time ago. Certainly her aim was more utilitarian than mine but she collected them just the same. She had a family to take care of and a home to run and these beautiful spools of color were one of her many tools that helped her each day. I love the feel and smell of the wood and the old thread. Days gone by were not easier but they were simpler. Maybe that’s what draws me to handwork so often. I don’t want to always be in a hurry. I want to take the time to listen to my family members when they talk. I want to see each flower that blooms in my garden. I want to appreciate each project I work on, not just hurry to get it done to get on to the next thing. Going slower is intentional. I don’t need to fill my head with new stuff ever single minute. Taking the time to appreciate what I have, to listen to God’s still, small voice, those are some of the benefits of sitting quietly with needle and thread. Sometimes the joy comes in the process and not the end result.
The patterns for these blocks are available in my shop. They will be free for one week. After that they will only be $5 for both blocks and full instructions. The full quilt will be coming along in a few weeks. I hope you are enjoying your stitching time right along with me.
See you next week!
Michelle
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