Sweethearts...

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse Valentines

I played with a little fabric on Monday, too. I pulled out my collection of Primitive Gatherings' (plus the dot fabric - not PG) Farmhouse Gatherings line of flannel fabric, and Lisa's "Sweethearts" pattern. I used the smallest heart shape in the pattern, and then used most of my own words for the hearts.

Lisa's hearts had words like "Be Mine", "I (heart) You", "All Mine", "Hug Me", "My Love", "Kiss Me", and "XOXO". I used "Kiss Me" and "XOXO", and then changed out the rest with "As You Wish" and "True Love" (from our favorite movie, The Princess Bride), and the initials inscribed in both of our wedding rings, "AB & A, AML".

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse Valentines

 

In keeping with the number nine that I told you about yesterday, I'll be adding one more heart to the display. I like Lisa's "My Love", so that will probably be the last one. 

I have a few more Valentine touches to bring out before the actual holiday, but this is what our dining room table vignette looks like today. As an aside: Don't you love that my Thanksgiving/Christmas/Easter cactus is budding out again? Don't ask why. I have no idea. It will be nice to have more flowers for Valentine's Day, though. 

Brynwood Needleworks - Grace's "Dear Heart" Pillow

I have another sweet valentine pillow that I stitched for Mom (Grace). When she moved into a nursing home and her lifelong home was emptied, Deb gave it back to me. I treasure it, and am so grateful that I have it here. I wrote about receiving my gift back HERE after Mom's move. Her pillow is always displayed in my bedroom, but it will be displayed in the living room for Valentine's Day.

Sadly, she didn't live long enough to see my move back to Wisconsin, but I was blessed to speak with her the day she passed in 2014. I wrote about her last day HERE. I'm so glad I got to say one last "I love you, Mom".

Today would have been Mom's Birthday. I wish every day that we had her here with us, but I'll wish her a happy Heavenly Birthday. She knows how much I miss her, and I know she watches over me. I love you, Mom. 

Sunday Scripture...

Image from wannabec on Photobucket

 The "Forever Pillow" (as Sharon and Debby call it) arrived in time

for Sharon to see. I thought I would post a verse for them today.

A Gift of Love...

 Over the weekend, I received a private message through my Etsy shop.

After a few short correspondences, I was commissioned to create a very special

 piece. I have asked for and received permission to share this story with you.

 This beautiful woman is Sharon. She is in the last days of her life, after a

valiant fight against cancer. She has a dear friend named Debby, who is the

person who contacted me through my shop about the commission.

Debby told me about Sharon and wanted me to create an item similar to one 

 she had seen in my shop. You see, Sharon has been planning her own 

funeral and Debby has been helping her to make all the arrangements.

Debby asked that I create a Dear Heart pillow using blue flowers instead of pink,

and wondered if I might be able to embroider "Our Beloved Auntie Sharon" on it.

It also needed to be smaller because Sharon is a mere 120 pounds and losing weight

because of her illness. You might wonder what Sharon's weight has to do with anything.

Well, they have planned to put the pillow on an easel - next to the above photograph

  of Sharon - at her funeral. The easel will then be placed next to her closed casket.

 After the funeral, the pillow I have created just for her will be

placed on her chest when she is laid to rest.

Debby told me that Sharon would be contacting Hospice yesterday, so I

 decided that I would put everything else aside to work solely on this project.

I want to get it in the mail and on its way to them as soon as possible.

Nothing would be nicer than for Sharon to be able to see and hold it herself.

I was struck by the enormous significance of this piece. It's a gift of love 

from a person who knows that she's about to lose a dear friend. It's steeped

in symbolism, in lieu of flowers, to be shared with friends and then to be

ultimately placed over the heart of their loved one, gone too soon.

I said prayers - from making the silk roses, through to the completion of the pillow.

I asked that God guide my hands to create something truly beautiful for them. 

 I asked Him to give these beautiful people strength as they face the days ahead.

I asked that God comfort them as Sharon leaves this earthly realm.

Debby has already seen my finished pillow and written the most beautiful note to me.

I'm going to save it along with a photo of their finished Dear Heart to remember that

they entrusted me to create something memorable for their celebration of Sharon's life.

I am moved and grateful to have been asked to take even a small part in that celebration.

I'd like to publicly thank Debby and Sharon for putting their faith in me.

I believe that God puts people in our path for a reason. 

Yet again I am humbled, and I will never forget.

"For God hath given His angels charge
over thee to keep thee in all thy ways."
                                       - Psalm 91:11

Hearts For Sale...

I finished Connie's Hearts' Desire choice yesterday, and
today it will be on its way to her house. I sure hope she loves it!
(Connie won my surprise blog drawing last week, remember?)

This design is called "Dear Heart".
It features a pink French silk ribbon rose, taupe ribbon ruffles,
and some of the same embellishment I used on Mum's wedding gown.

The final touch is a tiny pearl seed bead at every diamond
intersection on the fabric. It's filled with a silk blend stuffing.

These are the hearts I added to the Boutique this evening,
and I'll be making more Dear Hearts to list up, too.

Are you tired of seeing my hearts yet? I promise to give you a
break from them now. If you want to look at them,
you'll need to link over to the Boutique.
(Here's the link for the sachet pillows.)

Really, officially, I won't mention them again...
at least for a while.