THE BRAIN

THE WEDDING BRAIN

I have made many crosstich and knitted projects but this is one of the most important things I have made - it represents a wedding. When Elizabeth got married to my son-in-love Kyle, I took on the execution of the plans. I didn't make the plans - I executed decisions Kyle and Elizabeth made. And THIS is a picture of my WEDDING BRAIN. I think of it as Project Management in a Notebook. EVERYTHING having to do with that wedding was in here - to gowns, music, food, cake, venue, invitations, rsvp's, etc. THE BRAIN went everywhere with me and once I left it in a car that was being taken away for the honeymoon venue and I nearly panicked and had to send the valet back for THE BRAIN. I still manage projects by notebook (the bane of my computer friends and husband) but none was ever so precious and important as this notebook. I will keep and treasure it until my granddaughter gets married (who?) and then pass it on to my lovely daughter.

We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing

I did this crosstitch when I was in the states and left it behind when I went to Germany. My dear and precious friend Kris framed it for me as a surprise. Another good friend George helped her package it perfectly so it arrived safely.  I love the colors and the details in it.  This one hangs near our dining room table and we truly do ask the Lord's blessings. He gives and gives and gives to His people.  I am so grateful.

This is ART?

WALL ART

I took the plunge one day to learn to knit socks. oh my. These were "toe up" and after some serious mistakes, they turned out to be really fun to make. But rather time and labor intensive.So, who wants to WEAR them after all that work? Not the first pair! (the 2nd two pairs went happily to Elizabeth's feet)  All my dreams of making socks for all my friends and family went right out of the sock drawer - no time for that! Anyway, at least for awhile, until my feet get too needy, my first pair of socks is WALL ART in my very interesting and eclectic craft room.

Sleeping Mat for the Homeless

Years ago I read a book called The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. She points out that God is the Original Artist and all of our creativity stems from Him. This book in particular inspired me in deep soul inspiration. I love making beautiful things for others - to help them enjoy something of the color, design, warmth, comfort of His creation. This picture shows just one of the mats I have crocheted using plastic grocery store bags. They are rolled up and carried with a strap by our homeless friends down at Christ's Body. I can't get enough of these out the door. They are labor and time intensive but such a sweet task.

WELCOME HOME YOU

WELCOME HOME YOU

I have a collection of welcome signs in my home. Most are hanging where no one can see them right now - huh. Just realized that. When we directed a hospitality house, they were all at the front door. I made this one in Germany.
WELCOME.Our home isn't a huge center for activity these days, though we do have our share of company. Eric and I GO OUT to church responsibilities, to Cadence, to client companies for me as a chaplain, and we COME IN for rest.  So the welcome is for us, to rest, to be refreshed, to be renewed for the next day of service to the Lord. So many homes I know of are not places of welcome, but places of dread, of sorrow, of anger and pain. As believers, are we creating a welcome to our own families? Spouses? Is this a safe place for hurting ones who need a quiet place of solace, of truth, of respite? Regardless of the kinds of homes we have or don't have, when the Lord's Spirit is allowed freedom in our homes and lives, HE provides the REAL WELCOME.  

HOME IS WHERE THE LORD SENDS US

This crosstitch has hung everywhere we have lived for years, decades. Every Cadence hospitality house ministry, every apt, every house. It serves as a special reminder for me that THIS IS where the Lord has placed us. It is a curious thing to be restless in such a good place as home. I often am. Wondering where we could go next, be next, do next. But the Lord has settled me for the moment and I am slowly learning to rest in His choices with satisfaction. Home. Yes, thank You, Father, for HOME. And one day, we really will be HOME.

Country Comfort

Three more counted crosstitch
pieces that I did many years ago.
Sort of random choices, just
because I liked them.

Jeremiah Junction is one of my favorite design companies. Most of their designs include Bible verses. 
I loved "country" design too and still do.  Something about these sorts of things make me feel cozy and welcome and warm and happy to be in my own home. I have given many more things away than I have kept but I am glad that I have a few things like this. My kids don't like these things, though. What to do? Who will be named in the will? =)

Praying Together

Earlier on in my married years, I thought making something crosstitch like this for Eric would THRILL him. Well, I think again. But this one I made for us because it was very indicative of the way I wanted our marriage to be - praying together and trusting HIM together. Truth be known, we have grown into that loveliest of lives together, praying and trusting God in deeper and deeper ways - ALWAYS TOGETHER. This crosstitch makes me realize the wonder of the marriage that GOD has put together for us. And I love Eric more than ever, too.

The Boy and the Girl

Counted crosstitch pieces for Elizabeth's room and for Ben's room.  Of course, they OUTGREW them. Then they were hung above their bedroom doors on the OUTSIDE of the room.  But I think I OUTDID myself when I did these.  One day, their children may see them hanging again in Mommy or Daddy's house.

Mom's Pillows

These are pillows I made for my mom. One is CREWEL and the other counted crosstitch. Mother was a "craftswoman", too - she sewed all of our clothes in our younger days and she did some crocheting in later years. I don't really know how she felt about these pillows - but she did keep them! I made for my mom the way I make for Elizabeth now. Someone has to get the stuff I make!

We Could Afford This

Eric and I were vacationing on Sanibel Island in Florida. I was stationed in the Navy in Orlando, before children and he and I went down there to explore and enjoy the shelling and the quiet (with no recruits!) 

We discovered a craft shop called the Three

Crafty Sisters.  There we discovered this needlepoint reproduction of a stamp of a biplane printed (accidentally) upside down. Eric (my very own philatelist) told me the actual stamp was worth about $30,000 or more. We could afford this $15 kit (which was a lot in those days, late 70's) so I made this for my Beloved Philatelist.