Hello Friends, can you believe it’s May already? I hope you are still keeping well. Life remains busy for me, especially last week, in meeting deadlines and now also my little one’s personal assistant with her various online meetings! Since I last chatted with you, it was as if all the new leaves on the trees in our backyard decided to go “poof” one night, and now everything is green. I took this picture of our hosta bushes before they become deer salad…
Living through the last couple of months, I have been encouraged and comforted by the immutability of the Creator, and the rhythms of His creation. The migrating birds still come at the appointed time (hummingbirds for us); the flowers still bloom; and the sun still rises and sets. And in that consistency brings hope within the heart.
I am not sure if you have heard that many children in Italy have turned to artwork as an outlet for encouragement during this time. Much like in the early days of the virus in their country, residents in apartment complexes sang to each other. Now, these rainbow artwork serve as symbols of hope for many. Last week Gwen and I collaborated to make a mini quilt to support Aurifil’s Andra Tutto Bene effort.
This mini quilt is entirely a wholecloth project. I let Gwen work on the lettering using fabric markers on a the quilt top, and then, free-motion quilted the rest of the design.
Here are a few close-up shots of the letters, click here to go to my original post on Aurifil’s blog to see what the artwork around the each letter means, Gwen-edition.
And then, my part came in with the free-motion quilting.
If you have a child, this would be a fun little project preserve a child’s art. If you don’t have a little one at home, you could make this 15″ x 15″ mini quilt and turn it into a pillow to cheer up a child, or a relative, or even a hospital room .
As I was working on this little quilt, I was reminded of the first rainbow mentioned in the Bible. What a sight that must have been!
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” ~~ Hebrews 10:23
Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you a most blessed week!
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Ivory Spring 
Thank you for the day brighter, Wendy! It must be so much fun to collaborate with Gwen!
Beautiful!!! What a creative project to do together. Hebrews 10:23 is such a great promise!
Barb
Beautiful work by both you and Gwen! Happy to hear y’all are ok. We are still fine here, too. If I didn’t already have so much on my plate I would hop right in with this project! What a great way share joy.
Yes, there is comfort in the regular rhythm of the seasons, as well as the promise of spring. I loved reading about the influence or meaning for each of the letters! I had not heard of this saying before or of the Italian children’s art projects. I love this collaboration!
I do enjoy your newsletter, So glad you and Gwen enjoyed making the small quilt. Have a great time together. Looking forward to your next newsletter.
Wonderful project! One of the great outcomes of this whole Covid-19 experience is reading and watching the coming together of people from all walks of life. The teddy bears in the windows, the parades of celebrations, the singing and playing of musical instruments, and so much more!
On a little side note…I get a little melancholy when I read Gwen instead of Miss Baby. Goodness, the children grow so fast!!!
Yes, He who promised is faithful. That’s a sweet little quilt in support of that effort. Happy May to you and yours!
Beautiful.
I love Gwen’s art work too.
You are always inspiring, Wendy. I am grateful for your friendship
Aw, I love it! Gwen is quite the artist!
Sent from my iPhone
What a wonderful collaboration. I’ve seen the pics on Instagram, but it’s nice to see the bigger story and closeups here.
What a cheerful post. Thank you. Beautiful rainbow quilt collaboration with you and Miss Baby. Life is getting better and creativity and art certainly make things sparkle.