Knitting Finished Object!

This summer I joined a wonderful Ravelry KAL (Knit ALong) to knit Paula Emons-Fuessle's lovely shawlette Piper's Journey.  The group on Ravelry is SingleHanded Knits, if you want to check it out & I recommend you do!  For those who are not knitters, Ravelry is a phenomenal free knitting website (I think over a million members!) which in my opinion is a must have for any knitter... tons of free patterns, great educational resources and a great vehicle for chatting @ all things knitting & crocheting & spinning, fantabulous! Here is Link to Ravelry

Here is link to my project page on Ravelry for this shawl:
My Piper's Journey  (Still having trouble transferring photos from phone... :{{)

This lovely accessory has a crescent shape that lays wonderfully (and securely) around one's shoulders.  Simple and beautiful.  The pattern is well written and the lace border is attached as you knit.  It takes a while because one has to knit 36 (18*2) stitches for each and every stitch on the edge of the shawl, and I had over 248 stitches on the edge. 

My color choices were the same as the lovely lady MSKiKnits who started the ravelry group.  Shameless paint by number knitting!

About a third of a way into the shawl, I realized I really wanted to give it to a friend, Rosemary.  She was a God-send while we were caring for Mom during the February vigil in my sister's home in which we sat with Mom 24/7 ( a great blessing, yet difficult too.)  Rosemary's spirit was hopeful, respectful, encouraging and incredibly loving.  She is a nurse who cares for the elderly and generously shared her amazing knowledge and skill with us.  She often would come at 10:30-11pm and stay until 5AM so we could sleep.  So, I was so happy to make this for Rosemary.  I finished in time to give it to her before she went on retreat with my sister in California, then headed on up to Maine.  I understand she loved it, and wore it all the time.  Happy dance!

It was a wonderful thing to be able to gift this to her.
I hope you too are able to demonstrate your care and appreciation through the work of your hands.  What a joyful blessing!

One Flower Wednesday 4-18

My this spring is really flying by.  The combination of a beatiful spring in full swing, the end of tax season and a couple of decent night's sleep has me feeling more energetic!  Yeah!

Today, I have a completed two-round flower to post; granted the inner flower was done & posted earlier, but right now I'm focusing on small victories!

This block is nestled in an azalea Myrtle gave me to put in my yard.  She has been my second Mom since I was 8 years old.  Myrtle moves every couple of years and wanted this plant to have a permanent home.  This spectacular azalea was a gift to her from my Mother when Myrtle's dear niece passed away due to complications following a kidney transplant.  It is a an incredibly lovely, low-growing plant with personal and poignant memories... this year even more than before.


OFW in Azalea from Myrtle

To see more lovely hexi's, head on over to Karen's linky for One Flower Wednesday, better yet, consider joining us!
Happy stitching!  Becky G in NC

One Flower Wednesday March 7 2012

Welcome!  We seem to have had a long spring of a winter here in NC and Virginia.  Not that I am complaining... with all the travelling our family and friends have done in February and March to the mountains of Virginia, mild weather has been a true blessing.  There was no ice and only a day's worth of snow (beautiful snow.)  My sister's driveway is almost a quarter of a mile dirt & gravel narrow road, though I could have sworn it was a third of a mile when I hiked up it.  So when they get their typical 6-8 inches of snow and ice every couple of weeks, navigating it can be a bit tricky, even after Swede has applied his fantabulous tractor to it.  If the winter had been as normal, Mom would not have had her precious time with so many of our far flung relatives.

While sitting with Mom in February, I stitched on a Hop to It block, a couple of my hexi flowers as well as making a bunch of connectors.  Handstitching brings great comfort to me... so timeless, I'm not the only one who has sat by a loved one's bed and stitched my heartache and hope into fabric creating beauty through tears.  Whenever I look at those blocks I will always remember where I was and whom I was with.... preserving memories and prayers with each stitch.

Here's a photo of the two hexi's I completed....

There are quite a number of folk who link in at Karen's blog to post our progress each Wednesday....To take a look, click here:  Journey of a Quilter One Flower Wednesday  Thanks for dropping by... so many of you gave us great strength over the last difficult month.... thank you.

Margaret Mauryne Prewitt Dugger

July 25, 1926 ~ March 4, 2012

Wash her in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe her in her heavenly wedding garment.

Into your hands, O Lord,

we commend our sister and Mother, Mauryne.

It was only a month ago when my Mom and I were looking at old photos of her, including the one above.  She told me her Grandmother made this dress and veil.  The veil, she said, was Duchesse lace (I think that's right.)  So last week while by her bedside and reading this verse (from one of the Vigil's in the Book of Common Prayer) I was reminded of her in this photo.

Last Sunday, at 9 in the morning, she breathed her last, in her own lovely room with loving family and friends along side: a peaceful passing.  Her last days with us were filled with grace as she continued to teach us with her constant concern for others, her gentle words of gratitude and her warm love.  There was a sweet, slow but constant flow of gentle friends and family from all over the country who came to sit by her side, praying, reading, sometimes laughing or quietly weeping.  In early February she said her hope was that her passing bear fruit, and it certainly has, at great cost to her.  Our family bonds are strengthened: in our nuclear family, in our extended family and in our spiritual families.  It has been a time of deep healing, restoration and reconciliation... and we all thank her.

In my recollection, she always believed in God... a benevolent and loving God "whose property is always to have mercy..."  She taught me to think deeply and not be afraid to question what is taught about God... after all, even Paul the confident  said "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror...." 1 Corinthians 13:12    All her children have deep faith, even if our expressions differ. 
In many ways, hers was not an easy life... but she persevered and her heart grew and continued to soften right up until her last days.  She demonstrated how profoundly one can continue to grow throughout one's life.  In her later years she began practicing contemplative practices on a daily basis which nurtured her faith, her love of God and all His creation. 
Those who love her go well beyond her children and extended family.  A 24 hour vigil was kept since Thursday, February 9, it was not only her children and grandchildren who sat by her side, but friends as well, many friends, some came most days to tend to her and to be with us all.  From her bed, she graciously welcomed us all... asking "What have you been doing?  What's going on with you?"
A priest who had been told of our loss and had read things we had written about Mom, said "your mother sounds to have been well-nigh a saint..."  My response included, .."yes, the most hopeful kind... a redeemed saint." There is hope for us all.
As you may well imagine, my love of sewing, embroidery, knitting and handcrafts are part of her legacy... as is the love of a good gathering of folks in all walks of life.

Yes, we are heartbroken, and yes she is gone... and yet she lives on.  Bless you dearest one.  Love, B