The Meaning of Christmas

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In 2022 my daughter, Sabrina, and I were down in Holmes County, Ohio browsing through the various quilting and needle are shops in the area. It is always a wealth of wonderful projects, not that I don’t already have enough to do! As always, we stopped in The Plaid Sheep in Berlin, Ohio to check out the newest creations. On a rack in the back of the shop I found a very unique nativity wall hanging that beautifully conveyed the true meaning of Christmas but all the kits were gone! The buttons were there in a packet and the pattern itself was available but the actual kits were sold out. I prefer using a complete kit when I’m working with wool due to the expense of larger pieces of wool fabric. I was so disappointed!

Sabrina suggested I inquire about the kit and I’m so glad I did. The lovely sales woman quickly grabbed the pattern and figured out exactly how much wool I needed for each part. She made up a kit for me on the spot! She suggested I take a picture of their sample so I’d know exactly how they placed each part of the design, which was a terrific idea. The price was perfect so of course I bought it.

The Amish areas of Ohio hold a special place in my heart. The peacefulness and beauty of the countryside rejuvenates my spirit every time I visit. As a nurse in a children’s hospital for years, I cared for many Amish children and their families. I have a deep appreciation for their lifestyle and especially their devotion to their families.  I have learned so much from them over the years!

Back to my new project, I started it soon after I got home, setting other things aside so it would be ready for Christmas. I love the way it turned out! It is truly a beautiful design and expressed the true meaning of Christmas so well. If you have never done so, take a few minutes to read Lucke 2:1-20 and I believe you will see what I mean!

The Wife of Noble Character: The Gentle Life

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As Christian women we must come to fully understand that we are daughters of the one and only God of all creation. Each of us is without rival in the eyes of God. As our Father, He does not love us equally, He loves each and every one of us uniquely, for we were not created “en masse” but rather individually exactly as He wants us each to be. Unique is certainly better than equal! When I think of the fact that I am God’s daughter, unique and without rival, it takes my breath away! I hope it takes yours away too!

I first read Proverbs 31:10-31 as a young woman. It touched my heart and I knew that I wanted this to be a guiding light for my life as a woman and as a wife. It is the very Word of God and the perfect path for any woman. Some would say it is outdated, as it seems to focus on the domestic role of women, but if you read it carefully you will see that it encompasses every role that a woman may have, from wife, mother, artist, leader, and cultivator of nature,  to business woman and financier! That only makes sense because after all, we are each created uniquely with talents to offer this world to enrich the many lives we touch daily. For a beautiful rendition of Proverbs 31 check out Kim Hill’s amazing song Charm is Deceitful.

I found this pattern and fabric at The Plaid Sheep Company in Berlin, Ohio and fell in love with it. It is entitled The Gentle Life and can still be found on The Threads that Bind website. The background is a tea stained homespun fabric and the appliques are hand dyed wool.

Like most of my projects, it sat around awhile before I took the plunge and put it together. Then it sat around for a while before my husband and I decided how we wanted to display it. We realized that it didn’t really need a frame to embellish it, as its beauty lies in its simplicity and message. So here it is as it hangs on our family room wall.