Weaving Yellow - a blanket

I dyed these various shades of yellow and orange from the meadows of wild goldenrod blossoms that I hand harvested from. Other blossoms like coreopsis and marigolds I grew in my garden. At a time of life when I feel metaphorically like I am in the midst of winter I gathered this bouquet of woolen yarn together and I found beauty weaving this blanket which I am gifting. What a blessing these simple flowers which once brightened my garden and summer day's again brought their joy into my life. If only I could be as beautiful as they are. Isn't that God's plan for each one of us? I take comfort knowing everything moves in circles. Winter is passing and spring will come. "Weeping May endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5 I see more of God's great love for us in this circle of life. "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Bradstreet in Meditations Divine and Moral. A special thank you for my precious daughter who modelled this blanket for her uncle in the forest near our cabin.

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Yellow

Yellow celebrates the return of the light. Scripture says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" 1 John 1:5. I knit this sweater for my precious daughter. It was knit on 2mm needles with new zealand wool. I used Knitter's Pride Karbonz needles which are carbon fiber with brass tips. The needles are warm to the touch and the tips are not sharp but they are more pointed than natural wood tips. I really enjoyed using them. Sometimes it's hard to know how to say I love you but I feel hand made items that are made well are one way.

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When Christmas isn’t perfect

If I could have changed things- I would have but it was something beyond my control. There was nothing to do but accept the fact that christmas wasn't going to be perfect. And when I did I began to see a little beauty. I saw it in the face of my excited daughter and in the things around us like the advent wreath we made with fresh holly berries and fir evergreen boughs. I saw it in the white lights on the Christmas tree and in the cake we baked and decorated together. I felt grace fill my heart as I read luke's biblical account and as I contemplated the Christmas story it became a Spirit filled Christmas. It filled me with joy, and the peace that I so desperately needed. I learned that "Peace on earth" Luke 2:14 isn't just about the first advent - it's for me and anyone else who needs it now - anytime of the year.

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Faith

Several weeks ago I made a trip to town. It was dark in the early morning but light enough not to use the headlamp in my coat pocket. I pushed the wheelbarrow loaded with empty totes and several Christmas gifts that I needed to mail down to the wharf. On the mainland side after I put everything into the back of the truck we had a minor vehicle problem that providentially I was able to resolve. My young daughter asked, "Mommy what are we going to do when the motor falls out?" "God will provide," I replied. I know by experience that He will because He always has. Later back on the island we headed home with a wheelbarrow load. It was dark enough to use the headlamp. But instead I preferred to use the little bit of available light left in the sky. When we headed up the steep, dark bank to the cabin I lost part of my load. I heard Christmas oranges rolling behind me into the bushes. At the top of the bank I saw a single star - a single dot of light in a cloud draped sky. It reminded me long ago that it was faith that guided the wiseman to Bethlehem and it is faith guiding me home.

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I’ll have a blue Christmas

Throughout the year I've posted about some of the wool lap blankets I've woven for others. I decided I wanted two for myself. I began by growing the indigo  - an ancient plant dye and than I dyed the yarn with it. I wove both of them the same size as the other's. I'm really pleased with the pair- they are complementary but different and they will last a very long time and that is important to me. Sent from my iPhone

Time

Autumn, leaves, tides and seasons all remind me that everything is constantly changing. "What we see around us is temporary and will soon be destroyed, but that which we can't see will last forever." 2 Cor. 4:18 Spending time with God sustains and lifts me up. I know there is a lot of sadness out there and I have had my share of it. I was devastated when my partner left me and my unborn baby - a sadness that has never fully left but I find deep consolation in Him. To anyone out there who has an aching heart - Look to Jesus - he has satisfied me and he can do the same for you.  I want to share a poem by an unknown author titled -The Loom of Time

Man's life is laid in the loom of time to a pattern he does not see, while the weavers work and the shuttles fly till the dawn of eternity.

Some shuttles are filled with silver threads and some with threads of gold, while often but the darker hues are all they may hold.

But the weaver watches with skillful eye each shuttle fly to and fro, and sees the pattern so deftly wrought as the loom moves sure and slow.

God surely planned the pattern: each thread, the dark and fair, is chosen by His master skill and placed in the web with care.

He only knows its beauty, and guides the shuttles which hold the threads so unattractive, as well as the threads of gold.

Not till each loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly, shall God reveal the pattern and explain the reason why

The dark threads were as needful In the weaver's skillful hand As the threads of gold and silver For the pattern which He planned.

Why wool?

I wash my laundry on a scrub board and hang it up to dry on a wire, metal fence. The woolen items are always first to dry - no matter how big, heavy and water logged they may be. This difference is especially noticeable on cool, overcast day's. So when I needed a new winter skirt I chose some New Zealand wool yarn and wove up some yardage. I used my antique treadle sewing machine to sew it on. Handmade clothes - if made reasonably well last a very long time. When it does wear out I will feed it to my wild red wringers in the composting bin.  
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