Praying the Stitches

Praying the Stitches

My Grandmother stitched.

My Mother stitched .

My Grandmother made crazy quilt blankets for couples as a wedding gift. 

It was on her sewing machine on the kitchen table that she allowed me to try my hand at sewing rows and rows and rows of squares. I loved it. I never created anything with all of those rows, perhaps my Grandmother did, but I remember having so much fun cutting out the squares and sewing them together on many a summer day. She patiently showed me how to wind a bobbin and thread the needle and how to use the seam guide to help me sew in straight rows.

My mother sewed for living working as a sewer in a furniture manufacture plant. At home, she made many beautiful things from fabric.

When I was in high school I learned how to sew on buttons and hem jeans. In the 70's it was very cool to have some kind of embroidery on your jeans such as ...hearts , peace symbol, flowers, and your initials. I had lots of fun with my embroidered jeans. I wish I still had them! I wish I could still wear them!

So sewing and stitching is part of my childhood past.

FAST FORWARD

About 7 years ago, I think,  I stepped up to lead a small Bible Study group at our church. I choose to use the devotional "BLOOM" written by Stephanie Ackerman for Illustrates Faith...one of the first devotionals released. Wow...that has been a while ago. This was a game changer for me in many ways. It was during this time that I found myself using illustrations as a teaching tool for the devotional. It just came natural. I wanted my ladies to have something that would serve as a reminder of our study.

Together we came up with this statement as we reflected on Ephesians 2:10. I took their statement of belief and created a digital card and printed one for each one of them.

FAST FORWARD

This Summer, I will be using the same devotional, "BLOOM"  but with a different small group. It will be video based with a live Periscope feed. Hopefully!!! This format will be Kiddo friendly and I encourage 2nd graders and up to participate.

Signature Doodle Flower and Logo "BLOOM"

Which inspired this fabric stitched book mark. "BLOOM"

Which inspired this. Taking lots of small scraps to make one large piece of fabric, stitching a flower on it. "BLOOM"

Which made it necessary to purchase this... and what a game changer this has been!

AND.......the stitched fabric is the inspiration for this 3x5 Praying the Stitches Sampler.

The sampler reflects my statement of belief : I am blessed to have the love of the cross, and because of the strength and power that I receive through my faith, I am able to GROW and BLOOM into the person God created me to be.

" For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
Workmanship : the Greek for this word sometimes has the connotation of a "work of art."

Next steps are creating a pdf for it and then to transfer the pattern onto a piece of muslin. 

The sampler will be stitched during my personal prayer time, then added to another piece of fabric to create a cover for a planner or Bible. Watch for it.

I find much comfort in stitching and the memories of those summer days with my Grandmother. 

You can be part of the Praying the Stitches Summer Project. 

We begin in June!

 *I will show you how to create a sampler that reflects who you are, your journey and where you are in your faith walk.

*Your sampler, your work of art, does not have to be stitched. It can be created to look like it has been stitched on paper. I will show you the process.

*I will share how to make the BLOOM fabric stitched bookmark.

*I will share how to take your sampler and add it to fabric to create a beautiful cover for your planner or Bible.

* I will share the handy dandy Sizzix machine. 

Stitching is fun to learn. It will slow you down. You will de stress. You will find peace. 

Follow me on Instagram @beebeebost and on my Facebook Blog page Do You F.R.O.G.

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