Friday Finish!

Posting early today, since we are going off grid, this afternoon. The weather has changed back and forth all week, and now it looks like a great weekend for camping. The bad thing is, I thought it was going to rain, so I let my Son host the dinner, which he wanted to do, so no picnic, and now it is going to be 79 on Sunday, ugh. It also means, we come back to the house and get things ready and Bean can stay home while we spend time at their house, then back to camp.

I Cooked up a pot of Goulash and some corn bread, so we can just relax and heat up dinner. Baskets for the kids are done and now we are just doing some finishing things and waiting for the milkman before we take off.

One reason we are going away is, it is not only Easter, but Danielle's birthday on Sunday, so it would be too much to sit home and think about the fact that she is not sharing it with us. She loved camping, so this will be a time for us to relax and be with her in spirit as we walk the beaches and enjoy nature.

I worked on a pillow, an idea I saw on a website, who made a pillow to ease her grief. She lost her daughter right after birth and spent the day, loving her and saying goodbye. I can only imagine her pain, for each of us grieves in our own way.

I made my heart with some of our clothes and some of hers, a special memory and inspiration as I walk this journey called Grief.

I also finished my eyeglass case, it is a bit smaller after sewing and I like a roomy case, makes it easier to get them out. It is also good for pocket cameras, too. I used old blue jean material behind the felted piece, and for the backing.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a Blessed Easter.

An Angel for my Angel and Giveaway Winner!

Today we went out to look for a basket. Our church is having a fair with a raffle, so I decided to share some of the winnings I have had over the years and make a quilter's gift basket. I also have books and an extra copy of a magazine, so putting together things like that and fabrics to go with the patterns. Now if I can only find a basket I like, most were the wrong shape and over priced junk.

I did find an angel though. She was sitting on the shelf with another that was not as nice and mine was on sale, it was meant to be. We are still waiting for the insurance and things to go through so we are waiting on a stone and I hate that there was nothing on her grave. I was looking at fake flowers and realized I could get fresh flowers and I love how she looks with the flowers, it just made me feel so much better, knowing she had something beautiful and an angel, watching over her.

The wonderful thing that happened today was, just as we got in the car, to go to the cematary, I looked up and there were two symmetrical angel wings over our house. 

I was looking at some old photos and found one of Danielle when she was little. Her great grandmother was celebrating her 100th birthday and when most kids avoid the elderly, Danielle was giving her hugs and helping her with the cards. In celebration of her compassion of others, I am sending out some cards and happy presents to a few friends who are going through a tough time themselves. I am not sure what I will do in the future, I am hoping to set up a work room for charity projects in her room and invite others to help, as well. For now, I am just being and following my heart when I can and getting the house cleaned out, so we can redo the room and basement.

And now for the winner of my giveaway. The winner is Jacqueline! Jacqueline, please email me with your choice of epattern from my ecrater site. Thank you all for playing along. I was trying to get a photo of the moon as it was rising through the trees, it was a beautiful orange red shade, but with the slow shutter speed, I got blurry photos. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, we will be spending Mother's day with my son and grandson.

A Gift From the Heart!

One of the things are crafters and artisans, is that we need to create. We need to create when we are happy, and we need to create when we go through sadness and grief.

I wanted to make something as a gift to my daughter from her father and I, a piece of our hearts to hold, until we meet again. I started thinking about it and each day melted into the next, until it was the day before the wake and I had not begun. Too much to do, too much chaos and pain and too many good meaning relatives who had not idea what to do and tired me out.

I had the saying stitched and decided to put it on a velvet heart. I had lots of ideas but no time to add lace or a border, but I finally decided that it was not what it looked like, but the love I put in. I sat in my sewing room that morning and worked on finishing it.

The saying was from our hearts, it was how we felt.
The little heart is a piece from her clothing as a child
The flower, is from the ones I used for her brother's wedding pillow.
The guardian angel is a gift I gave her on her first communion.
I made the saying into a pocket and inside is a photo of the three of us, at her baptism and a smooth white pebble from our beach walks.
On the back, I made hearts from the material that I used for her quilt, a birthday gift for her, our three hearts, forever.

The heart was placed in her arms, to hold, until we meet again.

The back of the pillow.

The night we got home, my house was a mess and we had company coming after the funeral, so Bill and I did what we could to the main living area. I had taken down Easter decorations and had some up, so just left what I had, but the tree looked sad without nothing on it. I found an old flower that I had from a wreath and remembered I had some in a box and this is what I did with them. The photo is a gift from her friends, they had it framed and I put it on the table. It is her final goodbye.

I also wanted to share the card we had made for her. I needed to do things myself, for my daughter, to let her know how much I love her and how much I miss her, so I did a design that they used on the card and the poem below is the saying on the back.

I feel like all of you have been my family and support through all of this and I still have things to do that I am not ready for, but I also have my faith and the love of others, to keep me strong.

Miss Me, But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road,

and the sun has set for me.

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little—but not too long,

and not with your head bowed low.

Remember the love that was once shared.

Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take, and each must go alone.

It’s all a part of the master’s plan, a step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends we know.

Bear your sorrow in good deeds. Miss me, but let me go.

Author Unknown