Mar 7, 2017

Blessing Quilts and Blankets



Finding balance and joy by doing what I love to do and how I love to create the most....with the greatest of love from my heart and with my hands.  And oh, what joy it brings!!!

"I would not be too wise--so very wise
 That I must sneer at simple songs and creeds,
And let the glare of wisdom blind my eyes
To humble people and their humble needs.

I would not care to climb so high that I
Could never hear the children at their play,
Could only see the people passing by,
And never hear the cheering words they say.

I would not know too much--too much to smile
At trivial errors of the heart and hand,
Nor be too proud to play the friend the while,
Nor cease to help and know and understand.

I would not care to sit upon a throne,
Or build my house upon a mountain-top,
Where I must dwell in glory all alone
And never friend come in or poor man stop.

God grant that I may live upon this earth
And face the tasks which every morning brings
And never lose the glory and the worth
Of humble service and the simple things.

"The Simple Things"
by Edgar A. Guest




Creating a baby quilt for a new and greatly anticipated and beloved third grandbaby. Another little girl to light up our lives along with her little brother and cousin. More quilts, and blankets and burp cloths and fabric wipes.

And in this modern world where many new mothers want only the new gauze blankets, I prefer those made at home with fabrics lovingly chosen and blankets carefully designed with rounded corners and perhaps even ruffles.

Warm and soft and yes, of course, you can still wrap up a baby diagonally corner to corner for a little security bundle of love!


I can never make enough for when I do...I give them to others known and not known but cared about none the less.
 
Giving, sharing, or donating the bounty of my heart. Simply made but carefully designed and planned to connect to the little ones of this new world.
 




Here connecting to the natural world that this precious little one will be raised. Surrounded by forests, and meadows and creeks and hillsides, birds, and butterflies, deer, and even a little snowy owl. Soft grey blues, grey browns, the softest peach pink and the whites and off whites of this winter's colors..sky and horizon and snow with natures glow in sunrise and sunset and sometimes the buds of upcoming bulbs in the meadow, adding color to the muted colors of the season.



A quilt with special fabrics chosen just for this baby. And little dimensional flying geese..perfect for tiny growing hands to play with during tummy time. So much to see and to do. I spy with my little eye a world of beauty and joy. May she, as well.


Flannel blankets with ruffles all around this one. As well on two more to give away. Sometimes for family, other times for those in need as well. These quickly sewn on my serger..to bind the raw edges and prevent raveling that flannel can be wont to do.






So many things to do and to make. How can my heart have room for anxiety. Even when things do not go as intended and go awry..nature will still balance us in the end. We must pray that our beautiful nature of Mother Earth is not destroyed first but that we all have longer to enjoy her beauty and her bounty.



Finding my balance in a world that is incredibly out of balance, where others follow false idols and fractured dreams? It is by connecting with my heart's journey, by doing those things that give me great peace...creating and giving to others. It's truly the simple things from my heart and with my hands that connect me to my soul's purpose that is the spiritual catalyst for for the alchemical manifestation of love in action.

For only love crosses all dimensions of time and space.  Only love will survive when egos are stripped away.

Love is all there truly is and all we are meant to learn about and experience.



Being "Of humble service and the simple things"

And oh, what joy it brings!

Ideas, tutorials, links...Creating Baby Gifts for a New Baby:







www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2014/11/creating-modern-baby-layette.html

'Blessing Quilts and Blankets' 

I coined these terms many years ago for my gifts to newborns to bless them with my heart and hands. 
copyright words and photos
 Michele M. Bilyeu
www.with-heart-and-hands.com

Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.

5 comments:

Celia said...

Just beautiful and made with so much love.

Susan said...

The babies receiving these will be so blessed. I really like the "Love, Prayers, and Blessing Quilt." I don't know if it is the colors or what. I will have to try and figure out how to make one. I can do squares.

Marilyn McLeod @ Pink Paper Cottage said...

Congrats on your third grandbaby! You make such beautiful and heartfelt things.. .I'm just in awe of you and all you give and share. You always inspire me to give more. The flannel ruffle quilt is just wonderful.. what little person (or big too!) wouldn't just adore it! Hugs to you.... Marilyn

grace Forrest~Maestas said...

Thank You, gentle woman.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Congratulations on your new grandbaby. Love the triangles you added to the quilt to enhance playtime.