September 28, 2007 - Theme : Japanese
My oldest friend, Vicki, and her husband Pete lost nearly everything they owned in the recent Newcastle floods. Describing the scene months later it was quite eerie for us as we used to live in her house and every scene she visualised was startlingly real to us, even though we had not been present to see it. They sat atop kitchen benches as the waves met in the middle of their living room; stood chest deep in water, shivering, as they watched floorboards drift upwards and float out the windows; shook their heads in disbelief as the wahsing machine and other whitegoods fell sideways and drifted out into the back yard. Both their cars were lost, as was everything in the storage shed - a lifetime of memories gone. Two days later after the water subsided they dragged up sodden muddy carpets and threw them out in the street where their neighbours were busy building their own rubbish heaps. For the next three months they sat cold and depressed with only two camp chairs and a bed to call their own. The floors were so badly damaged that they could see the ground beneath, and being midwinter they caught chill after chill from the icy weather that no longer could be kept at bay within their walls. We live on the opposite side of the country and had no idea until I rang her a few weeks back to catch up.
Hearing their despair, still present as they work through the total rebuilding of a home left shockingly uninsured by a glitch in the fine print of their contract, our desire to so something to help them regain a sense of 'home' once again was overwhelming.
Knowing that God gifts us in different ways, I looked at what I could do, what things I had the ability to do. Sewing seemed the place to start.
My friend has always loved things Japanese, and with that goal in mind I have begun to make some furnishings that she can scatter around the still barren space of their house.
This is the first cushion. I drew the embroidery design from a picture I had of a geisha, and I chose to finish the cushion as though one were looking the sliding doors of a traditional Japanese house.
I'm planning to make other cushions with kimonos and fans, and a quilt in the sashiko method.
How wonderful that God has given us all a way to contribute to the needs of others.
Comments
September 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by bethanyrae
I'm sure she will love this! You not only have a talent, but you're a good friend. How frustrating for you to hear all this from long distance. You painted quite a vivid picture with your words.
bethanyrae
October 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
What an absolutely gorgeous cushion! And what an original... great work Jennifer ~ you really have a beautiful gift there...
Blessings
Amanda
(from Aussie Homeschool Classifieds)
