How to Stitch a Prayer

How to Make Blanket of PrayersSo many people today need your thoughts and prayers. Someone you know? Your friend? A family member?  How do you find the time?  I find my favorite time to send loving thoughts of healing and peace are when I knit.  To me, knitting is such a peaceful, meditative process.  I know many people who pursue this process with crochet, also.

Funny thing though... it's just so simple to do.  Find a pattern you like, or don't.  It doesn't really matter.  You can do this with scrap yarn and any old pair of needles (or crochet hook) and start praying!  Start with something small and watch it grow.  Each stitch you make, think of the person who needs your prayers.  Each thought can be a prayer.  Just saying their name in your head, bringing their needs into the forefront of your mind is a prayer.  Repeat with each stitch as you go along, thinking of your loved one. Before you know it, you've sent that person a hundred, a thousand, ten-thousand prayers! 

When I think my blanket of prayers is big enough, I give it to that person.  (usually, I make a lap blanket size, 48"x52", or sometimes a shrug to fit over the shoulders) When I do, I tell them, "This is a blanket of prayers that I made for you.  Each stitch contains a thought of you, each row a continuous prayer and a meditation to help you through your troubles.  May it keep you warm and wrap you in peaceful thoughts."

Can you imagine if everyone who knit or crochet would focus on peace and harmony for a day?  How many prayers and thoughts of kindness could be sent out into the world?  How much healing could we do?

Pick up your needles today and stitch a prayer! 

My Stuff Bag

I just completed this project using #36 nylon cord.  The bag is approximately the size of a small coffee can and conveniently holds my keys, wallet, a couple packs of gum and cell phone.  I'm going to make a few more of these since I have several colors.  The next one is going to be purple for my sister in Illinois.  I also plan on making one to be a "stuff sack" for camping or trip supplies.

George Harrison Album Cover Repaint

In honor of George Harrison's birthday today... A repaint of the "Let It Roll" album cover.  Done in Corel Painter 11.  Took me about 5 minutes to complete. To clarify: This was done just for fun and is not an original artwork and it is not for sale.

First Corel Painter Portrait Photoshop Retouch

First Corel Painter Portrait

Just took my mom's picture and painted it in Corel Painter 11.  Still a work in progress.  I attended a webinar given by Helen Yancy of www.helenyancystudio.com which inspired me to try my hand at her style of restoration.

Raw Vegan T-Shirt Design

I was inspired after my raw-lishious weekend and created this new Raw Vegan t-shirt design!

My Beloved. Completed.

This is my beloved dog, Dixie.  This took about 2 months to complete working intermittently.  It's painted completely in Adobe Photoshop.  You can see where I started at the bottom drawing with my mouse and then I got a graphics tablet for a Christmas present and you can see the difference in the rest of the painting. At the end, I also added a warming filter since I thought her coloring was just too bright.

I plan on getting this printed poster size and having it framed for my home.  She was such a beautiful and loving dog.  She was my companion for 12 wonderful years.