Women's Group UFO

"Who knows the thoughts of a child?" (American poet Nora Perry)

I have been part of a women's spirituality group for over a decade, and these women are some of the most important people in my life. In fact, I just got back from one member's wedding in California. (That trip partly explains my absence on the blog lately.)


Anyway, the women's group has a reputation for UFOs: Unfinished Objects. We often get together for major life transitions (weddings, children etc.) and do cool rituals that include craft projects that never get done.


Last year, I hosted a shower for Karen who was adopting two twins from Ethiopia. During the shower, each woman drew on a fabric square an image representing what they hoped for Karen's children. I was supposed to embroider them and make them into a wall hanging.

I'm sure Karen thought I had forgotten. Well, tonight was a party for her kids' fourth birthday and one-year anniversary of bringing them home. So yesterday I decided to finally make this thing.



I stitched each symbol (most with basic stem stitch, but check out that satin stitch rainbow!) on the solid color squares.





Then I pieced them together with these coordinating African-themed fabrics (bear in mind that I've never pieced or quilted anything in my life) and quilted them "in the ditch" with a layer of wool blanket.

Then I made three tabs for the top and stitched a back of the solid orange and turned it inside out and finished it like a pillow.





Perhaps my women's group friends can help me remember what all these symbols meant? I know the Ethiopian cross was mine and meant "faith."





I was so excited how this turned out--exactly how I imagined it in my mind. Don't you love when that happens? And it feels good to have this done--finally!