When I was in the 4th grade we had to memorize a poem. Any poem. One of our choosing. My dad, the least literary man I’ve ever known, thought it important to teach me his favorite. A sports related poem– a metaphor for life, actually, couched in terms of the dynamics of football of all things. A football game to be precise. Like having your back up against your own 5 yard line and all of that. It was about how one IS in dire situations. Dreadful ditty but over the years I’ve rephrased it into my own venacular. It popped into and out of my consciousness during this past week. Because this was a week that needed grace and offered lessons that could not be avoided. Had to be embraced in fact.
And there was little stitching, except to finish this: 
Not a lot of changes from the last time–when was that?–but enough. And today it goes as a birthday gift to my daughter. Forty-two today. It was hard to finish, but it was important that I did so. Because she named it–Three Graces–and asked for it. And because today she needs this–not the cloth so much as the promise of grace bestowed.
And then this:
that started as a play with over-dyed fabric and merged as three oddly shaped critters with one thing in common. Focus. The red dot. Focus. And I needed that too, this week, that red dot in front of me, demanding attention, disallowing wandering thoughts, insistence upon staying present. Right here. Right now. And it helped. Is helping.
following thread 
a beautiful gift for your daughter. Perfect for a daughter. oh so Yes.
and then the new one. i quit using the Language for a long time, years, but cloth making
has brought so much of it back in to play…it seems a natural thing. These are
power beings. . Allies. who have brought you the Red Dot. this is a real gift. and
an extremely beauty Full and FINE cloth as well.
LikeLike
yes, it was the perfect gift because she wants nothing else but grace right now. for others. for herself. and the new cloth. i was only somewhat conscious that these were important beings but what you say about allies, yes, that rings so true. and they hold the red focus dot with such ease. showing the way. thank you dear Grace.
LikeLike
needed to come back again to look. and yes.
if this should ever finish its work for you and be able to travel,
i would like it here.
LikeLike
for me, there can be no higher validation then this comment you’ve made. not just validation of cloth. but validation of path as well.
LikeLike
3 Graces…through the years is what I see. What a wonderful gift for your daughter. Your work is constantly becoming more. I look in your shop and am amazed at all you’ve created and how you’ve grown. Beautiful.
LikeLike
i think she first saw ancestral support when she looked at this and knew she had to have it. asked for it in an overhanded manner. and i think now they represent qualities–hope and faith being predominant–because love comes so easy for her.
and i thank you for visiting the cloth shop and for your observations about the work. it prompted me to look myself. to see if i could see changes. and yes. i do see changes also and i’m thinking about tree rings now. each adding to the whole of expression. and your words both encourage and comfort me in some way i wish i could REALLY express. much love to you, Nancy.
LikeLike