When Life Hands You Scraps, Make a Quilt.
My friend and I chuckled at this quote hand-painted on a wall in a Chesapeake, VA sewing shop. I love the twist on the cliché, “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”
While I like the idea of incorporating fresh lemons in my cooking, rather than the usual lemon concentrate, I often forget to purchase them at the grocery store.
However, as a mother of two and a novice quilter, I always have scraps. Scraps of fabric from previous projects, quilts, or curtains stuffed into bags. Once in a rare whim or craft room organization, I color-coded my scraps into bags.
I quilted this square using the paper-piecing technique. A technique taught to me by my friend Robin. Positioned on a prime piece of real estate in my home, this quilted square serves as my coffee coaster. Every morning, this scrap piece turned quilt square reminds me of our friendship and the decades of struggles we have each faced.
This quilt square sewed from fabric scraps is my visual reminder of the Apostle Paul’s words to the church in Rome: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
No matter how unraveled I might feel from unexpected hardship, I know: “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” (Psalm 139:5) and I can never escape God’s presence (Psalm 139:7)
This quilted square is a cheerful reminder that one day; God will use all my scraps to create a beautiful quilted tapestry for His glory.
So, when life hands you scraps, make a quilt.
~April Dawn White,
© 2016, 2021 April Dawn White, All rights reserved
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