Haven't met our little R'Shanti yet and looking forward it with great anticipation. She is our newest niece, adopted through many miracles and blessings some of which I haven't even heard the stories. Chad and Amy have another daughter! She is 8 years old and from what I've heard it is so evident that they are all SO happy and transitioning smoothly.
Upon learning that things were really going well with the prospects adoption I desired to make something for her. Then one night/in the wee hours of the morning rocking Leon back to sleep I was thinking more about what I could make for her. An image of a blanket came into my mind. The fabric the colours. It was a green fleece and the flip side was a floral that matched the green.
I brought it up with Wade that I wanted to make something for R'Shanti and when I mentioned the blanket idea there was moaning and grumbling that it would cost more money (we are just being a careful as we can - Wade begins school again this fall...I mean in 5 days!! So exciting!)
It's not like purchasing fabric to make a little blanket would break us, it's the principle of trying not to spend. So with that I honored our past discussions and scouted around our home for ideas.
Still this blanket was on my mind. I was doing the dishes on Wednesday evening and the thought came to me - what about going on facebook and posting a status asking if anyone had any scrap fabric. Dishes got done, and the computer was available for me to hop on after 10pm. I was on facebook for a mere moment when I happened to read the status of a super crafty, creative friend who had posted that she had a ton of fabric that she needed to get rid of and if no one wanted it it was going to the Salvation Army! What?! I know! There were already a number of replies all of which people prior to my seeing it were just as excited to check out what she had too. I replied. But it was so late, I couldn't not text her too. She texted back that there was still fabric and other things left. I went over the next day - walking into her home I told her I was looking for any larger pieces of fabric she may have as I would like to make a blanket. The first pieces she took me too had no jokes - a green fleece and a floral cotton that matched! WOW! I still scoured through everything she had. I think I was hooked onto the idea that since I hadn't met R'Shanti yet that I didn't know if she was a pink, flowers or an earthy tones, sporty.
(I left with the green and floral...and a bunch of other wonderful finds and all for FREE! SO kind of Chelsea!)
When I got home I wanted so badly to start sewing up this blanket, both boys were even napping - but I was a good girl and waited to pre-wash both in case either would shrink. In the mean time I texted Amy to ask about the type of girl pink, flowers fun girl or earthy toned, sporty fun girl. He reply was pink, flowers, peace signs and she plays soccer! : ) perfect!
Friday night - started sewing. The fleece was about 3 inches smaller on the perimeter than the floral. I figured I could iron the floral edges in and create a boarder. The only cutting I did was one cut on one side to remove the excess length on the floral. I ripped a piece of chip board off a pasta box from the recycle pile and used that as a measurement for the boarder as I ironed it down.
After I stitched the pieces right sides together with the "boarder" in between, I flipped or turned the blanket out, it was then that I realized I could stitch the boarder down over the fleece. I liked this look much better.
I'm thankful that I could make this little blanket for R'Shanti. It certainly came together well. I definitely felt the love of my Heavenly Father making a desire of my heart possible. I'm amazed that with even something as small as this I could have it reaffirmed to me that God is so mindful and caring in all things. I hope that she enjoys the blanket. Even if not - I knew I had to make her that blanket and I am thankful I could think of her while I was doing it. That night when the image of it had come into my head, these words came too: So Sweet. So Loved. That is what I hope she feels from us, that she is so sweet and so loved.
Tied with a bow and ready to give. A little over 5 feet by 3 feet.
