Y’all know how I love me some envelope jewelry,
and let me tell you: Margaret Williams never fails to delight.
In her most recent envelope,
Margaret sent these beautiful blocks
for The 70273 Project,
made in honor of the Little Light of Mine
choir and dance group composed of adults with special needs.
The choir, formed 40 years ago
and currently under the direction of Linda Weaver,
recently visited Margaret’s church
and regaled the congregation with song and signing.
“It’s always a wonderful week at St. Andrews
when the Little Light of Mine group leads the worship service,” writes Margaret.
Margaret also included
The Beatitudes for People with Special Needs
by Anne McKinnon.
I’ve never heard of this, and I like it.
Like it a lot.
It speaks to the energy
I feel and see and hear around The 70273 Project campfire . . .
Blessed are you who take the time to listen to difficult speech,
for you to help us know that if we persevere we can be understood.
Blessed are you who work with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,
for in your friendship we feel good to be ourselves.
Blessed are you who never bid us to “hurry up”
and more blessed are you who do not snatch our tasks
from our hands to do them for us,
for often we need time rather than help.
Blessed are you who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures,
for our Unsureness will be outweighed
by the times when we surprise ourselves and you.
Blessed are you who ask for our help
and realize our greatest need is to be needed.
Blessed are you who help us with graciousness,
for often we need the help we cannot ask for.
Blessed are you when, by all things, you assure us
that what makes us individuals is not our particular disability or difficulty
but our beautiful personhood which no handicapping condition can define.
Rejoice . . . and be exceedingly glad
for your understanding and love
has opened doors for us
to enjoy life to its fullest
and you have helped us
believe in ourselves
as valued and gifted people.
You can find Little Light of Mine on Facebook,
Right now, Margaret is minding her P’s and Q’s
which is to say
she is piecing and quilting
Quilt #3 of The 70273 Project.
I can’t wait.
Margaret also writes that she’s planning a block-making party (or two),
and this seems a fine time to tell you about my latest idea
(even though it’s not 8/1 yet,
and I was trying to save it till then).
(It’s the Aquarian in me.)
(Or something.)
Anyway, listen . . .
Raise your hand if you’d like to do a quilt all by yourself
or with your family
or your club
or class
or neighbors
or colleagues.
Say you’re having a family reunion this fall,
for example,
and everybody makes a block or three
then you piece them and quilt them
and the quilt becomes
My Crazy Family Quilt.
Maybe your library hosts a block-making
party one afternoon
and you piece the blocks made
into a quilt that becomes
The Local [insert name] Library Quilt.
What if your class makes blocks
that are then pieced
and quilted
and becomes the
We Learn Together Quilt.
Individual block makers will be credited
as always,
and I’ll need Provenance forms from each Maker,
as always,
and we’ll need to set a minimum number of blocks,
but the overall quilt will be from
a specific group of people
who are connected in one way or another.
Think how much fun it will be when
your quilt comes to visit
for all to see.
(There will be refreshments, right?)
(But not anywhere near the quilt, though,
cause white just begs people to
come forth and stain.)
The quilt will be a forever part of The 70273 Project,
but we can arrange periodic exhibits and viewings as desired.
Oh, and how ’bout this:
everybody in your group could trace their hands,
and the outline of hands could become
quilting lines.
(This is the way my head works
pretty much all the time, y’all.
I have mapped out a new idea a month
for pretty much the next year. I can’t
wait to start revealing them on
the first of every month.)
If this appeals to you,
(the group quilt,
not my popcorn popper of a brain)
let’s talk.
And hey, Margaret Williams,
Thank You for being such a
prolific, vibrant, enthusiastic
member of The 70273 Project Tribe.
~~~~~~~
Want to sit beside Margaret and
become part of The 70273 Project Tribe?
Make blocks.
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(Some of the blocks made by 
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here ‘n there