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As I began to write this letter I thought about the fact that I do love you, my sewing family. I thought about the many times I have said I love sewing and the people who sew. I am honored that God has given you to me to love. Isn’t it amazing how God sends loved ones into our lives? I believe that God is the source of all love, and in that vein, I enjoy reading and studying the sermons of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) who was England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the 19th century. One of his sermons described God’s love for us so eloquently, I felt compelled to share it with you:
He loved me before I was born; before a star begun to shine he loved me, and he has never ceased to do so all these years. When I have sinned he has loved me; when I have forgotten him he has loved me; and when in the days of my sin I cursed him, yet still he loved me; and he will love me when my knees tremble, and my hair is grey with age. God will love me for ever, and for ever. Sit down this afternoon, if you have leisure, and think of nothing but this-his great love wherewith he loves you; and if you do not feel your heart bubbling with a good matter, if you do not feel your soul yearning towards God, and heaving big with strong emotions of love to God, then I am much mistaken. Something else so many of you have told us you love is our “Dainty Designs” pattern. Apparently you just can’t get enough of it, so we asked several of your favorite designers to inspire us with their visions of the perfect “Dainty Designs” dress. Lezette Thomason, Linda Richards and Janet Gilbert smocked their versions, and Laurie Anderson uses it to sew for preemies; we’ve even included her miniaturized pattern on the pull-out centerfold. Actually, smocking is experiencing resurgence, and not just smocking that calls for a pleater, smocking in its truest form, completely by hand. Turn to our Sew What’s Happening page to find out how new notions make it easy. Try your hand at another classic technique, punchwork on a precious baby bonnet by Wendy Schoen, and then step back into the 21st century and see how modern technology lets you create elegant twin-needle work in the machine embroidery hoop. Our bevy of wonderful projects aptly coincides with springtime when it seems there’s something fresh and new around ever corner. I pray OUTLOUD for our men and women serving in harm’s way and for their families. I pray OUTLOUD for your family and loved ones. I pray OUTLOUD for those of you who are hurting. I pray for our country. Know that I send my love to you. Thank you for being a part of our Sew Beautiful family. May God Bless and Keep You, |
