Verdant and Flourshing
Officially, in approximately 5 hours, it will be FALL. The weather already sucks in an appropriate way, and Mendon is already waxing poetic on the topic. I've gotten my sweaters out and needed a woolen one for work and travel today. It's rainy, it's cold, we've had to close the windows, and soon, we'll need to find a solution for the gaping holes between the dormant air conditioning unit and the wall.
Two days ago, I celebrated the muck of impending doom winter in a fabulous way.
I got out the wedding quilt. I nestled. I zonked.
That quilt, although not huge and poofy, is so warm and soothing. Mendon and I have both been sick over the past few days, and I'm all the happier to know that we're toasty warm at night (and while we attempt to do our homework, and while we fight with the alarm clock 20 minutes before the start of class).
So, the most appropriate thing to do, it seems, is to take a moment to honor Aunt Cindy, who will, more or less, tuck us in each night this winter.
Thank you, Aunt Cindy, for this awesome (and practical) piece of art.
With its creation also comes the fusion of many people, places and memories.
Maman, my grandma, India and the Gambia
I also appreciate that Aunt Cindy put a few of these shiny blue pieces in the quilt. I think of them as your artistic signature because they remind me of you. (They're leftover fabric from her prayer book covers).
I also love those watermelon pieces. They crack me up. I don't know why. Maybe the thought of watermelon in the winter... who knows?
And a wedding quilt must have parts of a wedding dress, but only if Aunt Cindy makes it.
I have been looking forward to pulling this quilt back out from the linen closet for several months now. It's here, it's on the bed, it's warm, and it makes me very, very happy that this is so.
The name of the quilt (it has a name!) is Verdant Spin. Baha'i Spin on a Verdant theme:
O Thou kind Lord! Graciously bestow a pair of heavenly wings unto each of these fledglings, and give them spiritual power that they may wing their flight through this limitless space and may soar to the heights of the Abhá Kingdom.
O Lord! Strengthen these fragile seedlings that each one may become a fruitful tree, verdant and flourishing. Render these souls victorious through the potency of Thy celestial hosts, that they may be able to crush the forces of error and ignorance and to unfurl the standard of fellowship and guidance amidst the people; that they may, even as the reviving breaths of the spring, refresh and quicken the trees of human souls and like unto vernal showers make the meads of that region green and fertile.
Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful; Thou art the Bestower and the All-Loving.
'Abdu'l-Bahá
Shameless pictures:
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Comments
I love your quilt. It looks like there's some of my bim in there- the green and white check pattern appears to be from the dragon on my blanket.
Posted by: Rae | September 22, 2006 9:12 PM
And don't forget the significance of the aquatic life - remember that until about age 14 Mendon WAS going to be a marine biologist. Period. I can't see a whale without thinking of him! (you know, the angry "Moby Dick" prayer to God, heheheh)
I love finding the significances in ours as well. It does help that Aunt Cindy has known us since (near) birth. Now, have y'all located the fertility symbols in your quilts? Hahaha! (that took us a few years, actually)
Finally, Kristen, I am soooo jealous of your sucky weather! I just turned our A/C unit off, yes, but that was only because I discovered that, somehow, it's MOLDING! And the quilt? If you waited for me to tell you that we'd pulled that out, well, you'll have an inch of snow before I do that. I haven't seen a drop of rain (in Israel) since April. I'm not going *quite* as crazy this year, since I did spend July & August in Edinburgh, but every September I go a bit nuts because I have been so programmed that it is supposed to get cool this month! I do definitely have an appreciation for rain that I didn't have before my years in Israel. I thrive on it, literally. It takes me 3 months to get a little reminiscent for a peak at a ray of sunshine. (can you tell I'm just a wee bit nostalgic for 'home'?!)
Posted by: Mara | September 23, 2006 4:14 AM
OOOOOOOH! Chicken Soop! Cuddly quilt......oooh.....
Posted by: papa D | September 23, 2006 10:44 AM
Dear Kristen, and you are dear to me. Yes, you see me in the quilt, but not in the specific fabrics. At least, you don't see my garments. I buy fabric, but I don't actually make anything out of it. That fabric that you pointed to was, I think a top of Aunt Cindy's maybe, but not mine. You see me in the quilt in the things like the elephant fabric, the inclusion of reds, the general color scheme. I helped Aunt Cindy choose the fabrics to round out what we had between the two of us. I think the only meaningful fabrics I contributed were Mendon's whale pj fabric, the Gambia fabric (both yours and mine) and the binding from Mencsh's bim.
Posted by: ma | September 23, 2006 7:14 PM
Dear Kids,
Glad to see you're enjoying and using the quilt. The colors are
quite becoming to your skin tones. (Duh. . . whatever. . .)
I wish Mendon was here to cook for me. I can smell his soup right
through the computer (remember, as a recovering food addict I have
special talents.)
Kristen's knitting is magnificent! Those socks are incredible and
the tank top is Ooh la la! Soooooo cute. Just like you.
XO
Aunt cindy
Posted by: Aunt Cindy | September 24, 2006 7:19 AM
Maman, that's not true. I recognize some of the fabrics as yours. At the very least, there are two navy batiks that you gave for the quilt. One was of fish and another had birds in it. I remember complimenting you on them (because I thought, and still do think, that they're awesome). And, yes, although the individual fabrics may remind me of you, I certainly do not forget your role in the creation of the quilt as a whole. :) Thank you for all of your effort.
Aunt Cindy, I'm glad that you were able to find your way over here. I wasn't sure if you're a regular reader of the blogs or if Maman would be gracious enough to point out my public thank you. :) I also feel like I should compliment you on the intricacy of the quilt, as well. I just found a corduroy triangle that I had never, ever seen before. It's fun to look at the quilt and keep finding new things that you've put into it.
PS. Fertility symbols?
Posted by: Kristen | September 24, 2006 7:58 PM
Take your time. You'll find them eventually. Promise.
Posted by: Mara | September 25, 2006 4:21 AM
Oh, yes, my fabrics are in there, but from my 'collection', not from garments I actually made. And I don't think there are as many fertility symbols this time, Mara. When I was chosing the fabrics, my emphasis was more on color than on content. Aunt Cindy focuses more on content than I do, but I vetoed some of her choices that were based more on content then color. So blame me for lack of fertility. But then, Aunt Cindy did get the last word in with the name and description of the quilt. Kristen, That you should post, if you want to get a chuckle from the troops.
Posted by: Ma | September 25, 2006 9:17 AM
i LOVE these pictures. "cosy" is the highest word of praise i can think of, and you've nailed it. i can't wait till our own corner of the world gets breezy and snuggly like this. jackets, wellies and tea with toast YUMMM. and we have been blessed with sprinkles of wet, but it's only like the clouds shaking off forest dew from their hike through the moutains before they get here.
it makes me very, very happy just to live vicariously through these pictures.
XXOO
love from leila
Posted by: leila | September 27, 2006 7:38 AM