I knew I wanted to make a pair of shoes for this sweet, long awaited baby. And considering her big sister's legacy and this baby's "origins" I knew exactly which fabric I was going to use.
Way back in 1997 (gosh I can't believe how long ago that was), I spent an incredible month living in Florence, Italy learning screen printing and textile design. Our assignment was to create a fabric inspired by Italy. This was my design. The colors, the blue sky, the golden sun, the earth. The rest of it came from the art I saw everywhere. The blue diamonds were a motif on a fresco of the Last Supper. The two crosses were inspired by the two ways that Christ was depicted over and over. The hard brown cross with the crown of thorns represented his humanity, his death, his pain and struggle. The leaf crosses represented Christ's deity, his resurrection and the life that can be found in him.
Given all that this family had been through, I knew that this was the project this fabric has been waiting for. In the over a decade I have had it, I have pulled it out and put it back over and over again. Nothing seemed worth cutting into it. So I used the unprinted edges to make the outer shoe and lined the sweet things with the print. But inside, on the soles I made sure that the leaf cross was visible. Because I pray that this little girl's life will always stand on the foundation found in Christ. I pray that her feet will always be planted in his love for her. Her very existence is already proof of the victory of life and love over sin and death.
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| For Sienna Faith |
9 comments:
They are beautiful!
Susan - i dont have the words on how to tell you "thank you". i'm so moved and touch by this whole story - that i just find myself in tears a lot. i cannot stop holding and looking at these little shoes and the story they hold. i'm so amazed at your craftsmanship and humbled at your generosity. i cannot wait to put them on little Sienna's feet one day! thank you thank you thank you!!
Awesome craft for someoone soooo special!!! Great job and what a thouching story behind these cuties. I hope and pray that this little girl will know our Lord as her Father, her Friend and redeimer!!!! We only can pour out blessing words to children and bring them in His presence. With this little gift you give the most greatest gift you can think of !!! Bless you!!!
In christ,
Miranda
Visiting from Show & Tell Saturday. What a beautiful story and beautiful slippers for a blessed baby. So heartfelt. Thanks for sharing at Show & Tell.
What a wonderful gift!! You did an amazing job! Lovely story. :) Thanks for auditioning for OMTWI!
awesome. what a sweet and heartfelt gift!:)
I'm tearing up just thinking about the tremendous pain your friends had to go through. This is the unthinkable. I hope that your beautiful shoes and all the good that they hold, will make sure that their little girl will be happy and healthy FOREVER!!!!
Such a touching story. The shoes are beautiful and meaningful.Thank you for sharing,I enjoyed reading the history behind the lovely shoe.
Lisa~HR Creative Design Studio
Such a beautiful story and beautiful gift Susan! Best wishes to the little one and her family :)
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