Experience Needle-Time
Needle-Time is a fictional piece written to bring to life the magic that surrounds the love of carrying on the tradition of the needlearts from generation to generation. Join me for a new story each issue that will reflect the strong bond formed between Aunt Lilly and Molly through their special needle-time.
Last issue Aunt Lilly learned how special peope really are to her. Join us this issue as Molly learns how fun it can be to work
as part of a team.
A Joyful Success
Molly and two of her friends presented the idea of “Craft Week” to their principal and within two months it became a reality. Molly had envisioned the entire school becoming involved. But that first year, only ten students gathered each day for a week to make individual projects that they then turned around and sold at the Holiday Bazaar. They donated all proceeds to local charities. This year, Molly again turned to her Aunt Lilly for help in selecting an appropriate project. Aunt Lilly suggested she initiate a group project this year centered on a story quilt. Molly hesitated about making it a group project. With everything riding on one craft, she feared a big failure.
“Some kids aren’t that good at crafts, Aunt Lilly.”
“Which is why so many didn’t get involved,” Aunt Lilly said.
“But, they might ruin it and then what would we have to show for ourselves?” Molly felt that as long as some talented kids were making things then at the very least some charities might benefit.
“You could help them.”
Having everyone involved could be fun in telling the story of their quaint little town. As long as she kept her eye on everyone, the quilt had a chance.
When Principal Myers announced that this year’s Craft Week would be a group project to make a story quilt, over fifty kids showed up. Molly would have to work really hard to make sure all went well. After a few burn marks, missed stitches, bumpy button placements and unmatched color schemes, Molly grew weary. Who would possibly want to buy something that wasn’t all that pretty? She grew even more concerned when Timmy Myers stitched over the quilt’s corner edge, leaving it rounded. “Great!” she threw her hands in the air and marched off to Aunt Lilly, who was standing by talking to her teacher.
Ms. Simons, who had her back to Molly as she approached, said to Aunt Lilly, “Yes, I believe this is the first time I’ve seen so many children enjoying themselves together as a team for so long. This project has breathed new life into this tired old school. Brandon Conner actually had a smile on his face a few minutes ago and was talking to another student. Brandon hasn’t opened his mouth to speak to anyone since kindergarten.”
Aunt Lilly smiled at Molly, and then turned back to Ms. Simons. “Sounds like a miracle.”
A miracle? Molly turned back to the students gathered around the story quilt and saw for the first time since starting the project at the beginning of the week that everyone was working together, smiling, chatting, and crafting. They were a team with purpose. And they all looked proud of what they created. The room felt like a gigantic smile.
She looked from smile to smile and suddenly, any fear she had of her project being a failure was erased. The story behind this quilt was far from being anything of a failure. It was one of pure joy and success.
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