Starlight Placemats

 

Placemats don't stay clean if they're being used. And that's what I made the Cat Chow Placemants for - to be used. But what was I going to use while they were in the laundry? I decided I needed to make at least one more set of placemats. Initially, I started making an appliqué set, but I had just finished making the Winter Magic wall hanging - and stitching down all of those snowflakes - so I decided to set that plan aside for now and make something simpler. 

I decided to try a new quilt block or two, so I pulled out this book which my middle sister got me for my last birthday. I love this book. It has been on my Amazon wishlist for years. It's out of print and any Canadian vendors on Amazon wanted a small fortune for it. Fortunately, I was able to find it for cheaper on the American Amazon, and my sister, who lives in the US, ordered it for me. It's in mint condition and still has the transparency grids in the back.
If you've been following my blog for long, you would be aware that I love trying out new quilt blocks and actually enjoy drafting them myself.

Drafting blocks for a different project, which I will finish eventually.

This is where the transparencies come in handy. 

But I actually didn't end up drafting either of the quilt blocks I used in these placemats. 

The first is New Star in the Heavens. I felt that the layout was simple enough that I could figure out the pieces needed without drafting the block. Though the appearance is the same, I did modify it in order to avoid Y-seams. I chose black as a more practical colour for the background than the mostly white background in the Cat Chow placemats, and decided to do one star in cool colours, and one in warm, using my stash of Michael Miller Fairy Frost. 

The second block is Star of Stripes. I was able to find this one in my BlockBase+ software, and printed out the templates. I only used them to help calculate measurements however, as once again I modified this block to avoid Y-seams. For the 8 striped diamonds composing the star, I used the template to determine the width of the fabric strips, which I cut of each colour, and stitched them in groups of three, with the ends staggered, and then cut the diamonds out of the strip sets. 
For the quilting I chose a rainbow thread and the Curvy Coil pantograph. I considered using one of my star pantographs, but I've used them all before, and I'm trying to use my other pantographs that haven't seen any use yet. I think this one worked well. 
These were both 9" blocks, but if I had to do it again, I would likely use an 8" block. I wanted to have a border on the placemats and with 2 - 9" blocks, that made for quite a large placemat, at around 13" x 20". 
I've thought that maybe I should start recording how I do these blocks so that other quilters who like to try new quilt blocks, but may not be as adept at figuring them out, can make them as well. Even with BlockBase+, it doesn't tell you how to actually assemble the block, even if you can find the block you want in the software. 

Anxiety, Fear and the Christian

Tulips and Daffodils in Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton

I just recently read a devotional entitled, "Fear Not". There might have been a time when I would have felt encouraged by this reading, and agreed with its sentiments. But that would have been before I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). At this point in my life, I found this reading hurtful. Though I doubt it was the author's intention, I found some of the statements arrogant, demeaning and offensive: 

 "Fear is the opposite of faith. Therefore, fearfulness is the same as faithlessness. God warns us of the serious consequences of being fearful in the last days: 'He who overcomes shall inherit all things... But the cowardly...shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone...' " (Rev. 21:7,8).

"Fear is faith in the devil...

".... Satan has the right to attack us in the areas we fear."¹ 

Obviously, this author has no experience with anxiety. Fear is NOT the opposite of faith. Fearfulness is NOT the same as faithlessness. Being anxious and being cowardly and deserving of the lake of fire are in no way equivalent. All of these statements are just plain hurtful to someone suffering from anxiety. 
I did not ask for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I have said before that it's like having an uninvited and unwelcome "guest" in my life, who will harrass me sometimes when I'm least expecting it and at my lowest point. I have asked God for healing from my mental health challenges more than once. But it hasn't happened for me, even though I have tried different solutions. And I have at times wondered if this is my "thorn in the mind", just like the apostle Paul had a "thorn in the flesh:

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV 

Living with it is not pleasant. But what's even more unpleasant is when I come up against the judgmental attitude that I must be doing something wrong, that I just need to trust God more, or like this devotional implies, that it is "sinful" for me to be anxious. There tends to be a lot more grace extended to those suffering from a physical ailment or disability than for those of us enduring mental health challenges. 
I was actually encouraged when I heard an evangelist I respect speak of the almost debilitating anxiety ("stage fright") that he experiences every single time he has to speak, no matter how many years he has been doing it. I genuinely appreciated this man's willingness to be so open and transparent. Is this man somehow sinful or cowardly or faithless because of his anxiety? I don't for a moment believe that. And I know that I am blessed by this man's ministry. Even more so now that I know what he endures in order to share his message with others. I totally understand that it would be much easier to not do whatever is causing the anxiety. And so, to me, it takes a lot more courage to actually do something that causes you anxiety than for someone who doesn't experience that anxiety to do it. How can that be cowardly? 
I also find encouragement from the experience of some individuals in the story, "The Pilgrim's Progress", particularly in Part 2, Christiana's story. The tale is related of Mr. Fearing, who was so afraid of not being accepted, not being good enough, but made it to the Kingdom at last and was welcomed into the Celestial City. Then there was Much Afraid, and her father Mr. Despondency. When the pilgrims arrive at the Delectable Mountains, the shepherds show special concern for these two and the other weaker members of the party, Mr. Feeble-mind and Mr. Ready-to-halt. I am so thankful that God inspired John Bunyan to include these characters in his book, because it reminds me that God understands my weakness and that He makes allowances for the differences in us as individuals. It brings to mind these verses from Psalm 103:

"As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." verses 13 & 14

 God does not see my anxiety as faithlessness, or sin, or cowardliness. Rather He understands that in my frail human nature, I suffer from a mental health condition that can make my life very challenging at times, that I can lack confidence, that I can be very indecisive, and that sometimes it would be so much easier to just stay home and not deal with the world.  

¹ Smith, Dennis, 40 Days, Book 2: Prayers and Devotions to Revive Your Experience with God. Hagerstown, MD, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2011.