Altar Cloth for our Cedar City Temple

For the past year, I have been crocheting a temple altar cloth while our temple here in Cedar City has been being built.  I began work on the cloth as soon as the first renderings of the temple were released.  I used those renderings to study the architecture of the temple as I researched various patterns that I hoped would be appropriate for our temple.  This is our new Cedar City Temple.  Isn't it beautiful?!

Photo from LDSLiving.com

I did not have access to any of the interior design details, and the temple department does not give you a pattern to follow, only basic guidelines and general dimensions.  So, I spent several months crocheting samples of various patterns so I could see them and hold them in my hands and pray over which pattern would match the aesthetic of the temple and be most pleasing to the Lord.  I settled on a cathedral window design that seemed both appropriate to the historic feel of the temple as well as used various design details that I felt would represent many of the symbols found within the temple.  Here are some pictures of the completed altar cloth:

With the temple being built just up the street from our home, my family and I had the opportunity to walk up to the temple site every week as the temple was constructed and ponder the symbolism of each stage of the building process.  We took a picture in front of the temple each week as it was constructed.  It was a wonderful experience for our family.  This is our final picture, when the temple was finally complete.

When the stain glass windows were installed, I was thrilled to discover that the circular flower detail matched the pattern I used for the altar cloth.

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Photo from LDSLiving.com

 And, when we had the opportunity to tour the inside of the temple ourselves, I was in tears as I noticed a reoccurring design theme throughout the temple to which this altar cloth perfectly adhered.  Truly the Lord does answer prayers and guide us in our decisions.  Notice the pattern in the carpet.

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Even the grates in the endowment room matched the altar cloth.  These rooms contain the smaller ordinance altars for which I made the cloth.  Here is a picture of the altar that the cloth may be used on.

Photo from LDSLiving.com

Before the temple was begun, we had the opportunity to put our names on rocks that were placed within the temple foundation.  I have conceived two more children since that time and am comforted by the fact that, while these two children did not get their names in the temple foundation, they are still a part of the sacrifice made to build our temple in that I crocheted the altar cloth during both of these pregnancies.  They have also been documented throughout their pregnancies as we have taken our weekly pictures at the temple.

My hope is that as patrons come to serve in the temple, the symbols found throughout the temple and in the altar cloth itself will remind them of the sacred covenants they have made.  I am so very grateful for the opportunity I have had to contribute to this holy work and for the lessons I have learned as I have pondered the mysteries of God while offering my own labor of love to the temple.  How blessed we are to have a temple we can walk to as often as we like.

Announcing Abigail!

My dear sister has been trying to have a baby for many years.  She and her husband have decided to adopt and the wait for a baby has taken years as well.  But, after a long wait, many prayers on their behalf, and some truly miraculous circumstances, they have finally been blessed with their first daughter.  She is such a sweet little gal and I knew she needed something special.  So, I spent the last couple months crocheting her this little blessing gown.  It's been a fun labor of love.  The last one I made was from a polyester thread, which was softer and shinier, but since this one won't be used for several months I made it out of cotton thread so that it can be stretched or shrunk as needed.  I hope it fits!

Cristmas Creations--Stockings were Hung

I made a couple more stockings today to replace the original red and green ones I made.  It's been slow-going making stockings to match my gold, copper, bronze, brown, and white color scheme, as those colors seem to be hard to come by in velvet.  I'm going to have to find some copper-colored velvet before next Christmas so I can make a matching stocking for the new baby.  Yikes.

Pocket Slings

So, my sister-in-law put together a boutique in order to raise money to adopt a little boy from Ethiopia.  So, I donated some baby slings to her boutique to sell.  I first received one as a gift from a very talented friend in Las Vegas, when I was pregnant with my first baby.  Since that time, I have slowly adapted her design to create basically the same sling, only on a much smaller scale and with fabric that breaths well (to keep me and my baby cool in the summer).  I first added a pocket to the original design so I could fold up the sling into it's own pocket for easier transportation of the sling when not in use and to hold things while I use the sling (like my keys and wallet and pacifiers, diapers, wipes, etc.).  I have since experimented with different fabrics and rings until I have come up with this "pocket sling".  I call it a pocket sling because (1) it has that pocket it folds into that can also be used to carry pacifiers, diapers, etc. while the sling is in use and (2) because it folds up small enough to fit in a loose pocket, or (more realistically) in your purse or diaper bag.  It's still the original 2 yards of fabric, but fold up very small and uses small 2" bone rings to secure it.  I use my own pocket sling all the time and keep in in the car, as I don't personally carry a purse.  But, when I have a newborn again, I will keep another in my diaper bag.  They are so convenient for not only carrying your baby, without having to lug around a bluky baby backpack, frontpack, or stroller, but also seem to work well as a quick blanket alternative when you have a sleepy baby away from home (as they are easily as big as a blankie when unfolded (and if you make yours out of the same fabric as your baby's favorite blankie, they fill that roll even better).  Anyway, here's s few pictures of some of the slings I've made so you can see how to make one for yourself.  Tricot and nylon lining fabric both seem to work great as they are soft to the touch, fold up small, keep the baby cool in the summer, and fit nicely through the 2" bone rings.  The sling can be used with newborns, infants, or toddlers--just adjust the tension to fit.  They also can be worn like a front pack, back pack, or on your hip, whichever is most comfortable.  They really are so versatile--make yourself one if you have little ones at home!


Pocketed Sling with quarter for size reference:

Unfolded Sling with quarter for size reference:

Sling secured in rings and ready to wear with quarter for size reference:

Close up of how the rings secure the sling:

My lovely sister-in-law modeling one of the slings with my 2 year old Jesse in tow (Jesse loves the sling and rides in one daily on our morning family walls):

Halloween

So, since I have been too anemic to accomplish anything the last few months, and since I still have not regained my strength, we will be recycling some old Halloween costumes this year instead of making new ones. These are the costumes I made for the boys and the dog two years ago. I was pretty proud of myself. Anyway, Ben will be the cowboy this year and Bella will still be the horse, of course. Nathan is just going to be Spider-man since he got a Spider-man costume for his birthday. Since the baby is not here yet, we won't have the roped calf this year. Too bad, because I really loved my calf face pacifier and little black cleft hooves. Oh well.

Wedding Dress

So, when I got married, it only took one trip to a bridal shop to realize that I wouldn't be happy with any dress I would find. So, I decided to design my own and found an excellent seamstress to make my vision a reality. The goal was to design something simple, elegant, unique, and modest enough to wear in the temple without having to use any extra coverings. It was my first attempt at textile design. I have designed a few other things but don't have the sewing skills to bring them to fruition. I plan to learn pattern design so that I can start making the things I design. These are the design drawings I made to give to the seamstress and some wedding photos of the actual dress. It is made of white velvet.