A Simple Homemade Brown Scapular

I made this scapular recently for my husband after the one he was wearing was basically a tattered shred of brown wool fabric hanging from a cord. That scapular was made by a dear friend of mine that is now a cloistered nun. I knew the scapular he received would have to be special to replace that one. So, using the pure wool felt I use for my dolls, I made him one with a mixture of hand-embroidered stitches and machine stitches. It isn't my fanciest piece to be sure but he likes it. It will be a good test of how durable my wool felt is! I took this picture a few weeks after he had been wearing it ~ I am not sure how much longer it will be photogenic! He gets rips in his pants and breaks cord rosaries regularly. So, if this lasts him six months I will be pleased ;).

The construction of this scapular is very simple. In order to function as a brown scapular it needs to be pure brown wool. So, I cut four pieces of wool felt and embroidered an M for "Mary" and a cross underneath on two of the pieces. Then I measured a length of black embroiderey floss on my husband so it would be a comfortable length. I knotted the floss every so many inches (you can tell I kinda "winged" it, LOL) and placed the end pieces of the floss so they are parallel between two pieces of felt ~ one embroidered and one not embroidered ~ and stitched around the rectangle. Then I took the other two felt rectangles ~one embroidered and one not~ and found the direct opposite side which would be the middle of the length if it were still in a straight line. I didn't bother cutting it but sewed the two pieces of felt over the "u" so that the floss is parallel again. After stitching it around your scapular is "good to go"!

The tradition of the scapular was taken from religious who wear a scapular which is a long piece of fabric which is placed over the head and hangs down the front and down the back. I have included my St. Teresa of Avila as a visual aid. Although it started as a practical piece of clothing, it has come to symbolize consecration to God. Likewise we, the laity, wear our scapulars as a sign of our consecration to God. A priest or deacon "invests" the lay person in the Scapular Confraternity. The devotion to the brown scapular comes from the apparition of Our Lady where she conferred the brown scapular to us saying: "Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire". This cannot be taken supersitiously or magically but just a promise that those who seek her aid she will lead to her Divine Son. The scapular is a way of life not a ticket to heaven.

Wool Fairy Houses

I would like to share a recent fun project I undertook aside from what I make for my Etsy store. I made these sweet "fairy houses" from felted wool sweaters, extra thick wool felt I purchased, cotton floss, wool yarn and some fabric. I would like to attempt some more and perhaps sell some in my shop. I plan to give these to my daughter for her birthday. It is so nice to be able to create such sweet creations from my own ability. Here is a little one of my pixie dolls in the houses. These houses would work with the smaller 2 1/4" peg dolls as well. I have created them so the roofs come off. My only problem is that I would like to reinforce the pale purple house since it is a little flimsy yet. I will put my mind to it to come up with a solution. After all - this is part of the fun!!

My Children and Our San Damiano Crucifix

We received a large San Damiano crucifix as a wedding present almost 9 years ago now and I have always been amazed at my children's attachment to it. As an infant I remember my son (almost 8 now) laying in his support pillow and "chatting" with it. He would coo and giggle. I always wondered what on earth he was talking about but I knew that Our Lord enjoyed their little conversations. Then my daughters, not quite as avid conversationalists, wanted me to take it down from the wall so they could hold it and hug it and sometimes sit on it. I know Jesus, who understands us better than we understand ourselves, wants us to let "the little children to come to Him". So, my toddler has taken a recent interest in it and would implore me to take it down from the wall so she too could "rough Him up in love". Being a very busy mom I took it down and let her see it and then got distracted with my day. Later I realized it wasn't on the wall. It wasn't on the bed. Where is it?? I still haven't found it. Its about two feet long?? Where could she have put it!?! Perhaps my clepto 3 year old obsconded with it. So, if you would ~ sat a little prayer to St. Anthony for me so that I find it. I know I will ~ but when. I know Jesus doesn't mind after hanging in so many houses and not having any attention paid to Him. I pray my children will remember these encounters with Our Lord when, later in life, their Faith will be threatened as it inevitably will be. Dearest Lord, stay with my children. Never let them forget You. Knock on the door of their hearts til it opens and steal their hearts just as they have stolen You :).

For Kids Say the Darndest Things Friday ~

While saying the rosary a few years ago my then 3 year old daughter invented this mystery, "The third Gloriful Mystery - the three wise men go to see baby Jesus and Cinderella comes and then they see the baby and then they all go home".

May Crowning

This is the month of May where we crown the Blessed Mother of Queen of heaven and earth. This is such a sweet devotion. I am sure it is as pleasing to Christ as it is to His mother. He wants us to be as close to her as He is. He gives her to us. "Behold your mother". Some of us don't have strong mother figures or none at all. Let us take her as ours. Happy May the Month of Mary!!

Dyeing Dresses Purple

It just so happens that I dyed dresses and other oddities purple on Good Friday. Earlier we had taken part in a Pro-Life Stations of the Cross through the city near us. Just the other day I finished painting them. This is a good paint called Jacquard textile paints that is set with an iron. The paint and the two older girls' dresses I purchased from Dharma Trading Company. You can find them on the internet. Kids can even help though I am not ready for that yet. Perhaps in a few years!!

St. Gianna and her husband are now reunited.

St. Gianna's husband died on Holy Saturday at the age of 98! What a beautiful day to die ~ I only hope I am so lucky! It seems tragic that St. Gianna left her children motherless but only God can see the whole picture. It was reported that when he died he was surrounded by their children. What a testimony to parenthood!! We must remember that our efforts ~ as long as we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Church ~ will bear great fruit. We must trust in God!