Sunday, April 11, 2010

Inspiration

Inspiration comes in all forms. For me, it comes in the form of an ugly, 70's-inspired, Red Heart acrylic, well-used, and well-loved afghan.



Although my mom will argue that it's not "ugly" due to her love of all colors autumnal, it's hard to deny that a orange, gold, yellow, and green zig zag afghan is not that pretty. However, this afghan is one of those items that makes home what it is. Given to my parents as a wedding present from a group of elderly ladies at the St. Louis Central Church, this afghan has been through a lot.

It kept sick kids warm as they huddled on the couch with a large mixing bowl for company.

It ended up in a snow drift one night after Dad unceremoniously dumped Jacque over the porch railing outside after she stole his spot on the couch.

Kids snuggled under it as they listened to familiar Uncle Arthur's stories at worship.

It probably has fruit stains on it somewhere from when I would stretch out and read a book, accompanied by a bowl of frozen blueberries or apples.

In short, this afghan represents what every home should have - comfort, humor, and love.

Thus, I have taken it upon myself to create "ugly" afghans for my friends as wedding presents. After dealing with two indecisive sisters regarding desired colors, these afghans are now done in their respective wedding colors. Although only two have been finished by the actual wedding date, so far eight afghans have come from my hook with another one currently in progress. I guess my sappy self dreams that, with an ugly afghan, a home is complete and will be filled with all that it has brought for me - comfort, humor, and love.

2 comments:

Jacque said...

dude, it was totally the brown afghan in the snow with me, not the orange one. which sucks, because it has more holes. :(

Jenne said...

this made me all warm and fuzzy inside :)

(i was already warm and fuzzy on the outside from my ugly green afghan.)