December 12, 2017
The old quilt . . .
Its softness is enhanced
By age and use.
Its colors faded by the light of many days,
And its fibers show wear
Yet its beauty is all I see,
All I feel,
And all I know.
Its story is one of patience
And of time and effort.
It contains both pain and pleasure.
The fabrics of many lives intertwined
To become one . . .
It is not one story,
But rather generations of stories
Shared by the fire,
Told over tea,
Revealed as fine thread
Wove scraps of many lives
Into something too beautiful not to share.
By Martha L Shaw – © 2013

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inspirational | Tagged: culture, family, generations, hand crafted, heirloom, history, love, memories, quilting, sewing, Spirituality, stories, story, YOYO |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
July 7, 2017
I dare say
of quill and quilt,
they both tell a beautiful story.
Ah, but when you nest with the quilt
and her many cozy chapters
do settle down for a long
fascinating read!
By Martha L Shaw ©2017

Four generations of tales . . . and love
shared from my family to you!
-MLSHAW
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inspirational | Tagged: antiques, daily post, generations, heirlooms, memories, poem, poetry, quill, quilting, stories, yoyoquilt |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
December 16, 2016
The old quilt . . .
Its softness is enhanced
By age and use.
Its colors faded by the light of many days,
And its fibers show wear
Yet its beauty is all I see,
All I feel,
And all I know.
Its story is one of patience
And of time and effort.
It contains both pain and pleasure.
The fabrics of many lives intertwined
To become one . . .
It is not one story,
But rather generations of stories
Shared by the fire,
Told over tea,
Revealed as fine thread
Wove scraps of many lives
Into something too beautiful not to share.
By Martha L Shaw – © 2013

This lovely quilt, subject of the symbolism in my poem, goes back multiple generations in my family and is approx 150 years old. Oh, the stories it has to tell me are many!
#faith#love#spirituality#God#peace#mountaintop#strength#FAMILYLIFE#GREATGIFT#GREATGIFTS#Advent#baby#Christianity #Christmas #faith #God #GREATGIFT #Jesus#manger#Motherhood #poetry, #Spirituality
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inspirational | Tagged: beauty, family, gifts, heirloom, legacy, love, memories, poetry, quilting, quilts, Spirituality, srories, story telling |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
December 6, 2016
The old quilt . . .
Its softness is enhanced
By age and use.
Its colors faded by the light of many days,
And its fibers show wear
Yet its beauty is all I see,
All I feel,
And all I know.
Its story is one of patience
And of time and effort.
It contains both pain and pleasure.
The fabrics of many lives intertwined
To become one . . .
It is not one story,
But rather generations of stories
Shared by the fire,
Told over tea,
Revealed as fine thread
Wove scraps of many lives
Into something too beautiful not to share.
By Martha L Shaw – © 12-16-2013

This lovely quilt, subject of the symbolism in my poem, goes back multiple generations in my family and is approx 150 years old. Oh, the stories it has to tell me are many!
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inspirational | Tagged: antiques, crafts, culture, family, love, memories, quilt, quilting, sewing, Spirituality, tradition |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
December 16, 2014
The old quilt . . .
Its softness is enhanced
By age and use.
Its colors faded by the light of many days,
And its fibers show wear
Yet its beauty is all I see,
All I feel,
And all I know.
Its story is one of patience
And of time and effort.
It contains both pain and pleasure.
The fabrics of many lives intertwined
To become one . . .
It is not one story,
But rather generations of stories
Shared by the fire,
Told over tea,
Revealed as fine thread
Wove scraps of many lives
Into something too beautiful not to share.
By Martha L Shaw – © 12-16-2013

This lovely quilt, subject of the symbolism in my poem, goes back multiple generations in my family and is approx 150 years old. Oh, the stories it has to tell me are many!
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inspirational | Tagged: family, memories, poetry, quilting, Spirituality |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
January 22, 2014
I sit here seeing only ruin around me and being unable to climb out of its vastness and praying somehow His purpose in it will come to fruition. I realize I may not see His purpose but there is peace to be found in knowing He uses all things. As I did a bit of reading just now, this quote came to me:
All the flowers of tomorrow are the seeds of today.
– Anonymous –
It seems in life there are times when we, or I, are called to be the compost nourishing the seeds from which tomorrow’s flowers grow. These times can be uncomfortable and even painful, but if it blesses the Lord, it is good.
A new season is coming and the flowers will bloom!

The pieces will all come together. He will see to it.
(quilt is my work)
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inspirational | Tagged: Christianity, Faith, Garden, grace, Inspiration, motivation, quilting, Spirituality |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
December 16, 2013
The old quilt . . .
Its softness is enhanced
By age and use.
Its colors faded by the light of many days,
And its fibers show wear
Yet its beauty is all I see,
All I feel,
And all I know.
Its story is one of patience
And of time and effort.
It contains both pain and pleasure.
The fabrics of many lives intertwined
To become one . . .
It is not one story,
But rather generations of stories
Shared by the fire,
Told over tea,
Revealed as fine thread
Wove scraps of many lives
Into something too beautiful not to share.
By Martha L Shaw – © 12-16-2013

This lovely quilt, subject of the symbolism in my poem, goes back multiple generations in my family and is approx 150 years old. Oh, the stories it has to tell me are many!
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inspirational | Tagged: art, family life, history, Inspiration, Jesus, photography, poems, poetry, quilting, quilting bee, quilts, Spirituality, story telling |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
October 17, 2013
My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?”
Psalm 119:81-83
Are you seeking the Lord’s promise, His comfort? I am. Comfort presents a soothing image like this perhaps:
The sun streaming through my bedroom window, the sounds of birds singing and children at play outside . . . the afghans, quilts, pillows and things I’ve created do provide comfort. I am, at this moment designing something of that sort to provide comfort to someone I love. I know my gift will be appreciated.
Still, it will not be quite enough. We cannot, in our humanness, provide “enough.” As I read what the Psalmist writes “when will you comfort me” I am convicted. For, like him I know the Lord’s promises, know they are real, know they are mine, and know they bring me more than enough . . . as only He can.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1-3 My heart is troubled. But I am working on that because He loves me. Just as the throw I design and make for the one I love will provide warmth and comfort, so then will the Lord provide in much greater ways than m
y love can do. So, I will stitch, I will pray, I will listen, and I will wait. I already know how my story ends, for He already won for me the victory!
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inspirational | Tagged: Christianity, comfort, Faith, Jesus, photography, prayer, quilting, quotations, quotes, Spirituality |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
October 12, 2013
A pencil mark on the door frame . . .
A scuff mark on the floor . . .
Memories of what was,
And seeds planted
For all that is to come!
By Martha L Shaw – © 10-12-2013

Quilt by Martha L Shaw
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inspirational | Tagged: ancestry, family, growing up, Inspiration, poems, poetry, quilting, Spirituality |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw
September 27, 2013
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In response to this week’s photo challenge I present to you a slideshow highlighting some of my own art – a few of the many quilts I have made. I hope you will enjoy it!
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inspirational | Tagged: art, Christian art, fiberart, Inspiration, photography, photos, quilting, slideshow, Spirituality, wallart, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Saturated |
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Posted by Martha L Shaw