I hope the beauty of the leaves of fall brings peace and a sense of moving ahead with our lives as the year ends and the new one begins in 2022.

I made this foundation-pieced square as a reminder of where our true hope comes from. Remembering “God is greater than all our highs and lows” got us through cancer treatment, the pandemic and gives us hope as we head into 2022.

My quilt square shows a sun shining, which is my hope for 2022. A day of sunshine helps lift everyone up, feel happy and energized, and emits a sense of “I can do this!”

My hope is for love and concern for one another. May neighborly kindness abound, and a positive outlook be shared among us all. The foundation is there, we all just need to choose happiness as we put pen to paper in the book that is yet unwritten.

During 2020 three friends started a weekly Zoom quilting bee. Our first challenge was to make a 6 1/2″ block containing an animal. My block, the hummingbird, represents freedom and hope to me. Freedom from COVID, hope for healing in 2022.

This block was added to a quilt made by seamstresses who sew for Sew Powerful Purse. The quilt was sent to Zambia and hangs on the wall in their new sewing center.

This is one of the first quilts I mad⁠e—a small wall hanging. I had so much fun making it, and it brings me joy when I look at it. I am hoping for 2022 to bring more peace and joy to everyone. I’ve been so encouraged by the kindness of strangers lately.

I developed rheumatoid arthritis and couldn’t do my old hobbies anymore, so I had to discover new ones. I decided to try sewing. This is my first appliqué piece and is the cover of my sewing machine.