This is a walking staff I just finished last week. It has "Amazing Grace" woodburned on it with a quilt pattern. I have quite a few hours in this piece and it was such a blessing to make. My Grandmothers always had many quilts and we all loved to cover up with them and see all the different patterns on them. I remember seeing patterns of material from some of her old

dresses and some of ours as well. Some I didn't recognize and she would always know where the material came from, and would tell great stories about that person. Covering up with one of Mama's or Granny's quilts was like a trip down memory lane. I still have several of their quilts. Mama made an effort to make sure everyone of the Grankid's had one of her quilts. We all treasure them dearly.

Quilts are like pieces of our lives that tell a story in time. Only "Amazing Grace" can get us through some of the tough times. All those times pieced together make a beautiful life for God. We just have to keep in mind that God isn't finished with us yet.

This is a piece of diamond willow wood that was given to me by Ronnie Payne, a potter at one of the craft shows that I go to. The wood grows in upstate Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. It's pretty expensive if you have to buy it. A piece like this usually runs around $40.00. It has a very thick bark, and the beautiful red places in it tend to gum up and are very difficult to clean out. These places are a fungus on the wood. As I was making this I thought about the way God takes our lives as rough as they are and cleans us up and makes something beautiful out of us. Every time I work on a staff or cane I have myself a little revival thinking about what I used to be and how God changed my life. I only have 25 hours in this piece; God has invested 55 years in me! As I burned the words to "The Old Rugged Cross" I prayed that I would ever be true to Him until He calls me home.