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About 5 years ago I completed a cross stitching project of a tiger for my sister and had been showing it to some of my friends. My close friend, Shirley Dennis, saw the kind of artwork that I was interested in doing and suggested I cross stitch an angel for the Alpha-1 Foundation. Since I had already decided on cross stitching something for my spiritual parents Ron and Pat DeHaan, a piece called, “Lost no more,” I decided to go ahead and make an Angel for the Foundation.
I had about 100 hours to go on “Lost no More” when I came across an art project entitled, “In Blue” in a magazine. I knew right away that this was the one for the Alpha-1 Foundation. I estimated that it would take about 600 hours to complete.
I started on the angel the day after Easter and worked on it for about a month and a half. I told my friend Ed Brailey about the project and he agreed that it was a great idea to create it for the Alpha-1 Foundation. He also suggested that I should finish it by June 5th, the date of the National Conference, and raffle it off with the donations benefiting research for Alpha-1.
By the end of May 2008, I had finished about 123 hours. I picked it up again in October 2008 and worked on it an average of 17 hours a week. By the time I finished, the total hours worked on the project had reached 610.
I find doing this type of artwork is very therapeutic. It’s also extremely rewarding when my family and friends compliment my work. All of my friends and family have been able to see this angel come to life.
The reason I picked this angel was because of what I saw in her. Specifically, three things:
- The Dove: which in my faith symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
- The Angel: which represents the guardian angel who is assigned to look over us.
- The Flowering Trees: which is our refuge from all the turmoil in our lives with Alpha-1 or any other chronic or terminal illness.
In this picture, I see the Holy Spirit giving this angel her daily instructions. No matter how tough or trying our conditions can be, God will give us a calm and soothing spirit or soul. God is the flowering trees, symbolizing how he is our refuge and strength in overcoming our problems, whatever they may be.
So may god bless one and all.
Ken Walkley