Serendipity: Butterflies on Your Shawl??

Since the Handspun Spring Shawl went to a very special person, Marje, I wanted to share a story with you.

I love the idea of prayer shawls. Sometimes I feel it is a wonderful thing just to acknowledge someone for who they are. Marje is a very kind, quiet, unassuming bookshop owner who helps a lot of people find their spiritual paths or answers to questions in life. Her motto is "Helping You to Help Yourself". I have had the chance to meet some wonderful people thru Marje and read some wonderful thought provoking books. Her warm smile is always welcoming and I so appreciate having met her. After participating in an Intuition workshop with her, I noticed that she looked radiant in pastels and I decided to surprise her with a gift of appreciation.

Sometimes you come across an item in life that is different than something you would normally choose. I purchased the pastel roving (see previous post) years ago thinking I would pull out certain colors for another project. However, every time I went to use that roving, it just didn't seem right. I played with parts of the roving over the years but nothing materialized. Since pastel colors wipe out my skintone, it was never something I could wear but for some strange reason I couldn't part with it. Well, after seeing Marje wear butter yellows, mint greens, pinks and blues, the EUREKA moment hit. I knew that it was meant for Marje!

I happily spun and knit this shawl with a HUGE grin on my face; since being a little kid at heart, I LOVE surprises and especially LOVE surprising others! However during the whole process of creating this shawl, for some reason, I kept thinking of a butterfly pin. I kept picturing a butterfly pin resting on this shawl. The thought had reoccurred so often that I questioned whether I should purchase a butterfly pin to present to Marje as well. So I kept my eyes open for a butterfly pin but to no avail.

The day I decided to take the shawl down to the shop, The Catalpa Tree in Grabill IN, which is a two hour roundtrip for me, it was chilly, dreary and storming in the morning. I debated whether I should make the trip. However, after dropping the kids off at school, the sky cleared a bit and I decided to go. On the way down, I thought wouldn't it be funny if Marje was wearing something to match the shawl? I arrived and first went inside the shop without the package to see if Marje was there for the day. She had on a lovely blue outfit which would match wonderfully with the shawl! So I brought the shawl in and presented it to her... all the while still wondering about the butterfly pin.

I was so delighted that Marje loved the shawl and decided to wear it that day since it was chilly. She even proclaimed that the size was just right! As she gently lifted it over her shoulders, tied it in front and adjusted it ... on her left shoulder, above her heart sat a beautiful butterfly pin softly resting on top of the shawl's edge!! I did a double take and then started laughing. When I told Marje that all along, I pictured a butterfly pin on the shawl, she opened the shawl to show me her beatiful blue top with her handpainted flowers and also a handpainted butterfly resting beneath the shawl! She then told me that she had originally dressed in something else that morning while getting ready for work but it didn't "feel right". So, since it was chilly that morning, she put on the blue outfit and adorned it with a butterfly pin.

SERENDIPITY indeed! My shawl has made its way to a happy owner and has found it's butterfly friend!