Whiteley Creek Homestead

With Heather and Patrick's three kids in tow and their newborn discovering the big world for her meer second time, we ventured out to New Paltz, New York. There we attended a Winter Faire at the Waldorf School where their eldest daughter had been a student. Musicians melodies provided a calming backdrop as kids busily crafted at stations set up in classrooms throughout the massive three-story house. One of my granddaughters chose to sew a dove, so I made one too.

The supplies are very few. A piece of felt, scissors, large eyed needle, a pattern for the body and wings (click to enlarge the left photo below and sketch a quick pattern based upon mine), a stuffing material to give poof to the dove's body, and pearl cotton size 5. In the Michael's store display photo below, you can see what the string looks like in its package. Here's a detailed tutorial if you haven't ever done a blanket stitch or if your skill has grown rusty. It is used to stitch together the two halves of the body.

As my eyes fall upon the gently swaying dove on the Christmas tree branch, it is a reminder of God's comforting words from John 14:27. 

When I find one, my dove will have an olive branch. To represent the Biblical account in Genesis of Noah and the Ark. Of a dove returning to the ark with an olive branch in its beak to let Noah know that the floods had receded. The dove and olive branch symbolize the Holy Spirit and the hope of salvation. A symbol of peace.