Today I’m sharing something that I made a long time ago, probably about 5 or 6 years ago. I’d actually forgotten all about it until I discovered it when I was sorting through the bags of mess hanging on the back of the Utility Room door.
The church we were attending at the time had a flower festival every year and everybody was encouraged to make an arrangement even if you were not one of the middle aged or elderly ladies that normally did the flowers. I usually made one and so did my husband.
There was always a theme and that particular year the theme was favourite hymns. I chose the hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say and I remember nothing at all about the flower arrangement I made! I do however remember making this. 
My arrangement was on the organ (which I played) and I made this to go on the back of the organ underneath the flower arrangement.
It is an abstract representation of the hymn, both words and tune. The colours relate to the theme of water in the second verse, paraphrased from John’s Gospel, and the yellow to the third verse which is about Jesus being the light of the world. 
The shapes convey the sense of movement that there is in the hymn, of the water and of life’s journey. They also represent the lovely flowing melody of the tune Kingsfold which suits the words so perfectly.
Usually I make things that are practical, stuff for the house or for the boys or clothes for myself and it’s rare that I make a textile art, although I have plans to do more! It’s good to do things that are different sometimes. It’s just where to put the arty things once I’ve made them!
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.
Words: Horatio Bonar, 1846
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