the wellness tree

.: Created With Love For Ari From Heidi:.

 

 "Here are my squares for dear little Ari's quilt.  I am happy to have been part of this loving project.  I can't wait to see the finished blanket."

These squares were knit with love and care from Heidi

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

"This was made for a sweet boy who made me hug my own boy a bit tighter, with love and tears."

"I was so happy to contribute my little square, tiny but meaningful as it may be."

These squares were made with love and care from Julia.

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

 These squares were knit with love and care from Faith.

"I'm excited to see how all these different squares are pieced and constructed into something beautiful and meaningful for Ari."

.:Created With Love For Ari From Kelly's Mom:.

.: These squares were knit with love and care from Kelly's mother Susan :. 

"The significance of the patterns are: the ecru basket weave stitch is for how close a family we are; the "pea" green off-set stockinette is for the uncertainty that life brings; the dark gold "ocean waves" represents the trips Kelly and Matt took to Spain (including their honeymoon), and the multi-colored diagonal stitch is for no matter what comes, we always find our way back to love and family."

With love from Ari's grandmother Susan

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

This square was knit together with love and positive wishes for Matt and Ari from Elizabeth

This was a hard knit for me. Not the pattern or the size, but rather what this little square represented.  I cried most of the time it took me to knit this square. I rejoiced in my roll as a mother. I prayed for all the mothers and children everywhere. I reminded myself that life is too short and that each and every moment is important. I vowed to live each day to the fullest for myself, my husband, my children and the world. 

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

I first learned of Kelly through Nicole of Gardenmama, when she established The Wellness Tree.  At that time, our family made an ornament for Kelly's wellness tree.

I was extremely sad to read Nicole's announcement that Kelly had lost her battle with cancer.
I never knew Kelly or her family, but cancer has touched the lives of many people close to me, of all ages. I thought of all of them as I read about Kelly's death. And I thought most of her son, Ari..

So when Nicole called on the blogging community to make a little something for Ari and/or Kelly's husband, Matt, I felt compelled to make something for Ari.

I made a crayon caddy for Ari using fallen eucalyptus.  I quite liked this particular piece of wood. I filled it with eco-friendly fat grip crayons.

And I thought he needed a little notebook to color in, so I made one. The cover picture is from a translated Japanese children's book I have had sitting on my sewing table. The book was falling apart and so it has been waiting for the right projects. I saw this print and something touched me. I like to think Kelly would have liked it.

These gifts were made with love and positive wishes for Matt and Ari from Nicola.

.: Created WIth Love For Ari :.

In December I made this ornament for Kelly for the Wellness Tree.  

I searched for inspiration for my 6" square and contribution to the Blanket of Love. This mossy patch called my name, more specifically...called out Kelly's name. 

So I knit this mossy patch square for the blanket and infused it with blessings, healing and warmth to little Ari. 

This square was made with love and positive wishes for Ari and Matt.  

With love from Hillary.

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

 I first learned about an amazing, amazing woman named Kelly  last winter. Nicole sent me an e-mail about the Wellness Tree - a project of hope and encouragement she created for Kelly. I was touched after reading her story and I knew I had to help out in any way I could. For me, that meant creating. I wet felted her this candle ornament along with one of our nightly verses that just felt perfect.

 I knew, again, that I needed to do something for her sweet baby boy Ari and husband in her memory. Then I saw that Tonya was starting up a blanket project and I knew that was the perfect thing.

These squares were made with love and positive wishes for Ari and Matt with love from Nicole.

.: Created With Love For Ari :.

Grace shared this love with Ari and Matt through the work of her hands and heart.

Through creating a "Quote Journal" for Matt to record all of the funny, insightful and cool things that Ari says as he begins to talk, reason, learn and discover.

.:Created With Love For Ari:.

Peggy shared this love with Ari through the work of her hands and heart. 

You can see a velvet heart in the photo above that Peggy shared with Ari.  Here is an excerpt from the "Feelie Hearts" site.

"BRIDGES started handing out Feelie Hearts to children to put in their pockets and take with them to school, or wherever they might need their hidden comfort. Stories began to pour in about circumstances in which the hearts were used. A teacher tells us about a child in her classroom who gave his small red velvet Feelie Heart to a classmate who shared about her loss.  A young girl gives her heart to her father when the parents divorce... sending their message of love, hope and healing to others who are experiencing pain. "

You can read more about "Feelie Hearts" here.