Delilah was a woman who would use any means to get what she wanted. She must have been very beautiful, because Samson seemed unable to resist her.

I used bright red for the triangles to represent the "red flags" that Samson should have seen but chose to ignore.

Finished 10/20/05

Naomi wanted to change her name, which means "Pleasant," to "Mara," which means "Bitter." She had lost her husband and sons in a foreign land, and was returning home to die among kin. God used her sad story to bring Ruth, her daughter-in-law, into the story as the grandmother of King David. Naomi found joy in the end, when Ruth bore a son.

I chose a fabric with swallows on it, for returning home. There is black for mourning, and white for hope.

Finished 10/22/05

The story of Ruth is one of my favorites, partly because it has a happy ending. I had not thought about Ruth ending up as the "farmer's wife" until I joined this group. Because of God's graciousness to her, she had a secure and productive life after following Naomi to Bethlehem. Not to mention becoming part of the line that led to Jesus Christ. 

I chose fabrics that reminded me of a cheery farmhouse kitchen - blue and yellow checks, stripes and flowers.

Finished 10/29/05

Hannah wanted a baby more than anything. She didn't care what people thought of her when she went to the temple to pray and beg God for the deepest desire of her heart. God granted her desire, and gave her a son. She named him Samuel. While he was still very young, Hannah gave Samuel into the service of the Lord. He became a great prophet and man of God.

I chose pink and blue fabrics, because I know that when a woman wants to have a baby, that is all she can think about.

Finished 11/11/05

Michal was King David's first wife. As a young woman, she was in love with David. Her father, Saul, gave her to David as his wife. Later, because he was feuding with David, he took Michal away and gave her to another man. Then David took her back. Michal was used as a political pawn, rather than being loved as a daughter and a wife. David took other wives after Michal, but his greatest love, the love he had for God, was the one Michal really did not understand. When she watched through her window and saw David dancing in joy before the Lord, she was embarrassed and concerned about what everyone would think. She could not join in the celebration.

I chose purple for Michal's royal birth and marriage, and green for her jealousy of David's "other love."

Finished 11/25/05

Abigail was married to Nabal, a man who refused to help David's men when they had helped guard his flocks. Abigail intervened and fed the men before they took revenge on Nabal. When Nabal died, apparently of a stroke, David asked Abigail to marry him. He recognized that she was a wise and generous woman.

I chose fabrics that reminded me of grain and fruit.

Finished 12/06/05

The woman of Endor was a medium, or a witch. According to the law, such a person was to be put to death. King Saul had all the known mediums thrown out of Israel, but, after Samuel died, he wished to speak to a medium, to contact Samuel's spirit. His men knew of this woman, so he asked for her help. She was hospitable and gracious to him, even though she was afraid.

I chose grayish, swirly fabrics for this block, because the world of spiritism is murky and unclear to those on this side of the grave. 

Finished 12/17/05

Bathsheba was caught up in a bad situation when King David saw her bathing and lusted after her. The Bible doesn't tell us whether or not Bathsheba was a willing participant in David's adultery, but we do know that she had to bear the consequences. Later, she became the mother of Solomon, the next king. Even though her life may have seemed to be swirling out of control, God was still in control.

I chose a fabric with many colors to represent the many facets of the situation Bathsheba faced.

Finished 12/22/05

Princess Tamar was a daughter of King David. In a tragic story, she was raped by her half-brother and then cast aside. She lived the rest of her life as a "desolate woman" in her other brother's house.

I chose pink fabric for this block to represent Tamar's lost innocence. I used the "back basting" technique to appliqué this block.

Finished 1/3/06

The wise woman of the city of Abel made a decision to turn over a rebel to the king's men in order to save her town, which was under siege. She must have been recognized as a leader by the others in her town, because she was able to quickly obtain the head of the rebel and throw it out to David's men. 

I chose a strong plaid fabric, because it made me think of a strong, decisive and bold person.

Finished 1/8/06

Rizpah was a concubine of King Saul. When David became king, he allowed Rizpah's sons to be killed by the Gibeonites, who laid the bodies out on a hillside to be eaten by wild animals. Rizpah sat vigil over the bodies day and night, keeping the animals from eating them, until King David agreed to bury them. This lasted for 6 months!

I chose dark colors for mourning. I cannot imagine the pain this woman suffered.

Finished 1/14/06

The Queen of Sheba came to visit King Solomon to learn from him. She came to him with the hard questions of life, and brought many gifts. The Bible says that nothing was too hard for Solomon to explain to her. I would love to have been there to hear that conversation!

I chose to make this block represent a crown, with gold and bright colors for the jewels. This block was made using English paper piecing.

Finished 1/20/06

Queen Jezebel was married to King Ahab, who was an evil king of Israel. Jezebel was a foreigner, and actively promoted idol worship in Israel. She did everything she could to discredit the true God, even killing most of His prophets.

I chose red for the "claws", representing the blood that was on Jezebel's hands. The purple is for royalty, since she was a queen, but it is overshadowed by the evil of her deeds.

Finished 1/25/06

 Elijah, the prophet of God, asked this woman to prepare him a piece of bread when se was about to prepare what she thought was the last meal she would have for herself and her son. Because she believed he was from the Lord, she did as he asked, and her food was miraculously extended until the drought was over. Because she believed, God took care of her and her son, and also used her to take care of Elijah.

I chose a blue and white fabric that reminded me of an old dinner plate for this block.

Finished 2/7/06