Hope Floats Quilt | Pattern Launch

Today is the official launch of my new Hope Floats Quilt Pattern… :).

The Story Behind the Quilt

Have you seen the movie, Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr.? It’a a little quirky and had terrible reviews, but I think it’s a sweet movie with an important message. My favourite line from the movie is in the final scene –

Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most. Try to remember this when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up.

Steven Rogers – Screenwriter

Each of us have struggles in life that without hope would stop us from moving forward. It’s important to give ourselves, and those around us, compassion, kindness and the recognition that patience and hope are what can make the difference.

Hope and positivity go hand in hand – and while I don’t think this attitude is always easy, it is a practice we should endeavour to embrace as we begin each day, and each new adventure.

Inspiration

I designed this Hope Floats quilt after experiencing the light-filled wonder of a local lantern festival. Historically, lantern festivals are of great cultural significance for the Chinese, who light lanterns and release them into the atmosphere in the hope of good fortune.

In Australia, sky lanterns are banned because of their environmental impact. Instead, lanterns are often paraded down the main street of a town without being released into the atmosphere. This is still quite a moving experience when you realise that it is common practice to attach prayers for loved ones, or individual worries or wishes to many of the lanterns. The hopes of so many people are paraded before your eyes!

But I do love the idea of giving ourselves the time we need to allow our hopes to float up to the here and now! And so, I created my own version of this lantern lighting experience in the pieces of a quilt. The lantern blocks are glowing with light surrounded by the symbolic night sky border, and they are each floating upward – reminding me, and you, that ‘hope’ is being able to see the light despite the darkness!

The Hope Floats Quilt Pattern is Available Now…

Everyone has hopes and dreams, and this quilt is a way to remind yourself that sometimes these things take time. Remember that at the centre of your hopes is the light you have within you – so shine bright, friends! May all your hopes float up to meet you :).

• You can purchase and download the pattern immediately here .
• And for this week only it’s available for $10AUD (approx $7US).

Please note if you live outside Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the US, or if for some reason you can not purchase the pattern directly from this website, you can purchase it here.

Happy sewing…

I would love to share some light with you –

Leave a comment and let me know what you are hoping for right now – it can be something big, or something small, and I will choose a handful of people to receive a copy of the PDF pattern by the end of the week – xx Samantha

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