A few months ago I stumbled upon Mollie Johanson’s blog, Wild Olive. It is full of fun little crafts and pretty embroidery patterns.

I saved my favorite project—an embroidery pattern for a Bible verse from Joshua. “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I set it aside waiting for an opportunity to work on it, thinking that it would take too long. The Joshua pattern is free (thank you Mollie!) and you can also find ideas for transferring the pattern to your fabric.

I decided to get my fabric and pattern out and start working on it yesterday. It turns out there are plenty of minutes during the day which can be filled with stitching! I finished it the same day.

I am not as practiced at embroidery as I am at machine sewing, so I stuck with simple backstitching. And I prefer a chunkier stitch, so I used all 6 threads instead of separating them.

I’d like to do another one with the end of the verse— “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”— and send it to a friend that needs encouragement!

What gifts do you make for friends that need encouragement?