Selvi's Bag

Well, my time as Selvi's sponsor is coming to a close. It really deeply saddens me, but at the same time, I'm so happy for her. She's taking entrance exams to teacher training institute. She's really pursuing it. I feel as proud of her as any other family member could, I'm just welled up with happiness. She will make so many lives richer. Everyone please cross your fingers for her. If you are also the praying sort, please say a lil' prayer for her success.

As a graduation present from high school, I'm sending her this bag that I've made from scratch. The pattern is from the book One Yard Wonders. Wonderful book! I don't use patterns often, but there is a lot of great stuff in here. It's something she can use to carry notes and such to and from class. I made it special, not just with her name on it, but I got a friend of mine who speaks Tamil to translate a meaningful quote for me. I used fabric marker to copy it onto fabric and sewed it into the flap of the bag. I want her to see it each time she opens her bag, and realize all the love there is in this world for her.

"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. "
-Helen Keller

The intention behind the quote is two fold. I want her to think of the times with her mother, however faded in her memory, whom she lost when she was young. And I want her to also know that even if we're not going to be in contact any more, that she'll always be in my heart.