A Christmas tree made with crystal beads

DATELINE: August 6 2013
Patricia E Lyon

I invited each student to bring their purse to me. We sat side by side on chairs in front of the green board. Mr. Ora had told us he wanted us to interact with the students. I thought one-on-one would be good. A slender young teacher-in-training approached shyly, holding her finished purse. She had worked on it four days. The purse had begun as a wide polyester tie with peach, brown and cream stripes. Her sewing was exquisite. Her stitches were tiny, almost invisible. I examined her work carefully, inside and out. The pocket had been reinforced. The kabob was carefully pressed. I had laid out about 30 of the 200 brooches and other decorations that I brought from the USA. We looked at the desk in front of us. We held up several pins to the tab of her purse.

She said “Christmas tree”. The crystals picked up the colors in her purse.

I remembered this pin. I think it was in a clear plastic zipper case from the Vernon Presbyterian Church. I said, “This pin came from a teacher in the USA. She will be very happy that you have it.” She folded her hands and bowed her head.

Thank you, J.G. You just made a teacher happy on the opposite side of the world.