Donna's Brigit: An Icon in Threads

One of the members of Orlagh Costello's Brigid's Forge group on Facebook, asked participants to share their favourite images of Brigit. My first contribution was of my brideóg, but today I felt the urge to share a piece made by the late Donna Amaral.

It used to be nearly impossible to get images of Brigit on this side of the pond. I love what a blossoming of Brigidine imagery there is now. Whether or not I like a particular image, I am so grateful for the inspiration artists receive to imagine her, and that we get to see so many of their results.

This pattern was designed by Donna Amaral, one of the early Daughters of the Flame, back in the 1990s. I only wish I did needlepoint, as I'd love to have it on my altar.

Thank you, Donna, for all you gave to Brigit, to me, and to your sisters in the Daughters of the Flame. I still miss you. 

                 

Below you will see that I enhanced the original scan she sent me--resolution was not awesome Back in the Day. But it isn't perfect. You may want to use a pen to touch it up. If you click on the pattern I've attached you will see the whole thing, though only part of it is visible in the post. If any of you stitch this up for yourself (or for me!), have fun! I'd love to see your work.

All Images: by Donna Amaral. Apologies for the poor quality of the pattern.

Auld Grey Mare St. Brigit's Cross Cross-Stitch Pattern (& More by Donna Amaral)

On 11 January 2011 Lynda H. posted her "Brigid's Cross - a Cross Stitch Freebie for Imbolc," which I wanted to share with you here.

If you are into cross-stitch, have a look also at a couple of the late Daughter of the Flame Donna Amaral's Brigit designs:

Hymn to Brigit & Brigit Candle Cross-Stitch

The original version of this hymn is a prayer to God, not Brigit, collected by Alexander Carmichael in the Carmina Gadelica. I came across it in Esther de Waal's book on Celtic Christianity, Every Earthly Blessing, and was much moved by the text. In my efforts to memorize my modified version to use as a prayer on rising each morning, a tune began to attach itself to the phrases. I offer it to you now with a collection of images, mostly from old postcards and archival photos, but also including:

• images from the website of the Brigidine sisters of Australia
• hearth drawings by E. Estyn Evans
• the Solas Bhride hearth (photo by Erynn Laurie)
• Judy Chicago's Saint Bridget plate from The Dinner Party
• my own very humble clay crèche of Brigit, her cow, and the triple flame
• a Brigit candle cross-stitch design by Donna Amaral of the Daughters of the Flame
• a painting of a Renaissance woman blacksmith by Francesca Miller
• a photo of friends drumming around the fire in Haiti
• Mayra Gomez carrying Brigit's flame (from the AFRI website)
• a woman blacksmith in Sulawesi

I include Donna Amaral's cross-stitch pattern here. Please credit her wherever you may use it. Donna was an early and dedicated member of the Daughters of the Flame whose generosity and joy were a great inspiration and support to all who knew her. Her death was a great loss to us all.

I will kindle my fire (Brigit Song)

I will kindle my fire this morning

in the presence of Brigit and her holy women.
Brigit kindle in my heart within
a flame of love to my neighbour
to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all
to the brave, to the knave, to the thrall.
Without malice, without jealousy
without envy, without fear
without terror of anyone under the sun.

For the original words, collected by Alexander Carmichael, see the Comment section below.

Cross Stitch Pattern: Brigit's Cross

If you are moved to do some Brigit-style stitchery, you can get a pattern for a B's cross for $3.99 USD from "everythingstitches" on Etsy: Saint Briget's Cross Cross Stitch Pattern.

SAINT BRIGETS CROSS GODDESS BRIGIT CROSS CROSS STITCH CHART

$3.99 USD

1 in stock

everythingstitches's info

everythingstitches

shop . profile . contact

rating:

4, 100% pos.

joined:

August 23, 2009

location:

Description

SAINT BRIGETS CROSS GODDESS BRIGIT CROSS CROSS STITCH CHART

Beautiful design in cross stitch for your pleasure.
Stitch count 150X148 will make a finished design approx. 10 3/4" inches, if stitched on 14 count fabric or material, or approx. 8 1/3" inches if stitched on 18 count fabric or material.


I also have this as a smaller design if you wanted to make ornaments. Please ask if interested and I will put it up for you.

Make a lovely holiday decoration, pillow, quilt square.

Naturally smaller count fabric makes a smaller piece.
This would make not only a great stitched piece, but a lovely piece of Mosaic art.
Would be lovely on Aida cloth or any even weave.

PLEASE NOTE: Actual charts and chart image are clearer then it is coming out here, And the chart is fairly large for my poor eyes and to help us all read them with out trouble :) Also, larger designs may come on multiple pages for easier viewing. And may have a more of colours then expected.

Piece comes as a PDF with in 24 hours of cleared payment.
Comes with colour chart and symbols, and the image shown here, on pattern sheet plus colour sheet for DMC colours, However if you prefer J & P Coats I can change the codes sheet for you, please email before hand though, thanks.

Thank you for looking.
These images are antique and found, scanned, cleaned and arranged by me.
WATERMARK IS WILL NOT COME WITH CHART DOWNLOAD

Purchase of this item entitles you to use the images for crafts and artwork, You are not entitled to reproduce the images in original form for redistribution or resale to others. Thank you for looking, I look forward to doing business with

Added on Oct 10, 2009

Tags

patterns, handmade, embroidery, hand embroidery, cross stitch, quilt, painting, beading, holiday, sewing, decoration, ornament, jewelry, pagan

Materials

imagination, computer, photoshop

Shipping

Item ships from: United States

ship to:	cost:	with another item:
Everywhere Else	$0.00 USD	$0.00 USD

Payment methods

everythingstitches accepts the following forms of payment:

• 

Got a question about this item?

• contact the seller
• view this shop's policies