The girl that came for sewing this week had a plan. She intended to make a star baby, which is a soft doll with pointy limbs. She is a gentle soul, and sometimes expressed her concern for my fingers when they seemed too close to the needle while guiding her fabric. I promised to be careful. 

There are a string of decisions in every project, about cutting, and buttons, and stuffing. We filled hers with wool, which she liked. When the doll was finished, we had a bit more time, so she made a hat for her dog. The holes for his ears helped to keep it in place. 

After sewing a long seam, we noticed that there was a bit of extra fabric on one side. I asked if she wanted to trim it. 

"No, I want it uneven so people will know I made it."

How about that. At her young age, she already understood that being flawless is not preferable to being hand made. 

I prayed that she will be able to hang on to that wisdom through the years ahead. Society can bombard us with the pursuit of perfection, as a poor substitute for happiness. 

In that moment, with this darling child, I could not have felt happier.