The Glitter Girls, an Ode to Joyce Drane

By Patti Gilman & Deb Pratt

There is so much to be learned behind the graceful red doors of our Grace Episcopal Church. Ancient teaching in the flow of liturgy, so familiar and comforting; compelling words from those who study the very being of the Gospel which are claimed bu those in attendance and carried through days full of both joy and tribulation. Add to the mix the mellow tones of our organ and the voices of the congregation and the pews full of 'us' who learn that we are the Beloved and our cups truly overflow.

The rows full of the faithful contain folks who have timed our from a busy week and have come to bend a knee and have a conversation with Jesus. We are an ordinary lot, yet aware of the messages given to us by our Christian heritage. We love our Sunday respite and relax into the warmth and goodness of our feast day. Friendship, love and concern are awash, hugs are epidemic. There is so much promise and so many memories and traditions to be honored by fond recollection. Church on Sunday is good!

Among us are a startling number of gifts, scattered here and there, all have been given a portion. Some of us are clever in the ways of academia, wizards of mathematics and literature and have the gift of teaching. Some are artists, musicians,poets, writers. There are those who love to take the spotlight, some who prefer the quiet joys of solitude and of nature. Anyway we are a mix of talents, and one that has pushed to the forefront, along with our cooks and encouragers,are those who make magic with their fingers, the folks who stitch and measure and cut and make beauty and purpose from pieces turned into wholes.. 

So was born a special group of women from Grace who found it relaxing and entertaining to sit together and visit, and stitch away an hour or two and create special items to bring income to the church coffers. Which came first; the bazaar or the Christmas stocking? I don't know, but the two were made for each other and meshed immediately, bringing a new tradition to Grace. 

Joyce and Joe Drane and their young growing family were members of Grace back in the day, and Joyce was an especially talented with both enthusiasm and needlework and she and her Episcopal sisters soon had a thriving operation going and a demand for the beautiful items grew like Topsy. Through the years Joyce has continued on, stitching and asking, "Can anyone lend a hand? I will show you how and we can do this!" Joyce and a few others have supplied incredible bounty, embellished with determination, grit and love. 

The group named themselves the Glitter Girls and welcomed Fr. Al Durrance into the group and he,also blessed with the gift of stitchery, would sit and fellowship with the Glitter Girls and create amazing pieces of art. Works of art they were, as those lucky enough to acquire them will attest. Stockings and tree skirts were delicately and lovingly stitched with patterns and emblems of red,green, silver and gold. Glitter and sequins of every hue were combined in a joyous celebration of our Lord's birth. Of course, each stocking was emblazoned with the name of the lucky child who each season would get to unload its treasure at home. 

Each year the project has continued, and today countless Grace children, here in Ocala or those whose families have traveled afar treasure their stockings or pass them on in the family and many a skirt still sparkles under the tree and kindles memories of a loving church family and the gift of love and fellowship that birthed it. And so we pass on a deep gratitude to the Glitter Girls of yesterday, those of today and hopefully those of tomorrow. We offer a special thank you to Joyce Drane who is truly the heart and spirit of this outreach. Just think Joyce, how many little ones have had wonder in their eyes as they held your stockings.

While visiting with Joyce Drane at her home in Ocala my friend and I commented on the single Christmas tree skirt that Joyce had been working on with her still nimble 96 year old fingers. It was proudly displayed on a corner table with incredible stitchery marching around its circumference. Front and center was a magnificent Santa reaching out to his fans with joy and Christmas exuberance, truly a winner. He seemed to say, at least to me, that it was time to step up, to round up a glitter girl, or two, or three. Maybe a few more and once again Grace stockings would hang on Ocala mantles and magical skirts will look on as the feast of Christmas continues in our homes and hearts. 

If you have an interest in learning more please call Catie at the church office or call me or Deb Pratt. at home and we will call you back to talk about it. Could be a lot of fun and you know, Christmas is right around the corner. 

Patti Gilman 352-342-4553 

Deb Pratt 352-362-8098