“Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.”
--Benjamin Lee Whorf.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
quote of the day
The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly- that is what each of us is here for.
--Oscar Wilde
--Oscar Wilde
Friday, September 17, 2010
Color- bringing the outdoors in
I love living where there are 4 separate and distinct seasons. Where you can feel the temperature change, and see the effects of the season upon the plants and trees. You know when Autumn is on it's way, it's when it starts to feel a little brisk in the evenings but not cold.
Moving time has always been in the Autumn for us, it was when my husband and I got to decorate our first place together. I love the bright colors of Spring and Summer and the cool crispness of Winter colors but Autumn holds a very special place in my heart. The richness of color from the fall foliage, and the warmth that it brings to a room is amazing! I'm looking at quilt patterns and all of the new rich Autumn hues the fabrics are now available. I saw a quilt pattern for an Acorn wall hanging- I am drawn to this thing like a moth to a flame! I think that I better order before I regret not getting it for myself!
One of my favorite pictures of my of children is of them in these beautiful hand-knitted sweaters (made by my mother-in-law) sitting in a pile of just raked leaves in my parents from yard. This of course is before I went digital and I will have to look through my thousands of filed negatives to find it so I can blow it up to a larger size so I can hang it on the wall of my next house. I did make a layout with this photo- I should dig it up and post it here.
One of my other favorites is a series of close up photos of the rich hues in the leaves while still on the trees. I took the pictures in 1990 while we lived in Maine- it was my first Autumn and winter up there and the seasons were nothing less than spectacular! And yes I also have these photo's in a layout.
* note to self- go through scrapbooks and locate these layouts and post them here to my blog.
You better start taking pictures now of the changing colors of the leaves on the trees- the colors can change so quickly! Hurry before the leaves start falling off!
Moving time has always been in the Autumn for us, it was when my husband and I got to decorate our first place together. I love the bright colors of Spring and Summer and the cool crispness of Winter colors but Autumn holds a very special place in my heart. The richness of color from the fall foliage, and the warmth that it brings to a room is amazing! I'm looking at quilt patterns and all of the new rich Autumn hues the fabrics are now available. I saw a quilt pattern for an Acorn wall hanging- I am drawn to this thing like a moth to a flame! I think that I better order before I regret not getting it for myself!
One of my favorite pictures of my of children is of them in these beautiful hand-knitted sweaters (made by my mother-in-law) sitting in a pile of just raked leaves in my parents from yard. This of course is before I went digital and I will have to look through my thousands of filed negatives to find it so I can blow it up to a larger size so I can hang it on the wall of my next house. I did make a layout with this photo- I should dig it up and post it here.
One of my other favorites is a series of close up photos of the rich hues in the leaves while still on the trees. I took the pictures in 1990 while we lived in Maine- it was my first Autumn and winter up there and the seasons were nothing less than spectacular! And yes I also have these photo's in a layout.
* note to self- go through scrapbooks and locate these layouts and post them here to my blog.
You better start taking pictures now of the changing colors of the leaves on the trees- the colors can change so quickly! Hurry before the leaves start falling off!
quote of the day
Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.
--Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) American reformer
--Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) American reformer
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Quote of the day
As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.
--Terri Guillemets
--Terri Guillemets
things that are in storage
It's be a story I've repeated at least a thousand times since moving here to the UK- "it's in storage". You have no idea how tired I am of saying this! Things being in storage that were not supposed to be in storage and things arriving here that were supposed to be in storage- it's VERY frustrating to say the least! Why the moving folks put several of my quilted table runners and wall hangings into storage is beyond me!
NOTE- While looking for something in the garage I found these 2 table runners! So not all hope is lost in my decorating for Autumn around here!
NOTE- While looking for something in the garage I found these 2 table runners! So not all hope is lost in my decorating for Autumn around here!Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Art of making people happy
This is my friend Alisha and she's modeling the custom apron that I made just for her.
It's the little things we do for others that shows how much we truly care about them.
It's the little things we do for others that shows how much we truly care about them.
Quote of the day
I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions.
--Dorothy Day
--Dorothy Day
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Remembering 9/11
I still can't bring myself to turn on the TV today. I'd rather keep it off and not have to listen or see the gruesome events that took place on this day. I know where I was and I think about it and am ever so thankful that my husband was not at the Pentagon that day. I still grieve for the lives that were tragically cut short and for the families who lost loved ones.
Instead of being angry about what happened do something to honor those that are gone. Don't wait for an opportunity to help someone, make one happen! have an elderly neighbor? Mow their lawn, or rake their leaves or even take their trash cans down/up to the curb for them. Know of a single mom on your street that's always busy with the kids and work? You could do the same for her too! What I'm talking about is called "Being Neighborly". Try it, you'll be hooked!
Instead of being angry about what happened do something to honor those that are gone. Don't wait for an opportunity to help someone, make one happen! have an elderly neighbor? Mow their lawn, or rake their leaves or even take their trash cans down/up to the curb for them. Know of a single mom on your street that's always busy with the kids and work? You could do the same for her too! What I'm talking about is called "Being Neighborly". Try it, you'll be hooked!
Quote of the day
Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.
-King Whitney Jr.
-King Whitney Jr.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The things that drive you to create art
Art as defined by Wikipedia
Traditionally, the term art was used to refer to any skill or mastery. This conception changed during the Romantic period, when art came to be seen as "a special faculty of the human mind to be classified with religion and science".Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions.
There's more to this definition- please use the hyper link to read more.
For me lately it's been the seasons that have driven my desire to create. I've got Autumn on the brain right now. The emotions evoked when looking at the Autumn splendor of Maple trees changing colors in Autumn- there is nothing like it in the world! For this fact alone I miss living in New England. It's these colors that I most desire to work with. From creating greeting cards, scrapbook layouts, quilting projects and more! I find myself working with the color Orange this week and frankly I don't know why I haven't made something with orange as the focus color before. It's not a hard color to work with, it's a cheerful happy one. So go out there and embrace the season and let it drive you to create something fun- you might be pleasantly surprised with what you come up with!
Traditionally, the term art was used to refer to any skill or mastery. This conception changed during the Romantic period, when art came to be seen as "a special faculty of the human mind to be classified with religion and science".Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions.
There's more to this definition- please use the hyper link to read more.
For me lately it's been the seasons that have driven my desire to create. I've got Autumn on the brain right now. The emotions evoked when looking at the Autumn splendor of Maple trees changing colors in Autumn- there is nothing like it in the world! For this fact alone I miss living in New England. It's these colors that I most desire to work with. From creating greeting cards, scrapbook layouts, quilting projects and more! I find myself working with the color Orange this week and frankly I don't know why I haven't made something with orange as the focus color before. It's not a hard color to work with, it's a cheerful happy one. So go out there and embrace the season and let it drive you to create something fun- you might be pleasantly surprised with what you come up with!
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Alone but not lonely
With school officially underway for our daughter here in England, our son away attending University in South Dakota and my husband at work I find myself all alone for the very first time in weeks. I might be alone but I am not lonely, not by a long shot!
I think of my Dad and the things that he loved...hot coffee (the hotter the better was his motto), his love of nature, chocolate cake and of course ice cream! That man was crazy about ice cream! I know which flowers were his favorites and we will be planting them in my next flower garden. I plan on getting a plaque made honoring my parents and their love for one another. I'll have it in my garden at my next house.
Today will be filled with me doing fun stuff like running errands, going to the post office to ship some packages, and of course a stop by the dry cleaners to pick up those trousers I dropped off a week ago (ooops- meant to get them sooner).
I'm to meet a girlfriend here at my house later so I can measure her for a custom apron that I'm making for her. It's not only custom in color and design but in size. I'll have pictures of it once it's finished. So far I've made some subtle but must needed changes to the pattern adding the D rings was a must to make the neckline adjustable. I added length to the ties as I felt that they were rather short. Now I will adjust the size of the apron it's self to better fit my friend. Stay tuned to see what I've made for her in her favorite color!
I think of my Dad and the things that he loved...hot coffee (the hotter the better was his motto), his love of nature, chocolate cake and of course ice cream! That man was crazy about ice cream! I know which flowers were his favorites and we will be planting them in my next flower garden. I plan on getting a plaque made honoring my parents and their love for one another. I'll have it in my garden at my next house.
Today will be filled with me doing fun stuff like running errands, going to the post office to ship some packages, and of course a stop by the dry cleaners to pick up those trousers I dropped off a week ago (ooops- meant to get them sooner).
I'm to meet a girlfriend here at my house later so I can measure her for a custom apron that I'm making for her. It's not only custom in color and design but in size. I'll have pictures of it once it's finished. So far I've made some subtle but must needed changes to the pattern adding the D rings was a must to make the neckline adjustable. I added length to the ties as I felt that they were rather short. Now I will adjust the size of the apron it's self to better fit my friend. Stay tuned to see what I've made for her in her favorite color!
quote of the day
My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can.
-Cary Grant
-Cary Grant
Monday, September 06, 2010
The Death of my Dad
It's on a sad note that I announce the death of my dad. He was a kind soul who was always there for his family and friends. He was the neighbor who was always there to lend you a helping hand when you were putting in a new lawn, fixing a broken fence post or putting on a new roof. He loved ice cream, hamburgers, chocolate chip cookies, a frosty mug of beer on a hot day and a steamy hot mug of coffee every day!
He died this past Sunday, September 5th, 2010 in his sleep. I like to think that he's in heaven taking a walk in a garden, no longer trapped in his body able to express his thoughts. That he is having a conversation with Jesus about fruit trees (he loved his fruit trees) and how best we can go about to feed the hungry of the world.
He died this past Sunday, September 5th, 2010 in his sleep. I like to think that he's in heaven taking a walk in a garden, no longer trapped in his body able to express his thoughts. That he is having a conversation with Jesus about fruit trees (he loved his fruit trees) and how best we can go about to feed the hungry of the world.
Quote of the Day
Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.
--Helen Keller
--Helen Keller
Friday, September 03, 2010
In my element!
Where would I be without coffee? Still in bed with a terrible headache I suppose.
So what have I been doing since I got back from my trip to California? Well besides getting that newly vacated "spare" bedroom re-purposed into a guest room/sewing corner, getting the kids bathroom done up to reflect it's new ownership belonging solely to our teenage daughter, designing and making a set of 2 new valances for said guest room, working on completing my sheep themed counted cross stitching project...I've also managed to make 2 Christmas themed table runners (I still need to do the quilting process on them), I'm currently preparing fabrics for a new lap quilt for my daughter, about to make a fancy apron for a dear friend in her favorite colors, AND I'm about to whip out a quick Autumn themed table runner for myself!
So stand back as I make myself another steamy hot mug of coffee and get to sewing!
So what have I been doing since I got back from my trip to California? Well besides getting that newly vacated "spare" bedroom re-purposed into a guest room/sewing corner, getting the kids bathroom done up to reflect it's new ownership belonging solely to our teenage daughter, designing and making a set of 2 new valances for said guest room, working on completing my sheep themed counted cross stitching project...I've also managed to make 2 Christmas themed table runners (I still need to do the quilting process on them), I'm currently preparing fabrics for a new lap quilt for my daughter, about to make a fancy apron for a dear friend in her favorite colors, AND I'm about to whip out a quick Autumn themed table runner for myself!
So stand back as I make myself another steamy hot mug of coffee and get to sewing!
quote of the day
One yard of fabric, like one cookie, is Never enough!
-United Notions (a quilt shop in Dallas TX)
Thursday, September 02, 2010
quote of the day
One out of every four people in this country is mentally imbalanced. Think of your three closest friends- and if they seem okay, then you're the one.
-Ann Launders
-Ann Launders
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