Thoughtful Monday No. 81

"A bird does not sing

because it has an answer.

It sings because

it has a song."

-Chinese Proverb

(card from a new friend in the Postcard Swap)

A little walk in the sunshine

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with a good friend so we took ourselves off to somewhere only 30minutes away or so.  It was such a lovely day with bright sunshine and blue, blue skies - signs of Spring not so far away.

We encountered these on our short walk together

And this, and then we finally ended up having a cup of tea and this (to share, of course!)

It was a lovely interlude.  Now it is off to pack as I am heading out to Wales for a two day Board meeting! 

Gift of Jewels arrival!

This was the beautiful card which came in the post a day or so ago from my new 'penpal' Susanna from the 'Gift of Jewels' swap.  She not only took this gorgeous photo (which is of one of the windows at Bergdorf Goodman in New York) but who also wrote me a lovely letter telling me about where she lives and what she likes to do, adding some very kind words about having visited this blog too.  It was such a bright spark in what was otherwise a very grey and wet day here in the UK.  Thank you so much Susanna.  It reminded me of how much I love to receive letters in the mail and although I love emails too, there is just something about the feel of something handwritten and handcrafted.  

Do take a look at a Susanna's blog and see her other lovely photos and creations in encaustic painting - just beautiful.

A little love...

A little decopatch canvas painted and then layered with card, stamped voile fabric (script print), a punched red paper heart and then a red foil covered chocolate heart for the one I love with the words of "How do I love thee" by Elizabeth Barratt Browning all round it!

And because I thought that might just be a bit too flowery I made a much smaller one completely dedicated to the ardent chess champion that he is!

Meanwhile others got one of these with little chocolate hearts and for everyone there was a big heart chocolate cake with little choc heart cakes all round it which went so rapidly I don't have a photo of it!!

Thoughtful Friday No. 80

"It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts"

K.T. Jong

(Photo courtesy of google images)

It's not all about paper.....

No, as much as I am loving paper, paint, stamps and all things mixed media right now, I am keeping up the fibre arts just as well.  In fact I have discovered a new love!  Prayer shawls!  I discovered this over the Christmas holiday when a new friend mentioned she had been to a prayer shawl workshop. I was immediately attracted to the idea as she told me more.  A simple idea really, and another way to show love and care to those who need it.  You just need to think of someone who would really benefit from knowing that they are supported and cared for just now - maybe someone who has suffered a bereavement, the news of a delibitating illness, is struggling with depression and sadness, or a host of other things that life thows at us and which can make life messy and difficult.  The idea then is to pick some yarn you think that person would like and to knit them a shawl (there are a number of lovely patterns about and see the link below for the book on the subject).  While you are knitting that shawl take the time to pray (or think good thoughts) for that person. Then when you have finished present the shawl with a gift card which expresses your love and care.  The fact that it comes saturated with the prayers, thoughts and blessings somehow woven into the fibre means so much to the recipient and is a constant source of encouragement through their difficult days.
More info from this book: Prayer Shawl Companion.  So I have made two already and sent one out to a good friend in the US who lost her mother just before Christmas.  Here are a couple of pictures:

I made this up in yarn I already had - a James Brett acrylic and made up the crochet edging

this one was made up again with yarn from my stash and there's a boy who seems to approve of it.

I'm on to shawl number 3 now which I am making for my mother in law as she struggles with her health and ever decreasing mobility. And one day I would love to start a prayer shawl group.... who knows....

Swapsies

I've joined a couple of swaps this month.  I used to love swaps at school as a girl and remember vividly the days I would take my 'treasures' (usually marbles, gemstones and other tiny trinkets) in and with a few friends together we would swap from our collections.  Well, these swaps are slightly different but with a general theme of sharing love and creativity - both dear to my heart.   The first is called 'Gift of Jewels' which is an idea to spread love around the world one card at a time.  I first saw this on Tracy's blog and liked the look of it so decided to join in.  Above you will see the card I am sending to someone who doesn't know me, or know it will be coming from me.  There were no rules, except to feel free to make a card as creatively as you might wish.

The second is a postcard swap from Create and Live Happy which has required making 10 postcards which will be sent all over the world.  I've had a lot of fun with this and below you can see some of my creations - all different in some way or other and today or tomorrow will be off in the post.

and for some there are little pockets of inspiration on the back...

and of course this does mean that I shall be receiving 10 creative postcards too!!  Thank you Selah and Hanna for organising these fun swaps.

Thoughtful Friday No. 79

"Only the heart knows how to find what is precious"

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Visiting

I'm off today to visit a lovely friend who I haven't seen in ages.  She now has three lovely little girls with another baby on the way so life is busy.  We used to work together and have kept in touch since.  So mummy's who have lots of little people need some spoiling.  First of all some flowers

then a special bag with some homemade jam

and some freshly made banana oatmeal muffins in heart shapes

using my new heart shaped silicone cases from lakeland

little bags with a homemade heart pin - pattern found here plus fun stickers and some sticky alphabet shapes

and some colouring books for those who can use them and a story book for the youngest plus 

some white chocolate chip cookies - maybe to go in the freezer?

I'm so looking forward to catching up with all her news.

GPP Street Team - creative challenge

Well, I've joined another challenge, this time from the very creative Michelle Ward who I found through Jenny Doh's blog.  It is a fun art journalling project which has seen me cutting out snowflakes from folded paper, (I didn't realise how large the first one was but it came in useful at the end to provide a 'covering' for the quote I love from the Little Prince, "It is with the heart that one sees rightly, for what is essential is invisible to the eye"),  using gesso as a primer for my pages and 'spilling' acryllic paint all over, spraying with water, scraping with a scraper card and generally have a fun time 'going with the flow'.  I'm very much a beginner at all of this but it is a great way to learn more from others and to experiment.  I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Remembering.....

He had a difficult childhood

beaten by his stepdad

ran away when he was 14

joined the Navy and got in with a not so good crowd

then he met the love of his life

they had one daughter who was the apple of his eye

25 years as a fireman, saving lives and being a hero

but he had a problem - alcohol - it made life messy

until the day he encountered the God of grace and love

miraculously he didn't need that 'drink' any more

he knew a joy and peace at last - something he had never known before

4 little granddaughters came along

bringing life and laughter in all its fullness

one even had hair his colour (a beautiful red).

The years past and he became carer for the one who had loved him so selflessly.

31st January 5 years ago, heavy with responsibility and

disorientated beause his dear one was in hospital with yet another chest infection,

he went out to get his newspaper

and eager to get back, ran in front of a speeding car.

A tragic end

no time for goodbyes

This was my dad.  I miss him.

"Joy and sorrow are sisters; they live in the same house"

Macrina Wiederkehr