Friday, June 23, 2017

Using quotes to inspire...



I was emailing back and forth with my friend Janice about a month or so ago, and she shared with me this William Drummond quote, "What sweet delight a quiet life affords."

It resonated deep within me so I spent an afternoon sketching a design to frame those precious words.

Hand embroidery is always enjoyable but stitching this pattern brought hours of gentle peace and time to reflect on my own desire for a quiet life. 




So that got me thinking.

Do you have a particular quote which inspires you to ponder the blessings of a gentle life, a quiet life, a joyful domestic life? I'd love to create one design each month for the Stitchery Club to lift the weary heart and paint wonderful thoughts across our minds, and wondered if you could help me with insightful words to stitch?

"A Quiet Life" is the first of this series and will be inside the July Club issue (see more here)...




If you come across something lovely, specifically a quote that delights in a quiet home life or the gentle domestic arts, write it in the comments below so I have a future reference point. 

This would be truly appreciated.





Blossom came by on Wednesday with Cully May and we had such a precious visit!
Coffee and cake, a cat and lots of cuddles, it was definitely a "C" day. 




Cully May is walking now, and talks endlessly! At 10 1/2 months she can say so many words that her conversations with me are quite intense as she engages with such expression, demanding Nana reply and agree. Cuddling Sophie, our cat, she was insistent that Sophie's name was 'dog'. 

Cully May fills our happy tanks over and over, and over again.




This week I've been rearranging things in the sewing room, cleaning out the pantry, baking breads, and choosing fabrics for a table runner and cover for the breadmaker. 

The breadmaker is hardly used because this house has a small kitchen with minimal storage so I keep it tucked away where it's not easily accessible. However, I used to make bread all the time and the family are missing the fruits of my labour so I decided to create a space for it out in the open where I can get at it easily every second day to knead my dough.
I don't bake my breads in the breadmaker but use it for the kneading and first rise.
From there I hand shape or if it's a sandwich loaf I bake in proper bread tins. 




Yesterday's bounty was a Jam Roll and six jam scrolls. 

We shared these with Blossom, Ross and Cully May and they definitely encouraged my return to regular bread baking!

The breadmaker is now atop a small bookcase which holds more kitchen appliances.
It needs a pretty cover and I thought this beautiful fabric (a soft Japanese lawn) would be nice...







I'd like to add one of my stitcheries to the cover and will have a sort through later today to see what I can find that will blend with the floral colours in this print.

Some more fabric on my cutting table at the moment...




Spotlight are having a massive end of financial year sale and after stocking up on a few metres of Pellon a set of 4 place-mats caught my eye just as I was leaving the store.

I thought they'd be lovely on our dining table and was pretty sure I had fabrics in similar colours to sew a matching table runner.




So I guess you know what I'll be sewing over the weekend?

My beloved Mr E will be busy working on our old Jeep again so apart from baking some goodies for his morning and afternoon tea breaks I'll stay out of his way and let the man do what the man's got to do. 

I hope your weekend will be lovely,
hugs





22 comments:

Donna Fellows said...

I really love the idea of filling my home and life with positive words...
This is a quote from Elise de Wolfe I really like...
" I will fill my world with beautiful things...that will be my life".
May it ever be so.
Joy and Blessings...

Donna F said...

Correction to Elise's quote:
"I am going to make everything around me beautiful...that will be my life".
My apologies.

Kay said...

I needed this post today. Thank you. x

Leeanne said...

What a beautiful stitchery you have created for a keepsake for a saying you hold dear. My mouth was watering over the baked goodies..............

Janet said...

"God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us." St. Augustine

Unknown said...

My favourite saying is 'Little things mean alot'. My husband says it describes my outlook on life to a T. xoxox

Janet said...

LOVE this idea, Jenny, and to have a Jenny-designed stitchery for each, or several of these awesome quotes will be an added blessing. My first one is one of my all-time favorites, along with these from Scripture:
He will quiet you with His love---Zephaniah 3:17
...also aspire to lead a quiet life...1 These. 4:11
...the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit...1 Peter 3:4

Little Penpen said...

You have the best ideas. I try to hold onto special quotes, too. Cully Mae is growing up so fast! Love the ponytail. And I know what you mean about those kids filling our Happy tanks.

Natureluvr57 said...

Love the design! I like your quote more but I also like "That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest." -Henry David Thoreau. I think the design would be beautiful for scriptures also. “ Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before” 1 Thessalonians 4:11 It could be shortened to the first part...make it your goal to live a quiet life. Have a blessed day.

Anonymous said...

I e-mailed a couple I like. I always love seeing pics of Cully May. I think just her cute little face and antics fill a lot of people's happiness buckets. =) The fabrics are lovely, and I know something beautiful is coming, 'cause I already saw one IG pic!

Lorrie said...

Jane Austen wrote, "There's nothing like staying at home for real comfort." I've always liked that quote.
Your stitchery is beautiful, as always.

4everstitcher said...

I have one hanging over the door way between kitchen and dining area by Ralph Waldo Emmerson;
"Let us be still that we may hear the whisper of God." Don't know how accurate it is to his words, just liked it !

aljakel said...



You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.
Vernon Howard

The best things in life aren't things.

There is beauty in simplicity.

The good and the wise lead quiet lives.

Deborah said...

Love your quote and the stitchery. I heard the following quote when I was about 19 and it has been a guiding thought in my life:

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”

– Socrates

http://needlesandwords.blogspot.com/ said...

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
― William Morris

I have always loved this quote.

Ondrea said...

That is a lovely quote and your stitchery design is just perfect for it. Love the colours too. Cully May is sooooo cute! I rather like the cat too. I love Cully's expression as she is looking at the cat. I used to make bread many years ago using the quick method that was all the rage back then. There were a lot of things I used to do..make my own laundry detergent, bread, yogurt etc. Love the placemats you bought and those fabrics will certainly compliment them. You must be brimming with joy having had a visit from your 2 beautiful girls, found some bargains at Spotlight and baked.

Mia said...

Love the stitchery, my friend!

Stitches said...

I have a little great granddaughter, Berkley, the same age as your little Cully. Berkley isn't walking yet but she's not far from it..It's so much fun having babies in our family again. I was blessed with 4 great granddaughters all born in 2016 from my 4 oldest grandson's and their wives..it was a great year!! One of my favorite sayings is: When God closes a door, He opens a window. I love all of your stitchery so much, you do such a great job, with your words and stitches..

Meg said...

Hello, Jenny. I think your work is so beautiful. As are the words you choose to embroider. On my bedroom wall there is a tiny painting by the very talented artist, Kate Knapp. Sitting atop a little flowerpot, sheltered by beautiful flowers, is a sweet bird and underneath are the words, "Thank goodness for quietness." Kate will often create beautiful pictures and put the words of others underneath. These words though are her own and I love them! They remind me that quiet moments in life are so important, a counterbalance to all the "noise". Meg:)

wendy said...

Love this idea! One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa. "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." I am reminded of this whenever I do things mostly for for my family but also for friends and those I work with. Thanks Jenny! For all you do and for your many inspiring words of wisdom from God. They bless me every day!

Farm Quilter said...

I promise, I am not a glutton, but your bread looks so fabulous!!! But I don't know what a jam roll or a jam scroll is! I still want to eat them! I love the way you are elevating the gentle art of homemaking with your blog...from the quotes you choose to use, your fine stitchery, your sewing and your time in the kitchen creating tempting treats for Mr. E, Blossom and Cully Mae! All centered on the Lord and family...just as it should be!

Baa. xxx said...

Every second you are alive is an act of great courage.