Block 8 - "the love of home" BOM...

Mending was a big part of Nana's sewing, crochet and knitting life. 

She also mended chairs, the clothesline, shoes and many other things as well. Nothing was discarded until she'd made sure there was no way to revive it.

"Make do and mend" wasn't just a slogan for Nana, it was a necessary part of homemaking life and by her example that natural inclination to repair and reuse became my way of life too.

Born in 1910 she lived through both World Wars and the Great Depression, and as a young mother with three children aged 2,4 and 5 she also took on her beloved sister's two children (aged 2 and 4) after Marie died of goiter. 

Mothering five children under 6 through the Great Depression Nana had to draw on everything she'd learned from her own mother and grandmother, skills she improved on over time until at age 52 she once again became mother to a small child, me, and found them to be just as practical as ever.

That wonderful spirit of making something last, repairing or updating so that it's useful or beautiful once again - it's an art many people have lost.

Or perhaps they were never taught to be that way? 

How blessed am I to have learned to make do and mend at Nana's knee.

I find it so inspiring to see how others breathe new life into old things because that's something I enjoy doing too, but mending is one skill that gives me more pleasure than any other around home.

A sense of accomplishment from knowing how to fix a broken footstool, for example, and make it useful again (something Mr E and I did together recently) encourages me to look for that option first before throwing an item away.

I admit there was a season in the past when I let this mindset slip, but once I began embracing the gentle domestic life again, and all that entailed, reacquainting myself with the skills Nana taught me became natural once more.

This month's free BOM design celebrates the gentle domestic arts of making do and mending and your pattern includes the two redwork stitcheries which you can use in any project you like.

I decided to make a needle-book and pincushion...

These small redwork blocks were designed and embroidered in 2014 and have sat unused in my UFO stitchery box ever since. Probably waiting for a time (or project) such as this.

The scissor keep was made by drawing a triangular shape around the "make do" block and fusing thin Pellon behind it. I then cut around my traced line before laying the block face down on a piece of backing fabric. A quarter inch seam was sewn all around, leaving a small opening for turning out. 

After turning the scissor keep right side out I slip stitched the opening closed and pressed it flat.

The pincushion began with a 2 1/2" hexagon shape as the centre, then a round of narrow fabric strips sewn around each straight edge. I fussy cut the heart fabric for those borders - cute, huh?

I cut the stitchery into an oval shape and blanket stitched it onto the centre of the hexagon before fusing some scrap cotton wadding behind the completed front of my pincushion and hand quilting in the ditch and outside the hexagon border.

Once the front was made I trimmed the excess wadding away and made the backing from two pieces of the red fabric. Sewn together with a 1/2" seam, I left a small opening in the middle to fill the pincushion with ground walnut shells after I'd sewn the front and back together and attached the binding around the outside.

Once the binding had been sewn down and the filling added, I slip stitched the opening closed with very tiny, close stitches.

The pincushion is a generous size and simply lovely to use.

The scissor-keep was slip stitched to the front of my needle-book, leaving the top open to slip a pair of scissors in.

I made the cover and the inside of the needle-book separately, sewing them together around the outside edge just before adding the binding.

On the cover I also stitched a couple of small hexies and added a crochet flower and vintage button.

Inside there is a pocket for needle packs, a piece of doctor's flannel for storing pins and needles in use, and a magnetic hexie pin keep.

I also stitched in some vintage Ric Rac braid and cotton lace before finishing with a trio of red buttons.

My husband bought me some very strong tiny magnets and one of them was slipped into the pin-keep hexie before I stitched it down. It works wonderfully!

If you'd like some more specific steps to making your pincushions or needle-books visit my TUTORIALS page. There are plenty there, and most of these steps have been covered in one or another.

To download the free redwork "Make Do and Mend" stitchery patterns go HERE to my shop.

What will you be making from these designs?

Blessings

A call to prayer...

My heart has been heavy lately, reading messages, comments or emails from beautiful women who are facing trials of many kinds, women who struggle to face each new day in fear of what may come next, women who are weary emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

Battles are never fought alone so today I'm asking all praying readers to join with me in lifting these precious souls before Jesus in heartfelt prayer.

Perhaps you identify with the women I've described and are also in need of heavenly intervention.

Can I ask you to trust that over the next week your needs are being brought before the Cross as myself and others who are reading this blog post join hearts and prayers together across the world in every time zone for you?

You may not be a Christian believer and that's okay. All I ask is that you let us pray for you. That you allow our love for a fellow human being made in the image of God to be comforted, encouraged and lifted in prayer, that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding would fill your heart and mind through Jesus who loves you.

Before I had my first baby I was very shy (still am actually) and didn't like having doctors poking or prodding me, but the experience of giving birth kind of breaks down a lot of that because you are placed in a vulnerable situation and exposed in ways you've not known before. 

If you've never been prayed for or never opened up about your deepest needs and trials then you may feel very exposed and vulnerable by choosing to do so now, but sweet girl, you are precious and though myself and those who will be praying may not personally be able to alleviate your struggles, there is One who can give peace within your soul and loves you more than you can comprehend.

If you have a prayer need please write in the comments below and we will pray.

In fact I will check in twice a day for the next week to pray over any new requests or needs, and I'd ask that others would do so as well.

If you feel you cannot write down what you need then simply say "I need prayer" because the Lord knows exactly what those needs are and we will pray He provides in the way that best suits your circumstances.

Sisters in Christ, will you stand with me in prayer this week?

To God be the glory, great things He has done.

hugs

Making do in many ways...

I decided to learn a bit about my new sewing machine this week, not everything, just a bit - like 

how to fill the bobbin and attach the walking foot. More than enough for starters.

My old machine was a Janome 6500 Professional which I gave to my daughter Blossom, whereas this new machine, a Janome Skyline S3, isn't quite as fancy but appears to do what I want it to without so many bells and whistles. Bliss, I'm happy as can be.

After a few scrap pieces were put to task experimenting, the first 'real' project was to make a couple of simple aprons which have been on my to-do list for a while. I cut a template from an old apron, then chose tonal fabrics for the body of the apron and floral fabrics for a large divided pocket across the front.

They hang beside the pantry cupboard with my other aprons, perfectly placed near the kitchen and ready to pull off the hook and pop it over my head. 

You know, I love the atmosphere that aprons on display bring to a home. Evidence of domestic occupation, a reminder of gentle domesticity...warms the heart, and if the homemaker can cook it warms the tummy too!

I christened the pink one on Thursday night whilst making a delicious pasta sauce...

...which left tiny red splatter stains across my new apron, rather like a join-the-dots game.

I smiled with satisfaction.

Today (Saturday) has been very laid back yet productive. Mr E had Year 11 and 12 term reports to grade but before doing that we went out for coffee and visited a local garage sale. 

My treasure hunting this week brought forth a couple of Selina Lake books which I was thrilled to find! I already have her Bohemian Style and now these two. Only a few dollars each which is quite a saving as they were in new condition and titles I borrow regularly from the library. Now I can browse whenever I like.

Perfect for decorating ideas for our one-day home...

Decorating ideas, and design ideas too, often come from my 7-year collection of British "Country Living" magazines.

 I bought my first issue early in 2010 and was smitten from the cover to cover! A love affair has ensued ever since and they are still the only magazine I buy each month without fail.

They used to be shelved by the front door in a bookcase that also houses my beautiful Peace Lily (as well as out-of-print copies of Notebook magazine) but the other day when I googled 'why are my peace lily flowers green and not white' I discovered it's because I have the plant in a position where it receives too much light. 

If you've ever been to my house you'll know the entire front of it has too much light, soooo, I re-arranged some furniture and moved the bookcase, magazines and peace lily to the opposite side of the house where there's a lot less light in the mornings and total shade by lunchtime.

Hoping to see a return of white flowers in the months ahead.

(Peace Lilies were the only flowers at our wedding almost 26 years ago. We had pots of them all across the altar. It was so beautiful.)

Back to today...

By mid-morning Mr E was busy marking papers at the dining room table so I again took to playing with my new toy and made a simple cover for my stitching cushion...

The old cover has always annoyed me because I made it with a tie closure and as I stitch the ties flip and flop in my lap and usually untie themselves - no idea how or why.

Making another cover gave me the opportunity to test this machine's one-step buttonhole and quilting foot, which were surprisingly smoother to use than with my old machine.

Bonus, the new cover for my stitchery pillow is beautiful, even though its simple.

(I don't use a hoop to embroider, just rest my hands on this cushion.)

More and more the simple things are becoming part of each day.

Even in the kitchen I think about the meals to prepare and how I can simplify them. Growing up with Nana and Pop our meals were so tasty, nourishing, yet with only a few ingredients. 

Her pantry was a two-shelf half cupboard with no doors and it served double duty as her kitchen bench, right beside the stove. 

Nana had no sewing machine but she could hand sew and this was how she made a pretty floral curtain to cover the open front of her cupboard and hide the contents. 

I can still close my eyes and smell her roast chicken in the oven for Sunday lunch, hear her laughter and feel the red vinyl chair cushion under my bottom as I sat patiently waiting for her to dish up our favourite meal of the week. Sunday night we had scones with butter and jam, and cups of tea from her battered silver teapot which was always dressed in a knitted cosy. As a child I loved the rhythm of routine, of knowing what to expect, of feeling secure and cared for and loved, even though we were called poor. I didn't know we were poor, just that we were happy and laughed a lot.

I feel sorry for many children today, my own included, who didn't/don't know the peace that comes from simplicity of tradition and family rhythms.

The more I draw on these memories, the more I am inspired to simplify my life by making food, clothes and furnishings without too much fuss. 

I want to use what we have, but if we need to replace anything then we'll buy better quality items that will last much longer. 

You know, I haven't appreciated the work involved in earning a living for a long time...in fact, I've been careless with money too often. Boredom, depression, a lack of conviction, sadness, even illness - each of these can trigger my need to spend. But that's a change I'm working on, and is another epiphany I had during my two week break.

After I rearranged the furniture the other day I also changed table runners and cushion covers. When I went to the linen cupboard to gather fresh replacements I stopped to hold a very special table runner against my heart and a few tears were shed.

I made it 100% by hand in a tiny one-bedroom cabin our family lived in about twelve years ago when I was teaching myself to sew. 

My husband had taken me to another town to buy some fabric and I'd chosen these, along with threads, needles, a ruler and rotary cutter.

So I made it as a reminder of how precious he was, how very blessed I was to be his wife. Every stitch hand sewn with love for him, and excitement at the new skills I was learning - bringing odd  bits of fabric together to create something I hoped would stand the test of time.

See how three sets of the birds face away from each other?

But one set are kissing. 

That's us. 

I don't put it out much anymore because it was used a lot that first decade after being made, which meant a lot of wash cycles too. 

But this week it's on the coffee table right in front of us, inspiring me to step back, slow down, simplify, be satisfied with less things and give more love with a generous heart. 

Another project, unfinished this time, that I uncovered whilst cleaning out my sewing room the other day was a couple of stitcheries I did a few years ago but never had time to make into something useful. 

I think I'll share them as September's "The Love of Home" BOM design?

The sentiment is definitely based on home, simplicity, making do and being creative - things that matter. 

Anyhow, enough for today. 

I have a husband waiting with a cup of tea and slice of Strawberry Shortcake.

The perfect end to a relaxing Saturday.

Be blessed, be at peace, be your beautiful self.

hugs

Returning...

My time of quiet and reflective absence from regular blogging became more of a blessing than I had hoped. 

Faith lessons, personal insights and a deep felt understanding of where I'm going from here are just a few of the many wonderful things which surfaced during the days and nights of distancing myself from a routine I love but which takes more of me than I have, or need, to give. 

Over time I'll share bits of what I've come to appreciate more, and what I am learning to desire less. Each day is a process of adjusting my focus so that what is most needed becomes clear, and what is not necessary fades from view. 

Life is about learning, growing, becoming, letting go and moving forward. I think I finally understand this.

So today, just some snapshots of what has held my attention at home while I ponder, pray and sing through the closing days of winter...

GREENERY

Outside on the deck new buds are appearing on my cherished hydrangea, the cherry tomato has burst into flower, and there are buds appearing at the tips of our schlumbergera cacti.

Seedlings of oregano and parsley are bring planted in pots...

...as well as sweet peppers, spinach and more cherry tomatoes. Next weekend we'll shop for more pots and set up sprouting trays for salads as well. As much as we're able we shall grow fresh produce before the tropical sun becomes too fierce.

FOOD

Ten days of a fruit and vegetable detox infused my system with more energy than I've had in quite a while, whilst also giving my digestive tract a good 'clean-out'. No description necessary, right? 

After those ten days I slowly added a little meat in again and re-acquainted myself with a few old favourites which have been off the menu for years because I'd lost the recipes.

The slower days and calm mindset had boosted my memory and I remembered giving Blossom a number of cookbooks a few years back, books which held the recipes I was after, so I borrowed them from her.

We used to have a free-form meat pie every couple of weeks when the kids were still living at home using Nigella Lawson's pastry recipe so I started with that, firstly making a beef bourguignon filling and leaving it to 'mellow' in the fridge for a couple of days to enrich the flavour. 

It was even yummier than I remembered and we had enough left over for lunch the following weekend. 

The second lost recipe was for a chocolate cake my daughter Anita had made me for Mothers Day one year, a cake which from then on graced the table of many family celebrations. 

As I prepared the batter I prayed for this sweet daughter, a mother herself now, and gave thanks for such a precious memory stored in my heart for always. 

Mr E came down with a mild dose of the flu this week which prompted me to make a pot of hearty chicken noodle soup...only later realising that this too was a recipe not made for a number of years. 

A loaf of fresh bread baked, lots of nourishing ingredients brought together for health and flavour and thirty minutes to simmer...

...this soup brought a smile to both our faces and the next morning my beloved man was well on the road to recovery.

I've also been making my own nut milks, cashew creams (savoury and sweet), fruit salad breakfasts and wholesome smoothies for in between meals.

A sprinkle of nutmeg is a sprinkle of love, the spice I most associate with my dear Nana who raised me...

A nice thing I'm learning during this quiet and calm rhythm of kitchen life is to embrace a balance between the goodness of nourishing ingredients for health in the body, and the occasional treat of a favourite cake or dessert to nourish the soul.  Each without guilt or rules.

SEWING

The occasional garage sale bargains are slowly being utilised, especially a set of shabbied frames which my husband wasn't sure how I'd use. 

They became borders for a new set of designs, seed packets in fact. 

(see all of them here)

With all the September stitchery patterns completed it's October designs which now stand waiting for their moment to shine. I've been watching season three of Poldark, some good documentaries and a few re-runs of baking shows while I stitch each afternoon. The light is perfect at that time of day to sew...

My plan to make new aprons did not eventuate but that was okay as my old ones were re-used each day, and even mended from overuse. 

This week though, the fabrics are out on the table and I have the well-worn apron that Fee made me many years ago as my template.

All in good time, the right time.

Tomorrow I will be picking up my new glasses, blue ones. I love blue. I share blue eyes with my Mama and my Nana.

It seems the dramatic increase in my migraines may well be related to my eyesight. You see, my distance vision has always been bad and I needed glasses to drive. It's only been this past year or two which has brought about a change so that I need slightly magnified glasses to embroider without squinting. 

But I had an eye exam two weeks ago and my distance vision is now 20/20, so no more prescription glasses for driving!

Now it's my close-up vision which is deteriorating and I can't just pick up a jar and read the ingredients anymore. I need glasses to read a recipe easily and to stitch without strain.

So tomorrow a whole new experience of clear vision shall be mine. And hopefully a reduction in migraines will soon follow.

I won't be blogging as often anymore...but I will blog. It's in my blood, it's part of me.

Thanks for reading along today, wandering beside me as I point to this and that around home and share a little of what's moving my heart.

You're rather special, trust me.

Now I'm off to finish the last of that soup and relax afterwards with a good book until it's time to start dinner...

Be good to your mind, your heart, your spirit, and your body.

Rest, eat, pray, walk, sleep, love, listen...all in balanced rhythm.

hugs

A little more time...

This past week I slowed, enjoyed my family, pondered new things, and decided I still need more time away from the blog, away from expectations and being fully present in planning the steps forward.

I tend to take a week off every few months and within those seven days I quieten my soul, but only to a certain degree. Now I want to go deeper, to be mentally restful as a way of life.

This current time of rest and separation has taught me that the first week is about the unwind. 

It is a time to breathe and ponder with clarity which things matter most in my life, and to have that set in my mind before opening the doors of business and blogging again, because when those doors are flung wide once more much of this newly acquired peace and resolution can quickly evaporate in the needs of the moment. 

So I'm taking a second week of retreat, seven days with purpose. Seven days of building on the direction my heart wants to take, direction which needs a plan and definite application tools. I wish I'd realised this years ago...but perhaps, as in all things with God, now is the right time to grow in such understanding. This is my season to learn and apply and take more steps forward than I do back.

Having no car at my disposal this past month has kept me predominately home bound during the working week. At first it was nice, then it was a tad frustrating, but over the last seven days or so I've found my peace with it and even embraced the freedom it has offered me. Peace to go about my home duties and work to a relaxed rhythm. 

This made me think of growing up with Nana. 

We never owned a car nor had a telephone, so being at home each day was the most natural thing. On our once a week trip to buy groceries she'd hang up her apron, put on her 'going-out' dress, apply face powder and bright pink lipstick, clip on a pair of earrings, trade her scuffs for pretty sandals, remove the hair rollers to style her hair, and dress me up just as fine before we headed out the door and to the bus stop.

I've reflected on how times have changed and to what extent I changed with them. 

It's such a blessing to own a car, to be able to call or text my children and stay in touch, to see moment by moment photos of my grandchildren - those changes are a beautiful benefit.

Frankie Juliette in my daughter Aisha's glasses just the other day. A moment we shared even though she's 2,400 klms away...

But there are other changes I'd like to release myself from.

Like the hustle and bustle of expediency in day to day life, social media contacts that I really don't know much about, a lack of face to face time with real people I care about, juggling business and private emails so as not to fall behind, optioning fast food a little too often when work has overwhelmed...among other things. 

With progress comes good, and also bad. 

Finding a balance which allows you to be true to self and not appear ungracious or aloof requires (for me) prayer, family support and confidence that the path you choose is one which breathes life and does not extinguish it, nor overwhelm it.

That indeed is where my ponderings and plans lay at present.

Choosing the good, adapting to what cannot be changed, and eliminating the bad.

This past week:

I watched my husband's azalea bloom and our potted greenery begin to revive after some overdue care...

...and gave my body (as well as my mind) a rest by eating only fruit and vegetables, drinking only fresh water with lemon juice, and inspiring my creative mind to try new recipes.

A new sewing machine arrived...

...and some pretty fabrics which will be used for aprons and many other ideas.

We were blessed with a few garage sale finds on our regular Saturday morning adventure...

...and time was spent sorting through my quilts for three to display on the stand Mr E painted last month.

A new book arrived in the mail, one I believe will hold many ideas for sewing with those new fabrics...

...and I'm also planning a simple way to display this design from a few months back on a cream metal stand Mr E refashioned for me recently because the message is one I need reminding of often.

Making any house a home requires a heart with purpose to decorate accordingly, a desire to infuse an atmosphere of welcome for those who cross it's threshold, and a plan to create a sense of sanctuary for those who live under it's roof so that they long to come home.

Merging this desire with a home business in play requires balance so I'm adding that to my ponderings and plans next week. 

Living the gentle domestic life hand in hand with the creativity of a homemaker as well as a textile designer - without the business once again swamping the 'living' side - can be done, but it requires a good plan and plenty of prayer. 

It requires letting some things go and gathering better things to my heart.

And that dear friend is the balance I hope to find in this next week of 'rest'.

Sweet Cully May and Blossom have been to visit a few times and the popover apron I made for her birthday looks adorable so I'm sewing a few more.

Unfortunately our little girl has been sick again. 

We discovered she did not have Roseola (baby measles) last month after all, but it was in fact Scarlet Fever. Her hands and feet are still peeling and she's been teething molars as well. Whilst being hopeful she would soon recover and be able to enjoy good health once more Cully May has now come down with chicken pox.

What a month it has been for her and for Blossom, yet she still laughs, smiles, hugs you so tight you lose your breath - all in between bouts of pain, fever and itchiness.

To top all this off, on Thursday our precious angel was bitten on the face by one of Blossom and Ross's small dogs, Elmo. They adopted the 9 year old Pomeranian about six months before Cully May was born and since her birth he's never really taken to her, keeping his distance. This week he made an unprovoked attack on her face. She has three puncture marks on her nose, one which may scar, but has bounced back very well considering the shock and trauma.

Acting swiftly Blossom called our local dog facility who assessed Elmo and took him in to doggy foster care. 

So about now some good news would lift our spirits don't you think?

Cully May is going to be a big sister!

Blossom and Ross are expecting their second child early next year, around my birthday in late February. 

We'd love you to pray for this young family that their season of trial has now drawn to an end and that a time of peace and health and blessing shall abundantly fall upon them. 

(thank you)

I shall be back in another week and during that time I pray that the Lord would abundantly bless you and draw you closer to Him than ever before.

There is no greater joy than to sit at the Saviour's feet and worship Him with a thankful heart. 

hugs