Bubbling over...

Two punnets of strawberries had been waiting patiently in the fridge for a week to be made into jam.

For various reasons I'd not made time to follow through on that plan until Wednesday evening. With a chicken curry simmering away on the stove top, rice steaming and chapati bread being cooked one by one on the piping hot griddle, I thought to myself this would be the perfect time to get that strawberry jam going. 

Oh silly, overconfident me.

I did finely chop the strawberries, did put berries, sugar, lemon and dab of pectin in the saucepan, did bring it to the boil, did lower the gas flame to a simmer...and did walk away forgetting to remove the lid from the saucepan.

Too many things happening at once, and then I was distracted by a text from Blossom which triggered a series of back and forth messages. Oblivious to what was happening on the stove top we discussed the pros and cons of a rental home she and Ross had gone to see that day.

Then the smell of burning sweetness wafted past my nose and a light bulb came on in my head - the jam!! 

Cleaning a gas stove top is not my favourite chore but it's also not a hard one and can be done quickly every day or so. But a gas stove top which now holds a soup of bubbled over strawberry jam is not quite so easily brought back to it's shimmering stainless steel glory. 

Serving dinner, intent on ignoring the jam which was gradually cooling to a sticky red gel under the gas jets, I thought "this is like my life". 

Too many distractions, no clear cut plan most days, too many ideas often put into play at not the right time, and then everything bubbles over and becomes a mess which takes even more of my time to clean up and put back in order. 

I called this the strawberry jam lesson on life.

Fortunately I salvaged the jam which remained in the saucepan, a mere half pot, but jam nonetheless and though it's not as thick as I'd normally make it, it tastes good. Especially when it drips off your toast and you need to catch it on your tongue before it hits your blouse.

Earlier that day a parcel had arrived with my new day planner. I really like the one I began in January and it has truly helped to keep my business and some household things ticking over nicely, at least until the "house hunting in earnest" began and the pneumonia set in. Since then it has barely been opened.

So I ordered another one, but this time it's an 18 month planner which runs through to the end of 2019, and I'm keeping it open on my desk all the time. Regardless of this season of life with it's distractions and all the comings and goings from open houses or private viewings, if I want to avoid a bubbling over mess from too many distractions and hands that are over-full, it is vitally important that I look at each day as having 24 precious hours, and allow those hours to be considerately filled with sleep, homemaking, design work, book work, relationships, God and free time.

I'm a visual learner, hands on, who writes a lot of lists, but my lists would too often be on scraps of paper that got lost or put somewhere I later forgot. Slowly this year I had been training myself not to do that. Slowly I had learned to keep one 'to do' list on the kitchen bench and one in my planner.

But then the house thing, ill health, and a few other family matters which took time and energy.

And then the jam mess.

I was off track again and it was obvious, so unpacking the new planner I set it out on my desk, replaced the to-do list on my kitchen bench and bought myself a pot of lavender because lavender never causes stress...

The table on our enclosed verandah is now my permanent space for quiet Bible study, prayer, tea and cake and I've even made sure that time is written in my planner...

A new book is speaking to my heart during afternoon rest time...

...and Honey Murcott mandarins are my simple go-to snack.

Slowing down, pulling back, not over-planning, removing physical and mental clutter, simplifying - this could be a recipe for avoiding the mess of a bubbling over life, I think?

On another note, with great rejoicing and a little push from God, I have closed my 'Jenny of Elefantz' Facebook business page. It was a romping success, but I don't much like the way Facebook is going and the insistent push for business pages to buy advertising or be punished by your posts barely being seen by about ten percent of followers.

Nope, don't need that. Mental clutter gone. Burden gone. Stressful manipulation gone.

I still have the Gentle Domesticity Group on FB but may also make changes with that later in the year to a message board format. For now that's an idea, but it needs a lot of prayer and some time to create. God will guide me if it's the way to go.

How are you going with de-cluttering your life?

What have you let go of recently?

What do you find difficult to let go of?

I'd love to hear from you, to know this bubbling over life isn't just exclusive to me, and also to hear how you've been able to make changes for the better. 

hugs

Need something to stitch? I regularly add new patterns to my shop for instant download!

Visit Elefantz Designs here.

Everyone has a story...

Those of you who've read my blog over a period of years know most of the time my life runs at a fairly energetic pace. Not that I'm out and about a lot, because that's not the kind of person God made me to be. My nature is grounded in the home, and I truly do bloom within my own domestic sanctuary. 

It's actually my mind that travels at the speed of light, the next new idea tapping at the heel of the one before and always just minutes or if I'm lucky maybe an hour apart, and this happens even in my sleep. I've never had the fortune to find that elusive 'off' switch beside my brain that would allow me to zone out and simply shut down all ideas and plans. My mind literally clicks over and over and over, day in and day out, and it gets exhausting.

This past year has been a new learning curve of daily sifting those ideas as quickly as I can into a 'discard' or 'keep' mental bucket. The more time I've had to practice this, the easier it has become to let go of more than I hold on to. 

However, something else happened this year which has also helped in the strangest way. At first I thought I was losing my mind, then I thought I was becoming a hypochondriac and began freaking out about the conclusions I was making about my mental health. 

After a pretty bad fall last year I found physical fatigue to be a regular companion. I mentioned it to my husband, Blossom and Aisha - mostly because I couldn't hide it - but didn't tell them just how bad it really was. I also told two close friends, but again, didn't expand as much as I could have.

A few more symptoms came in to play this year and I started toying with the idea I had chronic fatigue. The downside of this was that apart from the actual fatigue I didn't have the other symptoms of that condition.

In June I went downhill fast and was diagnosed with pnuemonia. Fair enough. I didn't bounce back the way my doctor had hoped and the fatigue just got worse than ever. More symptoms came into play. 

I began a new migraine preventative drug in early October (45 years of chronic migraines and this drug is for epileptics so is the last resort for me) and a few side effects mimicked things I had been experiencing for over a year, but now they just got a little worse. A few weeks went by and I came clean with my doctor and told her the full extent of what I'd been experiencing for about 18 months. She sent me for an MRI.

Now you might wonder why I'd not told the doctor everything from the beginning, why I never even told her about that bad fall last year either. 

After 45 years of migraine, after my father living with migraines all his life and dying of a brain tumour at age 59, after my Uncle Brian dying of a brain tumour at age 57 (I am now 57)...well, I just didn't want to go looking for a tumour.

It took me months to get to a place in my mind and in my heart with God, where I could lay aside fear and walk with confidence into that magnetised machine and find out what was going on inside my brain.

The results?

I do not have a brain tumour.

Hallelujah!

But I do have a brain trauma injury which is causing the symptoms that made me think I was going a bit nuts, the symptoms I've attempted to hide or downplay for about 18 months. 

The injury is permanent and will not improve. Some things will not get any worse, and some will.

The incredible physical fatigue that hits hard out of the blue and takes me days to recover from will be my lifelong companion, and I can't do anything quickly anymore. Life seems like it's going in slow motion for me, but really, it's normal pace for most people and I'm okay about that.

I've been forced to slow down, and now I can see the view.

The insatiable thirst that never slackens is mine forever because that part of my brain is damaged, and it's also the part that tells me I always need to pee. That really makes me laugh! LOL!!! Truly, I do get a lot of laughter from this because there's some weird stuff my brain does now. 

Just having conversations makes me really exhausted - dialogue wearies me, you know? Who would have thought that?

My close-up eyesight has been on a downward slope for 18 months, yet it used to be perfect. It was my distance sight that has been a problem all my life. Now I can see in the distance, but need glasses to read the computer screen. 

There's other things, but they are my things...stuff for me to know, my family to know.

So what now? I'm simplifying my life, little by little.

Even my threads. They were such a mess. I have five boxes like this to 'make nice'...

Because I hand embroider it seems wasteful to have much fabric so I gave most of it to Blossom and she will be selling it to buy what she needs for their little family.

This is all I have now, a few little piles on my sewing room shelves, and it feels peaceful in my heart...

I did keep a bundle of one hundred 5" pink & green squares and a little yardage for a quilt I'll be making with the designs from December's Stitchery Club patterns...

I'm still designing.

It's what I do, it's what God gifted me to do.

I won't do as many tutorials, but I will keep blogging to encourage you in your God given roles as incredible women who have stories of your own, stories that make you who you are, stories that you can share to encourage others.

I'm not telling you about me today because I want you to feel sorry for me, or because I want any kind of sympathy or a pat on the back - goodness me, no!

I'm really happy this happened to me. It has made me appreciate LIFE, the gift of who I have, what I have, and where I am.

It's not life threatening and compared to so many of you, I have got it easy.

There are other areas of my life that I'd rather not have experienced, things way worse than a manageable brain injury, but that is the point I am making.

We all have a story.

We each have a good story, a sad one, a brave one, a hard one, a generous one, a compassionate one, a still-in-process one, a yet-to-be-lived one, a miraculous one...every person you meet has a story to tell, so be kind to them, and pray that your seeds of kindness will reap a harvest of kindness back into your life when you need it most.

In our Gentle Domesticity Facebook Group last week, a dear member, Jan, lost her husband rather suddenly. She's a woman who posts quite regularly in the group, a lovely lady, an encourager.

In that message, sharing the news of her beloved's passing she again encouraged us with these words, 

Love each other, hug each other because you never know.

The response from our group members, wrapping their arms around Jan through their comments brought tears to many eyes I'm sure...and that's what mattered most. Her story matters to us, her sorrow and loss and knowing we can't be there in person but we can listen, we can pray, and we can let her know we truly do care.

I gave our group members this stitchery over the weekend because I think we all, at some time, need to be reminded that kindness is a free gift, and something every person has need of.

If you'd like to join the group and access the free pattern from our files you are most welcome. 

You'll find us here.

I think that's certainly enough from me today, don't you?

God be with you always, and may you be blessed in abundant measure with every good thing, especially kindness.

love and hugs

Things about home...

The days spent with a precious daughter and granddaughter who traveled far to see me this past week were beyond joyous.

Loving on them, caring for them in my own home, reaping love and hugs and endless conversations...blessed beyond words.

Seeing my own home through the eyes of a daughter is a wonderful thing because I too often miss what's before me, you know? 

Too often our homes becomes a shell we live in, though lovely in display we forget to truly look and be thankful for what we have. My girl felt embraced by simple beauty, grounded in safe surrounds, LOVED by the atmosphere of welcome and invitation. I shall treasure her words and not take my humble surrounds for granted any longer.

Reminded me of this stitchery from last year, designed because I love 'home' and all that can bring, all that can offer if we're open to receive.

 I popped the pattern back in my shop, just in case...

Samplers always direct my thoughts to the simpler times of home life, when what mattered was how you felt at home - not overawed by stuff or pomp and ceremony, but by arms stretched wide to receive a little child, wild flowers in the garden and a kettle on the boil for a friend come to visit.

Guess that's why I love them so much.

When Anita was here we talked and talked for hours, sharing the past, the present, and hopes for the future. She both inspired me and made me laugh so much my ribs still hurt, yet at the same time Anita welcomed and invited  my counsel in her own life.

Many times Blossom would join us and there we would be, a mother and two daughters, two little grandbabies close by, unraveling motherhood, wiving, and homemaking mysteries together. Over a cuppa we delved into almost every topic of life and shared our thoughts unhindered by criticism. 

We loved on each other, we loved with each other, we gave love, we received love.

And respect, so much respect. How proud I am of these young women, and how much I am learning from them.

Over a cuppa we women relax, open up, comfort, encourage, and occasionally solve the problems of the world...well, perhaps not solve, but we certainly have a plan. We laugh, we cry, we forgive, we mend.

Reconnecting with family and friends and making time to sit without distractions and ENJOY each other over a cup of tea, that's a suggestion I made to the sweet members of our Gentle Domesticity Facebook group this weekend. 

Simple things can be life-giving when the busyness of a daily grind has swept your breath away or when loneliness surrounds you. Perhaps you're in need of some down time with a cuppa and a friend too?

A warm brew, a slice of cake, a smile, an ear to listen, a laugh over silly things...sound good?

This week ahead I shall be preparing my heart and home for another daughter to arrive from far away, and much of what Anita shared about 'home' will be forefront in my thoughts.

How is your heart with regards to home?

Are you in need of afternoon tea with a friend or two?

Will you bless yourself and stop the clock for a few hours to simply enjoy time together?

Here's a free teapot pattern you can stitch, something simple and sweet that could become a tray mat or tea cosy...whatever puts a smile on your dear face.

 My friends, enjoy this day, give thanks, breathe deep, embrace goodness.

You're worth it.

Both patterns are here in my shop.

 Have a blessed and beauty-filled week,

hugs

Apron Allsorts!

I seriously adore aprons.

Just wish I had some spare time to make more.

Might take a couple of weeks holiday from Elefantz Designs in October and play with that idea? Mmmm.

In the meantime, want to make some free apron-inspired projects this weekend?

You do?!  

Great, 'cause I found you some during an early evening browse across the world wide web, whilst at the same time savouring a yummy choc mint ice-cream cookie Mr E had given me. 

'Skinny Cow' ice-cream cookies are delicious, by the way.

Anyhow, I made this block last year when Fat Quarter Shop released it as part of their 2015 BOM and I still love it to pieces. Mine became a wall hanging (you can see it here) and as the pattern is still a free download you could raid your fabric shelves and be sewing one today or tonight, depending where in the world your sweet self resides.

Download it here.

 How simple is this apron to make?! The 1 Yard Magic Apron pattern comes from Lecien Fabrics and you can follow a tutorial to make your own here at Sew Can She!

How about a sweet vintage embroidery pattern?

Free to download here from about.com or click on the photo below and save to your computer...

Do you have a supply of vintage embroidered linens?

IDEA: Why not make some into pockets to sew on your aprons, or simply to tie around your waist like this?

(I am seriously making a few! How adorable!)

 

Have you tried chicken scratch embroidery on gingham?

I haven't, but always wanted to because I think it looks cute as pie on vintage style aprons, so I found a tutorial to teach us over at Rocksea.

There are two lessons - part 1 here and part 2 here.

Did you follow my Vintage Kitchen BOM last year?

I shared this little redwork stitchery as the February block...

The full set of 9 Vintage Kitchen stitchery patterns with instructions for the final quilt 

assembly are here in my shop ON SALE until September 30. 

 

But if you'd just like the apron stitchery pattern you can download that one for free from the files in my Gentle Domesticity Facebook Group!

 Not a member yet?  You can join us here. 

The group has almost 800  members now, so feel free to chat along about the gentle domestic life as we stitch this year's BOM. The girls are such a friendly bunch!

Better sign off and get an early night because I've got a spare bedroom to finish decorating before one of my daughters flies in on Monday with her own daughter, a sweet 2yo I've never met. 

So excited, but there's still much to do...

Have a blessed weekend!

Living the gentle domestic life (in an apron)...

A few months ago I began a Facebook group for those who are stitching this year's BOM project, "Gentle Domesticity". 

At first the conversation sprung from sharing photos of completed blocks, asking questions to do with stitchery, and generally comments pertaining to sewing. 

But then I began asking different questions to group members, questions like what we find important in our role as homemakers, chores we struggle to complete, or ideas for re-purposing items. 

I figured that if we're like-minded in stitching blocks about the gentle domestic life then maybe we should take advantage of the almost 600 strong membership and share our thoughts and ask questions about our lives as homemakers.

The conversations which followed have been truly encouraging, respectful, and interesting. It's a blessing to have such beautiful and wise hearts who are open to sharing their lives with us and I look forward to future growth in this aspect of our group.

If you'd like to join the Gentle Domesticity Facebook group it's quite easy. 

Just go here and either myself, Heather or Fee will approve you. 

As soon as that happens, introduce yourself and chat away!

 

APRONS

When I think about the role of homemaker, or what it means to be one, the image of my Nana in one of her many aprons always comes to mind. They were faded, well worn, and as much the uniform of her 'profession' as a nurse in medical attire. Back in the day all women I knew wore an apron, but then there was this huge block of time when aprons became almost obsolete, in fact I think they were looked on as an embarrassment? 

Thankfully, the humble apron has had a resurgence in popularity, so I did a little wander around Pinterest the other night to find some new/old patterns that may be useful to you, patterns I'd like to make for myself - like this one from the Vintage Crafts & More website...

This simple pocketed apron has a tutorial and is kindly shared on the Yards & Yards blog...

This sweet half apron also comes with a tutorial! It's shared on the Sew 4 Home website...

...and don't forget the slip-over apron I made last year with a pattern shared by Amy Barickman. 

The link to download the PDF pattern is in this blog post.

Beautiful aprons made by my friends Fee, Barbra and Margaret hang by the side of my pantry with the ones I've made myself, and are used every day - but I always need a couple more. They're a joy to make, and especially lovely to gift for birthdays and special occasions.

(Even dear Blossom wears one of my aprons now!)

Before I go can I show you a photo of my dear Nana, complete with apron and hair in curlers?

As a child I noticed most women of Nana's age wore curlers at home - glad that's not come back in vogue!

The wonderful little black and white dog with Nana is Soxie.

He used to walk me to school every day, and meet me at the school gate each afternoon to bring me home again. My life fell to pieces as an 11yo when he died.

Simpler times, I miss them, but we cannot live in the past, only make the best of the day at hand and show love and care to the people we're blessed to have in our lives right now.

I hope you have a lovely weekend! 

Perhaps we'll all be making aprons? I know my friend Heather has just made a pretty one so I'm extra inspired, and I do hope she reads this and puts a photo on her blog...hint hint Heather dear...

hugs

Block 6 Gentle Domesticity BOM...

How are you coming along with your Gentle Domesticity blocks so far? Have you stitched them all, or just the ones you love best or find most relevant to your life? Seeing completed stitcheries by members of my Gentle Domesticity Facebook group has been a blessing beyond words. Their love and home-hearted delight in every stitch is so evident. 

Now here we are in June and it's time for you to download block 6!

June's stitchery reminds me that every decision or response I make in my home or within my family, is an opportunity to create a memory which may last longer than my years on earth. 

Have you considered that? 

 

On Friday I spent the day with my dear friend Heather and her daughter Barb. We were discussing this very design and the message within, how it's too easy to be distracted by 'things' or 'work' and miss opportunities to build on relationships and create lasting memories.

It made us think about community and how we are not created to be alone. The saying "many hands make light work" was one I grew up with and I saw it lived out in our street through the coming and goings of my Nana and Pop and their neighbours. 

While the children played in the street after dinner our parents, in my case grandparents, would bring their cup of tea outside and chat about the day, swap cucumbers for tomatoes, ask advice on this that and the other, all the time keeping a keen eye on us kids. If help was needed to stack wood for Old Mister Brown's autumn fire the men would see to it. When young Mrs Johnston came home from hospital with baby number three all the women would see to it her washing and ironing was done, the two older children were bathed, her house was spotless, and a pot of rabbit stew and steaming jam pudding were waiting on the table for the family to enjoy. People worked hard for their families, but they still took time out to care for their neighbours.  

 When I was 7 years old my Aunt Nita, who was 90 years old and could barely see, taught me to knit. She sat me down on her front porch in a pillow strewn wicker chair and slowly and patiently took my little hands and helped me make magic with pointed tortoiseshell needles and soft pink wool. When I was 17 and expecting my first baby I knitted an intricate lacy blue cardigan, all the while remembering Aunt Nita's gentle coaching, her soft wavering voice, and the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon sprinkled apple pie cut into generous slices which she served after our lessons.

Fifty years later I still have those childhood memories firmly etched in my mind and on my heart, and even though I cannot go back in time and live like that again, I can harness what I know and choose to care, choose to be kind, and create memories for another generation. 

There's a lot of food for thought in this block, don't you think?

I'd love to hear about the special memories you hold dear from childhood. Would you share one with us in the comments? Though our Gentle Domesticity community may be online through a blog, we can still inspire and encourage one another.

 

Block 6 is a free download HERE in my shop until July 4th.

Blocks 1 - 5 are also in the shop as a $2 purchase.

Heather has been stitching all my Gentle Domesticity blocks ahead of time. She's been my sounding board since this idea grew two years ago, a God given friend who blesses me in more ways than I count.

I'd love for you to visit Heather's blog, At Home With Heather, and see her beautiful Gentle Domesticity stitcheries, they're gorgeous!

Just click right HERE and you'll be on your way to meet another homemaker-sister-of-the-heart.

hugs,

Gentle Domesticity BOM block 4...

'Plant for the future'...that simple and age-old process of preparing soil, planting a seed, watering, weeding, tending, and watching it grow to full bloom. 

I think that's exactly what womanhood is all about, too.

 We must prepare the soil of our hearts to receive and nourish seeds of love that come our way through the blessing of a husband, children, grandchildren and other unique souls the Lord may lead into our life.

By wisely tending this heart-garden, carefully (and often daily) removing weeds of discontent, selfishness, laziness or bitterness, and watering it with honesty, kindness, thoughtfulness, humility and forgiveness, the character of each bloom we grow from our life example can be a great legacy to leave behind for those who follow after.

I used to think that it was too late for my family to see the 'better' changes made in my character, changes that over a decade grew me closer to where I needed and wanted to be. 

But I was wrong. 

Over the last few months some of my children have quietly shared the things I've been teaching them without my knowing it, and I realised all the examples they gave were lessons I had been intentionally addressing in my character for many, many years.

 And here we were, much further along life's garden path than when I first donned my gardening apron, and those seeds I had chosen to plant and tend and nourish, were blooming before them.

There are still many heart-gardens for me to till, weed, plant and tend in my character, but having borne that first sweet fruit I can testify that this is a good garden path to follow in life.

Many of us can remember the times of failure and regret that mar our life memories, but take heart dear friend. Life has seasons, and like the garden as the seasons change, we can break up the old soil and start over again. 

It's simply never too late for fresh blooms and a new life memory to be made.

Let's begin fresh today, shall we?

Let us choose to plant, for the future. 

xxx

Block 4 is a free pattern download here in my shop until May 4th.

Blocks 1, 2 and 3 are $2 each and also available as downloads in my shop.

 GENTLE DOMESTICITY Facebook Group

Are you enjoying stitching these blocks?

Would you like to share your photos and ideas with others who are playing along too?

You would? Wonderful, because yesterday I set up a Facebook group just for you!

Join HERE.

I'd love to see you there.

Be blessed,