A day early but this means I have the entire weekend free, and you have the entire weekend in which to stitch "Welcome"...
Welcome signs are a personal favourite of mine.
Just seeing those words displayed in someone's home encourages me to soften my shoulders and breathe out in expectation of a relaxed and warm visit.
In this month's block I've given you some lovely stitches with which to play.
Alongside my beloved Backstitch we have Satin Stitch flowers with bundles of Colonial Knots for the centres, Chain Stitch for the wording and those sweet little hearts, all finished with Lazy Daisy leaves and scattered baby blue Cross-Stitches across the stems.
Do you like the butterfly?
I gave her a Satin Stitched upper body and head, Lazy Daisy lower body, Backstitch-ed antennae and wing outline, then filled her wings with flower inspired Colonial Knots.
Everything has been stitched with two strands of thread except for her antennae which is a single strand.
This month's block was a joy to design and stitch. Small and simple, it reflects what I love most about home...simplicity, welcome and warmth of heart.
I was going to frame it when I finished the embroidery but then decided to add more homely simplicity with the addition of pretty borders to finish Welcome as a mini-quilt (or small table runner).
In case you like this display of Welcome I've included the instructions for sewing my mini quilt in the free Block 3 pattern.
Mr E begins two weeks holiday tomorrow and I can't wait. He still needs to fix the air conditioning in the Jeep but once that's done we may finally be able to head out on a short road trip, something we have missed for many months.
It is still awfully hot and humid where I live, the hope of experiencing an autumn seems once again to have evaded our tropical part of the state. I'll be honest and tell you that not having relief from heat since last August is taking a toll and the past few days I have felt myself sliding into depression. The high humidity has swollen all my joints, triggered more migraines than I can say and robbed me of the opportunity to go out walking as my husband deems it not safe for me to leave the house at 5am to circle the neighbourhood (and he's right). I yearn for cooler days, a cool breeze, walking at a decent hour when it's much safer.
People who have lived here all their life manage so much better in the constant heat and at times it makes me feel as though I'm nothing more than a complainer, but even almost eight years living here I can't seem to manage after mid-March...the physical weariness flows into emotional exhaustion and all I want to do some days is sleep in freezing cold air conditioning under a comforting blanket like a small child, or have a jolly good cry - but I don't do either.
So why am I sharing this today?
Keeping it real, actually.
Nobody is immune to struggle, challenges, some form of sadness or depression, but too often it's not spoken about.
There are a number of things which can trigger seasons of depression in my life but right now it's an inability to get out in nature because my body cannot cope physically with a seventh month of endless heat.
I'm a nature girl at heart who loves to walk barefoot in the grass and sit among the trees, absorbing all the beauty of creation, filling my 'joy' tank to overflowing, and in a couple more months that will come my way again as we experience a short winter reprieve here (our winter is like a mild spring, so beautiful).
Being aware of 'what' my triggers are helps me to remember that these dark days or weeks of depression will indeed pass and not to believe this will never end.
If you're feeling low or weary right now I'm praying for you when I pray for myself.
God knows who you are and He listens to our prayers. The darkness may not lift immediately but we're not alone as we walk the road to lighter days if we hold tightly to Him.
Always hope, always.
Bless you heaps,
