Seasons of change and a free gift...

 Just as in nature there is a progression of seasonal changes, so in life we also journey through various seasons. 

This year has been a wonderful season of slowing for me, something I had long desired but not quite achieved, though not through want of trying. I used to strive for slow...and isn't that a strange thing to do?

Interpreting slow as having less, I set my mind on a path to decluttering our home, removing everything which seemed superfluous to the life I longed to lead. But decluttering is not slowing. It is simply the absence of things to store, display or maintain. 

Don't misunderstand me, I am and will always be one who declutters regularly, but this rhythm in my life did not slow me...it just gave my visual need for order a desired sense of calm. 

As the months of 2022 have steadily come and gone, the real lesson of slower living has grown in my understanding, becoming increasingly evident in the day to day rituals and practicalities of homemaking, conversation, planning and mindset.

Preparing breakfast as the sun rises each morning; changing the linen sheets and freshening the bedroom every Thursday; milling flour to bake a new loaf of bread; moving smaller garden beds of greens into the dappled shade of our Poinciana tree when the burn from the afternoon sun begins to singe their delicate leaves; hanging washing on the line and inhaling the freshness of sunshine when I take it off later in the day to fold and put away; walking around the yard mid-morning to check on our fruits and vegetables as I gather cucumbers, tomatoes and greens for lunch; tending to the daily gardening tasks and admiring God's creation as I go...all of this is done slowly now. The rush has left me. The striving has fallen away like autumn leaves on a tree. 

With slowing comes contentment and peace of mind. With slowing, I am giving myself more time to ponder God's Word and not be distracted by the noise and voices of this modern fast-paced world.

I'm intentional about using time at the computer wisely (writing blog posts and answering emails) because I don't enjoy sitting in front of a screen anymore, unless there's a purpose to it. 

One purpose during our tropical winter has been to learn things I did not know, but which add benefit to our lives here on our quarter acre...things like fermenting and preserving food. I've also uncovered old books which teach these skills, and acquired more knowledge from those locally who know about preserving in the hot tropics so that I do not waste produce.

Some friends have noticed that I've been quieter, as have my daughters, and I think that's a good thing, in fact I believe it's confirmed to my heart that at last, this desire for a slower yet more productive life is indeed happening. 

I've never been a social butterfly, it's not appealing. Being home each day and tending to life here, working at my stitchery design business, and helping the family - those satisfied me. Yet, within that home-centred life I still set my mind to achieve as much as possible in the day...until one day I just wanted everything to slow down because I couldn't see any room to spread myself and learn new things. That's when decluttering, something I'd regularly done, became even more of a habit...because I thought having less around would slow my life. 

This year I have decluttered with a different purpose, and I have allowed myself to let many distractions and self-applied obligations fall away...like autumn leaves. The heavy weights of time, mental anxiety, and future business planning are lifted, and I am walking lighter, thinking clearer, and able to give myself with full attention to the tasks before me.

No longer am I frustrated with a two-day rising of sour dough. Instead, I pick up the bowl and admire the bubbles appearing as the fermenting bread dough works it's magic. Whilst I still bake a regular loaf every few days, the slow loaves of sour dough bring me greater satisfaction and are a reminder that good things come to those who wait.

Though I've not as much time for hand embroidery lately, it's simply because the time I have is given over to things which matter more, time that is no longer rushed. Simplifying Elefantz Designs earlier this year, reducing the workload by about 80%, has made a huge difference to those parcels of rest and free time I enjoy today, and though embroidery is still one of my delights, it's done when I feel like it and thus it has become even more delightful. The business is mostly 'maintained' now through my Etsy Shop (here) and the established 12-month pattern club (here), which only takes one afternoon each week. 

In the afternoons I brew a pot of tea, choose a sweet treat, and spend 15-30 minutes reading. The joy of reading returned this year and I cherish the time given to it.

Not one for modern novels I've always enjoyed older books, those written in slower times, and this year I'm especially enjoying those with a home focus, the books of my youth which I'd almost forgotten - like Little Women. 

Recently I purchased a lovely devotional, drawn from chapters in Little Women, and together they have highlighted areas of Christian character which draw us closer to living our lives in a way that glorifies the Lord. It's not a children's devotional, if you're wondering, but when my grandchildren are a little older it will definitely offer godly lessons I can teach through.

Would you mind sharing about your own journey to slower living? I'd love to glean from your experience. Or perhaps you're still working out what slowing means to you, and how it would enhance your life?

Free book study bookmarks...

I received a lot of feedback about the little quotes included with last week's Emilie Barnes book study and thought you may like to have them in a "Creativity" bookmark format to download and print up.

They'd be lovely to use in your own reading, but would also make useful and pretty gifts for posting or slipping inside a gift book. 

I printed mine on heavy weight 250gsm paper, not regular printing paper (which is usually 80gsm) and after punching a hole in the top I added some pretty ribbon.

If you'd like to download the bookmarks I have two paper formats - A4 size such as we use here in Australia, and Letter size such as may be used overseas.

Click on the link below that suits your country's paper size...

Download the A4 "Creativity" bookmark file

Download the Letter "Creativity" bookmark file

With that I shall sign off for this week, and leave you with some inspiration and a promise. God bless you all!

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."  Jude 1:25

hugs

Kitchen Crafts Project No 2 plus a giveaway!

 

Did you make the 1st Simple Kitchen Crafts project? Perhaps you missed that post and the companion pattern? You'll find it HERE

This month my Simple Kitchen Craft is a recipe book cover with bookmark. 

I was going to share a lot of my recipes with you this week, all in one file to download, but this is going to take far more time than I imagined so it might be a couple of months before that's ready - however, as I turned page after page of my own recipe file, I could see the loose pages are very stained and torn and forlorn...and of course, that gave me the idea for a fresh, bound and covered recipe book.

I wanted something bright for the kitchen shelf, as well as the opportunity to use up some recycled lemon linen and a piece of fabric which has languished in my stash for far too long. The right choice of thread colours brought both linen and fabric together nicely.

Can you see the little hole in the centre of the jug? It's made the same way as the hole in the String Bag stitchery last month, because I was a bit absent minded when I stitched this pretty jug and thought it was for another string bag. So, if you want another string dispenser bag you could stitch the jug for it, okay?!

I bought a good quality journal for this project, one with sewn in pages so that it could stand the test of time...especially if it's going to be passed down. The pattern has full instructions for the stitcheries and also for making the recipe book cover. I especially like having the bookmark sewn into the cover. 

It is sewn into the back cover...

...and folds over onto the page you're using. 

I thought that if I write just one recipe a day into my newly covered book, that's a task which could be easily accomplished. To imagine writing more than that - well, it just wouldn't happen. Best to set a goal that is manageable, not one which overwhelms you. Besides, with the issues I have with nerves in my right thumb, I would only manage a single recipe at a time anyhow, and I want it all to be neat. Did I ever tell you that I received an award for "The Neatest Books in 6th Grade" when I was young? Sadly, my handwriting has gotten a tad sloppy since typing took over in life. Sigh.

Having a pretty recipe book is actually a good incentive to keep your handwriting neat, don't you agree?

Use the link below to download the pattern. And would you mind pinning it to Pinterest for me? 

DOWNLOAD Simple Kitchen Crafts Recipe Book Cover pattern

My Pinterest 'P' has disappeared from my blog photos since the latest blog-makeover, and I haven't had time to fix it. Again, sigh. Eventually I'll catch up with things, but I really am enjoying having hubby home right now, so time with him is a priority for the next fortnight.

Now, a giveaway!!

My friend Xanthe, of Wife-Made, is a very clever quilt designer who also dabbles with a variety of other patterns for her shop. I absolutely love this younger sister-in-Christ, who is married with four children, and works her design magic from home, for she has the funniest sense of humour and is the kind of woman who puts you at ease immediately. 

Well, recently Xanthe offered me one of her brand new oven mitts, made from recycled woollen blankets and gorgeous fabric linings. Bless her heart, I said yes please...and it's in the mail and on the way to me now. Squeal of delight!

But Xanthe also offered to give me one of her oven mitt kits for a giveaway here on Elefantz!

The kit will not be the same as the oven mitt in the photo above, because all of her kits are unique and made from different woollen blankets and fabrics. In fact here's some pics of the oven mitts designs she has...

Xanthe sells KITS and PATTERNS for her Oven Mitts in her shop so if you'd like to jump in and start sewing now, use the link below. 

VISIT the WIFE-MADE SHOP

But let me show you a few more of her patterns, because if you're not into oven mitts you just might like to sew a set of beautiful wings for that special little girl in your life...

...or start piecing an Espalier quilt?!

You can follow Xanthe HERE on Instagram or use @wifemade

Okay - the giveaway...all you need do is leave a comment on today's blog post (the one you're reading right now) and be sure to leave an email address if you're anonymous or don't have an email attached to your usual comment profile. 

I'll draw the winner on Tuesday May 17th (Australian time) and if your name is drawn out but I cannot contact you, then I will do a redraw - so please leave contact details.  

The winner will receive one of Xanthe's Wife-Made Oven Mitt kids, and the giveaway is open internationally. 

Now why don't you pop over HERE to her blog for a visit?

Bless you all, I'm actually a bit under the weather today with a sore throat and achy all over so sitting here typing all this up was much easier than washing all the floors. I mean, they'll be there tomorrow, right? But today, feet up and lots of lemon balm, honey and ginger tea...and maybe an afternoon nap. 

Hugs