Good afternoon lovely friends, I do hope you've had a lovely week and been looking after yourselves and your home.
Finally, the fourth issue of my free Homemakers Heart magazine is ready and waiting for you to download. It's definitely been a labour of thought, care and hours this time, but my prayer is that within the pages you find something fun, useful, encouraging and pretty.
I enjoyed making the "Little Bird" pincushion and journal cover in soft blue and cream, very much inspired by quieter days at home and my desire for projects which calm the eyes as well as the mind. I wonder what colours you will use if you make them?
Use the link below to download this issue.
I'm taking a break...
I was under the weather and needed to rest a few days this week, then in the very midst of this slowing of self, especially in the very overcast and still hours before sunset yesterday, I realised it was time for a longer rest.
Being a sole business owner/designer rarely offers an opportunity for holiday breaks, and I really don't think we've had one in at least two years - and even then it was just two nights at the lake. But right now I need to retreat a while, so I'm going to step away from the blog for the rest of July, and possibly the beginning of August.
I'll have more time to spend in our winter garden, make a new menu plan of nutritious, tasty and satisfying meals, host my little granddaughters for a fun day each week, create and enjoy sewing in my newly ordered sewing space, read the books sitting piled beside the bed...and generally walk in homemaker contentment without work distractions and obligations.
Before I got ill, and during the lockdown last week, it felt so good to slowly pull apart the sewing room and actually plan how I'd like it organised. You've seen it many times, and yes, it's organised because that's how my brain works, but this time I looked at aesthetics as well as removing and donating excess, labelling everything clearly, and moving the leather armchair out into the living room to give me a 'not so squishy' room.
A few photos from one side of the room...
...and the other side.
In my month long retreat from the blog I plan to immerse myself more deeply in God's Word and design a whole new series of Scripture patterns, because that's where my mind drifts to as I read my Bible. Having this sewing and design space so fresh and organised makes that task much more productive.
From the garden we're eating cucumbers, sugar snap peas, passionfruit (still!), sorrel, rocket, lettuce, and herbs, and soon there will be tomatoes, strawberries, pumpkins and zucchini.
The garden is definitely a calming place for the soul, so while we're apart think of me there surrounded by the birds, the vegetables, and all the beautiful flowers which have flourished with such abundant colour that they often take my breath away.
And I shall be praying for you, dear hearts.
Would you keep darling Blossom in your prayers as she is down with pneumonia and this makes life very difficult with three very young children. Another reason for me to step away and have more time to help my loved ones.
Be well, be gracious, be creative, and choose joy every day.
Love
PS: my month off will not affect the Simple Days BOM club, or the Let's Stitch Again club. Patterns will be sent as usual. xx
Patterns for the next set of Let's Stitch Again can be seen HERE on the club webpage.