Finding joy in the everyday

Quilting Bees "The quilting bee was an extremely popular social event in the midnineteenth century. The quilting bee provided a social space for women to gather and gossip while they simultaneously expressed their artistic capabilities. The quilting bee was often times held in a grange hall or a church vestry room which allowed for a maximum number of 12 women to attend. Often times, the number of guests was limited to seven, who, with the hostess, made up two quilting frames, the equivalent of two tables of bridge. Good quilting in earlier times was a social requisite, and it behooved the ambitious woman to be an expert with her needle." (source )  Quilting bees  was one of the ways women got together and built strong communities and forges lasting bonds between each other. Women of the past were out far more than we imagine. We like to think they were at home all day long, but just like modern women, they too got cabin fever and needed the interaction of other wo...

Both paintings by John Sloan "The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies." (J. R. Miller) Never underestimate the power you have at home—you set the scene for family life, you create the cosiness of the home, you have built a sanctuary for all whom dwell within, you prepare the healthy meals your family eat, you keep the home clean and tidy, you drive the atmosphere of the home, you create moments things for your loved ones. You play a vital role which should never be underestimated. Even years later, those you once nurtured, who have since flown the nest will remember all the things you did to make their lives so perfect.  Mothers and wives are important in the lives of others. My mother created the most wonderful home full of Christian love, a place that was a sanctuary from the world and its troubles. My mother wasn't a fu...

Kathy's quilt Finally done . . . it has been a labour of love, a special gift for a dear friend.  I have enjoyed making it, but there have been times when I doubt my abilities and thought it wasn't good enough to give someone. Some people sew with such confidents, I am not one of them.  These are Kathy's favourite colours so I am sure she will like it regardless. 

Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another ; as I have loved you , that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35) Love  one another — three words that sounds so simple but in fact are one of the hardest things to do.  Why is it so hard — because it isn't just loving those close to us, our children, husbands, parents and siblings. It is about LOVING everyone , even those you don't like. It is an unconditional love that includes those who are very hard to love —the nasty, the dull, the selfish, the down right mean, the criminal, the terrorist, a leader. They can be people in our own family, our workplace, our church or government. They are ones that we struggle to get along wit...

ARTIST: John William Waterhouse April 1849 — 10 February 1917 English Pre-Raphaelite painter (born in Rome where his father was a painter), best known for his female characters from Greek and Arthurian mythology. Waterhouse was one of the final Pre-Raphaelite artists, being most productive in the latter decades of the 19th century and early decades of the 20th, long after the era of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Because of this, he has been referred to as "the modern Prue-Rafaelita", and incorporated techniques borrowed from the French Impressionists into his work. Very little is known of Waterhouse's private life - only a few letters have survived and thus, for many years, the identity of his models has been a mystery. One letter that has survived indicates that Mary Lloyd, the model for Lord Leighton's masterpiece Flaming June, posed for Waterhouse. Despite suffering from increasing frailty during the final decade of his life, Waterhouse continu...

Who loves wearing cardigans? I do—not only to keep me warm, but because they look great too.  If a princess (Mary of Denmark) can wear them and look stunning, so can we!! Cardigans went through a bad patch when they looked more like something your grandmother might wear and not for the young and modern woman. I grew up in the 1970s when my mother knitted me all my jumpers (sweaters) and cardigans - they were practical but not always beautiful.  Cardigans were associated with school teachers or librarians, ladies going off to church. They were seen as sensible and useful but not elegant or sophisticated. A woman of the world didn't wear a cardigan, cardigans were not for women who wanted to have fun or be noticed.  We all recognize the librarian stereotype. The caricature that shows a woman, not especially young, probably a spinster, wellread, humourless, sensibly but boringly dressed – probably in a tweed skirt, cardigan, comfortable shoes, old-fa...

source My thoughts for the coming month:  Its August and its cold. Those living outside of Australia probably don't realise we get snow—quite a lot in a good year. Whilst the city I live in rarely gets a direct hit, our mountain rangers are often covered in snow, such as in this photo. This month I wanted to focus on YOU . Yes, you because you are important You are a busy woman—you probably care for a husband, children, maybe older parents and some of you go off to work to help your husbands. You give so much of yourself to others and I sure you forget to look after you. If  you don't take care of yourself, in time you will get so worn out and weary your ability to care for others will be affected. Taking time out for yourself is not selfish  — its all about revitailising your mind and body so you can care for others the very best you can. A car doesn't keep on running, it needs petrol (gas), the tyres will need replacing, it will need trips to...