HeartCrafts

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Unconditional Love.

10:18:00 pm

Unconditional Love - from the Heart

I was travelling this week and heard this mother screaming and shouting at her child – and that in front of other people. My heart cringed for this child…He was a child no more-- in his teens. No matter could have been so terrible and evil that the child had to endure this humiliation and belittling in front of others…….and she just carried on an on….bringing up matters totally unrelated to the matter on hand…she was revenging all her cropped anger at this poor human being-and the child had nowhere to run. I could only sit and watch…it made me so sad and my tic tok brain wandered to the lyrics of Sugarman ….Won’t ya hurry coz I’m tired of these scenes…an urgency to escape the pains and conflict….

This makes me think, how many times do we lash out in anger at small insignificant things because we have built up anger inside our souls and mind. Sometimes it is useful to STOP THINK and COUNT TO TEN and then talk in a kind matter – a different approach to the matter will bring so much more calmness and maybe a lesson to the child – I am worth something, if I err, I will be kindly showed the way and go and err no more….maybe I am not what you expect me to be, but I can try...I am human-I have feelings and a soul and I am on a journey to manhood, but still a child.

It is love that we need in situations like this – unconditional love and plenty of it. Here is a physical example of love – in the shape of little love wire hangings made by my grand daughter. Each one made with lots of love and attention and maybe they will someday find their way into a house where lots of love is needed along with kind words spoken and may they will radiate love and understanding.

Unconditional Love ....

Love is kind and forgiving...does not act in anger

Love asks nothing in return...

May you all have a fantastic week of Love -

Unconditional Love and Happy Crafting!

Luvvies

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Humble…

11:05:00 pm

Humble…

Tonight I feel so very humble but at the same time happy. As any normal human being, we all need reassurance that we belong somewhere. For me this was a very big adjustment when we moved country and continent ….Everything was new and on top of that I moved to be with my husband who was working in Northern Ireland at that stage….I can speak English, but never understood when someone addressed me in the little village where we stayed….they were all so friendly and welcoming, but alas the language barrier was a problem for me.

Moving again (my husband does contract work) made me realise how many ‘English languages’ there are in England, not to mention the warm people in the Shetland Islands. I always felt ‘left out’ as sometimes the dialect went over my head.

Here is a beanie I made from some lovely coloured wool.

BUT ....
I JUST CARRIED ON KNITTING AND CRAFTING....

Then……I discovered the written word and that made me happy. I can now communicate by word on paper and not word to ear. I started to write my blog – and then my Facebook page to try and express who I really am…and when I looked tonight….there were 93 LIKES on my Facebook page and over 1596 hits on my blog......

Me, a simple person who does not excel in anything special, could make people happy by just reading and looking at the crafts I make. It makes me feel special – I do not want to compete with anyone, I just want to share the beauty in life – and when my tears fall whilst listening to the war torn world and children and mothers being killed all over the world… I am happy that somewhere out there I can bring a little bit of happiness. I have quite a few women from the war torn countries who like to look and share my simple patterns. I do make a difference even if it is only to a few.

My sisters, who are also very keep crafters do not have the facilities and equipment to share their crafts with the world – that is why I do it for them – let someone be enriched out there, just looking and enjoying it! We all craft for the love of it and that is a lovely way to live our lives!

At last I belong – to a group of people who can share the love of crafting!

Here is a lovely piece of work from sister Priscilla Kelly– from Jeffreysbay - all made from recycled bits and bobs.

A shoe fit for Cinderella

An old picture frame done up with leaded glass

Happy crafting and make a difference/reach /inspire

just ONE person today!

Luvvies

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Music…Craft

9:08:00 pm

Music…Craft

The world famous, our beloved British Shakespeare once said : ‘’ if music be the food of love; play on. Music touches our souls in strange ways…’

That is how I personally feel when I start making something, therefore I will say:

If crafting be the food of the hands; craft on. Crafting touches our souls in strange ways…’’

Crafting touches our souls in strange ways…

How lovely it is to sit in quiet or noise / order or chaos – and make something new out of something different. This weekend I was blessed to have chaos here in our little housie.

Two teenage grand children with a friend. How more chaotic can you get, especially if we are all thrown together in a confined space due to weather.

I fell asleep for an hour on Saturday afternoon with the noise of Xbox in my ears and talking of teens all talking at the same time…when I realised I was awake again, I stumbled downstairs for a cuppa and was greeted with my granddaughter ‘making’ music on the computer. If ever you thought the crazy Frog was annoying….think again…..

Feeling so much stronger (and awake) I ventured upstairs again to finish off the little heart I was busy with as well as the two little birdies.

Vibrant and red..

Alive and Chirpy...

MADE WITH LOVE

That heart and birds touched my soul in many ways – for years to come I will remember sewing them in amongst this chaos of noise /chatter/ laughter. I will remember how my soul was touched with the brilliant colours of the materials – it will make me think back on the youths around me – vibrant/brave/and alive – just like the colour of the material I was working with – it touched my soul.

Happy Crafting and

''If crafting be the food of the hands; craft on.''

Luvvies x

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Long long time ago…

6:23:00 pm

Long long time ago…

How lovely is it not to sit back, close the old eyes and let the tic tok brain drift to years gone by…and this is just what I did today.

My mother use to do a lot of sewing for us children, the neighbours and the church ladies. She was a master with a needle and thread. Her old Singer was huge and had a treadle at the bottom which use to go backwards and forwards and then in the early 60’s my dad bought her an electric Singer, which became part of our household.

Being a sickly child (had rheumatic fever) I used to sit for hours and hours watching her whilst the other siblings were at school – I remember the two younger sisters were always playing on the floor amongst the pieces of materials and me, watching from the bed.

On the back veranda was a ‘magic’ box. It was an old tea chest and inside it was filled with 100’s pieces of material from dresses/bed spreads etc she used to make. Many a time a ‘patchwork’ cushion/bedspread saw the light to our delight.

inside it was filled with 100’s pieces of material ...
a chest from a faraway country....a treasure for us!

Why am I talking about this today? Why is my mind drifting to those ‘carefree sewing days? My daughter who has a finger in the Vintage industry gave me some lovely 100% cotton pieces of material today to do ‘something’ with. There are a few dresses from many moons ago and make me think about that tea chest – I closed my eyes and that is what I can remember…the 50 & 60’s patterns….

On a remembering note, how nice is it to remember those day and have a look what sisters Priscilla and Clarissa did with some pre-loved doors. They changed them into a pin board and more memories are pinned on these doors for generations to come.

...changed them into a pin board and
more memories are pinned on these doors for generations to come....

Today my grand daughter is into my ‘materials’ – alas, there is no tea chest, but a very tough plastic container. No story to tell from where it came from- just clinical and practical. How my mum used to tell us stories from the countries far away from where the tea chests came from….but that was long ago…….

Happy crafting and enjoy today to become a good memory for tomorrow!

Luvvies.

Thursday, 8 November 2012

My autumn years are approaching…

1:42:00 pm

My autumn years are approaching…

What makes us do what we do?

I was raking leaves in the garden. A task I really enjoy as it takes me out of the warm cosy house with a purpose; also to get some fresh air and to admire the fantastic colours of the leaves that are slowly falling from the trees. This is a task I perform every morning.

As I mentioned before, I love all colours, but today these browns/maroon/yellow patterns were again just so amazing…reminded me that I am entering my personal autumn years.

By being devoted raking these leaves each morning, no matter what the weather, I feel liberated and feel some self-respect for myself for being so devoted.

1. The decking stays clean

2. The grass gets the full sun it needs

3. I get some exercise and fresh air

4. It keeps the yard ‘tidy’– see there, 4 birds with one stone.

It may sound a bit egotistic feeling good about one self every now and then. More than often we have a low opinion and even lower expectation of ourselves, because we know ourselves so well and just a few words from someone can break us down-make us feel like we are worth nothing. Sometimes theses words, deeds, that were spoken/done against us, still sit in the back of our minds and make us feel useless and unloved.

Today with the raking of the leaves and breathing in the lovely cold crisp air, I made up my mind- my little tic toc brain – I am strong I will survive – like the old saying goes :- sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never ever hurt me again! So on that note I will soldier on with those who love/accept me unconditionally and wave good-bye to those who do not. A new era in my autumn years has arrived!

Attached are some love hearts and sewing books I made yesterday. All inspired by the new me and the browns of the leaves.