Share: To give or receive part of something. Participate: To join with others in some thought, feeling or action.
Below are more of my thoughts and feelings about life, as it flows. There are so many questions and explorations we can explore while we're here in this life. Feel free to share some of your own in the comments or a link to your own blog. Sometimes I pick a subject or theme but often, the subject chooses me. Even if you've never written poems, letting the words out can help to release what's inside, so it does not consume you. It is all part of the flow. Enjoy.
Choice
The darkness of fear or the light of faith?
The darkness of judgment or the light of compassion?
The darkness of anger or the light of forgiveness?
The darkness of sorrow, or the light of happiness?
The darkness of selfishness, or the light of sharing?
The darkness of self-righteousness, or the light of understanding?
The darkness of sadness, or the light of joy?
The darkness of hatred or the light of love?
The darkness of war, or the light of peace?
Darkness or Light, your choice?
R
-------
Stand for your own heart.
Say what you need to say,
Using love as your guide.
Do the things that move you,
Things that move you forward and
Things that expand your heart
And your vision of the world.
Exercise your right to choose what works for you.
Give what you are moved to give and
Receive with openness
So others can give what they are moved to give.
-------
Are You?
Are you open or closed?
Are you right or are you open to discovery?
Are you busy or are you aware?
Are you domineering or can you listen?
Are you 'strong' or can you accept assistance?
Are you the 'jury' or can you see beyond your own thoughts?
Are you so fearful that you only give hurt?
Are you so ashamed that all you can offer is blame?
Are you so 'alone' that you cannot see those in your life who befriend you?
Are you so 'unlovable' that you won't allow love to penetrate your defenses?
Are you so afraid of pain that pain is all you experience?
Are you willing to be responsible for choosing who you are in your life?
R.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sparks of Creativity - Giveaways & Tutorials
Surfing the net is fun, and for me, inspiring. Here are some of the things that I came across this week that are worth sharing. All of these are fabric related giveaways and tutorials. Enjoy!
Give Aways:
Tutorials:
Give Aways:
- FaveCrafts Blog – giving away a copy of Rebekah Meier’s book ‘Fabric Art Collage’. Details here http://www.favecraftsblog.com/book-review-and-giveaway-fabric-art-collage/ (deadline 9/8/09)
Janet McCaffrey at Primrose Design – is giving away stamped-for-embroidery quilt blocks of storybook cats http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2009/08/giveaway.html (deadline to leave a comment – evening of Thursday, 8/27/09)
- C&T Publishing - is giving away 6 Prize Packs - Simplicity rulers http://www.ctpubblog.com/2009/08/25/simplicity-studio-giveaway/ (deadline 9 am PST, 8/31/09)
- Kona Bay Fabrics - Free Quilt Patterns here http://konabay.com/quilting-fabric/category/Free_Patterns_to_Download.html
Tutorials:
- String Quilt Block Tutorial (paper pieced) by Ashley at http://www.filminthefridge.com/2009/04/27/a-string-quilt-block-tutorial-paper-pieced-method/comment-page-2/#comment-9354
- I just thought this was too cute – especially for those of you who ‘walk the dog’ – a ‘pet pouch’ how-to by Amy at http://theb-line.blogspot.com/2009/06/lets-make-pet-pouches.html
- Beth Ferrier – Sweet Pea Leaves appliqué tutorial - http://applewd.com/blog/?p=178
- C&T Publishing - Tips & Technique tutorials here http://www.ctpub.com/client/client_pages/tips.cfm
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Work in Progress Wednesday
I finally got around to taking picture of some of the things that I am working on. My goal is to do this once a week, but ummm, I am not making any promises. My weeks are sometimes fulllllllll, but I try to do some creative thing every day.
First, my painted canvas and hearts. This is just the beginning for this piece. The fabric hearts you see underneath are to be embellished with stitching and beads, then attached to the canvas. The goal is to add some words/phrases about love, some more shapes, etc. Now that I've shared it, maybe I'll get to work on those hearts. I think they will help determine what goes on next and where. 
This is of the fabric hearts close up (click on photos for larger view). They are from pieces of my hand-dyed fabrics, fused to Fast2Fuse (a stiff fusible), which I love. 
Second is my little piece with waves. The base is a scrap piece of purple fabric that I scrunched up, ironed down the scrunchies, then rolled on a brayer full of lumiere. Let it dry, ironed it, scrunched it up, ironed the creases in, rolled another color of paint. My intention right now is to add some stitching, beads, wire spirals . . . The waves are fabric backed with a fusible.One thing about sharing these two is I got a few more ideas while looking at these photos, so maybe next week I'll have progress to show/share. Thanks for stopping by and if you get an idea from them or for them, please share. Until tomorrow. . .
Friday, August 21, 2009
Saturday Sharing - Prose Poems - Creative Expressions
I'm calling them prose poems because I don't know what else to call them. I express myself in many creative ways and one of them is writing - not 'start to finish' stories but 'glimpses' and 'views' or 'perspectives' if you will. I don't so much write them as allow them to flow out from me. Usually they are triggered by some issue or event that evokes some strong or maybe even subtle but persistent feeling. I like them and usually don't share them, but that changes with this post. I have plenty and will share some each Saturday in no particular order and with no particular theme. I hope they speak to you in some way.
Today there are 3:
The Abyss
You have stolen my heart!
I feel myself teetering on the edge of love -
That joyous and frightening abyss.
My internal struggle is fast and furious,
But love never loses.
I was not afraid before I met you,
But now, as I consider
Relinquishing that last illusion of control,
I am consumed by fear and giddy amazement.
That someone might actually care for me
The way that I care for them.
I know that my heart will survive
The rapid change in beats
As I ponder, gleefully and with complete terror,
What the abyss may reveal.
But, there is no excitement, risk or gain
If I hold myself back.
So, over the edge . . . I fly!
R, 7/07
Hell
Ever been to hell?
No, not the one they preach about.
I'm talking about that personal, private hell
We have all taken ourselves to.
The one where we are worthless.
Where we can do nothing right.
Where we are never good enough.
Where we never live up to expectations.
The personal, private hell
Where we endure continuous berating.
Where we hear and believe
That no one will ever love us,
That no one can.
And if they say they do, they are lying.
That personal hell inside our heads,
Where the amusement park is anything but amusing.
Where there are hellish rides,
The rides we give our sanity to experience,
Over and over and over again, endlessly.
At least, endless until we've had enough.
Until we find a way, or simply choose
To leap to freedom.
Grateful to return to the real world.
Always aware
That we can return at any time to the
Un-amusing, self-absorbed, hellish park
Where we thoughtlessly torture ourselves.
Until next time . . .
R 6/09
What . . . if
What if you wait until tomorrow,
and tomorrow is too late?
What if you hold back your love,
and tomorrow they move on?
What if you fail to nurture your soul,
and you become angry and resentful?
What if you won't forgive becuse 'they' were wrong,
and tomorrow you need them?
What if you wait years to say 'I love you',
and tomorrow they are gone?
What if you gave up worrying,
and lived each day like it was the only one?
R 1/06
That's it for today. Thank you for spending some time with me here. Have a wonderful weekend and please, leave comments, especially if any move something in you or remind you of something or . . .
Today there are 3:
The Abyss
You have stolen my heart!
I feel myself teetering on the edge of love -
That joyous and frightening abyss.
My internal struggle is fast and furious,
But love never loses.
I was not afraid before I met you,
But now, as I consider
Relinquishing that last illusion of control,
I am consumed by fear and giddy amazement.
That someone might actually care for me
The way that I care for them.
I know that my heart will survive
The rapid change in beats
As I ponder, gleefully and with complete terror,
What the abyss may reveal.
But, there is no excitement, risk or gain
If I hold myself back.
So, over the edge . . . I fly!
R, 7/07
Hell
Ever been to hell?
No, not the one they preach about.
I'm talking about that personal, private hell
We have all taken ourselves to.
The one where we are worthless.
Where we can do nothing right.
Where we are never good enough.
Where we never live up to expectations.
The personal, private hell
Where we endure continuous berating.
Where we hear and believe
That no one will ever love us,
That no one can.
And if they say they do, they are lying.
That personal hell inside our heads,
Where the amusement park is anything but amusing.
Where there are hellish rides,
The rides we give our sanity to experience,
Over and over and over again, endlessly.
At least, endless until we've had enough.
Until we find a way, or simply choose
To leap to freedom.
Grateful to return to the real world.
Always aware
That we can return at any time to the
Un-amusing, self-absorbed, hellish park
Where we thoughtlessly torture ourselves.
Until next time . . .
R 6/09
What . . . if
What if you wait until tomorrow,
and tomorrow is too late?
What if you hold back your love,
and tomorrow they move on?
What if you fail to nurture your soul,
and you become angry and resentful?
What if you won't forgive becuse 'they' were wrong,
and tomorrow you need them?
What if you wait years to say 'I love you',
and tomorrow they are gone?
What if you gave up worrying,
and lived each day like it was the only one?
R 1/06
That's it for today. Thank you for spending some time with me here. Have a wonderful weekend and please, leave comments, especially if any move something in you or remind you of something or . . .
Show & Tell
Show and tell was one of my favorite times in elementary school and it is still one of my favorite things to do when I get together with my friends and family. So, I'm starting a Friday Show and Tell on the blog to share some of my work, past and present.
(click on photo to see larger view)
It is hard to tell from the large shot but this is a full size quilt with 56 photos in the design. I designed this for my boss's daughter for Christmas. The photos are some of her favorites, which I scanned and resized to fit into the piece. Blue is her favorite color. These closeups give you a little better idea of how the quilt looks up close.
The photos are printed onto cotton fabric and are colorfast. The rest of the quilt is cotton, including the batting. The backing fabric has pictures of dogs, she loves animals. I really enjoy custom work because it is creative with a purpose, an audience. And people are usually so delighted with these photo quilts. You can visit my website to see some options for custom quilts for yourself or a loved one.
Wire Wrapped Pendants - my second show & tell
I love wire wrapping and taught the class at A2Z Beads on 43rd Ave & Thunderbird for about 3 years until school got the best of my time. But I still create pendants for gifts and for sale. Some of these are not great shots but will give you an idea of what I like to do.
These are all cabochons, L to R Jasper, labrodorite, rhyiolite, malachite. And my favorite, a purple agate slice. All are wrapped in 22 guage sterline silver square wire and some as you can see have beads added for 'flavor'. I have a pile of them ready to be wrapped and am going to dive into it this weekend. I think I'm finally going to open an Etsy shop.
Today's last show & tell is different. I love to help others with fundraisers and such and when I was invited to paint a bowling pin for a bowling event that raises money to benefit childcare age children here in Arizona, it was an easy yes. Hmmmm. a bowling pin, I finally settled on a sunset and cactus and here are some shots of the full, all around the bowling pin.
I have never painted a bowling pin in my life but it actually looks kinda cool and it was for a good cause.
I think this will be a regular Friday thing. If you have requests of types of things you'd like to see on the blog, please let me know. Comments always welcome and appreciated.
Saturdays might become 'Sharing my writing' Day. The could be called poems or passages and are about life things, some light, some not. Saturday's will be about Hell. So please check back and see what you think. Enjoy your Friday, and your weekend.
Later,
(click on photo to see larger view)
It is hard to tell from the large shot but this is a full size quilt with 56 photos in the design. I designed this for my boss's daughter for Christmas. The photos are some of her favorites, which I scanned and resized to fit into the piece. Blue is her favorite color. These closeups give you a little better idea of how the quilt looks up close. 
The photos are printed onto cotton fabric and are colorfast. The rest of the quilt is cotton, including the batting. The backing fabric has pictures of dogs, she loves animals. I really enjoy custom work because it is creative with a purpose, an audience. And people are usually so delighted with these photo quilts. You can visit my website to see some options for custom quilts for yourself or a loved one.
Wire Wrapped Pendants - my second show & tell
I love wire wrapping and taught the class at A2Z Beads on 43rd Ave & Thunderbird for about 3 years until school got the best of my time. But I still create pendants for gifts and for sale. Some of these are not great shots but will give you an idea of what I like to do.
These are all cabochons, L to R Jasper, labrodorite, rhyiolite, malachite. And my favorite, a purple agate slice. All are wrapped in 22 guage sterline silver square wire and some as you can see have beads added for 'flavor'. I have a pile of them ready to be wrapped and am going to dive into it this weekend. I think I'm finally going to open an Etsy shop.
Today's last show & tell is different. I love to help others with fundraisers and such and when I was invited to paint a bowling pin for a bowling event that raises money to benefit childcare age children here in Arizona, it was an easy yes. Hmmmm. a bowling pin, I finally settled on a sunset and cactus and here are some shots of the full, all around the bowling pin.
I have never painted a bowling pin in my life but it actually looks kinda cool and it was for a good cause.I think this will be a regular Friday thing. If you have requests of types of things you'd like to see on the blog, please let me know. Comments always welcome and appreciated.
Saturdays might become 'Sharing my writing' Day. The could be called poems or passages and are about life things, some light, some not. Saturday's will be about Hell. So please check back and see what you think. Enjoy your Friday, and your weekend.
Later,
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