Simply Say with Hope, Good Morning!

Happy January! 

It's a new year, time for a fresh start, a newness abound... that cries for greatness in the morning!

What is your new morning mantra?

Did you learn a new one in the past year from any Deepak Chopra and Oprah special free events with the  ChopraCenterMediation at https://chopracentermeditation.com/

or

Perhaps Deva Premal and Miteen with a  Tibetan Mantras
at http://devapremalmiten.com/tibetan-mantras-for-turbulent-times/

 

Source: http://www.buddhistmala.com/index.html

My favorite this month is the Tibetan Mantra for Compassion. Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ.

Even if no new mantra has taken hold of your heart, waking each day and simply saying with Hope, Good Morning; is the best start ever... Hope with each morning is the start of something great! Mix it with a healthy dose of compassion and your day's outlook will be changed with new eyes!

Namaste

uddhist Mala Prayer Beads and Tibetan Malas

uddhist Mala Prayer Beads and Tibetan Malas

October Glory Days

Happy October Everyone out There! :)

Sometimes, the onset of a new season can either ramp you up or weigh you down, with the expectations one sets for themselves.  But it can be a most adventurous time as found in the changing scenes of nature!

What do you like to do the best with fall's arrival?

Below are some of my fall inspirations of sights, creations and wanderings... a feast for the eyes truly!  Enjoy the pics and read! 

Japanese Crimson Queen Maple Beauty

How does the arrival of fall appeal to you?

Backyard Beauty

Do you re-visit the last remaining glories of summertime hidden nature?

Oatland Plantation, Oatland Virginia

at http://www.oatlands.org/

Do you cook up a storm? 

Rust Apple Tart from Martha Stewart 

 

 

 

at http://www.marthastewart.com/341057/rustic-apple-tart

Treat yourself to a new Teapot with a Scrumptious Latte? 

Teavana New Teapot

 

 

 

at  http://www.teavana.com/

Do you de-clutter your brain?

Page-A-Day-Calenders

 

at  http://www.pageaday.com/

Do you take up a new hobby of creating beauty?

Fibre Company Terra Wyeth Shrug

 

at http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/kits/FibreCompanyTerraWyethShrug.asp

 

HandMaiden Fine Yarn - Bronze

 at http://handmaiden.ca/yarn.html

and http://colorsongyarn.com/yarns/handmaiden/sea_silk.htm 

Whatever the specialty you enjoy and NO matter how you feel

 Greet the Dawn with Gratitude. Get up. Get dressed up. Show up and Do the right thing!

Buddha Meditation Image from Mentors Channel

Each night before you go to bed complete the following statement: I am thankful for the today that I have accomplished. Remember that you are too blessed to be so stressed!

Namaste

Ellen

My "I Love You More Quilt"

Happy Thursday!   

Long Time No Blog.......Yes, I confess.. it's been way too long for no blogging.. But, if you read below - you might just understand, when one gets consumed by a  major PROJECT; sometimes, that takes priority.

My project: Learning to Quilt. 

The Reason: A birthday gift for my beloved 91 year old Mom; which I re-named, " I Love You More" Quilt!
 

I become enamored with quilting this past winter after discovering the Missouri Star Quilt Company’s version of  The Love Notes Quilt http://quiltingtutorials.com/all/love-notes-quilt-quick-quilting-project/
 
This is a smaller version of the You've Got Mail Layer Cake Quilt http://quiltingtutorials.com/all/mail-layer-cake-friendly-quilt-project/

I was searching for inspiration to create a 91st birthday gift for my Mom; and this was it! You see, my Mom has written to me every week all my life. This was my own interpretation of my Love Notes to her, which I have named, “ I Love You More Quilt”.  You see, everynight, we close our conversation on the phone, with many I love you's, but she always says, "I love you more. Mom taught me how to sew when I was young; and many MANY years later, I am back at; expanding into Quilting!

I Love You More Quilt

My new Creation, used subtle pastel old roses romantic rosebud materials with soft solids to offset each letter block. The entire quilt speaks of a David Austen Rose Bouquet. 

One of the Materials purchased at a wonderful quilt store in Purceville, VA

WebFabrics.. http://webfabrics.net/

Ask for Carly, the owner! But, truly in fact, ANYONE in the store was magnificently helpful!

This love notes quilt, aka a version of "You’ve Got Mail" Quilt  has taken on new meaning to me. My Mom never used a computer, but wrote numerous hand written letters, notes and card to myself, and her many friends and family all her life. The art of writing letters was her creative spark; utilizing lovely writing papers with creative stamps and stickers; including inspiring calendar quips, notes, prayers and daily inspirations. She kept the post office in business on her own stamp purchases! 

Since she has retired from writing, we have replaced it with numerous phone calls with daily regularity. Each night, she says goodnight with “ I love You More", as only a mother can utter.  So the real love letters that I am returning to her is incorporated with the adventures of this one of a kind “Learning to quilt” for me. The quilt incorporates special embroidery, tiny little hearts and love stampings throughout. 

The Romantic Blues

What has quilting taught me? It is a lesson in creative expressiveness; incorporating as many varieties of glorious fabrics that speak to me. It’s my way of creating a zen-ful garden in a quilt creation. 


Major lesson: It has taught me the new meaning of perfect. Perfect, as is beauty, “Is in the eye of the Beholder”.

Deeper learning: Perfect is the toleration of the “imperfectness” of quilting. Quilting sets you’re perfectionism state free.

How do you deal with your perfectionist state? Are you able to shake it free sometime? What do you do to realize that happiness is the path and reaching perfection; one is already there?  I'd love to hear! 

 Namaste