The Kindness Chronicles

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
Saint Basil

It's been another crazy month. My extended family is scattered all over the country (WA, ID, MT, IL, KS, PA, NC) and we only get together all in one place once every four years. This time it was at the beach in NC but first many of them came to my house. 

It was amazing to all be together at the same time - the see little cousins meet each other for the first time.

These are the two amazing people who raised us.

They taught us that we are here to make the world a better place, to love and to serve.

We are still a little wacko - but these are some of the best people I know!

 Watching my siblings teach their children the same ideals of love and service is a joy.

There were so many acts of kindness. People volunteering to help with dishes, volunteering to watch little ones so parents could frolic in the waves unencumbered. Spouses putting kids to bed so grown siblings could spend more time together. There was much patience and kindness shown.

It often seems that the people we live with are the ones it is hardest to be kind to. I'm challenging myself along with all of you - let's find ways to be kind to those we love.

Creative Wisdom: Time for Art

"Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen." ~Epictetus

Time is precious: It's summertime and the kids are all home. Time is at a premium. I keep reminding myself that I started this career as an artist when I had infants and I really did get a lot accomplished in five minute increments. I keep hearing about how creativity needs time. I keep thinking I don't have time to get anything done. Hogwash!

"People ask me how long it took to make a work. I reply by giving them my age." ~Ted Godwin

You can eat an elephant one bite at a time: I could make excuses all day about not having time to get into the flow or I could get down to business and DO something. It's amazing how those five minutes here and there add up.

Are you making excuses too? Let's do this. Keep a hand-work project nearby. Sew a few patches together. Pick up your sketchbook and draw your hand or a flower or your lunch. Set a timer for five minutes and grab a glue stick and some fabric scraps and play with one of the elements of art. 

I'm teaching at Houston!

I would love to see you at the International Quilt Festival!

I'll be posting details about my classes soon.

You can find the full class catalog 

here

in the meantime.

Winner: Patchwork Sassaman Style

 Donna~~ said...

I usually end up cutting them into small bits of the design I can use. I definitely need to read Jane's book and learn to see the large prints in a new way! Her quilts are beautiful!

Congratulations Donna!

A copy will be on it's way as soon as I get your info!

For Your Inspiration: time travel sweetness

On a recent trip to Philadelphia we did a little time travel....

 

My brother and daughter....

 

(messing around with the Autostitch app)

 "kid in the candy shop!"

(all photos taken with my iPhone and manipulated with the Snapseed app. Funnest toys ever!)

Work in Progress: changing my mind

The road project continues...

Unless I have a looming deadline I never consider "undoing" wasted time. It was worth a try and hand work can be like meditation to me. The color of the reddish beads worked beautifully with the center stone but I could tell it wasn't going to work with the other two and the direction I had in mind. So out it goes. I'm not expecting perfection so it isn't a mistake.

Down the Doors Winner

Congratulations to Amy Parra Morusiewicz! I'll be sending you a copy of Down the Doors next week!