Fox

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It is funny how life works...I did not plan on sharing this story, but the way the events happened left me
with such amazement that I thought you might appreciate hearing about it.....


Over a week ago I was at my favorite thrift store and came across this beautiful matted fox picture.
It is rather large and it is an actual photo someone took. The picture was so striking and I immediately thought of my daughter who loves wolves. So, for a small price I took my prize home and gave it to daughter number 3.

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daughter # 3 and wolf friend (edited in)....

Fast forward to this past Friday 6, 2012....

My son and I are driving early in the morning and out of the woods dashes the most beautiful Red Fox I have ever seen. It ran right in front of us and leapt safely into the woods on the other side.

It was rather majestic and large and strong for a fox. It looked like the picture of the fox  above except it had a black and white band toward the tip of its tail.

On Saturday 7, 2012 I go to my favorite New Age type shop and I walk around slowly

looking at each thing and I get to the back of the store and find a parchment with a Fox Prayer

written on it.

It calls upon creator to allow the essence of what fox represents to become
a part of who is praying.
sample:
...........
"Gift me your keen senses
That I might see more of what is around me and use it to accomplish my goals.
To bring discernment into my life.".....


I quickly bought the parchment and brought it home.

Also early Saturday morning I was looking through some of my favorite art and saw a FOX!

(it is at the bottom of the picture.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenwaller/1374996928/

I decided I would honor fox by creating a quilt piece:

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The fabrics surrounding fox are African, but remind me of Native American symbols.

The flute player to the left reminds me of the Kokopelli.

Among the Hopi, Kokopelli carries unborn children on his back and distributes them to women; for this reason, young girls often fear him. He often takes part in rituals relating to marriage, and Kokopelli himself is sometimes depicted with aconsort, a woman called Kokopelmana by the Hopi.^[1] It is said that Kokopelli can be seen on the full and waning moon, much like the "rabbit on the moon".

The fellow on the right reminds me of the Anasazi Tribe.

A very ancient Native American Culture.

I have been listening to this earlier in the day before I began the Fox piece:

R. Carlos Nakai - Canyon People (Canyon Trilogy Track 7):http://youtu.be/xmon0j14gbc via @youtube

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I continue to work on the corn.....

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The leather for the rattle hung in the full moon.

I wet the leather and filled it with sand.

It is in the house now because it is suppose to rain and it needs to dry and stiffen.

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I brought a cup of tea to my desk and at one point stopped stitching and looked at my cup and realized there were words on the tea back paper!

Another fun surprise/message to me...

Love it!

Have a great week!

<3

Stitching corn and Spring thread

My recent thread and fabric acquisition. The colors are "springy" and I am loving

that orange-y color! We have had Spring-like weather recently and lots of sunshine so I 

am thinking about this:

Remember Grandmother's quilt? Time to pull it out and begin stitching on it again. Spring

will always be my reminder for my Grandmother. She loved gardening and being outdoors.

Lastly, I have been stitching up some corn....

Have a great week!

<3

Full moon, postcards and fabrics

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Gift arrives...

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gorgeous silks and wool...

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and this lovely postcard which is: Portrait De Jeune Fille by Van Dongen Kees

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and this postcard which is: Woman sewing by lamplight, 1870-72

Jean-Francois Miller (1814-1875) The Frick Collection, New York.

These were sent by my dear friend Isabelle:

http://isathreadsoflife.wordpress.com/

merci' dear Isabelle <3

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This afternoon/evening I have worked on a few things that I can not share because they are gifts, but this one I can share because i wanted to participate in creating full moon art:
http://womanwithwingsblog.blogspot.com/
This piece is called "she moon"

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the front of "she moon"
The fabric under the moon is a piece of wool from Isabelle...thank you again Isabelle : )

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Lastly, this is another wonderful postcard I received from Marrakech this week from: 
http://collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much Jeanne <3

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I feel like I have traveled to far away lands when I receive these lovely cards and it makes me feel deep gratitude for each of you.
I treasure each postcard.
A heartfelt thanks!
<3

Sweet face, books and day off!

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My day off was a combination of things....found this book, which I had so long ago. I remember
it was sort of sad but Mayas strength is inspiring. It is about her confronting her own life with strength and dignity. Her tragedies and strengths.

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This book is hilarious! It is like your best friend being, lets say blunt and honest about what you should eat. She does not hold anything back including swear words. lol!  Overall I can say I agree with what the book espouses, but there are some things that I think can be balanced. They recommend being complete vegetarian and at one point in my life I was an extreme vegetarian. I know it was easier to win the weight battle, but there has to be a balance because each person is unique. I will take the "hay and leave the sticks." Meaning what I feel works best for me.

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A fun book to dream of beautiful rooms.....

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I finished this little dolls sweet face... I am pleased.....

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 I sketched in my little journal and dreamed up new creations and ideas.....

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chatted with daughter #1 on line, ate way too much chocolate (but I bought the one the Skinny Girls book recommended so I do not feel too guilty..lol!)http://danareva.hubpages.com/hub/Organic-Chocolate-VS-Regular-Chocolate I paired my lovely chocolate with bunches of

 of hot tea.

Have a lovely day <3

Elusive Valentines Cards

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Valentines is one of my favorite Holidays because to me it is a no pressure kind of event. I love remembering friends and special ones on this day.
I was out yesterday in search of the ultimate Valentines cards and could not find any.......no not one!
The one above is from a package I found last year at one of my favorite discount home stores,
Home Goods. But, nothing to be found this year...no where! Usually I find something in one of many of my favorite spots. But zero...nothing : (

This year I am going to have to be creative....

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This is me on my day off wearing my favorite outfit (running around looking for those Valentines cards!)....hair in two braids, little make up , my warm scarf and my LIFE IS GOOD t-shirt!

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this is me all ready to go to work the previous day....

and this is what I worked on after I got back from running around looking for those elusive cards and misc. errands......stitching stars!

Have a great day!

<3

Paying attention

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I have cloth hanging on my walls and this piece keeps standing out to me....
When something keeps grabbing my attention it is time to take a closer look....pay attention. *
Maybe it is about waking up to the fact that each day is a gift and that the desire to be cared for is something that happens automatically from spirit. Perhaps my definition of  feeling nurtured and safe needs to be redefined so I find more gratitude in each day. It is about accepting the divine feminine within and the strength that comes with that....
Maybe it is about me being kinder to myself. Be the nurturer to me. 

It is about acknowledging the mother in me and that I am so busy running around trying to be the best I can for everyone else. Maybe she is saying "Hey you!"

"Pay attention to you!" 

or

Perhaps another reason it keeps "jumping out at me" is because it is part of my original quilt pieces that needs to be finished!

 : )

I must have it finished by April...more to come about that later.

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This cloth continues with lots of words.....

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another view of this cloth....

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This is a new picture of daughter #1....
I am grateful she is strong and wise beyond her years....

I am missing her because she lives far away, but she is always in my heart <3


* addendum: Perhaps the goddess figure stands out because I am traveling through menopause. Waking at night soaked and then  freezing! sometimes during the day turning so hot while trying to work :/. It seemed turning 51 was like going around a corner and realizing that you must change your ways and care for yourself. That extra 10 pounds that literally came out of nowhere....fast! Knowing exercise and eating good things are the only way through this. Changing my thoughts too! 
just thinking.....
: )

Reflections

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I am making a list of things I want to accomplish this coming year. A new beginning....

Really it is an illusory beginning. Each new day that we rise up and go is a "new beginning." I have pulled out a sketch book that I bought to sketch in and I want to begin a journal again of thoughts, words, ideas, dreams. I have put a poster board of goals in front of my desk.

I have found inspiration these last few days. Inspiration that I consider a gift. A phone call from a dear artist friend whom I treasure.

A phone call that has inspired me to get along in my creative endeavors. Something that can lead to some very exciting possibilities for me in the future. 

I have found an artist that has inspired me to rise above limitations

and do better with what I have.

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I am thinking about although life has been more difficult then I ever dreamed what I treasure most are

the moments I share with my family.
Each time my children share some insight or we laugh together,

having good food and a roof over our head and being healthy...these are the things I am grateful for.

I am also grateful for the circle of women who visit here and always leave me with a sense of gratitude and a smile.

Finally, for those of you following along this (pictures above) is what I made with the woven red fabrics...a little shirt for this elfin fellow that is a gift.


I will raise my cup of tea to you and....

I am wishing you and your families a Happy New Year !

<3

I really like this blog: http://urban-patchwork.com/?cat=11

http://digsandbean.blogspot.com/

http://skunkboycreatures.blogspot.com/

Comfort

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Today was all about "comfort"....I made my homemade pumpkin soup...Nothing says warmth and comfort like a bowl of soup...mmmm.


This is my homemade recipe:

~fresh pumpkin cooked and pureed~ready to put in a soup.

or I used ~1 can of pumpkin puree

~1 fresh onion
~enough olive oil to saute' onion

~ approx 2 cups chicken broth or vege broth (I used chicken broth)

~ approx 1 cup cream (I used half and half)

~salt

~pepper

~curry or cumin

~tamari pepitos (pumpkin seed)

~smoked gouda cheese

~saute` onions in olive oil until they become clear. Add spices to the onion. Add pumpkin  puree` and chicken broth. Stir on low heat until hot. Add cream and stir. Remove from heat and garnish with  shredded smoked gouda cheese and pepitos or your favorite topping.

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This came in the mail a few days ago and is such a comfort.
2 beautiful handmade quilts from a dear friend. They are made from scraps of recycled denim and have hearts (my favorite) in some of the squares. 
                                   Thank you <3

Give Away Ideas

The first "giveaway" information is:


My favorite makeup remover. Dr. Bronners Magic "All-One!" Fair Trade & Organic Conconut oil.
Yep, you got it. Go right to the oil section of your Whole Foodsy Health store and ask for the coconut oil.
It will look like a solid white shortening.  It smells sooo good. I am a coconut fan. (Notey: If your allergic to nuts or coconut then this is not for you.) It cost me about $10, but it will last a L-o-n-g time! You only use about 1/2 the size of a dime or less per time.Just wipe on eyes and tissue off. Wah la!   I leave my jar on the counter in the kitchen. Good for cooking too. : )

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p.s. I am sure you noticed I switched back to my old blog format. I missed my blog roll showing. I like seeing when there is a new blog post.  Plus this feels "home-ee" : )

Now I just need to figure out how to make my header not so big and in your face. lol!

<3

Alike and Yet Not!

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I am participating in Jude's Magic Feather Project.

http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/spirit_cloth/the-magic-feather-project.html

I thought it would be fun to start with Jude's black and white feather.

I plan on stitching a few of these little feathers and of course doing a few feathers in my own interpretation.

The feathers that are gathered will go toward a charitable purpose for children. I like that!

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This is a wip. The fabrics I am using are sooo special because they were given to me.

The colorful fabrics in the background came from a dear friend in Switzerland. 

The fabrics are Japanese and are being made into a quilt for victims of the recent Tsunami in Japan.

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Some hand dyed lovely bits of fabric sent from

http://gerdiary.blogspot.com/

Thank you Gerdiary! <3

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This is daughter #1 on the far right in Russia. She went with her school.

What a beautiful building...http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf7nc9_the-st-basil-s-cathedral-in-moscow_travel

I can not wait to hear about all the stories she has to tell : )
<3

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A little day time moon....

Summer has flown by in a blink of an eye!

I am trying to relish every moment I can.
Have a lovely day!

Make

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Stitching on this today for daughter #3. This is from Sublime Stitching and was easy breezy
to iron on and stitch. I still have more stitching to do. Although this is a fox I am trying to make
it look more like a wolf. Daughter #3  l-o-v-e-s wolves.

http://www.sublimestitching.com/patterns/all

I have spent the day outside sitting under the shade trees. We have had a heat wave! So lots of ice
water and stitching going on here. Something I find interesting is while sitting on the ground with my blanket and all my lovely stitching things all the little bugs are so curious! They come out and have to check me out.
 Every kind of ant you can imagine and then all these tiny unusual creatures one by one. Once they feel satisfied to have thoroughly checked me out, they leave me alone.

Speaking of bugs...I received this lovely birthday gift today from my dear friend Becky:

 

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She stitched up this fabulous cicada pouch and sent along some cards in it!

(sorry my picture just does not show how fabulous it is!)

I Love them...thank you soooo much <3

I brought my lovely gift outside and just as I was opening the pouch a chorus of cicada began to sing... how about that!!!!!  I love synchronicity. : )

 <3

 Also for you thrifty recycling kinda gals, I found this really interesting website. This Artist/ woman made her clothes, shoes, bras, etc. for a year and then had an opening at an Art Gallery. She did not make her fabric for the clothes in case you are wondering.
    Check it out:

http://makeshiftproject.blogspot.com

A little Earth love........

from the garden.

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basil in the garden.....

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mixed lettuce from the garden....

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and me with my mind in the stars : )

I leave you with this sweet video...it makes me smile!

Have a great week!

<3

Summer afternoons

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I spent two days sitting outside in the shade working on piecing together this quilt. I have been basting the different quilt pieces to a larger piece of fabric that belonged to my grandmother. If you look closely in this second picture I have written "grandmother's fabric" on the photo, and you can see where I need to fill in with quilt pieces to cover the base fabric. The embroidered blue, pink and green basket was a very old pillow case that belonged to my late grandmother. It was ripped and was soooo old that to lightly pull at the fabric would rip it. Working with the pillowcase was like cutting a piece of butter and talk about soft to the touch!

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Also, in the lower right had corner is the rest of one of the linen calendar tops. I think am going to do some heavy stitching over that. I felt it was best to leave it as a whole piece rather than cut it up as I did the actual calendar part. (which is to the left).

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you will see some old quilt pieces have found a home here. I have been making quilt pieces and saving them for the right "spot" and this quilt is becoming the right "home" for those lost and forsaken little quilt pieces! (smiles!)

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Daughter #3 and a little summer magic : )




<3