Philosophy Friday - What do Love & Creativity Have in Common?

" Creativity is like falling in love.....there's this incredible urge to discover potential "

                                                                        - Jake Barton of Local Projects



That's beautiful isn't it?  Just think about it......really think about it and remember
what it's like to fall in love.....now.....go and create!

                                   

                                                                    

The Spirit Lives Within - now at auction

The Quilt Alliance auction is now in full swing and this week my
" The Spirit Lives Within" is up on e bay.  All proceeds from the
auction go to the non profit Quilt Alliance to maintain their dedicated work in documenting, preserving and promoting the understanding of the quilt as an important  art form while maintaining a record of quilting history, not just in North America but now world wide.
All of the artists involved have donated their time and quilts
to the Quilt Alliance and we appreciate the public's support
for the Alliance.

Please consider a bid for this most worthwhile project:

To view/bid on The Spirit Lives Within:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quilt-Alliance-fundraising-quilt-/140891723374?pt=Quilts&hash=item20cdcd166e

To view/bid on any of the other quilts on auction this week:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/quiltalliance/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686

101 Handmades + - Getting In the Christmas Groove

I have been quiet for the last week or two working away on a project I can't openly discuss just yet.  Now it's time to get into the Christmas groove.......

I see it's just a couple of days until the beginning of December and no doubt many of you are thinking about what to make, if not already feverishly working on presents or looking up ideas for seasonal decor and paper arts for gift giving.
One of my favourite online sites is Etsy because of it's emphasis on " hand made".  The folks at "Everything Etsy" have compiled several tutorials and ideas for Christmas creating and giving. I have listed 6 URLS  below for your viewing pleasure:

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/05/101-handmade-gifts-for-men-diy/

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/10/101-handmade-gifts-for-her-diy/

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2011/10/101-handmade-holiday-tutorials/

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/11/101-christmas-printables/

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2011/09/101-handmade-ornament-tutorials/

http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/01/101-sewing-tutorials-for-winter/



Well, there you have it - 606 items to give you food for thought and creative inspiration. I know they are not all textile related but you stitchers are a very talented lot and will no doubt find many of the tutorials useful in appeasing your artistic endeavours in other areas.
I hope you enjoy the offerings and find something you can create or have some fun with.  Thanks to all the generous artists for their tutorials and stimulating ideas and a big shout out to Everything Etsy for compiling these lists for our pleasure and convenience.
                                                        

                                                               

LEST WE FORGET

                                                                

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. "
                                             - Laurence Binyon



Thinking of my family today and the many men and women
who have died to give us the freedoms we so enjoy in our societies.
Do not take their sacrifices for granted.


Be grateful
      be thoughtful
           be respectful
                be peaceful........

 

 

                                              

 

                                                     Lampwork poppies by artist Kirsty Naray

                                                                                    Collection of LHH

                                                        

Philosophy Friday - Be yourself

“Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know “why” I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved. ”

                                                                                                     -Will Rogers(1879-1935);
                                                                                                        actor, comic, columnist

 

True enough!  So many are obssessed with aging instead of enjoying life and taking things as they come.  Now I am not advocating letting oneself go BUT there comes a time when life is too precious to waste time fretting about wrinkles and studying one's vanity. 

 

It's been quite a week here with work deadline pressures, fallout from Hurricane Sandy, concern for dear friends right in the eye of the storm and health concerns for our senior family members. On the plus side we got to spend                                                                            
 an informal evening with guitar god, Rik Emmett.

 

                                                                                  

 Tomorrow I head back to Toronto to attend the Toronto Bead Society Show and Sale so there will definitely be fodder to blog about this coming week. Stay tuned for news and adventures. 

 

And further to Will's quote above, you may not be able to turn the clock back on aging but you must remember to turn the clock back one hour this Sunday as Day Light Saving time ends.  Although I think we all relish an extra hour's snooze, it is always the sign of earlier nightfall and the start of winter here.  Light the fires, keep warm and I'll have some bead chat for you soon.