truly talented

 I have decided I would really like to start featuring some of my favorite artists. I am amazed by all of the talented people in this world. There are so many different mediums and styles of art that speak to me. I love when I see something for the first time and am simply in awe of the beauty that is before me. Speechless.

Agnes Herczeg's art is extraordinary.

The first time I saw one of her tiny creations, it took my breath away.

Here are a few examples of some of my favorite pieces.

Agnes Herczeg is from Hungary and graduated from the University of Fine Arts in Budapest. This incredible form of art is based on her many years of experience working with needle lace. Her tiny pieces are made on frames of twigs and wood and she uses natural fiber very fine threads. I can't even imagine the amount of time and precision it would take to make these intricate and elaborate woven designs.

All of these delightful images are the property of Agnes Herczeg. For more information about Agnes as well as access to her available work for sale, please visit her wonderful website.

CLICK HERE

I hope you will take the time to visit her site. You won't believe the variety of her work posted in galleries from 2015-2021. You will be inspired beyond belief, you may even be interested in purchasing something for yourself or for someone special.

We are all better for opening our eyes and hearts to talented artists around this world of ours. I am so inspired by Miss Agnes Herczeg. I am honored to be able to share her incredible creations with you.

If you have an artist you would like to see featured on my blog please let me know. The more we share the works of one another the better it will be for us all.

searching...

 Start every day with a grateful heart.

It's wonderful advice to begin each day with a grateful heart. I try to start each day by speaking with God. It's never a well thought out prayer, it is more like an honest conversation. If I begin by thanking our heavenly Father for the blessings in my heart, it does lift my spirits.

However, not long after my morning prayers I still find myself in search of inspiration. I'm not depressed but I don't feel as inspired as I have at other points in my life.

One source of inspiration comes from old books and magazines...

...but the pages don't seem to hold the key right now.

So more often than not, I put on some grubby clothes and my apron and head out to the garden. There are no lack of projects that I can get into on this property. Lately I've been cleaning the grape arbor area at the end of the flower gardens. The home was built about 100 years ago and by the look of the "trunk" of the old grapevine, I would bet this is a part of the original grounds. 

With rake and trowel in hand I'm ready to dig in.

As I lose track of time in the garden, I find my mind drifts away from of the problems of the world.

Before I know it I'm dreaming of fairies...

...and settling for butterflies.

As the sun begins to set, my spirits are soaring and I feel the kind of ache that comes with a day's hard work.

The world can be an ugly place right now when we focus on the negativity around us. Blocking out the news and focusing on the blessings around me brings peace to my worried mind.

My garden heals my mind and time with the Lord heals my heart and soul. Do you have something in your day-to-day life that lifts your spirits? Is it reading, crafting, baking, friends?

Although we are all different, one thing that hopefully ties us together is our need for a peaceful mind.

Here's to finding inner peace...

and in my case,

a little dirt under my nails.

stitched with love

 For those of you who sent a note and asked about the quilt angel in the post from January 1st, I can't share where I purchased it.

Because I didn't buy it, I made it! And it is so easy to make. I have shared vintage quilt projects in the past, I have even shared them in magazines. I'm happy to share it again.

Here is a quick tutorial...

I don't have a pattern that I use, these are the basic shapes. Remember you need two identical pieces for a front and back for the head, body and arms.

Once stitched wrong sides together, turn it right side out and fill with batting. You can even add dried lavender and rose petal potpourri to create a scented sachet.

I create a retro 1930's hair style with yarn. The face is simply two light blue dots with a fabric pen and pale pink cheeks. Use your creativity and make any hairstyle in any color you wish: red braids, brown curly locks or long blond tresses.

For the wings, I find an old doily and weave a circle around the outer edge with wire. Then pinch the circle together in the center to form a double wing shape.

Fasten the wings to the back with stitches or hot glue. Then embellish your angel in any way you like.

I like to bring the arms together in the front to give the appearance of praying. Sometimes I place a starfish in her arms or flowers or a vintage ornament.

These precious angels can be made in any size. These are just a few tips to get you started. Use your imagination to create your special angel. This is a wonderful project for beginners just learning to sew!

And please don't worry, no quilts in good condition were harmed in the making of this angel. I use something called a cutter quilt for my craft projects. Cutter quilts are damaged and in very poor condition, yet there are sections salvageable for projects. These quilts are found at yard sales and thrift shops for just a few dollars.

Do you have a favorite craft project that you have enjoyed making during the pandemic? I lost my creative way for a bit, but revisiting things I've made in the past is helping to restore my joy.

Feel free to share your project ideas,

I love to be inspired by others!

2021

 It's almost hard to believe that 2020 is finally behind us. It feels surreal looking back over the past twelve months.

I lost my way, my joy and my creativity on many occasions. I stopped and tried to restart my creative journey several times. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find a way to continue creating home and garden posts. My mind was filled with the dread that played over and over again on the daily news: racial unrest, hatred, Covid-19, growing death rates, a political mess and social isolation.

Well, I've had a change of heart. It's not a time to give up on my joy...it's time to find it and hold on with all my might. So I awaken to a new day in a new year, look outside my bedroom windows into a day filled with sunshine and thank God for all the blessings yet to come.

Sharing creativity is one small way I can put an ounce of positivity out into the universe.

So as sun sets on this day, I will reflect on the past year with a grateful heart. I will also try not to let negativity win. I don't know if this is a real "new year's resolution", but I do think I should be resolved to hold onto the things that bring me joy.

For all of you who have visited my blog from time to time, I thank you from the bottom of me heart. 

Are there things you struggled with over the past year? We were all experiencing the same storm, yet we were all in completely different boats. I would love to hear how you weathered the storm. There is much we can learn from one another.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Happy New Year...

cottagecore

 Have you heard of cottagecore?

It's a term that's actually been floating around the internet since 2014 but it has become more prominently used during this quarantine period. It's basically a nostalgic movement with a return to traditional homemaking skills like baking, gardening and crafting.

For some of us, this is just our way of life. But now a lot of people are looking to escape the stress of everyday life.

My cottagecore life is:

Appreciating the natural world.

Using vintage linens.

Cultivating seeds.

Gardening.

Having a feminine wardrobe.

Harvesting...

...and enjoying the fruits of my labor.

Flower arranging.

Cottagecore means different things to different people. It's an escape of the stress filled world, the pressures of real life trauma and the long sleepless nights. It's an alternative to "doom-scrolling" the endless negative news stories online, on television and in newspapers.

Strange how cottagecore has become a movement. This is truly no different than how I have lived my entire life.

It's a good idea to embrace...especially now.

Unplug and give it a try.

nature's summer bounty

 Summer flowers are happily blooming like there isn't a care in the world. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by beautiful gardens, birds and bees. 

I take inspiration from some of my favorite historical gardens like those at the Edison summer estates.

Incorporating those inspirations into my garden make me feel connected to the past.

It's a wonderful escape.

Having a place to quietly sit and reflect in my garden is really important. I can enjoy the hard work that goes into my garden, I can appreciate God's beauty and I can escape reality even if only for a short while.

Wishing you all peace, beauty and good health.