A Postal Pocket

What better way to end "National Card and Letter Month" than  with a pocket in which to store a few envelopes?

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I just love opening the mail box and seeing a letter or card.  Its always a welcome surprise to a day and I set aside everything I'm doing to open this missive and read from beginning to end.  

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Staying in close touch with those I love, via 'snail' mail is one of my favorite things to do.  Its so intimate -- just the two of us sharing our thoughts and dreams on paper.  I know its a lost pastime these days but here's a special thank you to those who share this love of letters.  

"And none will hear the postman's knock

Without a quickening of the heart.

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?"

W. H. Auden

Keeping It Simple?

My idea was to make pockets -- different sizes -- different shapes -- lots of frou-frou. The "frou" thoughts came from some of the pockets such as this one by Cottage Dreams.  I love it, and those like it.  I love the clusters of lace and trim and this and that.

My first pocket came about as a 'trial'.  I didn't know what I was doing, but using some left over natural colored fabric I began the adventure.  I had a charm pack of fabric that I had fallen in love with so I let it lead the way as I laid piece by piece on both pocket sides.

As I worked I realized that this pocket was not what I had imagined my pockets to be.  This pocket was simple, natural, subdued and I liked it.  But what happened to my desire for busyness with layer upon layer of ribbon and lace?  As I began the second pocket I was still striving for "that look" - but once again it arrived as subdued and modest.  

As I work on my fourth pocket I realize that the most important part of creating is to be me - to let go and follow my inner self.  Trying to imitate never works, nor is it comfortable. So for now I'll follow my own heart and thoughts as I match fabric and trim and stitching -- and stay with quiet, soft and simple.

"I've learned that its not really about changing who you are, but realizing who you've always been - and then letting that flow into everything you think, say and do."  possibilityoftoday.com

Music In My Pocket

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It is impossible for me to imagine this world without music.  It surrounds me everyday in so many ways.

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I admire those musicians who can make music for they must hear it in their heart and mind far before it ever reaches my ears.

"Do you know that our soul is composed of harmony?" - Leonardo DaVinci

Order out of Chaos

I recently looked around my studio and especially over at the hanging shelves just next to my desk.  It looked like hoarder lives here (at least to my eyes).  Boxes stuffed with "I might this sometime" things,  and more stuff stuffed here and there for lack of space in existing boxes.

What's a girl to do but get in and start sorting, and sorting and sorting. I don't have a lot compared to others but this took all day long.  There was the taking out and putting back or setting aside for donations and trash -- and then the putting saved items into proper boxes.  Of course there was a run to JoAnn's for newer, bigger boxes to replace the smaller, now scruffy ones I had been using.

Today I can look at these shelves and see nothing but neatly stacked boxes, each holding things I just know I need to have!

"One way to organize your thoughts is to tidy up, even if it's in places where it makes no sense at all." - Ursus Wehrli

A Soft Pocket

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Quietly this pocket became real.  With bits of on-hand fabric, Sari silk and buttons found.

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The colors going together as a meditation would - silently becoming.

"The true wealth of a man is not what's in his pocket, but what's in his heart." - Unarine Ramaru

What is a miracle?

"Miracle - wonder; marvel; anything extraordinary or supernatural"

This little scrap found recently among other little scraps speaks to me.  I must use it on something personal.  What will it become?

Walking outside at this time of the year there are miracles surrounding me.  Sometimes they are small and easy to walk by.  I'll try to capture them and add them to my heart collection.

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Sometimes they are a total surprise such as deer crossing the road as I start up the hill on my morning walk.  Moving through my vision so quickly I was not able to take my own picture.

This is the perfect time for miracles in the garden.  White petals still held close.  Ready to burst open.

These miracles are all around us, all the time, sometimes in the most unlikely of circumstances or places.   What  small miracles have you encountered today?

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

A Pocket Full of Stems

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These bright spring days I am finding myself drawn to 'pockets'.  What fun to take a batch of 'scraps' and put them together into the form of a pocket.

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The idea of using embroidery to 'enhance' my stitching has been with me for several weeks.  A pocket is the perfect place to stitch a little bit here and a little bit there.

Although the pocket has a definite form -- the way its made, what is used to make it -- makes it almost an abstract form.  And that is exactly what I'm looking for these days.

"On the great canvas of time

We all create our own masterpiece.

Choreographing our steps across minutes and hours

Dancing over the days

Painting pictures over months and

Writing our stories on the years.

Singing our songs that echo across eons.

We are all a thread in the talent tapestry.

A snapshot in the cosmic, collective collage."

Michele Jannae

Something's Coming...

Don't you love it when your work table is clear and ready for a brand new-to-you project?

Don't you love gathering up the bits and pieces that you might or will need to prepare this yet-to-be project?

Isn't the excitement just wonderful - as if you are opening up your head and heart and waiting for new things to appear?

Isn't there a bit of trepidation as to whether you can actually create those pictures inside your head?

Isn't life wonderful?

"Could it be? Yes, it could.

Something's coming, 
something good,

If I can wait!

Something's coming, I don't know what it is,

But it is

Gonna be great!"

- West Side Story