Comfort Cottage

Making Progress

I've finally arrived at that moment in the making of a quilt that excites me most:  sewing the blocks together.   With a quilt of many colors, I needed to retreat to the floor again to audition blocks for their proper place.

 

 

Aren't the colors delicious?  Sewing a large quilt together feels a bit like wrestling an alligator.

 

 

 

I'm building a sizable mountain of scraps!

 

 

I need to find some little projects!  I got out of the studio for a few hours this morning to canvas the book store for fresh inspiration.  The beginning of the month always brings a pile of new magazines with it.

 

 

 

This one is fantastic!  This is just one of the quilts waiting to be sewn:

 

 

There were also many lovely quilts in this one:

 

 

In addition to all of the tempting projects, there is an interesting interview with fabric designer Stephanie Brandenburg of Frond Design Studios.  It offers some insight into the process of crafting beautiful fabric designs.

 

 

The next time I share quilting news, I should be finished sewing the Rainbow Connection quilt.  I also have a trip to quilters' haven, Lancaster County, PA in the works to celebrate my birthday.  My bank card will be smokin' :)  I'll meet with you again soon!

 

Until next time,

 

 

 

 

Joy

What gives you joy?  For as many people as there are on the earth, there can be just as many answers.  For me, it is painting, or hiking in a quiet, remote place, or sharing a laugh with my sister.  It is knowing that no matter what happens, God is still looking out for us.  There are many things that give me joy.  When I came upon this  quote for my art journal, it reminded me that there is a joy that extends way beyond my circumstances.

 

 

All of you who come here to visit give me joy.  I love to share with you and I love visiting you to see what's happening in your life.  Tell me, what is it that brings your heart joy?

 

Hugs and blessings

until next time,

 

Life Goes On

It's officially Spring, and I was looking through some photos I've taken over the years.  It's reassuring that in spite of all the turmoil that may swirl around us, life indeed does go on.  Today, let's celebrate life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One summer, about seven years ago, I had a pair of potted trees on either side of my door.  One day I noticed a little bird sitting on one of the branches.  It wasn't long before there were two birds constructing their summer home.  As I watched through the window, over the weeks that followed, the incredible miracle of life unfolded before my eyes.  First, there was one egg...the next...two...then three...and on day four, there were four perfect, spotted blue eggs.

 

 

 

The little birds carried on despite a busy family coming and going right past their nest.  One evening as we were all going out, I glanced in the nest.  I will never forget the sight.  Fortunately, I had my camera, and without touching the tree, I was able to freeze the moment in time.  Over the next week, I recorded the unfolding miracle.

 

 

 I thought of something as I was writing this post.  Most of us, as creative people, have at one time or another felt they did not measure up.  Look at it this way:  if Michelangelo had witnessed this, even he would have felt upstaged!  So, keep on doing what you do and remember that we bear the image of the Master artist.  We were born to be creative!  Have a lovely day.

 

Until next time,

 

 

Make Mine Colorful, Please!

Before I even looked out my window this morning, I knew the weather was gloomy.  I could hear the rain pounding mournfully on my roof.  I knew the sight that would greet me as soon as I drew the blinds:  gray, sad, soggy...

 

Well, who says it has to be gloomy?  I'll make my own color, thank you!  Life is sort of like that...sometimes, we have to make our own color.

 

T. Morse-Copyright 2011

 

Sometimes, all we have to do is look at things in a new way.  The world was gray today, so I took my digital paintbrush and threw some paint on it!  It looks a lot better now.

 

Have a colorful day!

 

Until next time,