Rebecca Sower

Photo A Day, June 30

Photo A Day, June 29

Photo A Day, June 28

Photo A Day, June 27

Photo A Day, June 26

Photo A Day, June 25

auf wiedersehen

But just for now...

Have decided to step away from blogging for a month or so.  I'll be traveling quite a lot in July and have to keep up with kids and garden and all that's Summer.

Shipped out the last of my Etsy orders this morning and am letting the shop take a rest too.

I know this time away will invigorate and inspire me to come back in August with a renewed energy and hopefully some new creativity since I've been feeling a little dry lately.  We all need to step back now and then.

And just a note of Thank You! to the many sweet comments and emails I have gotten.  That you share your stories and your heart with me leaves me amazed and honored, truly.  You might laugh a little if you saw me sitting at my computer with a box of tissues as I read your words.  I cherish each of you.  I know I haven't personally responded to several of you, but please know you have touched my heart and my prayers are with you.

Of course you know I can't leave you completely.  So I have prepared my "Photo a Day" posts that will still come through here every day until the end of July.  Just random photos that you may or may not have seen before, sometimes a verse for encouragement, sometimes a piece of handiwork.

So let's all get out there and enjoy the Summer!  Remember...

...the saddest thing you can do with your life is to let it pass you by.

So auf wiedersehen, my dear friends...until we meet again.

hope's golden wings

Sometimes we just need a little reminder to endure.  A reminder that hope is never lost and gone.  Was reading Charlotte Bronte's poetry last night and had forgotten about her poem called "Life".  Take the time to read it through...beautiful words from a woman who died at the young age of 39.

LIFE

Life, believe, is not a dream

So dark as sages say;

Oft a little morning rain

Foretells a pleasant day.

Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,

But these are transient all;

If the shower will make the roses bloom,

O why lament its fall?

Rapidly, merrily,

Life's sunny hours flit by,

Gratefully, cheerily

Enjoy them as they fly!

What though Death at times steps in,

And calls our Best away?

What though sorrow seems to win,

O'er hope, a heavy sway?

Yet Hope again elastic springs,

Unconquered, though she fell;

Still buoyant are her golden wings,

Still strong to bear us well.

Manfully, fearlessly,

The day of trial bear,

For gloriously, victoriously,

Can courage quell despair!

For those of use who are not facing hard stuff right now, let's never forget that it isn't so for everyone.  The person next to you could be short on Hope.  If you're that person, my prayers and heart are with you.  Be strong and endure and love...always love.

Thanks for sharing my coffee with me this morning.

Handmade from Home {session 04}

I may not be from Texas, but this is one big pincushion.  Actually, I made this about a year ago but when I saw Charlotte's pincushion post I was inspired to share this one with you.

This mega pincushion came to be when I realized my smaller ones all ended up huddled in the center of my big work table.  So...

I went outside and found a heavy planter on my patio and brought it in to be the base.  I cut a big square of green velvet, did a little stitching on it for fun, and grabbed a bag of stuffing.  Then I crammed the velvet-wrapped stuffing down into the planter.  And it's served me well ever since.  Of course, I still have my small pincushions here and there that I use frequently, but I love having this large one center stage when I'm working at my table.

Some more shots...

 

Until we meet again! 

flurry of activity

I have another project or two for "Handmade from Home" in the works but need to take an intermission, what with so much going on around here.  Been busy tending the vegetable patch, caring for the chicks, making strawberry jam, etc., etc., etc....what's keeping you busy lately?

Summer just buzzes with activity around here...what happened to those lazy days?

It's all fun though...just keep reminding me to appreciate it for what it is and know it won't last.

The good news?  My hollyhocks are blooming.  And I do appreciate them since a bad storm wiped out almost everything else last week.

Stay tuned for more "Handmade from Home"...