more stitches...

Apologies for the silence, but I have

been away and also busy working on various new

stitched projects.

I love taking my little folk art pictures and

turning them into stitched pieces

for others to create and enjoy!

The design below is one such -

done for a French cross stitch magazine, 

and I am happy with the way it turned out.

Happy weekend to all, 

and blessings...

Gail

xoxox

with needle and thread...

January has just flown past...I cannot believe we are almost

in February! At least I have been busy - having

picked up needle and thread again, after a

fairly long hiatus. I love to stitch...I had just forgotten

for a while, in my rush to do other things!

So, I have some new projects in the works -

while not forgetting my other art/book projects,

although sadly the books are not getting 

picked up by publishers (yet, anyway!)

I am going to convert some of my little artworks into

small cross stitch charts (I have no patience

with designs that take forever to stitch,

no matter how beautiful they are!)

So, watch this space - the designs will be

available as PDF downloads.

And the design range will be called 'Heart Thoughts'

since I always include hearts in all my creations!

I am also planning a book to follow up my French

book about the mice - this one will

feature little cross stitch pictures and other designs

stitched by the mice!!

Because - although you may not know it - 

mice love to cook, bake...and stitch!!

Have a bright and beautiful day!

Gail

xoxox 

in the moment...

It is hard to believe we are already past the middle of

January...time seems to disappear so quickly.

I hoped to be more mindful this year, but thus far

it seems to be more a case of 'mind too full'!

I seem to have been chasing my tail and losing

the thread of things - so much so that I actually put the 

same image on two different blog posts -

apologies for that!

Starting today I am going to try and slow down,

to focus on what is important. To breathe.

To remember. To be.

I have started my candle ritual again, too.

I place three beautiful candles, one white, one rose

and one gold on my windowsill. 

In the morning or evening I light them, to remind

me of three important things.

The rose candle is for yesterday, and what

it gave us. The gold candle is for today, the only

moment we have. And the white candle is for lighting

our path into a beautiful future.

Offered with love

Gail

xoxox

precious life...

A new post for a new week, and this illustrated quote,

which I did for a recent book project, has to be one of my favorites,

written by the amazing poet Mary Oliver.

(I also love one of her other quotes, 'tell me, are you

breathing just a little, and calling it a life?')

So powerful..and often so true!

Offered with love...

Gail xoxox

feeling a little wabi sabi today...

Feeling a little wabi sabi today - less than perfect,

tired and stressed, and unsure of what the future may hold!

We've all been there...I keep on working and

creating art, but sometimes I wonder if anyone actually likes it...

all part of the creative process I guess!

I saw my wabi sabi bird early today, singing his heart out,

with ruffled feathers and wonky leg.

He reminded of how perfect we all are, in our

imperfection - that all is as it should be, and will be

well - as long as we keep on believing in ourselves, 

and building our foundations on hope, not fear.

Offered with love

Gail xoxox

song in my heart...

I love birds...always have and always will.

For me they represent the essence of nature - simple,

pure, open and brave.

I think we can learn a lot from them...

I know I do, just by sitting on my deck and watching

them flying around in the trees that

surround my cabin.

So I also love using them in my art -

which is why I started keeping a small artist's journal

of favourite quotes and thoughts...

together with whimsical imges of birds,

owls, chickens, seagulls...and more!

And.. hopefully, one day this little journal

will be published as a book! 

A gift from my heart... and from the birds.

Offered with love...

Gail 

xoxox