Come Fly Away with Me.

 

Up Up and Away

Recently, I attended a foundation paper-piecing class at my local quilt store, Boxer Craft House. Our project was a Hot Air Balloon. This was an interesting process because you stitch fabric pieces to a foundation paper with the marked side of the paper facing up and the fabric pieces layered underneath. The resulting pieced units will be mirror images of foundation papers. It is almost forcing you to have a different perspective. 

Much like a Hot Air Balloon, your perspective changes when one has distance. 

Really Happy with my pillow and mug rugs that I made.

Did you know that Hot Air Balloons are actually very difficult to fly. You cannot steer a hot air balloon. The balloon follows the path of the wind and you must go along for the ride. All that you can control is going up or down! Geez, this is life! We can only control how we react, not the wind or others! 

And just a change in fabric is a different perspective.

There is so much we cannot control in life. Like a hot air balloon, we cannot control the direction of the wind and if we struggle against it, we will only waste our energy. When we allow ourself to accept the current situation, we may notice the things around us in a different way.

Yep, even I need to be uplifted when writing a difficult journal!

 Brianna Z. Kauer, M.S., BCBA states this best, “When we are flying low to the ground, everything seems large and appears to be moving quickly. When you are flying high in the air, everything seems small and appears to be moving slowly. We can’t control which direction the wind blows us, but we can choose to rise above the struggles of the day to see them from a distance. When we create distance from our negative thoughts or feelings, they don’t seem so big; mountains become foothills, houses become toys, people become ants.”

No matter what’s happening in our lives, we always have the potential to rise above, accept the current situation, and adjust those inner burners (our emotional and physical reaction). Moreover, we have the choice to rise out of our negative thoughts, our limiting beliefs, and our comfort zone. What a great “life lesson project” and a great reminder for myself. I hope this post lifts you up and inspires you for the ride of a lifetime.

Birthday Cardinals

 

 Cardinals

 

This past few weeks, I have been enjoying the winter birds in our back yard. Among them are the cardinals. I often get a giggle from the blue jays and woodpeckers that tend to squabble over spots by our feeders.

I decided to create a male and female cardinal sun catcher in honor of my friend’s birthday. However, each bird had to be cut without a pattern which was a new skill attempt for me. I found this difficult.

 

 

My favorite part was applying the patina after I soldered the birds.

This pair of cardinals will make a lovely birthday gift since cardinals remind my friend of her parents.  Every time we see one we mention Grammie & Poppie. 

 

Handmade gifts just fill my soul with warmth and bring back special memories not only for those that I make them for but also for myself! 

" I saw a Cardinal in my tree,
The bright red color so beautiful to see.
Thoughts of loved ones brought a smile to my face,
As I watched it flitter about with grace.
Visitors from Heaven they are said to be,
I feel blessed that you came to visit me.”

Unknown

 

 

I tend to put a lot of thought into my gifts and creative adventures. 

Do you? 

Ginger