'Crazy Quilts' were a fad that started in the Victorian Days. The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition was a big event in Victorian society. One of the most popular exhibits was the Japanese pavilion with its fascinating crazed ceramics and asymmetrical art.
That was the origin of crazy quilting, wealthy Victorian women started the fad with expensive silk thread and fabric making art pieces for the home based on oriental motifs using the variety of stitching patterns thus showing off their needle work skills. After getting great exposure in magazines of the day, everybody started to do it. http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting_history/crazy.htm
The thought of working some of this stuff just makes me want to hyperventilate...slightly overwhelming! But I think I have a great assortment of styles above, to incorporate into my own heirloom.
Well, I tried this year, I really did. But it seems I'm not the only one who has a fondness for Easter candy. My sweet grand baby walked in with a bag full of jelly beans, gummy fruit bunnies and malted milk ball eggs. He dolled them out to grandpa and me, one by one.
But this holiday is nothing more than a Pagan celebration or economic stimulus with purchases of peeps and cadburry, unless I remember the real reason that I celebrate.
This is a beautiful rendition of this hymn:
I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.
He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.
He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.
He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!
Written by Samuel Medley in 1775. The possibility of leg amputation from a war wound led Samuel to pray, asking that he might keep his leg. The prayer was answered. Samuel dedicated his time to God and wrote a lot of hymns.
But the original author of the phrase was Job. The book of Job in the Bible is an interesting study of human nature all right. Job being 'righteous' meaning he really lived purposefully to do good, was the object of a discussion between God and Satan.
Essentially Satan trying to tell God His business, told God, 'sure Job is righteous you have blessed him beyond measure, why shouldn't he act holy?'. Satan said, 'let me mess him up a bit and then we'll see how he acts'.
Well, Satan squashed Job like a bug. Job was ruined to his inner man after a series of events leaving him face down in the dirt. But still Job endures and then his wife says, "curse God, and die".
Job answers, shakes the dust off so to speak, "You speak as one of the foolish speaks. Moreover, shall we receive good from God and shall not receive evil?"
Then Job's friends and not so much friends chime in and give their opinion.
Human nature revealed. It is more than a Bible story, 'the book comprises a didactic poem set in a prose frame and has been called "the most profound literary work of the entire Old Testament".The book and its numerous exegeses are attempts to address the problem of evil. The over-riding and oft-asked question manifestly revealed in the book of Job is, "Why do the righteous suffer?" ' just buzz on over to wiki for a quick dip: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. Job 19:25-27
We're in the season of Lent. A religious tradition which incorporates fasting, abstaining from certain foods in most cases, not always complete abstinence from food. I'm not very religious so I usually find myself in the middle of it and then the light bulb comes on.
But I came across this today, FAST, pray love and it really struck a chord with me.
It plays upon a well known book title Eat, Pray, Love which was made into a movie. (Yes I saw parts of it, on TV, it was comfortable filler on a busy afternoon when I needed a break, it was cute enough)
...not quite as profound as promoted by Oprah back in the day. This article 'Fast, Pray, Love' approaches profound closer than the book 'Eat, Pray, Love' in my mind.
The author says, "Those people who say fasting is just an ego-based endurance test are right. I'm going to do something different this year. I am going to fast from badmouthing people. I am going to fast from something that can effect some actual good"
ha ha, I think that comes closer to the matter for me, and it's always a temptation for all of humanity to seek their own glory even in spiritual matters of fasting. The Bible has much to say for the benefit of our human nature,
'When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.' Matthew 6:16
Matthew 6:17-18 - "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Isaiah 58:6-9 - ""Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
So much written about fasting on the internet! (I could go on but I'll spare you)
I'm chosing this poetic instruction to the soul as my meditation during this season of Lent.
Hoping that you will be blessed by it as well!
Happy preperation for Easter.
Isaiah 58 True Fasting
1 “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.
3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness[a] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
From wiki: In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin sublīmis) is the quality of greatness or vast magnitude, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation.
Wiki's article is the philosophy of sublime. Lots to ponder there. I'm just talking adjective here...
adj 1. of high moral, aesthetic, intellectual, or spiritual value; noble; exalted
2. inspiring deep veneration, awe, or uplifting emotion because of its beauty, nobility, grandeur, or immensity 3. unparalleled; supreme a sublime compliment 4. Poetic of proud bearing or aspect 5. Archaic raised up
Well to my utter delight and astonishment, my desk is done and in her new home. Time for the unveiling...cue the trumpets...
May I present to you...
the grand duchess of the desk world,
ta da! My refinished roll top desk rescued from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
(link to the before pics: http://merrysmix.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-find.html)
I used a product similar to Hormer Formbys furniture refinisher, sandpaper, lemon oil refinisher, stain and varnish.
I am really happy with the way it turned out.
It was rather a mess when we brought it home.
but she's a mess no more little lassy!
She's a grand lady now.
Mistress of her domain!
These roll top desks were very popular at the turn of the Victorian century. They held ledgers and receipts and many other various and sundry items for businessmen.
Mine is housing jewelry and craft items, the little drawers and cubby holes are just perfect to create some order out of the chaos of jewelry making.
I don't know but it seems this year has been an unusually cold bitter year for weather.
Here in the southern part of the great Northwest, mother nature gave us week of balmy 50's then turned on her heel and flounced some 20 degree nights our way.
One thing I do know, it is perfect 'Snuggle' weather.
Here we sit deep in the heart of winter.The world will not remain a cold, dark wasteland forever.
We will see blue skies and tufts of green will spring back to life again. We will welcome spring from her long winter sleep.Till then, Snuggle, a celebration of warm and cozy moments. A lotion bar is the perfect medium to showcase the rich, pleasing scent 'Snuggle'. A combo of three amazing scents a delicious house blend of three exotic perfume oils; Absynthe, Arabian Spice and Dragons Blood. Absynthe: not the woodsy herbacious one, this blend is heavy on the spice Arabian Spice: the stuff that dreams are made of. Myrrh and Orange, with middle notes of Ginger. Dragons Blood: deeply scented oil, that holds notes of rich vanilla and patchouli, which is then rounded off with extremely light hints of sweet floral notes. Snuggle has a scent life of over 8 hours and can be layered with other scents. This is over 1oz of lotion bar/solid perfume weighed separately from the container. Solid lotion/perfume bar, a brilliant idea made better by the wonderful natural ingredients in the bar. Almond Oil, Grapeseed oil, Olive oil, Beeswax and coconut oil. My gypsy grandmother's recipe. Or it would be if I had a gypsy grandmother. Anyway, my own formula not a commercial base. http://www.etsy.com/listing/63025246/snuggle-solid-perfume-lotion-bar
It is nice weather to snuggle in all right. A deep burrow in the evening under blankets that envelop you in a hug... hot steamy beverages are pure comfort and become more than just a caffeine kick in the morning. Peaceful moments with a good book are tailor made for a snowy afternoon. In fact if you don't have any deadlines snowy days can be really peaceful. If you are warm and snug it is a perfect time to be thankful and practice a day of gratitude.
This seems like a peaceful lovely thing to do on a cold and snowy day, I found it on the Internet in a random hop around, just thought I'd share. (..sorry I lost the link to it.)
Take time this week to have a daily check-in with yourself:
1. STOP – take 10-15 minutes and find a quiet place to sit – no radio, music, television, kids, phone, etc. 2. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Focus on your breathe and imagine it flowing through you as you breath in and out. 3. Imagine a small flame in the center of your chest. As you breathe in, the flame expands. As you breathe out, the flame flushes out anything negative in your thoughts or feelings. 4. Sit in silence for a few more minutes. Remind yourself that there is NOTHING for you to do right NOW. 5. When you feel complete, slowly open your eyes. Continue with your day remembering the calm darkness that envelopes you and the warmth of your light within that fuels you. It is so important that we take the time to recharge, hibernate or go within and stay in that calm darkness, knowing that our light is always there – we only need to allow its gentle flame to regenerate and recharge in the silence of our own winter. And when we honor that cycle of death and rebirth, we will be even more prepared to perform our mission in the world – whatever it might be. Blessings, Rev. Tricia
Well on to my own day, I send my blessings as well, taking time for grateful moments!
You wake up normal enough, but as the day wears on,
lovely gifts appear and are delightful to the eye and to the heart.
These I Can Promise Author Unknown
I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;
I cannot promise riches, wealth, or gold;'
I cannot promise you an easy pathway
That leads away from change or growing old.
But I can promise all my heart's devotion;
A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow;
A love that's ever true and ever growing;
A hand to hold in yours through each tomorrow.
Marriage Advice
Jane Wells (1886)
Let your love be stronger than your hate and anger.
Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.
Believe the best rather than the worst.
People have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them.
Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship.
The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindnesses you bestow on your friends.
Please hand this down to your children and your children's children.
A Good Wedding Cake Author Unknown
4 lb. of love.
1 lb. butter of youth.
1/2 lb. of good looks.
l lb. sweet temper.
1 lb. of blindness for faults.
1 lb. of self forgetfulness.
l lb. of pounded wit.
l lb. of good humour.
2 tablespoons of sweet argument.
1 pint of rippling laughter.
1 wine glass of common sense.
1 oz. modesty.
Put the love, good looks and sweet temper into a well furnished house. Beat the butter of youth to a cream, and mix well together with the blindness of faults. Stir the pounded wit and good humour into the sweet argument, then add the rippling laughter and common sense. Work the whole together until everything is well mixed, and bake gently for ever.
Yes, it was a warm sunny honey dripped kind of day. Full of love and happiness.
And I even got the books that I won on ebay, print date 1904 volumes of poetry, I got them for arting around in my spare time (laugh, hearty laugh). But you should see the covers of these books... the picture just doesn't really do them justice. The bindings are rotted away, and the front and back covers are disconnected , but the pages are almost pure white still and printed on the nicest heavy weight paper. I'm very pleased, they will make something wonderful if I get that creative bug nibbling at my behind any time soon.
Well I hope your Valentines day was a honey as well, here's to love!
I saw this poem and it rang clear today. ...Well, almost resonated that is, I think I wanted to resonate with it. You see I am old and gray but life is so packed with moments that I am not exactly sleeping by the fire. I guess that's a good thing,
good news! I'm awake!! whoopee. and someday hope to nap by the fire.
I love this part,
"But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;"
wouldn't that be awesome...to be loved for your soul and to have somebody love you through your 'sorrows of changing face'.
Dear Willie Yeats, you really captured the heart of the matter for that dear person sleeping by the fire. I hope she had many happy moments together with the man who saw the pilgrim soul in her before
It just reached out and grabbed me...with it's carved handsomness and solid oakness...
It had straw and foxtales hiding in nooks and crannies...
And secret hiding places...
And splinters and shreds and peels...
But I lost my heart the moment I saw it...the vintage roll top desk.
It took me quite a little while to convince my dear spouse, I heard at least 10 times...'where are we going to put it?' It is a little massive....
But in the end it was mine all mine. Tis the season of love after all... and uh, I still don't know where I am going to put it.
Desk update: Well our dear old Gertie is looking very good after a day at the spa. After a friend got all over me for not getting that desk done, ( It's been too darn cold... fer crying out loud) I got a great balmy day today in the 50's and stained and sealed her up!!!
she is so large, that my husband had to take the top off of it to get it into the room. Which was very lucky for me because it made it very very easy to stain and seal it up.
I did get some lemon oil soaking into this splintery mess of neglect, and the stain really took well.
I need to oil down the insides of the cubby and get the insides between the drawers. It was all clamped together today, dearest hubster has removed the clamps for me, so I'll get it tomorrow.
She is looking so good that I'm afraid I need new carpet in the bedroom where she is going to live. hehe. good excuse. I told my hubsterliscious that this was my birthday present, but that was a month ago, maybe he will be convinced that new carpeting would make an excellent present!... I'll fill you in on the details when she is installed in her room.
New in the shop, Perfumed Lotion. Sweet Indulgence.
Super thick and creamy with no greasy feeling. Just a tiny dollop melts instantly and makes your skin feel like silk.I have found the most wonderful lotion, made of goats milk and other wonderful ingredients. It took me quite a while but I'm very pleased.
For its debut, I've chosen two amazing scents. Choose from:
Dutch Tulip
Almost every one who has tried the Dutch tulip soap has asked me if I carry it in a perfume. The scent is not quite 'present' enough for a perfume, but it is outstanding in this lotion. And yes, it smells like a tulip shop.
Juniper Breeze:
An ozony balance of floral, green and fruity notes with a slight musk undertone. Honestly? This screams day at the spa. Inhale, and relax. Feeling a bit stressed by the weather? This scent is soft music, lit candles and massage table good. The scent lingers for hours.
Also new is a new scent for the lotion stick, lightly delightfully naturally scented with Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil. Perfect for daytime all day use.
Also new, a therapeutic application of the Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil.
This is a grand mix of exotic carrier oils and therapeutic essential oil. This body oil is multi funtional because of the many attributes of the essential oil used. (Click the listing under the pic)
Excellent as massage oil, light and quickly absorbed.
For the bath, only a couple of drops are needed, this scent blooms in hot water. Enjoy the properties of this essential oil working on your aching joints. Enjoy very little oily residue on the tub especially combined with magnesium sulfate for a therapeutic soak.
Great amazing wonderful summertime body oil, moisturize and repel mosquitos.
Featuring Eucalyptus Citriodora, (also called Lemon Eucalyptus)in a base of pistachio nut oil, fractionated coconut oil and aloe vera oil.
This oil is stored in a glass storage vessel, then upon purchase, dispensed into unbreakable recycleable plastic bottles with a convenient flip tab top.
