Day 3

Awaken the Energy of Gratitude

CENTERING THOUGHT

I am gladdening my heart.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Ananda Hum
I am bliss.

Day 3 – Awaken the Energy of Gratitude

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” ― Karl Barth

In today’s meditation, we learn how to recharge our gratitude batteries. If we are tired, upset, or stressed, then our heart is closed and we are not able to feel or express real gratitude. Genuine gratitude comes from a feeling of contentment, safety, and being welcomed in your life – what Buddha called the “gladdened heart.”

This natural energy of gratitude is awakened when we meditate. Our intention in meditation will be to invite this warm attitude of appreciation into our awareness and perception. With this recharged heart of thankfulness we will find reason to be grateful wherever we look.

My notes from the meditation:

A closed heart cannot feel gratitude.  Gladdening the heart can recharge you, like recharging a battery.

Recognize this energy, this is the feeling that you are welcomed and safe in your life, you feel you are supported in whatever you want to be.  Abundance had included you.

Renew this energy, it happens when you meditate, you are requesting the warm attitude of thankfulness

Awareness will renew this energy that is unique to gratitude.   You can get a surge of gratitude by simply looking at a beam of sun light and see the dancing particles

True gratitude comes from knowing that you belong in the infinite dance of life.  The tiniest element fits into the whole.

Images that have inspired me

Notes:   I was grateful in many ways today, however I found myself complaining and being angry at someone.   I know this is not what I want to be.   But I also realize that with learning the ways of gratitude, you also have the overflow of junk you don’t want in your life bubbling up.   I will forgive myself and keep trying to do better.

Day 2

Gratitude Is Within You

CENTERING THOUGHT

All good things bring gratitude.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Kripa Hum
I am divine grace.

Day 2 – Gratitude Is Within You

“Gratitude is the experience of our true self.” ― Gina Lakes

Gratitude is a two-way flow of appreciation between your thanks and the uplifting response that you feel in return. Today in our meditation, we begin that conversation and find that as this conversation expands, we create even more thankfulness. We will learn how the flow of gratitude from the heart is received by Nature in the same spirit it is given, and it is returned back to us as grace. In today’s meditation, we learn to express gratitude from the silence of our awareness, which is the source of grace within.

• Feeling of gratitude from my heart creates a  warm sensation that brings a smile to my face.
• Imagine that which I am gratitude for shares those feelings back.  It is shimmering in its gratitude.  This warms my heart and soul.   This is the flow of Grace!  It is a feedback loop.  Give something to the source, then in its response, it comes back to you.  This will change my perception
• If I pay attention to that I am grateful for, then Grace welcomes me.
• If I send energy to show gratitude, it then flows back to you.   This is called Grace.

3 good things

Cool Breezes on a Spring Day

Feeling Creative and inspired

Falling asleep in my bed

Inspiration Pictures

Manifesting Grace through Gratitude
Day 1

The Path to Grace Begins Today

CENTERING THOUGHT

When I am grateful, I find my grace.

SANSKRIT MANTRA

Dhanya Vad
I feel gratitude.

Day 1 – The Path to Grace Begins Today

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” ― Maya Angelou

The source of grace already resides within our own awareness. We don’t need to go anywhere or search anywhere to find it, we only need to change our perception of what is already around us. We will learn how gratitude shifts our awareness, changing our approach to others and the world. This new perspective will reveal the grace that already inhabits our life.

• Grace exists whether we know it or not….it is perception.
• Gratitude Shifts awareness
• Gratitude is the key to Grace
• Grace comes from forgiving someone else

I am grateful for the love of my animals.  thier love is in the purest form.  They only want to love me, and for that  I am grateful!

Inspiration Pictures

Its party time!!!

Pool and Water!!!!!

I planned this wonderful event and we had fun!!!!

The Decorations

This is the green corner of my garden.

Chairs and Cushions from Target

Afton Chairs

Bird Pillows

Outdoor Seat Cushions in green

Green Garden Stool by Sam’s Club

This is the orange side of the garden.   Sorry the photo is funky, I was really taking a picture of the garden stool for my sister.  We decided to use a navy blue garden stool instead.  Thank Goodness that SAMS Club had the stools on sale.   Yahoo!!!!  And speaking of clearance, I got the second set of chairs on clearance.  AND I got the last two chairs.  Yahoo!!!!

Coral Afton Chairs by Target

Navy Blue Cushions by Target

Orange striped lumbar cushions by Target

Navy Blue or Orange Garden Stool

I made these seat covers for these chairs.  I used the same material as the big chairs and sofa.  I love these folding tables from Lamps Plus.   I have the navy and the light blue ones.  The candle holders are from Joann Fabrics.

Monterey Table and Chairs in Ocean Blue and Sky Blue

So I wanted to add some extra things on my patio cover.

In the morning the sun beats down on you that I decided to make an awning to cover the area.  It was a tricky process.  The material was not really wide enough, but the angle was also wonky based on the patio curving.  So I actually make a long strip of fabric and made a rod casing at one end.  I ended up putting a cheapo curtian rod in the end and dropped it onto the rails.  It was fell between the slats and stayed put.  At the other end I looped it over the end rail and then ran it behind a rod that holds the curtains.

I also added some patio lights.   I just attached them to the slats by using a plastic tie cord.  But the cool part was we added the lights to a switch that we can turn it on via remote.

And of course there is the overhead ceiling fan.  Which I love!   A great find at Lowes!

Patio Fan

Remote Light Outlet Switch Set

I had a pile of old vintage signs and I wanted to put them somewhere in the yard.  I finally found this cool bench from IKEA to hang them on.

The only problem with this bench is it is suppose to be anchored to a wall.  I did not want to that so I got creative and my brother helped me add braces to the back.  So now it is real sturdy

The bench opens to store stuff, what I dont know.  But one day I will put something in there.  LOL

IKEA Applaro bench

Vintage style tin signs

So since I was projecting the movie across the pool, I needed to have a larger screen than I wanted.  But it is pretty awesome.

It is a portable screen that I can take camping, or over to another persons house as well as let friend borrow.  Very easy to put together

Visual Apex ProjectoSCreen144HD Portable Movie Theater Projector Screen

Candles placed in holders  (these are awesome remote color changing timer candles perfect for outdoors)

Games placed out, and appetizer plates are ready.  These plates are cool because they are melamine and look like paper plates.  Very cute.

The mason jar makes a wonderful flower vase, it is from World Market which is AWESOME!!!!

Cards Against Humanity Game

Melamine plates

Mason jar Vase

Outdoor candles

Box of towels just waiting to be used.

Drink central…. Mason jar for margaritas and some Raspberry Lemonade for those who don’t want booze.  Of course I had to use paper straws.  Reminds me of the past.  LOL.

I actually did not have enough matching plates and stuff so I had to go out and get some new stuff.   LOL  No problem!

Most of it came from World Market but the bowls were from my local Vons Grocery store.  Of course I had mason jars already!!!

Fiji Melamine Plates and Bowls

Green Mason Jars

Hotel Dinnerware

Napkins

Acrylic Glasses

I replaced the old outdoor rug with this awesome one from World Market.

Penny, my sweet pooch had to bring her chew toy out for the party

Outdoor Rug from World Market

Music was playing from the speakers that I hung from the patio.  I dont have a picture but believe me.  We listened to 1950’s tunes from Amazon Prime (love Prime and the free stuff you can get)

Wireless Speakers

To hang all this fun stuff from my patio (curtain rods, speakers, ceiling fan, solar lights) I use these AWESOME hooks.  Nobody has these, nobody, thankfully this man created these hooks, I love them and use them all over my patio.

Aluma Hangers

FOOD

We had ribs, cowboy beans, Potato salad, berries and a tart for dessert

My sister made the potato salad.  My MOM use to make the best potato salad and when we eat this it reminds us of Mom.  Same with the cowboy beans.  A favorite from Mom.

We played Cards Against Humanity and laughed and laughed until the food was ready.

My brother laughing and having fun!!

My Sister Janice and her husband Barry.  Barry won the game!!!!  You can see th awnings behind the curtain rod from this shot.  As well as the other stuff hanging from the patio.

After dinner we swam and goofed off.  When the sun went down, we watched a movie on the screen.

We watched the Homesman.   What a great movie with Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones.

We had popcorn, and movie snacks.

It was a good party, we all had fun, and the dishes went unwashed until the morning!!!

If you have any questions about my decorating or recipes, please let me know.

My annual swim pool party was quickly approaching and I decided to make two quilts to toss on the chairs in case it got cold.   This year we are having a movie outdoors and I was thinking it might get a bit chilly.

My back yard has shades of blue and some green.

But the wonderful Target got smart and decided to sell some sassy Orange/Coral chairs and accents.   So I added them to the mix and now this fabric from Moda is perfect.

I decided to do a chevron quilt and divide the fabrics in half, making one blue tones and the other one orange.   I did fine on the blue side, but the orange became orange/teal/some blue fabrics.   But it did work out

Here is the layout for the blue quilt.  I wish I had a larger table.

Here is the orange one completed.  as you can see, there is some blue pieces in it.   oh well.

The completed quilts.  I decided to do the quilting in a wavy ocean sort of pattern.  I took an awesome class from Craftsy.com that was quilting by using your walking foot.   It was super easy and I loved how it came out.

Here it is on the chair.   I redid the chair pads with this awesome blue print from joann.com (HGTV print) and the pillow came from Target.   Love how it all ties in together.

Just so you know, here is the ugly fabric on my chair before I redid the cushions.

Short of prepping for the party, the quilts were done and now off to decorate!!!

Yikes, was I ever so behind on my quilting.  I had my annual Summer Pool Splash Party and I got so behind.  I sewed two quilts to use on the patio and that took all my time, plus decorating, making pillows, getting a movie screen, etc.   Good time had by all, but heck I am so behind.   So here is a crash update on my Vintage Farm Girl Quilt Squares!!!!

Baking Day Block

 

 

Butter Churn Block

 

 

Canning Season Block

 

Chicken Foot Block

 

 

Churn Dash Block

 

 

Cool Threads Block

Here is the next one!!!!

Corn and Tomatoes Block

I really liked this block, easy and cute!

#CornAndTomatoesBlock
#FarmGirlVintage
#FarmGirlFridays

Continuing onto this block

Country Crossroads Block

Not so sure about the pale pink color, but once the quilt is put together it will be fine.

#ScrappyCrossroadsBlock
#FarmGirlVintage
#FarmGirlFridays

This one was a sewing disaster

Crops Bloc+

 

Egg Basket Block

 

Farm Fresh Flower Block

Farmhouse Block

 

Feed and Seed Block

Fresh Pears Block

Furrows Block

 

 

Gingham Block

Was trying to use the new Papertrey Ink Beer stamp stamp and die set.   This darn card took me all day.  LOL, I guess everything does not go smoothly.

I decided to try to make some condensation on the card, just like the Make it Monday cards.   Please note that this is a shaker card with little micro beads in the glass to be the illusion of bubbles.  Sigh!  I could explain everything that went wrong doing this card, but instead I think I will just enjoy the cuteness of the card.

Enjoy!

Thanks for looking!

I love Lori Holt, her fabric, her designs.   Nothing is more wonderful that quilts, sewing, farm girls, fresh veggies from the garden and all things wholesome and good.

My family comes from a long line of farmers.  Hard working farmers who survived from digging in the ground and planting seeds.

My Great Grandfather Charles Ray in 1930 on his farm.  This was probably Missouri but I do not know for sure

Lyle Ray, my Great Uncle (son of Charles Ray) in 1931

Delbert and Martha (Blackwelder) Whitten, My Great Great Grandparents!  Probably in Wichita Kansas.

In fact my farming roots go way back to the early history of America.   However something went amiss in my genetic code, I cannot grow a thing to save my life.  My Grandmother could take a stick and put it in dirt and grow a plant.  I kill cactus.   Just a fact.   To make up for it, I love the concept of farming.   So I guess I will quilt, sew, make jam, cook and be a wanna be!

So back to the sew along.

I checked out Lori’s Blog and was thrilled to see a new sew a long was happening as well as a new book.   AWESOME!!!  Perfect timing

Her awesome book…look at all that quilting yumminess!!!

Luckily I was able to get her fabric bundle.

I  got her fabric bundle, plus I decided to pull a variety of charm packs of 1930’ish type fabric.

Of course I keep finding little charm packs here and there in my stash, so more will be added.   The wonderful thing with a charm pack is the size is perfect for these smaller blocks

But on to the quilting.

The first one is APRONSTRINGS

My 2nd one is AUTUMN STAR

My third square is BABY CHICK

Off to make the new quilt squares!!!!

So spring is in the air, and my head turns towards gardens, outdoors and pretty things placed in my backyard!!!

I had seen on pinterest, many watering cans with jewels coming out of the spout and I wanted to make my own!   I must have been thinking about this for 8 months.  Today I sat down to do it and it only took me less than hour and it was super easy.    8 months planning.  1 hour to make.   LOL, isnt that always the way it happens.

To start with I searched for a watering can.   My neighborhood is Southern California is definitely not a rustic antique, flea market kind of town.  Goodwill charges a fortune for basic junk, and finding any gems is basically impossible.  So I resort to Amazon!   Amazon will find me a watering can.   I first searched for a rustic galvanized watering can but then decided to go with a enamel coated watering can is an assortment of colors.   The trick of this purchase is you could not guarantee which color you would get.   Lucky for me I got the color I wanted, a nice cool aqua.

To find your can, check out Amazon here.

There are 5 delicious candy colors available, but it is random so keep an open mind.  Of course if you live in a wonderful place with fun junk or awesome flea markets go for it!

Make sure you get a watering can that the spout head comes off either by screwing it off, or prying it off with tools.  Just make sure you can get it back on.

GATHER SUPPLIES

I found crystals and acrylic crystals at a variety of places, JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, Amazon and Hobby Lobby.  I think they even have beads at Wal-Mart.   I just grabbed beads that were clear or blue (so it looked like water).  I had wanted to have some drop crystals for the end so I actually used some crystals that I had from QVC (Valerie Parr Hill).

I also got some 30 gauge wire.   Definitely can buy that at the places I mentioned above.

I doubled my wire and either did a small bead at the end of the jewell to keep my jewels from falling off

or if the jewels were chained, I just ran the wire thru the top and added more crystals.

I then just created different strands with a variety of jewels.  Some were all clear, some mixed with blue.  What ever tickled my fancy.

I really used no tools except my fingers.  I just placed each bead on the wire and then added another until I was satisfied with the look and length of the strand.

Taking one strand, I inserted into the sprout hole and pushed it thru until it went out the back opening.

I did this with each strand mainly focusing on the inter circle of dots on the spout.  However you can choose to use all the holes or focus on the outside holes with the one middle hole.  Really it is up to you.

I decided to stop at 6 strands because some of my beads were very bulky.  If you are doing many small beads you may want to do more

Once I had all the strands into the spout.   I decided to twist the stands together and tie it into a knot.  Then I twisted some more to tighten up the strands to the base of the spout and then I bent it onto itself to keep it from coming apart.  At this point I forced it back into the spout opening.

Now I twisted the spout head back onto the can

And now I am finished.   Oh my goodness it was so fast and easy.  Have no idea why I dragged my feet so long to make this project.

I had gotten a shepherd hook from JoAnn Fabric for 50% off to hang my can off of.  The weight of the jewels automatically tilted the can so it looked like it was watering.  Cool.

Here I am watering my rock….LOL, only kidding.

This is where my flower plate garden is going.  So far I only have one flower plate, but have the supplies to make several more.

In this pic you can see my lone flower plate.  No I did not make this one.  I bought it off Etsy.   You can also see my solar cattails that glow at night.

As soon as I get my flower plates done, I will share with you the process!

Thanks for looking!!!

Here it the last of the FOUR cards I made for the challenge and I guess I saved the best for last!!!!

I had gotten the new Prima Scenic Route Water Color pencils and wanted to use them!

So using each color (except the black) I created an ombre effect on the background and then stamped the largest stamp from the stamp set in the kit.

I pulled out some glittery embossing powder from some craft show I went to, I was hoping to get a different look.  I also used the same powder on the heart.

I liked the card, but mostly the water color!!!

Thanks for looking

Supplies:

Simon Says Stamp February 2015 Card Kit
Tim Holtz Water Color Paper
Prima Water Color Pencils – Scenic Route
Creations Unlimited Embossing Powder Silver Seas
Madeira Super Twist 983-313 Smokey Quartz
Papertrey Ink Heart Prints Die
Silver Vellum Paper
My Favorite Things Blue Prints #20

Also posted in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Texture