As I write this the sun is shining brightly and I can hear some birds singing. It isn’t quite warm enough to open the windows yet but the temperatures are supposed to rise and I will open a couple this afternoon. How I love fresh air in my home and to hear the birds singing and my chickens making their chicken sounds.
These were the first daffodils open in my yard a couple days ago. They are a very short variety and look so cute growing under the bushes. I didn’t plant them however, they were there when we bought the house and they have been spreading every year. There are more daffodils in other beds as well. I think it will be a few more days before they open but they put on quite a show when they do!
My devotions brought me to Psalm 57 this morning and verse one is so fitting for these days we are living in.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed away.
Psalm 57:1
I Do trust Him. He is my Rock. He is my Refuge. I know, not just think, I KNOW He is in control. The enemy comes in and plants fear in the hearts of so many but I believe with all my heart the Lord is in control and I can rest in that.
We are staying home and finding so many things to keep us busy. Yesterday my daughter washed the windows and screens in the living room and she did a beautiful job! My husband, son and SIL started tearing off the roof of our one small barn that has been in disrepair for a while now. In a couple days it will be water tight again and they will be building eternal bonds as they work and fellowship together.
As always, my fingers are busy on a new design, several new designs. Who am I kidding? I have never worked on one project at a time. As I sit here I know there are two hand projects on the coffee table and two machine projects on the sewing table. There are also countless designs floating around in my head and on graph paper. My brain has always multi-tasked even before that was a word. If I am needing inspiration for a piece I will set it aside while I work on another one but I keep it in view so I can glance at it often and let the creative portion of my brain figure out the next step.
Since I started combining embroidery and coloring I have fallen in love with the technique. I use Premier Prismacolor pencils and I love them. I have one of the larger sets which gives me a lot options for colors. I whittled down the number of colors I used in the different elements because I didn’t want it to be overwhelming. When I start coloring I get in a zone and I like to shade and highlight and add bits of color. Then I step back and realize simple is beautiful too. I am not an artist but I do love to create with my hands.
I designed this piece last year when some gorgeous pink and purple tulips were blooming in my yard. Unfortunately they are not in bloom yet. The leaves have popped up but no buds. I am contemplating if I should move the bulbs when they are done blooming. They have drifted into the grass so I have to mow around them when they start blooming; however, the squirrels haven’t eaten them so I am hesitant to move them since they happily munched on other bulbs I planted a couple years ago…
The pattern is available here if you would like to create this piece for your own home. This really is a good time to settle in with something you love to do and find peace and joy in the simple things.
Many blessings to you wherever you are,
Michelle
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