Gratitude

I found a fun site, THXTHXTHX a blog in which the author, Lisa Dietrich writes a thank you note every day... her exercise in gratitude.

I like it so much I am seriously considering a way to incorporate some thank you notes into my own blog.

It also looks like she's got a book coming out soon:,

There are some really great books that are coming from blogs, this may be another one.

What if?

What if the coolest person on the planet didn't know they were the coolest person on the planet? Just because of a few self doubts, a few trace fears, or the occasional twang of inadequacy. Or because they somehow thought fame, or wealth, or popularity mattered. Or because they just didn't know the effect they had on others.
It would be a pity, huh? An absolute travesty. And of course, telling them wouldn't achieve much because they'd never believe you. Never. They'd be too modest to accept it. Too naïve to believe it. And too cool to think it mattered. So... well... ah... let's just leave it at that -

© http://www.tut.com/ take a look.

Random Acts of Kindness

When I was looking at various blogs, I found a lovely story about a random act of kindness on Rummey Bears. Consider reading it.

It's also a nice reminder about those lost opportunities. Those times when we our first impulse is to help, but there is also an awkwardness or an unease so we step back and don't end up following that initial response. 

Perhaps we need to do more about listening to our inner voice?

Well, I don't know about other people...as for me, I'm going to listen to it more often.

Have you ever visited this site?

Thought for the day...

Be still,

Stop thinking.

Feel.

Take action.

Visualize.

Repeat.

 The Universe

Thoughts become things... choose the good ones! ®

© www.tut.com  ®      Check out their site! Choose the NOTES page.

Versatile Blogger Award!

Still new to blogging, I was surprised to receive a blogger award on Sunday. This award came from a new blogger in Australia. The Greatest Challenge is her blog, and she received the award the other day.

The award comes with the following guidelines:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Nominate fifteen newly discovered blogs.
4. Let your nominees know about the award.


So, thanks to Liana and good luck to her on THE GREATEST CHALLENGE!

SEVEN THINGS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. One thing about me is that I am extremely claustrophobic. This translates to including being extremely uncomfortable in pitch dark because there is no light for a reference point; therefore it's high anxiety time for me.
2. My grandpa called me Curly and my dad called me Charlie Brown when I was little, I had one other nickname when I was in elementary school, but that was a dumb one a boy called me.
3. The dumb nickname was Goose, because my last name was Heron. The boy was in grade 5 and decided a heron and a goose were both birds so the name was good enough. He called me gosling when he wanted to borrow a pencil. His love was not returned. :-)
4. I've always wanted to write a book and I still do. I have no idea what I want it to be about, if it should be fiction or non-fiction, or anything. I just love to write and want to write a book. I started blogging for a night class; I've continued blogging so that I could have fun writing.
5. I love to create with colour; paint, thread, fabric, and other mediums. I haven't created the right thing, yet. Some things have turned out with thread and fabric, some paint and fabric have worked out ok. But, I still haven't made what I want. My hands don't create what my imagination sees; one day, just maybe, they'll connect?
6. One of my all time favourite days is actually a winter day with a temperature of -15 or - 20 degrees Celcius, lots of snow on the ground, sun in the sky, and no wind. I would spend the day outside. I'd walk, snowshoe, and even sit in the sun on a lawn chair all bundled up and read a book. Later I'd snuggle on a chair inside, in the sunshine and keep on reading my book.
7. One of my very best friends is my grade one teacher. She is 80 something...we don't count. She and I live in different cities so we talk on the phone every two or three months. I try to go to visit her three or four times a year. She is an unbelievable person with an incredible heart. She is pretty incredible.

As for award giving, I have found a few new ones that I went looking for, just for this purpose, that I'll share, and a couple of ones I've been following for a short while. (I've got 10 so far) There are a few that already had this award, or I would have given them one, too!

I will be sure to mention any other great blogs I find in future posts.

*and the Versatile Blogger Award goes to.....    Drum roll please*

1. Louise at Life is Good
2. Anna at Rummey Bears
3. Crafty Gardener
4. Cooking in Someone Else's Kitchen
5. Victoria of Victoria's Backyard
6. Phaedra Alwell of Everyday Simplicity
7. C. Beth at The One-Minute Writer
8. Jaime at Embracing Balance
9. Cowgirl Warrior at WW for Life
10. Jams at Running My Mouth

Thank you, for giving me a great start to the new week. It feels great to be recognize by your fellow bloggers. THANKS LIANA!

To all who get this award from me, I've seen a few who just post their award and say thanks....However, it has been a lot of fun finding new blogs!

Blogs about Crafts

I've been checking out a lot of blogs, lately, now that I have my own. There are so many blogs out there, especially ones about crafting. I used to spend a lot of time with crafts.

My craft of choice, when I do craft, is stitching...I just haven't done it for a long time. When I spent more time stitching, I meandered into different types of this handiwork. I learned hardanger, a stitchery style that involves creating blocks of stitches for a strong base and then cutting out certain threads, with tiny scissors, and using a finer thread to weave and stitch on the remaining threads.

Hardanger is named after the Hardanger region of the western part of Norway.
I taught myself how to stitch Hardanger, from a book. Over time, as I got better at it, I began designing my own pieces and teaching classes for beginners.

The thing I like the best about Hardanger is the creativity that I get to explore, when I am able to choose the stitches I am going to use, to fill in the spaces left behind.

Traditional Hardanger uses white thread on white cloth. The cloth is of a thicker variety...about 20 threads per inch. The thread for stitching is usually Pearle Cotton...about size 5 and sometimes 8. This stitching was used to decorate traditional wear.
Nowadays, Hardanger is done on a wide variety of fabrics, with all sorts of types of threads. The small picture above was stitched on 40 count linen, with a single strand of silk thread. It was very fine. I don't know if my eyes will ever let me do such fine work again. The entire piece now hangs in our living room. At least I can remember the time when I was able to accomplish such a feat! This piece is only 2 x 7 inches. If I had used the fabric that was suggested, in the traditional style, it would have been about 5 x 15 inches.
Over the years I've created a number of Hardanger pieces. Some are lacy confections that sit on tables and in china cabinets, but those aren't really all that desired by many, so when I do stitch, I stick to pieces that could be framed in cards or for hanging.

Perhaps I'll pull out the silk threads and the linen again some time soon.