Saturday 21 September 2013

Happiness Is ..........

Heaven sent, if you will only be content .......... as the song goes! And I must say, I'm feeling pretty content with my little lot in life! I have a good, loving and caring husband, wonderful children and grandsons who all spoil me, a home that I love in an area that I love - really -  everything I need in life and much more! AND I have this little space here where all you lovely friends come and say hello and encourage and inspire me through your sweet and kind messages, as well as your posts that I devour on a regular basis. I'm saying a huge thank you to all of you!

And of course I have my creative expression which these days is coming forth in little stitches, crochet, and knitting, and I couldn't begin to describe how happy, relaxed and peaceful these activities encourage me to feel.

I am hoping that everything is going well for all of you, and if you're having a bit of an off time then I hope that things soon pick up for you!

A friend included a very meaningful quote in a recent email:  

"Cherish yesterday, dream tomorrow, live today!"

Perhaps it could also say - love today! Love is a verb - it works!

Before I go any further and get myself lost in photos and words, I just want to mention Shari's blog. I know that lots of you have been following Shari at Kashmere Kisses but, a little mistake happened on her computer and to cut a long story short, she is now blogging under a different name -here you'll find everything the same apart from the name.

Anyway lovely folks, here are a few of the things that have brought contentment to me this week:

Another stitchy project! 




On tackling this wheelbarrow with flowers I remembered a time when watercolour painting was high on my agenda! I used to be part of a group being taught to paint  flowers in a stylised fashion in the art deco manner, and really it was also a kind of botanical study too for we would sit there with flower and pencil in hand and draw the intricate individual parts of the plant and then use our imaginations and plant parts to produce - well, you could say fantasy flowers. The next step was to combine some of the popular ornamental motives from that art deco era into our drawing, duplicate up, down, left and/or right with the aid of tracing paper, and finish up with, hopefully, a lovely design worth painting, framing, and hanging on the wall! Those approaches are obviously embedded in me for I find it so easy to slip back into those ways when I have a pencil in my hand, even though  it's not strongly evident here. 


I also had the hook out intermittently over the past couple of weeks or so and crocheted up these apple slice coasters from Issue 7 of Simply Crochet - I think they're rather cute and would make nice little gifts - I was even thinking of making a little folder to slip them into - we'll see! They are a good size really - that is a red wine glass sitting on there and it has quite a large base!




Our garden is looking good at the moment so I took a few pics to show you our blue bush - sorry I don't know it's name ....



And the crab apple blossom; unfortunately J couldn't prune this properly this year because of his injured shoulder and so the tree has spread itself out all over the place and the blossom is not as prolific as it was in previous years, but still such a lovely bloom!



I love the Irises!



I don't know if this worked or not, but I keep trying with my close-ups!



I do have other things to talk about but since I'll be back again tomorrow with the Sunday Stitchalong with Chrissie,  I'll keep it until then!

Again, thanks so much for being here and please feel welcome to leave a little message - I love to hear from you!


Joy xo


41 comments:

  1. Loved the stitched wheelbarrow! How cute is that. Your garden is very lovely too. Gardening is pretty much done where I live. I hope J's shoulder is better soon. I too feel content when I am working creatively with my hands. There is something very relaxing in it all. Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Hello again Joyful, and thanks so much for being here and for your kind wishes for J - his shoulder is much improved after more than four months but the last stages of healing are taking sooooo long!
      I wish you a wonderful weekend also - full of Joy!
      Joy x

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  2. The wheelbarrow is beautiful! I love all the different colours and stitches, it gives it a real life and flow...and thank you for posting the apple coasters - I had intended to make some for my mother for Christmas then promptly forgot about them as the mag was stored on the shelf. I'm going to get the pattern out today and get hooking! And I'm so enjoying your garden waking up as mine is drifting off to winter's sleep... Chrissie x

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    1. Hello Lovely - I'm so glad you like the wheelbarrow and now I'll be looking forward to seeing your little apple slices too - gosh SC really do give us some sweet patterns don't they!
      It seems quite strange to me sometimes to think of the UK falling asleep (metaphorically speaking of course) while we over here are waking up, and with the weather so changeable too, I do sometimes feel a bit confused - momentarily, I haven't lost it completely - about what time of year we really are at!
      Enjoy your weekend Chrissie, especially your stitching!
      Joy x

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  3. Joy firstly the quote is one to remind myself of daily so I'm going to write it down on the blackboard in the kitchen TODAY!! Yes one could easily add the word 'love' instead. Now your wheelbarrow my dear its so so so gorgeous and it looks so real! I am so impressed with this!! I love your sweet coasters what a cute pattern. I try and avoid magazines purely becos of the cost, but sometimes I do treat myself and I think it might be time again. Your garden is looking wonderful and alive and it's going to keep me going this winter so thank you. Mine is slowly dying down and getting ready to crawl under its eidie. Can't wait to see you tomorrow (well later today I suppose). Much love xoxo

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    1. Dear Hannapat, so glad the quote resonates with you, and I'm very happy you like my makings, thank you for being so sweet. I must remember to keep posting garden pics for you then while yours is resting and recuperating, soon to be preparing for spring again - yes, before you know it!
      I have a standing order with my newsagent for SC magazine Hannapat but it's so expensive at $12.95 by the time it gets to Australia, I don't often buy any others unless they're very special. I can buy a whole book for the cost of two of these mags!!!
      Take care of yourself and have a lovely weekend - I'm looking forward to seeing your makings.
      Much love heading your way too,
      Joy xoxo

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  4. what a happy and contented post, its so nice to hear when people are happy and everything is ok in their world as it is in yours!

    I am realy impressed and liking the apple slices! what a lovely project and youre right it would be nice as a gift for Christmas! They are just lovely grouped together! beautiful flowers. I especially like those irises! what beautiful shades of blue!

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    1. Thanks so much Krissie and I hope everything is lovely with you also. The apple slice is a lovely pattern and quite quick to hook up. Well, as you know, our gardens are beginning to come into their own now and a lovely garden makes me very happy - especially irises. I meant to plant more freesias this year but didn't get around to it - I had freesias and pink rosebuds in my wedding bouquet so they are special to me!
      Enjoy your weekend!
      Joy x

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  5. Joy I adore your blog and am so glad that I found you as you are such an inspiring and thoughtful lady. I love your work and wish I could do as well as you do. You are such a talented lady and I admire the way you approach life - the little quote you gave is so you. Life can be pretty mean sometimes but we have to remember that we are all blessed to be here in this wonderful world - I struggle with this sometimes but your words help me through the day. Thank you so much
    Lots of love and a big hug
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Thank you so much Dorothy - I'm glad we found each other! Thank you for saying such lovely things - we are all here just doing our best and life isn't always easy. It's difficult to be thankful when things seem to be going not so well, but I think that's when we learn the biggest lessons in life. So we forge on!
      I hope your weekend is peaceful and lovely, and I'm so glad your time with Sophie worked out so well.
      Love and hugs to you too,
      Joy xoox

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  6. What a lovely happy post! I adore your little stitched wheelbarrow, it is just lovely. And those apple coasters...they are fabulous! Wishing you a great weekend, lovely Joy.
    Marianne x

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    1. Dear Marianne, thank you so much - I so appreciate your lovely comments!
      Hope your weekend is just right for you,
      Joy x

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  7. You always share such sweet sentiments Joy, and it is welcomed by all those that have come to know you. Once again your embroidery is a 'joy' to see, every stitch lovingly worked. The garden pics are wonderful and the crochet coasters are fab. Thank you for popping by at Annie's Place, and for the sweet birthday wishes. They mean a lot. Happy weekend x

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    1. Dearest Sharron, you put together the sweetest messages and I'm always so grateful to receive them, thank you! It makes me so happy knowing that you like my little bits and pieces!
      Do have a wonderful birthday - it's your day!
      Joy xo

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  8. Dear Joy
    More fantastic projects! I love the wheelbarrow and the apple coasters - perfect timing for the UK as we head into autumn and have had a bumper apple crop. Your garden looks lovely too.
    Enjoy your next projects!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Many thanks Ellie - yes, I've been reading here and there about the big apple crops - an apple freshly picked from the tree, yum, can't beat it, but you can only eat so many!
      Looking forward to seeing your next projects too, all the very best with them!
      Joy x

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  9. Joy you are so lovely to have a visit with, love your creations you are so talented and love your positive outlook on life.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. How lovely you are Meredith, thank you so much - I enjoy my visits with you, here and at yours!
      Enjoy your weekend!
      Warm hugs,
      Joy xo

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  10. Hi Joy.
    Thank you again for your thoughtful message. I love your stitched wheel barrow it's so pretty. The colours you've used are lovely and bright and of course neat as always. The apple coasters are great, I keep meaning to give these a go another great project from simply crochet.
    The garden photos are lovely so much colour. I really love the blue of the irises there beautiful.
    Hope you have a lovely week. Xx

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    1. Hi FB, I'm glad to know you are okay now!
      Thanks so much for your lovely message once again, and do give the coasters a go, they work up so nicely. The Iris colour is stunning isn't it - Mother Nature - awesome!
      Do take care of yourself FB and enjoy the rest of your weekend. I was happy to know your musical weekend went well!
      Joy xo

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  11. Happy Sat. JOY, What a very very pretty stitchery. Lovely joy stitching that cute wee wheel barrow. Your Coasters are fantastic. Love them. Love all the beautiful flower and blooming trees.. Hugs Judy

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    1. Lovely Judy, how are you? You say things in the nicest way and I do love your sweet messages, thank you for your encouragement.
      Warn hugs, Joy x

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  12. Hi Joy, it is nice to count your blessings now and again isn't it! Your barrow of flowers is lovely and I do love your apple coasters!! very nice. the white Irises are amazing, i don't think i've ever seen them before? Sometimes it would be nice to send a message back by return, did you know that you show as a no-reply blogger? you can change it if you want, or not of course! happy crafting, Heather x

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    1. Hi Heather, yes it surely is and I find the more I do it the happier I become. Thank you for your very welcome message, I love that you love my little makes!
      Thank you also for bringing to my attention the 'no reply' notice: I wasn't aware of that but I did give my blog permission to 'follow by email' a while back so I guess they must be two separate items? I'll find out more about it. I have checked a few of my followers emails this morning and quite a few are the same as mine but I understand what you're saying and will look into it. Thanks Heather and enjoy your Sunday - we're supposed to be having stormy weather again!
      Joy x

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  13. Thanks for your lovely post Joy - I love your crochet apple slices! take care, sam x

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    1. Hiya Sam - lovely to hear from you and I'm glad you like the little coasters, they're quick and easy but very effective aren't they! I love Simply Crochet mag..
      Have a good Sunday and a wonderful week!
      Joy x

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  14. Spring has really sprung near you! Beautiful flowers. I love flowering trees in the spring, it's one of my favorite things. Your embroidery is just beautiful, you do such a good job with it. And the coasters are really cute too, I love them. I always enjoy visiting your blog, with your pretty makes and your happy spirit. :)

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    1. It's a very lovely time in the garden Jennifer, and I always find it such a nice activity to look around the neighbourhood and watch for their regular blossoms as well, as I'm sure you do.
      Thank you so much for your lovely message of encouragement once again Jennifer, and do have a lovely family Sunday.
      Joy x

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  15. So much prettiness! Reading your blog always puts a smile on my face - thanks Joy, you are so aptly named :-)
    Hugs
    xx

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    1. How lovely! Your message makes me happy Gilly, thank you!
      Hugs to you too,
      Joy xo

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  16. Gosh! you have been busy, the wheelbarrow is adorable and the colours are so vibrant. I think your bush is a ceanothus, we have one but it is a bit miniature compared to that beast (must be your lovely weather). Thanks for the link to Shari Jo xx

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    1. Hiya Jo - you made me laugh - it is a bit of a beast! Thank you for it's name, that does ring a bell. We have been reluctant to prune it very much as we were told pruning would kill it but I'm not convinced, although I might add that some folks can be murderous with pruning shears in their hands and should be banned from using them - maybe the person who gave us that information!!!
      I'm happy you like the little wheelbarrow - I first sketched it years ago and had terrible trouble getting it right: I came across all the sketches I had done of it and am so glad I have kept work from way back - very useful now as I move from paint to thread!
      I do hope Shari's link continues to work okay for you Jo.
      Joy xo

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  17. I love the cheerful embroidery pattern with the wheelbarrow! Your crocheted apple mat is really fun. I love apple shapes!

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    1. Thank you so much Sandra and I'm glad you like them. That apple pattern is very cute.
      Joy x

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  18. Hi Joy, I too always reading and visiting your blog. It's always so happy and full of pretty things.
    Thanks so much for the little mention about my blogging adventures.
    Talk again soon!
    Shari x

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    1. Hi Shari, always lovely to hear from you, thank you, and I hope your blog is behaving itself now!!!
      Keep in touch, warm hugs,
      Joy x

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  19. Lovely flowers to cheer us up, and loving your apple placemats x

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    1. Thank you Joy - do have a lovely day won't you!
      Joy x

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  20. What a darling embroidery! I have a thing for wheelbarrows full of flowers, whether in real life, or in a painting or stitchery. This is just beautiful, Joy! ... Those apple slice coasters are so, so cute, and I'm totally drooling over your garden pics. Springtime at your place is just heavenly! xo

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  21. Sweet Paulette, here you are again and how lovely it is of you to do a big catch-up with your beautiful messages which I thrive on, thank you!
    Do have a really good week and take good care of yourself!
    Warm hug, Joy xo

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  22. Lovely photos and story as usual Joy :-)

    Rachell - the little room of

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