Do the creative things you have made give you joy sometimes? Are you surprised to find yourself smiling when you notice some you completed in the past, but can still lift your spirits?
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."
The poet John Keats wrote those few now-famous words as the first line of his poem, Endymion. Just a few lines later, he goes on to explain that there are many kinds of "things of beauty", even those that are not new. He mentions trees which, no matter how young or old, still sprout leaves to "give a shady boon for simple sheep".
What creativity you came up with in the past gives you joy or inspiration even now?
What are you learning or planning now that may become a thing of beauty soon?
I guess my craft time since I finished my blanket is outside. Garden and flowers. I should find something small for evening. I keep finding ideas but not quite the right yarn to be right.
I had started a diff. project withs one black in it and teal & purple and is way more fun to work on.
I started on the new yarn also beige cream and blue as well for my next part.
While having a procedure with a dr, she said she usually liked to keep up a conversation. (I'm the ideal patient for that, lol.) Although I'm trying to forget the procedure otherwise ( ), the conversation made me happy because she said her best initial question is always, "What is your hobby?" So, we chatted about quiltmaking and also her own knowledge of some textile art (also the fact that some of what she was doing at the moment was "stitching" .) It took 25 minutes, and I certainly was too nervous (ouch) to think of another topic, so eventually she even got around to what my most recent project was. I told her about dd and dsonil's wedding quilt, because the only other thing I had had time for was that little mug-rug before having to give up projects temporarily.
Afterward, she asked me if I happened to have a photo of that quilt, so I showed her on my phone the one I posted here in June. By that time, ddolder had been allowed back into the room, too, and was encouraging me to show her. Dr. was so complimentary and was able to notice a lot about it, since she knew some things herself. I was hurting some, and weirded out by the procedure, but the nerves were calmed by the "joy forever" aspect of remembering/seeing that thing of beauty. Something a lot better to think about.
So anyway, moral of the story, lol. Kodak used to have a slogan, mid 1970s, "Remembering the Times of Your Life". Anyone remember that? It's a good idea to photograph your projects and even if you don't have them "forever" you can have the photo, which won't take up much space and can remind you. This has been immediate enjoyment to me, too, when I have had some kitchen creativity such as making a celebration cake. Glad I have the photo of those funny Halloween cupcakes, for instance, because the grands are getting a little too old for that sort of thing in the future.
And of course, gardening lends itself to photographing and remembering successes.
I'm able to snap my fingers on the left hand now. Hoping to get more dexterity back in the right hand (I'm right handed) and see some light at the end of the tunnel, to get back to needle and thread, etc.
Harriet is was so good to read that the quilt gave you a different focus during that appointment.
Thanks for the jean fabric idea of a pillow. It had occurred to me.
I have been knitting on a prayer shawl.
Looked at yarn today but the color I liked only had one skein not enough.
So Did not get any today it's not like I"m out or anything like that! LOL!
Quicker & Easy Quilt Making
26 projects featuring speeds cutting and piecing methods.
By: Mary Hickey, Nancy J. Martin
Marsha McCloskey & Sara Nephew.
Some colored pics of finished ones.
I've only briefly leafed through it.
Looking forward to this one.
I found the only book that was not for kids at one yard sale glad I spend time
looking at the things in it mostly for kids in that part of the sale it was a multi family one.
Nancy, those are great authors of quilt books and patterns. I don't know that particular book, but it must be good.
This left hand is continuing to slowly improve, I think. Still can't snap my fingers on the right and it still has the tingles, but with the left hand's improvement I'm optimistic.
I was so sure I would only be taking a short time in 2025 away from sewing, but it is longer than I thought. Some mending type projects have at least been planned, such as hemming a pair of slacks. I'd like to get that done by the Friday's day out and appt this week and wear a new thing, but it's not going to bother me if I don't.
Nancy, your purchase makes me think that I'd really like to get some bookshelves and have my quiltmaking books on view the way I did in the other house.
), the conversation made me happy because she said her best initial question is always, "What is your hobby?" So, we chatted about quiltmaking and also her own knowledge of some textile art (also the fact that some of what she was doing at the moment was "stitching" 
.) It took 25 minutes, and I certainly was too nervous (ouch) to think of another topic, so eventually she even got around to what my most recent project was. I told her about dd and dsonil's wedding quilt, because the only other thing I had had time for was that little mug-rug before having to give up projects temporarily. 