There's a big difference between dusty and dirty.

I used to think I had to scrub every inch of my home before I could invite anyone over because I had this perception that a "bit of dust = dirty house". 

Wrong.

Not sure where that idea came from but it stuck with me for a lot of decades. Maybe from Nana? Apart from regular daily chores she used to polish the taps and the kitchen sink every day. Her tiny little one-bedroom flat shone - nah, it actually sparkled. She was a clean freak. But you know, those three rooms and outdoor bath were all she had and she wanted them to be neat as a pin. 

Nana's semi-detached single floor flat was her mansion and by golly she looked after it. 

She didn't have much to her name, so she lovingly cared for the things in her home - just like she cared for me when as a 3yo I became her responsibility.

Due to limited space almost everything Nana owned had a purpose, except for a beautiful china cabinet she'd inherited from her mother. Inside the curved glass of the polished oak doors were tiny gold-etched glasses, dainty porcelain figurines, and green glass bowls of all shapes and sizes. The locked china cabinet was polished each day, but the contents would only be taken out for dusting on rare occasions when I was not around. Wise woman.  

I think most of us have too much stuff these days. And when we have too much stuff we just can't look after it like Nana cared for her treasures, can we? Food for thought. I'll ponder that later over a pot of tea.

But back to the 'dusty is not dirty' thing...

The Trade Winds blow through the tropics every October/November and that cool air is so refreshing that we open all the windows and doors and let the breeze rush through the house 24 hours a day.

As wonderful as this is and as deeply as I miss those winds when they're gone, I don't enjoy the dust 'clean-up' in December - mostly because mixed in with the dust is cat hair, lots and lots and lots of fine cat hair thanks to Princess Sophie.

But here I was at the end of December and my annual 'post-Trade Winds' deep clean was yet to begin so yesterday, in order to get a start before 2016 announced it's arrival, I decided to tackle the bedroom. 

The dust bunnies were everywhere.

Dust gets trapped in the most obscure places. Between the lace of the lamp shade, inside my basket of wool and between every piece of cane, all over the quilts, along the door ridges, in the window screens and along the sill, among all the teeny tiny pieces of silver jewellery and inside the curves of each and every ornament. - I could go on (and on)...

Dust was behind, and under, and in, everything.

All I could do was pull the room apart piece by piece to dust, vacuum and polish.

Along the way I ended up culling a big bag of 'stuff' and though that was not in my original plan, it felt quite liberating. 

The room is lovely again; calm, clean and welcoming.

 And there's even a scent of lavender in the air.

But it's not perfect.
And that's fine with me.

I still have plastic tubs of fabric, wadding and notions in the corner, Mr E's television and Playstation under the window, a walk in wardrobe that doubles as storage for luggage, gifts, finished projects, bath towels and files, and a green armchair the cat sleeps on...

 

This room is part of our home.

A home that is a dwelling place, a workplace, and a sanctuary from the outside world.

 It's clean, often messy, more often dusty, and displays visible evidence that we 'live' here.

 

 

 

What more could we ask for?

 I think I'll tackle the office and sewing room next.

May need chocolate first...it's exhausting work, you know. 
But very, very satisfying.

hugs

In the evenings, and when I could catch a few hours during the day over this holiday break, I relaxed with my needle and thread to complete the first three designs for January's issue of The Stitchery Club...

The final three months are traced and waiting for my needle, but first I want to take a day to deep clean my bedroom and remove every last dust bunny before freshening and simplifying our sleeping space.

I get a lot of satisfaction and delight doing things like this, but more about that tomorrow...

Have a blessed day,

 

This Thomas Moore quote resonates deeply within my homemaker heart.

I tend to drift past life's daily rituals without truly observing their significance; without stopping to be grateful.

Domestic duties? 

That's what I thought they were till recently. Chores. Obligations. Even burdens. 

But they're not that at all.

The things I attend to within my home are a privilege.

Within these walls I get to care for people I love and people who love me.

I am allowed to create an environment which family and friends assure me is welcoming and homely; an environment that tangibly wraps itself around them and says, "stay awhile, I love having you here".

 

For too long I did not see any of that.

But now I do, and my soul is nourished.

 

Next year is not just  about living the gentle domestic life.

I must also examine the atmosphere inside this home as I go about it's daily tasks and privileges.

I desire to magnify an attitude of thankfulness, gratitude, and happiness within my spirit to the point where it becomes the most natural expression of my soul.

 

 

It feels like I've walked to the end of a long winding country path and have just discovered there were wildflowers growing by the roadside all the way and I missed them in my hurry-up preoccupation.

Time to turn around and take it all in as I wander, slowly, back to where I belong. 

It's our 24th wedding anniversary today, the perfect moment to turn around and marvel at the view.

hugs,

How was your Christmas Day?

Mr E and I were guests at Blossom and her beloved's home this year and what a wonderful time we had! This is the first time in all my mothering years I've not hosted Christmas lunch - and I have to confess, it was very relaxing indeed. In fact, my sweet girl has taken the baton from my hand and done herself proud. Next year will be even more special as we'll need an extra seat at the table - but more about that another day. LOL!

First Block of the Month 2016

 

Today's blog post is a reminder that I'm sharing two Block of the Month projects in 2016 and the first one begins on January 1st.

This is a gorgeous free Christian BOM that my friend Allie is designing with me and we hope you'll love it too. Allie and I will take turns each month through 2016 sharing a new 'postcard' pattern from "Postcards from Heaven" with you.

I'm first with the January block, and Allie will share her first block in February.

Each month I'll add the download link for the pattern blog posts on a special page so you never miss them - just click on the "Postcards from Heaven BOM" under the 'pages' list at the top of my sidebar to access it.

Second Block of the Month 2016

The second BOM for 2016 is completely mine. "Gentle Domesticity" was birthed in my heart last year as I journeyed through A Year of Gentle Domesticity.

Over the past couple of months the things that truly matter were magnified in my thoughts more and more each day, eventually coming alive in sketches and phrases, and finally as designs made with needle and thread.

 This block of the month begins on Tuesday, January 5th.

There's no quilt pattern at the end.

These are twelve individual heart-felt blocks which you can use any way you like.

Each one has a message to inspire, and I'll expand more as each block is published through the year.

Each pattern will be free for one month.

 Each month I'll add the download link for the pattern blog posts on a special page so you never miss them - just click on the "Gentle Domesticity BOM" under the 'pages' list at the top of my sidebar to access it.

 

Read my motivation for this project HERE.

 You're welcome to add both the BOM buttons to your blog sidebar if you're joining in.

Just link back to my blog so your readers can find it and stitch along with us.

 Oh, you might have noticed I've given the blog a pretty makeover. 

She looks how I feel; happy, content, blessed and gently domestic.

Until New Year,

hugs

It's time to stop and take in the wonder of this time of year so I'm going to step away from the blog over Christmas and join you again closer to New Year. 

In the midst of Christmas mayhem and preparations may we keep our eyes and hearts focused on the Christ in Christmas, remembering that His eyes are forever on us and His love is being poured unceasingly into our hearts. How blessed we are.

If you'd like to stitch the designs on my Christmas pillow they are free to download HERE until December 26th.

Enjoy!

With love,

A few months ago Lecien Fabrics sent me a bundle of next year's Flower Sugar and made me one of their fifteen "Flower Sugar World Ambassadors" (HERE)...

...and after carefully considering how to make best use of these pretty prints I'd decided (HERE) to update some of my old designs. Now believe me, choosing which designs to be updated is no simple feat, but a handful were eventually selected and on Saturday one of my most popular non-stitchery patterns of all time came to life in a Flower Sugar dress!

Originally the "Buttons & Bows" Bag was made using French inspired fabric, but this new one is a brighter and prettier version...

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of life, the gift of grace, the gift of love, the gift of Jesus.

I ask that You touch every precious heart reading this today; that You fill every empty ache with comfort, healing and hope; that You shine Your light in their darkness, and illuminate their homes and families with Joy Divine.

Give them peace in the chaos, strength when they are weak, words of life when harshness threatens to rule their tongue, kindness and mercy where needed, rest in their slumber.

Surround their homes with Your welcoming presence and let all who pass their doorstep feel Your Spirit embracing them.

Keep them safe as they travel, clear headed in the hustle and bustle, and free to let go of the unimportant.

But most of all Lord God, impart the fragrance of Jesus upon their thoughts and plans through this season of Holy celebration so that He stands in glory at the centre of it all.

In the name of our Saviour and Redeemer I ask this,

Amen.

Just a block from our front door the Label Traders market is held once a month, and it's a delightful treat for me to wander the various open air stalls of home-made, vintage, and re-furbished items marked for sale.

I never tire of seeing the cleverness and ingenuity of everyday people who breathe new life into old things, and always come home inspired to have a go at their ideas myself. But, truth be told I'm yet to follow through on that plan, though I'm hopeful next year will see a turn around in my success.

It had been three months since my last visit when I walked around the corner to stroll the stalls last Sunday, but I knew this was a month not to miss with Christmas almost upon us and I was right.

Oh, if only I had an endless supply of coin and notes - Mr E would have needed to bring the Jeep around to carry my purchases home for me! 

But, I was a very good and thrifty girl, and only bought what I truly wanted and what I could afford on the day.

The little jug and the leaf bowl were $4 each and in excellent condition. They will be put away for gift giving next year...

 ...whilst the $8 make-up brush will be washed and given as a gift this Christmas. Isn't it beautiful? 

The unused iron on transfers in this $3 book may well be embroidered onto handmade baby items in 2016 as we have two precious little bundles due in April and July.

The final vintage treasure was a gorgeous hand embroidered table cloth with crochet edging. Only $10, which truly surprised me, but I did not argue with the stall holder - just handed over the payment, blessed her, and headed home again for a closer examination over afternoon tea with Mr E.

Each item warmed my heart, which made me realise just how much having vintage and pre-loved treasures in my home (or on hand as gifts) defines my personal style. 

I'm looking with fresh eyes at the furnishings and decorative items which are on display through our home presently, and have decided once Christmas has passed us by for another year that I shall be making changes - changes that will cause this house or any house we end up living in, to be an honest and comforting reflection of who we are and what we love.

It's just too easy to cram 'stuff' into your home, don't you think?

My friends may say the house does not looked 'stuffed' at all, but to me it does. And that's because a fair amount of what's scattered through the rooms isn't truly "me". 

So now I have a notebook, ONE notebook,  and I'm writing ideas down as they pop into my head (because I will lose at least half of them if I rely on memory);  things like "make decorative storage bags for storing sheet/pillowcase sets from my stash of vintage linens" and "paint the craft room chest of drawers and replace the handles with the six blue ceramic handles I bought on sale two years ago".

Actually, a number of my ideas were found scribbled on a dozen scrap papers I'd left in various journals and decorating books - thing I'd planned ages ago and never got around to! As I've been browsing the books again and cleaning out my pile of used journals, those old ideas have been literally falling at my feet.

This is why I now have ONE notebook and I write every idea into it. 

I should perhaps make a cover for it.

Before I sign off today, can I ask you one question? 

When you look around your home, really look, do you see yourself in it or is it stuffed with an unrecognizable style?

Blessings,

I'm doing something new this month!

Today all my Stitchery Club members received their December patterns. This month they have the first six blocks of "A Year in the Garden" to stitch...

...and next month they will receive the July to December patterns.

But perhaps you're not a member of The Stitchery Club but would still like to stitch "A Year in the Garden"?

Each month I add the Club stitcheries to my shop as six single patterns for non-member purchase, but this month I have the full December issue available for instant PDF download, and I shall do the same next month.

Please note: This is a temporary offer.

The current issue containing the January to June blocks will only be available until January 16th.

On January 17th I'll have the remaining six designs for "A Year in the Garden" available for one month. 

Go HERE to my shop if you'd like to start stitching your own calendar blocks!

Oh, and I should mention that there's also a project sheet included with a tutorial for making a mini-quilt display.

Bless you heaps!