Light in the World

Sometimes our world may seem very fragile...a paper globe easily destroyed.  But this week in the light of my days I was repeatedly reminded of beauty and strength and kindness and love shared in my faith and family and friends...enduring relationships shared from season to season from generation to generation creatively building and supporting and protecting life.

A dusting of snow landed in our yard one morning on its way to becoming a beautiful blizzard around Mt. Hood.  I enjoyed the family members I live with as well as loving old friends and investing in new friendships. I sent out Christmas cards, finished reading the book A Midnight Clear by Patti Berg, crocheted some Santa socks and stars, and took some photos....

Today I had lunch with fellow bloggers, Taci of TACIStudio and Teresa Kasner.  We exchanged little gifts we made for each other, and we talked...a lot :) Soooo much fun finding common ground,  affirming one another and looking forward to further creative enlightening times together!

Your kind comments bring light into my life as well.  Thank you for visiting and sharing your view of the world as you crochet and knit and cook and clean and photograph and type and bead and sew and paint and weave and live.  

What light have you seen in the world since your last visit here?

xx from Gracie

iPhone Blogging Test: Pop Up Cards

This is a test. This is only a test.... (:

Tuesday, a friend showed me a pattern to make a pop up card, taken from a book by Sandi Genovese.
The book is FULL of patterns I want to try!

The foundation of the card is a cleverly cut and folded flat sheet of paper.

I decided to make an engagement celebration card for my youngest daughter and her fiance.

I was pleased with the result of my efforts except the verse I chose from a hasty Google search on my iPhone may be from an inappropriate context. I need to check before I communicate an unintended message! <3

Work in Progress

Blooms were given to me last week to help me celebrate my birthday!

Cards handmade or store bought inspired me to want to live up to love they expressed.

Tools were given to me

 to help me wind the yarn I want to spin

 on my Ashford Joy spinning wheel ,

or on my new Turkish spindle !

So that I can knit or crochet interesting projects like this sock perhaps.

I bought this neat sock yarn from WoolGirl, Jen, several years ago.

[ So far I figure I have spent $40+ trying to learn how to

knit socks on circular needles ! ]

This sock is just one of the many works in progress that I have started . . . 

and it reflects what I realize about my 61 years of life . . .

it may be difficult to follow new patterns

but how wonderful and exciting to

have the opportunity for creative expression

and not only to own creative works in progress,

but to realize my life also is a creative work in progress

filled with opportunity to encourage beauty and love.

Loving Hearts

First thing this morning

these sweeties came to visit me

and we exchanged handmade cards . . .

I gave them crocheted hearts

and they brought me

three bites of chocolate

and love

I hope you have happy loving heats today, too!