Friday, December 25, 2020

Merry Christmas!


Not quite cold enough to freeze the bubble entirely this morning, but certainly cold enough to create this cute little Snow Globe! I'll try again tomorrow! 

Merry Christmas to all of you! Happy 2021!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Monday, December 21, 2020

Happy Winter!

Happy Winter! What a day this will be! The 2020 Winter Solstice, 1st Quarter Moon AND the "Christmas Star"! A time to remember that everything dark will once again see light. A time to reflect and be thankful and grateful for what this life has given us, not dwell on what we've lost, but what we've gained by looking inward. Winter is a time to nurture ourselves, grow spiritually and listen to our bodies and souls. I'm loving this excerpt from the Daily Om today about Winter:

"Though your daily schedule may remain more or less the same no matter what time of year it is, you will find in winter many opportunities to honor the way in which you are impacted by this most magical of seasons. At first glance, the world may seem desolate during the coldest months. Yet there are many unique and stimulating sensory experiences to be had -- in the intricate beauty of individual snowflakes, the patterns of frost that form on your windows, the tang of smoke from wood-fueled fireplaces, the crunch of freshly fallen snow under your feet, and the briskness of the air. Do not be afraid to venture joyfully out into the cold and the snow as you may have when you were a child. A tingling and reddened nose is a small price to pay for a clear mind and invigorated soul. If your body articulates a desire to rest, give yourself permission to spend your free time reading, writing in your journal, daydreaming, engaging in artistic pursuits, playing board games, working a puzzle or meditating."

I'm looking forward to spending more time working on my digital art AND more time outside in the woods! Winter is a great time to explore the forest and look for holes in trees...a sure sign of housing baby birds in the Spring! Many plants would not blossom in the springtime were it not for the period of dormancy that is the gift of winter's chill. Their example can inspire us to use this season of slumber to cleanse ourselves of spiritual and emotional detritus like flora shedding lifeless foliage so that we, too, may emerge from under the frost refreshed and renewed when spring arrives!

Merry Christmas!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Life is Good when you see the Good in Life!

Every day I wake up and think "today is the day for change". And every night when I go to bed I think "tomorrow is the day for change". The bottom line is that, we can only change, or fix, what we can control ourselves. When we realize AND see the "good" in everything, including people, we feel a sudden relief, something shifts within us and we become the people we want others to see and to feel. Until that happens, we'll just go along, bobbing along...hating, regretting, accusing, blaming, etc., other people for OUR happiness! So many people just don't get that! But I do [thank goodness]! 
I can look outside and see the birds, the trees, the mountains and I think "how lucky am I". But I know people that could sit in my same chair and see something totally different...for example "those pesky birds make way to much noise and they poop all over the place...and now the leaves are falling from the trees, so I'll have to get out my blower and blow them all away, and if the neighbors would cut down some of their trees, I could see more of the mountains". But another thing we've all realized about others is that you can never change a person's mind, once it's made up. So, I'll leave you with this wonderful rendition of "Hallelujah" by my amazing son, Broc! 
I hope everyone enjoys their day! Always try to see the good in life!

love and peace always ~ Kathy

Monday, March 23, 2020

Making protective masks!

Never in my wildest imagination would I have believed, if someone had told me, that I would be making protective face mask because of a global pandemic! I still can't wrap my brain around it all! But, on the flip side of that, I'm so happy I have been able to make these and get them to people that need them! And now, with the shortage of masks, I've decided to share how I make these and give you the links to the video and pattern, as well as links to materials I'm using. Sew, here goes! First of all, watch this video to get your pattern drawn out and ready:
This pattern is actually on the small side, so I use it for kids and petite adults. I added 1/4 inch all the way around for a "medium" size, which is the size I wear and 1/2 inch for a "large", which is the size I made for Wayne. You need to cut out your pattern and all of your fabric pieces to get ready for sewing:
On the masks I've been making, I'm also ironing on a fusible stabilizer to front outer layers of fabric
I'm using Pellon 931TD Fusible Interfacing  and cutting it 1/4 inch smaller than the mask [as shown in photo above]
Next, I cut two pieces of 100% Non-woven Polypropylene [which is what is used for filters in surgical masks] for each front piece and pin these layers right sides together and sew from point to point with 1/4 inch seam
After sewing, make several cuts along the edge, just so the mask will open up on a nice curve
Then turn this layer right side out and get it nice and flat
Then sew the other outer layers together...right sides together and sew from edge to edge. Also make small cuts along the edge on this layer, as well
Keeping this layer you just finished wrong side out, slip it over the other mask piece that is right side out [so the two right sides will be facing each other...and pin all along both edges
This is what your outside should look like
This is what your inside should look like. Make sure you pin your seams open, so you can sew them flat and then sew around both outer edges with a 1/4 inch seam...just go slow, since you will be sewing in a curve and over the seams
This is what your outside edge should look like when you are finished sewing the edges together
This is that your inside will look like...now, using one of the open ends, turn the whole mask right side out and work it with your hands to flatten and smooth out the edges. Then you are ready to finish the ends
Iron both ends of the mask and make sure your seams are nice and flat...be careful NOT to iron the polypropylene, since it is a plastic type material and will melt! And yes, I learned that the hard way! 
Work the mask with your hands and get it nice and flat and your edges ironed and smooth. Then fold your edges in three times on each end and pin
Then zig-zag stitch from top to bottom of each folded edge, making sure to backstitch, so your stitches will stay tight
Go nice and slow, so your folds will stay together good
This is what your ends should look like when you're done! Time to cut the elastic!
Be sure to use 2mm elastic cord for your mask...not only is the 2mm stronger, it is much more comfortable behind your ears. Cut two 11 inches pieces and string them through your end loops with a large eye craft needle, or whatever you have that can string your elastic through
Once you pull the elastic through, tie tight knots in it and work it back through the loop to hide the knot
And then you are done! Yay!! Stay healthy and well!!
Let me know if you have any questions!! I will be most happy to answer them!

love and peace always, Kathy