31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 31

 

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your fsoul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” ~ J. S. Bolen

Happy Sunday!!! Thank you all so much, friends!!! I have so enjoyed sharing these 31 days of creating posts with you. I do not do this each year to show all the crafts and sewing I do. I do it to hopefully inspire you to carve out little pockets in your days and fill them with little things that bring YOU joy. It’s all about what kind of days you are creating. And if you can bless others in the process that’s great too!!!

To wrap up, my daughter played “The Old Rugged Cross” and “How Far I’ll Go” for me. I’ll link her YouTube videos here once she uploads them. She plays piano beautifully!!! 

🎶❤️🙏🏻 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 30

 

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” 

~ Helen Keller

Happy Saturday!!! How did you spend your day? Were you able to spend a few minutes doing something you enjoy? I hope so!!! 

I spent a big chunk of time sewing today and it was delightful! I really do enjoy creating these precious preemie gowns. I like to try out different patterns, techniques, fabrics, etc., knowing that each finished gown will bless a baby and their family. I love that I have this opportunity to serve my community. I always tell my kids to be a blessing, and I try my best to do the same!!! I am blessed!!! 🌸🌿💕

~ Cindy

 

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 29

 

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” 

~ T.S. Eliot 

Happy Friday!!! I hope you had a great day and spent some time doing something joyful!!! It was a rainy day here but it was still full of beauty. 

I started cutting the fabrics for this adorable quilt today!!! I’ve had it in my stack of projects for months now, and this rainy day seemed like the perfect day to get started. I love beginning a new quilt!!! I hope you did something you enjoy as well!!! 🧵🦊🪡

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 28

 

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." 

~ G. K. Chesterton

Happy Thursday! How was your day? Were you able to create some space in your schedule to do something you enjoy? Did you experience calm and ease?

It was a cloudy autumn day here. I love feeling the chill in the air. I also love to crawl under a cozy quilt and crochet for a few minutes as the sun sets. Today I decided to hand crochet lace on this handkerchief. I love creating this lace on baby blankets, preemie gowns, baby dresses, little girl socks, etc. It’s another little thing that brings me joy!!! 🌿🧵🍂 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 27

 

"We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction." 

-H.A. Ironside

Happy Wednesday!!! How is your day shaping up? Did you take some time to smell the flowers? 🌸 Or engage in something that you enjoy? I love this quote that I shared because it’s so easy to waste time worrying. Yet worrying doesn’t benefit us. So when you have a little chunk of time spend it in action, doing something that brings you joy. Be grateful and full of thanksgiving! 

I spent a few minutes smocking on another preemie gown today. I really do love creating things with a needle and thread! I am grateful that I can because it brings me so much joy and peace!  🪡❤️🧵 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 26

 

Happy Tuesday!!! I love this quote!!!Another way some of us experience refreshment and joy is from engaging in thought-provoking conversations with others. 

I had three separate conversations today with precious friends of mine from all different walks of life. The common thread through all of them was the discussion of great ideas. 

We share ideas and discuss what we have been studying, learning, and how we are applying it in our daily lives. Talks with these friends keep me focused, strengthen my mind, and recharge me. 

Do you feel refreshed after having a good discussion with a friend? If so, make room for more of them sprinkled here and there in your days!   🙌🏻☎️💡

~ Cindy

31Days of Creating 2021 - Day 25

 

“It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.” 

~ Mr. Rogers

Happy Monday!!! How was your day? Were you able to carve out a few minutes to do something you enjoy? When my kids were all very young I would literally sew them entire outfits one seam at a time. Anytime I had just 2 or 3 minutes, I would turn my sewing machine on and stitch one seam. It was unbelievable how much sewing I was able to get done that way and it brought me so much joy and fun!!!  I still do the same thing but I bounce back and forth between my current interests. Today I was able to stitch these adorable burp cloths. They are fun to make, only take a few minutes, and I like to give them as gifts. 

What do you like to do when you have a small pocket of time? Those small pockets of time can really add up! 🧵🪡🌸  

I finished the burp cloth tutorial and the post can be found here. 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 23

 

“A letter is never ill-timed; it never interrupts. Instead it waits for us to find the opportune minute, the quiet moment to savor the message. There is an element of timelessness about letter writing.” ~ Lois Wyse

Happy Saturday!!! Does it make you smile to get a handwritten letter or card in the mail? It makes me delightfully happy!!! Plus it provides a pleasant little pause in my day as I  savor the message inside!!! And I’m blessed to have a friend that treats me to handwritten letters and homemade cards often!!! What a joy they are to receive!!! Likewise I enjoy sending cards to others. There’s that double blessing again!!! ❤️

Sometimes I sit down and make a handful of cards to have on hand to send. I am no artist but the rubber stamps and colored pencils are very forgiving! And the process allows me time of reflection and refreshment!!!  

I hope you were able to carve out some time today to do something you enjoy!!!  ✍️❤️📫 

~ Cindy 

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 22

 

“A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.” 

~Albert Einstein

Happy Friday, Friends!!! How was your day? And how has your evening been? Are you doing anything fun? I had another opportunity to grab my yarn and needles and take one of my kids to an event tonight. I secretly look forward to these times. 😂 So I am knitting on a hat that has been in my bag for a few weeks now. This is the benefit of having multiple projects going at any time. I can choose which one to work on and where. So tonight, I’m knitting! And that brings me joy! Did you do something that brought you joy today?

🧶🌻🐑 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 21

 “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” 

~ Camille Pissarro

I finished up another preemie gown. While I’m sewing I always pray for the babies and the families that will hopefully be blessed by these gowns. I know I make a lot of these gowns, but a) our community has a real need for them, b) this is one way I can give back and serve my community, and c) sewing is very therapeutic and grounding for me. I am sewing to bless others, yet it blesses me too. “Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25) That is a mighty gift!!! 

Have you thought about what grounds you and feeds your soul?  🧵❤️🪡 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 20

 “The sun looks down on nothing half so good as a household laughing together over a meal.” ~C.S. Lewis (The Weight of Glory)

What is your vision for family meals? Do you value them? Do you eat together as a family? Do you use it as a time to discuss ideas, thoughts, principles, etc?  Our family dinner is super important to me. We have always made gathering together for dinner a priority. I can count on about one hand how many dinners we’ve had over the years without all of us in attendance. I have not won any popularity contests by declining activities, sports, etc that interfere with dinner time. But that was never my goal. Even with busy schedules, this is one time each day we know we will all be together. We make this a daily time of family refreshment. We join hands, pray, enjoy each other’s company, and discuss what’s important to us. I want my kids to remember all the amazing conversations and laughter that took place over our family dinners. 

Again, it goes back to what kind of life are YOU creating? What’s important to you? And how are you building refreshment into your day?  🍽❤️🙏🏻 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 19

 

“Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.” ~Author unknown

It was another gorgeous fall day here!!! 🍂 My day was full to the gills, but delightful! How was your day? What kind of day did you create for yourself? Was it full of joy and thanksgiving?  

I had a small pocket of time this morning to sew some more preemie gowns. My daughter is going to deliver some to a local hospital for me tomorrow so I wanted to have a nice handful ready. 🧵🌿🪡 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 18

 “Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier & healthier life.” – Germany Kent

What are your thoughts about Mondays? I really like them! Today was a busy one though, and I did a lot of driving people here and there, and sitting and waiting. I made sure to take my bag of yarn and needles, so while I was waiting I had something fun to do. Instead of tinkering on my phone, I worked on a preemie hat and crocheted an edging around the dishcloth I recently made. When I work these little delights into my day I am not discouraged when I have to sit and wait. It becomes a treat actually! How do you create small delightful pauses in your day? 🧶🌿🌻 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 17

 

“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.”

~George Eliot

Happy Sunday!!! How was your day? I hope it was joyful!!! Were you able to refresh and nurture your soul? One thing that refreshes me is beautiful music. My daughter played me one of my favorite hymns tonight - “Wonderful, Merciful Savior.” Do you like that hymn?

 🎼❤️🎵

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 16

 

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” 

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

 

Happy Saturday!!! How was your day? What brought you joy? It was a gorgeous fall day here!!! 🍂 The air was crisp and the sky was blue!!! That created a sense of joy right there!!! But I also got a bunch of little chores done which felt very satisfying. I even started creating a tutorial for flannel burp cloths that I’ve wanted to do for awhile now. It was a delightful day! I hope yours was too!!! 

🌸🧵💕 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating - Day 15

 

“Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate our surroundings.” 

~ Letitia Baldrige

How was your Friday? This afternoon I brewed a delicious cup of hot tea and listened to some enchanting Celtic tunes. It was so rejuvenating and enjoyable! And perfect for a cloudy fall afternoon. I hope you also were able to carve out a few minutes to rest and refresh!  🌻🫖🌿 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 14

 

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” 

~Robert Louis Stevenson

It was another gorgeous fall day! I mentioned last year that I crochet all our dishcloths. I am often making them and putting them in a basket to use as needed, or to give as gifts. Tonight I thought I’d work one up with this new color of yarn. I really like it! 

Last year when I shared these a sweet friend asked me if I would create a video showing in detail how to make these. If you are interested, you can find the video here on YouTube. Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to help!!!  🍁🌾🍂 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 13

 

“Each day comes to me with both hands full of possibilities.”

~ Helen Keller

How was your day? Was it full of possibilities? Mine was! I had a super busy day, but it was a great day! And I was able to cut out a few more preemie gowns. I like taking a few minutes here and there to get projects done. It keeps me focused and brings me joy!!!  🧵🌷🪡 

~ Cindy

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 12

 

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” ~ Henri Nouwen

Hi Friends! How was your day? Did you get to set aside some time to do something that brings you joy? What actually brings you joy? Have you ever thought about that? I like to ask people to ponder that question. Think about it when you can. Make a list. And then plan it into your day. 

One thing that brings me joy is when I am creating things with my hands. (I think you all know that by now.) So tonight after dinner I pulled my knitting out that I started on last night. I thoroughly enjoyed knitting for a couple minutes. What brings you joy will probably look different from what brings me joy, and that’s ok! But think about it. What brings you joy?  🌿❤️🧵 

~ Cindy 

31 Days of Creating 2021 - Day 11

 

“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” ~Sally Koch

Happy Monday! How was your day? Were you able to take some time and do something to refresh your soul? I knew I wanted to knit some today. Knitting is so grounding to me. So I decided to work on a new preemie hat. And then I remembered my oldest daughter has a bunch (like 62, seriously, 62) of preemie hats that she has made and is going to donate to the NICU and L&D. I asked her if I could share a picture with you all. Aren’t they amazing? We love to knit hats around here. 

~ Cindy