My blogging year that was.....and a Giveaway

Good morning all you lovely lovelies; a beautiful welcome to you♥

I am sitting here enjoying my morning cup of tea reflecting upon the fact that earlier this month, six years ago, I rather tentatively clicked the publish key on my very first blog post and today, 2,207 days  later (give or take a day or two) I am still skipping along the flower-lined bloggy path, still clicking the publish key, still writing my drivel of a blog, still imagining stories to write and still capturing happy snaps of pretties that make my day, my life; beautiful. Indeed it was a happy day (well it was for me) when I decided to prattle on (perhaps...not so for you, though) about all things pretty...all things creative! It was a happy day indeed when I discovered all you lovely lovelies...gorgeous ladies who always make my heart sing♥ Oh Happy Day♥

As I stroll along the memory lane  of my previous posts, I see........me. I am conscious there is a prevailing thread to each post. Through my blog I have discovered my own voice, my own style. I have a friend in Sydney who when she shows her husband something I have written, particularly those posts filled with waggishness, where words sometimes drip with facetiousness; without being told whom the author is, he immediately says..."oh, Kim wrote that". I love that. I love it when I write a piece it is a reflection of me, in my own unique and distinctive style. I love the fact that my own idiosyncratic voice shines clearly through. Through the writing of my blog I have discovered that I actually love to write. I love the nuance of words, the rhythm and flow of language. This is something that has not always been apparent to me, especially as a small schoolgirl donned in my school tunic and shiny, black patent leather, school shoes....nor indeed, to my teachers.

In a classroom setting when I was asked to write a narrative, or a composition as it was called back in the day......or some other piece of writing, the results were always rather underwhelming. When asked to pen a piece, I can remember more often than not, sitting there for what seemed forever tapping my pencil on my desk with grand imaginings and vivid thoughts swirling around and around in my brain. You see, it was just that darn imagination of mine. It would skip along a merry path but along the way some other fantasy was lurking around the bend and I always had to follow it, grabbing it with both hands. The problem was that when I had corralled all my crackerjack ideas in readiness to ink the explosion of thoughts from my rather fanciful imagination onto the virgin white page, the teacher thundered "pens down" with nary a word scribbled. 'Twas such a shame all my fanciful imaginations were never made public to those  who walked along the hallowed halls of  learned places. Hence I always seemed to not quite make the grade. Yes indeed, I always seem to get a big fat "F" on my paper.

Aah yes.....the "F" word. No, not that "F" word, though I suppose my teachers could have quite possibly thought of  'that' provocative and controversial word from time to time when their imperious eyes viewed yet another empty page of mine. No, the "F" word I am intimating is "FAIL"!! Time after time I would look at the teacher (think Mrs Trunchball of Matilda fame) who was swinging what seemed to be an overlarge stopwatch ticking ever so loudly with a look on her face which said it all. She was always seriously displeased. So.......I went through life not really entertaining a skerrick of a thought that perhaps I could write with my own unique voice. All my 'wonderful' thoughts and ideas always seemed to explode in my brain when it was too late. The lesson was done and dusted. When time was up for the Literacy lesson, it was time for Maths. Mmm.....now, about the subject of Maths......well, we just won't go there, because....well.....it's just not pretty!!

Me and school never were the funnest of companions. Back in the day, when children read by the dim light of a flickering candle and wrote with quill and ink,  one could never really have an opinion that might differ from the teacher. Pity help any child who suggested they had perhaps a brilliant idea. An idea that perhaps was better than the teacher. NO.......how could that be!!!! I remember children (I never was one, as I was a child who did not like to be in trouble) who were administered with the rod of punishment for any minor misdemeanor. No, school never was my thing.

But.....there was one subject that really lit my world. The subject that flicked the lights on, causing  all those dark and dreary thoughts of school to disappear into the brightness was Art and Art History.  Now, that was the subject where those ho hummish kinda school days evaporated as I skipped down many a path discovering all things pertaining to the art world and those great masters of old. Of course I had a brilliant, way out there art teacher, who rather looked like he had just stepped out of an ornately framed, dutch portrait painted by Johannes Vermeer. Mr Wild (and wild he was) was his name and he was the Pied Piper of art. He flamboyantly led his students along many beautifully patterned, mosaic paths, knocking on century old, gnarled doors of all the famous (and infamous) artists. Upon knocking on those doors, each door slowly creaked open, and one peeked into a whole new world of creative genius. Yes indeed, art lessons were always magical.

Through the writing of my blog I have discovered I LOVE capturing happy snaps and that I LOVE styling photo shoots. Looking back throughout my life styling has always been me. The writing of narratives, reports, recounts, persuasive writing etc etc and Maths etc etc may not have figured highly in my appreciation of school, but when it came to book presentation, title pages and projects and anything to do with thinking creatively outside that four straight lines of even length, square...... well need I say, the creative juices flowed freely from my lunchtime drink flask. Me and my pack of 12 Derwent Studio coloured pencils were the best of friends. Back in the day, my Derwent pencils were my favourite possession. Together 'we' had the most fabulous creative fun! Anything to do with an artistic bent was my happy place.

But enough of my deep and meaningful ruminations, of the chapter titled "The Trials and Tribulations of Kim Sharman's School Days".....what have I  waxed lyrically about this past year??

There were a few finishes.......not a lot, but enough. =)

Believe it or not there were a few knitted woollies. Amazing really as I am the world's slowest knitter!

There were a few needlepoint lovelies. A tarted up wool jacket and a little old, once loved chair.....both with a slathering of gorgeous needlepoints. Oh....I forgot there was a bag oozing needlepoints, too.

There was a li'l fixing uppering of some family room curtains. Actually it was a complete redo if I am to be honest. I have been in love with my vintage pretties for ten years and no doubt, I will be in love with them for another ten.

There was another chair that I tarted up. A little slipper chair which I recovered in pretty fabric, then appliqued Irises to it, just because I could. =) Actually, the Irises on my pretty slipper chair were a practice run for the applique that would begin later,  on my flower garden quilt.

A knitting bag overspilling with scrappy deliciousness was designed and stitched. I thoroughly enjoyed fashioning this pretty as I was able to play with machine sketching.......my very favourite kinda stitching. LOVE.....doodling with my sewing machine.....it really is the best fun.

There was another scrappy quilt finished; something that doesn't happen very often. If I finish one quilt  a year......then I am a happy gal.

Aah.....yes the boudoir! Yet again, you visited my sun-filled, bright and happy boudoir. It seems to me you are regular visitors to my boudoir where each quilt I fashion seems to finds its way resting on my comfy bed. You know, I am very particular whom I invite to cross the threshold of my boudoir. =)

Then.......in September I began to really play. I began to design and stitch the quilt that has been dancing and twirling around and around in my imagination for a very long time. It is a quilt that resonates deep within me, showcasing different season's blossoms flourishing all over...sashaying together in one quilt. It is a reflection of the garden that my husband has so lovingly created and tended for some time now. It will be a very long time till it is finished but that's okay. I am not one who has to have a pretty finished yesterday. I am that gal whom rather loves the process, the playing. I have nobody's timetable to keep, but my own.

One of the joys of  a couple of days through my week is teaching children the art of stitching. These days I only have a few who visit my little home after school, but those afternoons are always fun. This sweet little castle with its royal inhabitants was finished last year by one of my girls. I don't think I have shared this before. I drafted the patterns and my clever student stitched all the regal characters and the castle, which is a bag, as a gift for her little sister. What child doesn't love escaping to the land of make believe where there is a king and his queen, a beautiful princess and her knight in shining armour; all who hang out with a friendly green dragon and a magical unicorn. This is the stuff of fun and imaginative play. Why, I want to escape with these characters to the land of make believe.....such fun!

As I wind-up, it strikes me what a wonderful place this blogging caper is. Some of you whom, though I have never met in person, I feel as if I have known all my life. I feel as if I could just pop over to your place for a cup of tea served in a fine bone china tea cup and luxuriate in a chat about all things pertaining to this thing that is called life. Indeed I feel that you and I are kindred spirits. I have visited your lovely blogs and am continually inspired by your uniqueness,  your beautiful imaginations and your amazing creativity. This blogging community is one of encouragement and friendship. It is a community filled with beauty, inspiration, affection and love. In these days of late, where I can only shake my head in sadness and wonder what on earth is going on in the world, all you lovelies keep me hopeful. There have been many times when your kind thoughts have wrapped around me in the warmest of hugs.....thank you. Thank you, to you lovelies who have taken precious time out of your day to pay me a visit, all the way down here, and have been so kind as to bless me with your beautiful words. They always bring a smile to my heart.

So here's to more posts,  as I skip along the bloggy path where blossoms dance as I pass by. Here's to more skipping along the bendy path penning my thoughts, stringing a sentence or two together each time. More posts waxing lyrical about the next pretty I have fashioned; a few more posts oohing and aahing over some gorgeous blossom I have picked from the garden, or perhaps a post or two sharing the glorious sunrises that my Heavenly Father gifts me each morning. Oh......and there most probably will be a  funny story to bore you make you giggle. To me, this blogging caper is akin to keeping a visual journal, musings of my daily life.  After all, I  like to think each post that I pen is a chapter in my book;  that book which will never see the shelves of a bookshelf in a book shop. =) 

NOW.....before you go, just for this occasion, I would like to say thank you for your visit each time, by gifting one of you lovelies with a little pretty I have fashioned. After all what is an anniversary of sorts if there is not a little present. I would like to gift  a little basket of floralicious delight. This little pretty is different to those floral cushions I normally fashion, but I hope it gives you a little joy. I wanted to mix it up a little and try something a little different. I would much rather knock on your door with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers and say thank you, but, alas I cannot. This little pretty will just have to do. If you would like this pretty to perhaps arrive at your home then please say so in your comment.....that is of course if you desire to leave a word or two.  I will announce the recipient in my next blog post in a couple of weeks.

May I again say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for popping into my little place to see what stories I have written. Thank you for visiting me throughout this year to see what pretties I have imagined and all the happy snaps I have captured of the glories of my daily walks.....and the pretty flowers....oh, the flowers. Each one of your visits truly make my life, my day; beautiful. In my own very small way I hope through the writing of my little blog, the stories I imagine and the photos that illustrate those stories,  I bring a smile to your day, sprinkling a little beauty along the way♥

Until the next time........

As She stitched the flowers bloomed!

Another Sunday morning  has awoken, and still she stitches. The last weeks of late Summer have slipped by. She notices Ol' Man Sun is rising later and saying goodbye earlier......and still she stitches. Seasons pass.  Cold days float into warm days. Warm days melt into hotter days. Hot days cool into mild and balmy days. The garden whispers the changes with the transition of each season. As she looks at the calendar she notices the days of  March are marching on in a steady rhythm. The continual march....the procession of the seconds, the minutes, the days, the months.....the seasons. How could that be she questions, wondering where the days of January and February have disappeared to. Already the light is different. Subtle changes have begun. The flowers are beginning to fade, but the seeds remain and when Spring once again dances onto the scene, they will magically sprout yet again. In a little while the trees will be dressed in autumnal glory. The crisp, taffeta-like leaves of deep russets, burnt oranges, tarnished reds will soon adorn the wondrous landscape. She knows it is the cycle of nature.

For six months now the flowers on her quilt have slowly bloomed. With each season she has studied the flowers that have blossomed outside her windows, endeavouring to translate the magic of each flower into fabric blossoms. She is amazed as she looks at the intricacies of the veins in the different leaves, or each tiny petal of a flower; the finer details she has never really noticed before.

So slowly have the appliqued flowers bloomed, that sometimes there appears to be little progress. But she is mistaken. As she gazes upon her fabric garden she notices that there is indeed a flower garden blooming. Not in it's plenitude as she has a thought that perhaps Wisteria would look rather lovely  crookedly winding its way across the top of the quilt in a tangled fashion. Birds too, she thinks will perhaps sing their sweet song amongst the flowers and perhaps delicate butterflies flitting here and there, enjoying the nectar of the flowers. For what is a garden if there are no sweet critters finding a haven within all the floral beauty. From time to time she wonders if her quilt will bloom in all its beauty. She wonders if her fabric garden will ever dance in a completed symphony; but, she looks at how far she has come and shoos those  inimical thoughts to the flowerless abyss. So.....still she stitches.

As she has stitched this last little while, Cosmos have bloomed.....pink, magenta and carmine. They dance in the soft Autumn breeze.

Japanese Anemones have sprinkled soft, pink beauty to the garden.

Irises have popped up, growing tall. Their striking beauty adding a dash of splendour to the garden. Liliums add their unique beauty to the garden scene; as do the Gladdies and Daffodils; all scattering out of that magical seed packet.

She smiles as the last stitch is stitched on each flower and marvels at what sits on her lap. The early morning sky has dawned onto her quilt; a watercolour pastiche glowing with pinks, blues, mauves, lemons and aquas. She smiles happily at her sweet flowers dancing against the backdrop of the pastel hued sky.

She is content. She is always thinking. She is always designing. She is always playing. But......she knows there are more botanical delights to be 'growed'. As she stitches she realises there are yet more flowers to bloom. More flowers will sprinkle from that magical packet of seeds. She knows that there will be a few more seasons; many more days to enjoy, before the last stitch is stitched....Autumn, Winter, Spring and perhaps another Summer. So.......still she stitches.

Until the next time.......

Linking up to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching and  Judy's, Design Wall Monday