Gelli patchwork

A new month, a new gelli-print party! Hop on over to Carolyn Dube's blog (button in the sidebar) and see what people are doing this month with their gelli-plates.

I turned my attention to patchwork this month. As the warmer weather breezes in we will soon be discarding our heavy winter duvets and snuggling up under something a little lighter. My daughter needed a new patchwork cover. 

I've been experimenting with masks on the gelli-plate. Our daughter has been doing kirigami (the Japanese art of paper folding and cutting) for the last couple of years, having had calendars that provide 6 new designs a week. This means we have a pile of butterflies, hearts, and flowers just waiting to be used. Some of them have made it on to journal pages, but here was a perfect opportunity to use lots of them and have some fun.

So I gathered 48 different butterfly designs, all the different shades of purple and green acrylic paint in my paintbox, and dusted off the gelli-plate. Then the fun began. Soon the floor was covered with squares of white cotton and my fingers were decidedly mucky. 

A few strips of fabric to form bands in between and a border and I was all set. A couple of days of sewing and voila! A new bed cover and a great feeling of satisfaction. 

Decisions

Isn't it amazing how, once a decision is made, your mind suddenly becomes clearer? 

From all the chaotic thoughts order and peace emerge. 

You can see a way forward. 

Be yourself

I like this quote. It is so true. So often we try to be like someone else, wanting their talents, their skills, their gifts. In doing that we neglect the skills, talents, and gifts that we have been blessed with. Instead we should celebrate who we are and endeavour to be the best we can be.

There is only one you.

Be the best one you can be instead of a hollow imitation of someone else.