Wednesday, October 7, 2015

My Mother's Coloring Habit - a Relaxing Hobby

Last weekend I was visiting my Mom who celebrated her 87th birthday, and she was showing me the beautiful pictures that she has colored, intricate pictures with many details. Coloring is her new hobby, she says, and it is becoming a popular past-time for more than just children. I have another friend who is my age that also enjoys coloring.

Years back I asked for crayons and coloring books as a gift, before adult coloring was a popular as it is now, and I got them both. I didn't want grown-up adult coloring books, but the "easy" kind that children would enjoy coloring, but ended up with both and found that each had their own advantage.

Coloring transports me back in time to childhood days and happy memories. I love coloring animals in particular, because I am an animal lover. My mother prefers coloring flowers, and has markers that that she colors with, fine tipped markers especially for coloring and perfect for the small spaces that she fills with color.

I like to think that she took an interest in coloring again when she was staying with me for a few days, and we colored together. I colored casually, but she did so artistically, paying attention to detail and shading. Here is a picture of one of the pictures she colored last summer:


So it is not only quilting or crocheting that brings relaxation and pleasure, but the simple act of coloring.

Have you discovered the relaxing benefits of coloring as an adult?

Image: Coloring taken by me
Updated: 11/30/18

Monday, August 17, 2015

Hand Quilting - How to Hand Stitch a Quilt

Though some like to use a quilting sewing machine to piece together their quilts, many find hand stitching a quilt relaxing.

I have put together a page for beginners with a series of video tutorials to help you start and finish a quilt, or a smaller quilted item.

You can click here to go to the tutorial page.

If additional pages are added about quilting, you will find them all by clicking "Quilting" in the upper right margin.

Image: from Pixabay by vero1234

Updated 11/30/18

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

I am Back to Share Some Hand Quilting Tips

I just looked to see when my last post was, October, it makes sense, that is the month that my dear brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As he was disabled, I was one of his guardians. Since that time we have gone through a difficult journey with him that ended June 29th with his home-going to heaven. We made many decisions for him, as he could not make his own, nor could we explain to him what was happening to him. But for as long as possible, right up to the final weeks when he slept most of the time, he smiled and laughed and kept his positive attitude. I miss him terribly.

In that time my husband also had a heart attack, but his life was saved.

Now I am trying to get back to doing things I had set aside, and am excited about getting into the topic of quilting. I have something all laid out to share here, and will be working on it during the coming days.

Updated 11/30/18