Coming down out of the freezing sky with its depths of light, like an angel, or a Buddha with wings, it was beautiful, and accurate, striking the snow and whatever was there with a force that left the imprint of the tips of its wings — five feet apart — and the grabbing thrust of its feet, and the indentation of what had been running through the white valleys of the snow — and then it rose, gracefully, and flew back to the frozen marshes to lurk there, like a little lighthouse, in the blue shadows — so I thought: maybe death isn’t darkness, after all, but so much light wrapping itself around us — as soft as feathers — that we are instantly weary of looking, and looking, and shut our eyes, not without amazement, and let ourselves be carried, as through the translucence of mica, to the river that is without the least dapple or shadow, that is nothing but light — scalding, aortal light — in which we are washed and washed out of our bones. Author

Monday 11 November 2013

Afternoon tea


Todays card is a cardswop card which I will be sending off in the next couple of days. It features artwork from The Heart of the Garden by Joanna Sheen. The card also features a diecut mat made with a tonic die The theme for the swop was Hearth and Home. I thought long and hard about what to do and I decided to feature a china cup and saucer. I collect vintage china (among many other things) and for many years I held a ladies afternoon tea using my pretty china. There is always a special feeling having a ladies tea...it takes me back to my childhood when I can remember my Grandmother holding many similar teas for her friends. I can always remember those afternoons...the air filled with delicate perfumes and I can also recall the swishing of their silk dresses. Their chatter and laughter rang round the room. I also remember that alot of the excitement was in the preparation...besides the planning and baking..the sorting of the china to use and the choice of the cloth. The cloth was always an embroidered one..I still have the cloths. There are lilacs around the edge of one and another is covered in wildflowers. They are real works of art. Embroidery was something that I can remember all the ladies doing...they swopped patterns and seemed to sew on everything. I am lucky enough to have tablecloths, pillowcases, cushion covers and tablemats that many of these ladies made. For many years work like this was not appreciated and it's only now with the love of vintage items that they seem to be coming back into vogue. I'm afraid that I'm one of these people that doesn't follow fashion in as such as I like what I like and if other people don't like it..well so be it. I'm proud to say I love old cups and saucers, pretty china, silver and crystal. A minimalist I will never be..lol.
Just to let you know, I have finished the cottage cards. After blogging yesterday my first task was to estimate the cat damage. Well it ended in 3 cards being binned and 6 having to be redone. Not as bad as I had at first thought. They are all now finished thankgoodness and are now in the done box. I will photograph some of them to share with you later in the week.
It has come to that time where the coffee is calling..so until tommorrow..take care and happy crafting.

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