Rose embroidered hot-pad

I finished this embroidered hot-pad a month or so ago, but could not post it until now since was a gift for a friend. It was a scrap-bag project. I do not know what kind of cloth the back is, possibly a crape or rayon. I chose it because it was blue with small white roses and my friend likes roses and blue. The rose on the front is hand embroidered. Left over quilt batting is in the middle and it was machine quilted.

Our Own

Our Own

*

If I had known in the morning

How wearily all the day

The words unkind

Would trouble my mind

I said when you went away,

I had been more careful, Darling,

Nor given you needless pain,

But we vex "our own"

With look and tone

We may never take back again.

*

For though in the quiet evening

You may give me the kiss of peace,

Yet it might be

That never for me

The pain of the heart should cease.

How many go forth in the morning,

That never come home at night!

And hearts have broken

From harsh words spoken,

That sorrow can ne'er set right.

*

We have careful thoughts for the stranger,

And smiles for the transient guest,

But oft for "our own"

The bitter tone,

Though we love "our own" the best.

Ah, lips with the curve impatient!

Ah, brow with the look of scorn!

'Twere a cruel fate,

Were the night too late

To undo the work of morn.

*

------(author to be listed when found)

Kitty-cat t-shirt

When I was somewhere around six years old, I saw this adorable dress and my mother bought it for me. I have saved it all these years. For a very long time I have planned to do something with it and finally have.

I cut the front out, turned under the edges and corners and whip-stitched it onto a plain gray t-shirt. Then I cut the little cuffs from the skirt to edge the sleeves. It was a fun little project that I worked up quickly and did not take any pains with it. I knew the perfectionist would examine the shirt and see if I centered the picture and turned under all the corners equally, but for once, I did not care. Sure enough, the shirt was brought under scrutiny and a doubtful voice asked if I had turned the corners under equally. "Nope," I answered cheerfully. "I didn't even try." The kitty is so pretty it should catch anyone's attention. If someone notices the picture is not perfectly sewed on, I really do not think they are enjoying the cute kitty as much as they should. :)

Happiness

Happiness is like a crystal,

Fair and exquisite and clear,

Broken in a million pieces,

Shattered, scattered far and near.

Now and then along life's pathway,

Lo! Some shining fragments fall;

But there are so many pieces

No on ever finds them all

*

You may find a bit of beauty,

or an honest share of wealth,

While another just beside you

Gathers honor, love or health.

Vain to choose or grasp unduly,

Broken is the perfect ball;

And there are so many pieces

No one ever finds them all.

*

Yet the wise as on they journey

Treasure every fragment clear,

Fit them as they may together,

Imaging the shattered sphere,

Learning ever to be thankful,

Though their share of it is small;

For it has so many pieces

No one ever finds them all.

*

-----Priscila Leonard

Three picture woodburning

Here is my latest woodburning project for someone. The roses, which were only outlined did not show up well until colored. The first picture shows the work I did. The others, showing the roses colored and the board finished and stained, was done by another.

The Two Glasses

There sat two glasses filled to the brim,

On a rich man's table, rim to rim;

One was ruddy and red and blood,

And one as clear as the crystal flood.

*



Said the glass of wine to the paler brother:

"Let us tell the tales of the past to each other;

I can tell of banquet and revel and mirth,

And the proudest and grandest souls on earth

Fell under my touch as though struck by blight,

Where I was king, for I ruled in might;

From the heads of kings I have tron the crown,

From the heights of fame I have hurled men down:

I have blasted many an honored name;

I have taken viture and given shame;

I have tempted the youth with a sip, a taste,

That has made his future a barren waste.

Greater, far greater than king am I,

Or than any army beneath the sky.

I have made the arm of the driver fail,

And sent the train from the iron rail;

I have made good ships go down at sea,

And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me,

For they said, 'Behold how great you be!

Fame, strength, wealth, genius before you fall,

For your might and power are over all.'

Ho! ho! pale brother," laughed the wine,

"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"

*

Said the water glass: "I cannot boast

Of a king dethroned or a murdered host;

But I can tell of a heart once sad,

By my crystal drops made light and glad;

Of thirsts I've quenched, of brows I've laved,

Of hands I have cooled, and souls I have saved;

I have leaped through the valley, dashed down the mountian,

Flowed in the river and played in the fountain,

Slept in the sunshine and dropped from the sky,

And everywhere gladdened the landscape and eye.

I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain;

I have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain;

I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill,

That ground out the flour and turned at my will.

I can tell of manhood debased by you,

That I have lifted and crowned anew.

I cheer, I help, I strengthen and aid;

I gladden the heart of man and maid;

I set the chined wine-pative free;

And all are better for knowing me."

*

These are the tales they told each other,

The glass of wine and paler brother,

As they sat together filled to the brim,

On the rich man's table, rim to rim.

*

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Re-covering chair seats

We recently moved an old dinning room table into our kitchen. The seat covers were in horrible condition, stained and ugly. I was drafted to re-cover them. I had about four yards of blue flowered cloth that I did not really need. Since my mother's kitchen is mostly blue with a bit of mauve, it worked out nicely to cover the chairs with this cloth.