AfricanKelli

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Dear Fin,

Remember when I sewed new curtains for my craft studio before it became my guest room before it became Matt’s room? And then those curtains were changed out again because really? The green didn’t work for me. There was too much other stuff going on color-wise and African/Aussie is a very simple man.  Well, I still had those curtains tucked in my scrap box and in preparing for this month’s CRAFT challenge, I wondered if I could put this fabric to use?

Indeed. I now have 8 placemat backings.

As for the scrappy tops? They are in process. Have you ever noticed how this sort of project takes considerable time to simply prep? I’ve got at least four hours into washing, pressing and cutting the pieces for these, although I am loving the repurposing angle. Also, it is incredibly satisfying to use what I have and to be cleaning up the scrap box too.

How is your project going?

~K

A friend from Botswana recently visited and brought me a little package of gourd seeds to plant in my garden. Wasn’t that thoughtful of him? I planted these with the giant pumpkins from two weeks ago and the garden is going bananas. The heat + lots of water + a roommate who truly loves being among his green “babies” = a garden that is looking pretty darn good for August in Phoenix.

If I haven’t reminded you in the last 20 minutes, it is disgustingly hot and miserable here right now. There is your reminder. I’ll be back tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you wouldn’t mind — I have a cause for you to support. My dear friend Shelley and her husband Alessandro — two of the kindest people on earth — are trying to raise funds for those left homeless after the earthquake in Italy earlier this year.

Shelley writes: The city of Lucoli, the largest municipality in Abruzzo for territory, was the epicenter of the April 6 quake. Now all the inhabitants (most of whom are elderly) are living in campgrounds located up to 5,000 feet in altitude. With your help it will be possible for them to have a field hospital and the assistance they need, and to save the beautiful village of Lucoli and its monuments dating from the Middle Ages.

To learn more about the earthquake in Lucoli and to make a donation, please visit

www.reliefforthequake.com

By donating even just 1 dollar you will make it possible!

Thank you friends,

K

Embroidered spider & moth bag for Lainey:: with boxy bag included for change:: supplies from Fancy Tiger:: inspiration from Wyoming

~K

Fin,

Good choice on the July projects — there are several super pretty scarves girls whipped up (including yours). Lovely! The winner is this gorgeous girl. I like the color, the fact she posted a photo of herself and that she just seems very cheery. Brava! Thanks to everyone who played along.

For August, I’ve got two sewing projects and a recipe for us to try. First, let me just say that these selections are 100% selfish. I have some things I need to take care of around the house and I’m doing the whole two birds with one stone thing. I know we started this sew-along ages ago complaining about how all the craft books were too focused on the dreaded three Ps — placemats, pillowcases and purses — but I need some of these. I have boxes of scraps, no placemats of my own and a couple gifts to make. They don’t have to follow this tutorial exactly; the idea is to create placemats from scraps and being environmentally and thrifty-chic in the process.

The second project is a bit more complicated. I can’t find exactly what I want on Craft, but I can find something close and explain the details. My little home’s windows and doors are old. They don’t seal properly and as you can imagine, this time of year in Phoenix, it’s like I am watching dollar bills fly away via air conditioning. What I want to sew are some long, narrow beanbags that can be placed along the door frame and along window ledges. The idea is the tubes will keep the cold in and the hot out. This is as close of a as tutorial I could find. I think beans would work best, but perhaps rice or another grain too?*

Thanks to April and Colleen — this is exactly what I am talking about. Draft stoppers!

Finally, to spice things up and reward ourselves for being so green and crafty — how about a dozen of these? Yum. Ginger cookies are my favorite.

I know we’ve talked quite a bit lately about using what we have at hand, making the most of our gardens and being wise financially. I think honoring these lifestyle choices in our projects makes sense. A recent example of such crafty frugalness: homemade prickly pear jelly — one of the few desert summer dweller perks. Perhaps I’ll have a dollop on one of those cookies soon, eaten on a place over a lovely new placemat in a kitchen with windows lined with beanbags.

Yes. To all of that, I say yes.

Love,

Donk

Speaking of Faith, July 30, 2009 — Repossessing Virtue

As a means of better connecting with my community and understanding what fuels others, I’ve organized a group to discuss the podcast Speaking of Faith. I’ve enjoyed this weekly show since a fellow blogger suggested it several years ago. Krista Tippett, the host, manages to make such complicated topics fascinating and within reach of understanding. The podcast is not Christian, but just as its name suggests — about faith. This week’s show is a rerun of an ongoing series — Repossessing Virtue. Scientists, religious leaders and community members are interviewed and asked three key questions:

1. What are you doing different in this economy?

2. What virtues are you drawing on?

3. Is the economy a moral or virtuous crisis?

Two of my favorite quotes from the show are:

Sharon Salzberg: Suffering is something that we tend to avoid, we shun it. If we ourselves are suffering, we feel humiliated. One of the things that should make us closer is our vulnerability and yet we can feel so isolated rather than really together.

Vigen Guroian: It’s a good moment to sit back and reflect on what’s really valuable in our lives. And maybe riding the crest of the wave was exciting and exhilarating, but maybe there’s an advantage to being landed on the beach.

I am doing things differently. I’m more conscious of the blessings and luxuries I enjoy daily. I am consciously trying to share more with others. I am trying to save money so it can instead be spent on causes that make much more sense than $3 lattes and $300 handbags. I still want those things, of course. I just want to be better, more.

Aristotle defined virtue as an excellence in fulfillment of a particular function. Happiness is a result of being virtuous. Specifically, he labeled the following as virtues: magnificence,  courage, temperance, liberality, magnanimity, pride, good temper, truthfulness, wittiness, friendliness, modesty, and righteous indignation. Aristotle put these in one of two categories; a virtue is either intellectual or moral.

I’d argue many of these are both. I am drawing on many of these virtues to find meaning and significance in life, although I’ve never considered myself virtuous. I pray for more temperance and am humbled to admit I’ve got a bit too much indignation. I think with the current economic conditions, as a country, world and people, we could use to have less pride, more good temper and certainly more friendliness.

If you are interested in participating in the conversation, I’d love to hear your answers to those three questions in the comments. The podcast is linked above. Each Sunday possible, I’ll now be posting about SOF. If you live in Phoenix and want the details to meet us in person, send me an email. I hope to hear from those who consider themselves members of a faith group and those who do not believe. Virtue isn’t specific to religion.

~Kelli

For a girlfriend who requested a “cupcake apron.” This one was hard to give away. I really, really love it. The gold trim is courtesy of Raesha. Thank you!

~k