Hello Everyone! I have been spending a lot of time outside during the winter break, walking amongst the trees near and far and spending time with my camera. I find quite a bit solace and peace there. That in turn prompted me to work on a little project, and then to prepare something I could share with you.
About ten years ago, I made an embroidery blanket for our kitty Charlie. Very soon afterwards, it became one of his favourites. Now, a decade later, it has become a bit threadbare. During this break, I made a new one for him using the same layout and colors. It is pretty much an exact replica of his original blanket.
The only difference between the two is the binding. Instead of using a blanket stitch again, I used this bramble fabric to bind this one.
I also polished up the leaf drawings I had made for the blanket. Now they are available in my shop completely free for you to download.
They are line arts of generous size. You can resize them to your need and use them for so many projects – scrapbooking, greeting cards, applique, and embroidery, just to name a few. You can also choose to spend time together colouring them.
these pocket journals handmade by me are available in my shop
I traced the leaves in the nature journal and painted the trio. I just love those warm colours. I would very much like to see them made in different shades of green and yellow as new leaves.
Every December, my husband and I purchase a set of books at our local Barnes and Noble book store for their yearly book drive for underprivileged children. Hopefully these books from last December provided the little ones some much-needed escape.
Without going too much into my childhood, let’s just say I was glad to have the stars and books as my two constant companions growing up. I dreamed about escaping to distant worlds whilst lying under the stars. At other times, I dove into books to shut out the world outside, often wishing I was made of ink and paper. They are still my escape, my world, my friends and family.
A few months ago, I finished painting a little blue book about the Girl and Her Cat and about stories themselves. There are some stories that are so heartbreaking, they would make Death cry. Seems like we are living through one of those times yet again. Sitting on his robe, the Girl and Her Cat listen to him and comfort him.
I flat out refuse to read a book where there is no hope. Not every story has a happily ever after, but there is no living without hope. After the Girl and Her Cat travelled to the end of the world to see Death, the two of them found something beautiful in the midst of the surrounding darkness.
When the war started, the constant thought in my head was how to get books / ebooks to the children who are so afraid and have lost their childhood. I kept on looking daily until I came across this page on BBC. I followed the link on Little Toller Books website and promptly donated. You can find out more about this amazing endeavour at the links above.
Our cat Charlie is now dreaming on his new autumn leaves blanket, the leaves I drew from a few I found on the wayside. Fragile things like leaves and butterflies spark simple childlike joy and hope, and become part of our art and stories. I hope you will find the Autumn Leaves download helpful and make something beautiful with them. We need that now more than ever.
See you on Wandering Camera linky party on March 31st.
Until next time,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them. Also linking up with Meadow Mist Designs this month.
57 thoughts on “Leaves And Butterflies”
Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs June 12, 2022 at 08:07
What beautiful work as always! I love the blanket and your leaf designs are fantastic. It’s made me feel all autumnal! (My favourite season).
Enjoy the rest of your day Soma. :) xx
Cheryl April 10, 2022 at 06:33
Beautiful! I love how you were able to create such a special blanket!
Sarah April 4, 2022 at 06:28
Such a cute kitty blanket — an idea for when our kitties need a new blanket.
Peabea April 1, 2022 at 20:26
Absolutely love your artwork and journal. Also the story. Beautiful blanket for Charlie. So glad you visited me to I could come visit. I’ll check out the book site you linked.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting March 31, 2022 at 15:10
Such a cute kitty quilt!!!
Sam March 31, 2022 at 06:52
That blanket is amazing x
Heidrun March 29, 2022 at 23:59
Yes, leaves are indeed always a Highlight. You made a lovely blanket for the cat. And we pray for peace and fremdom.
Have a good time.
Joanne March 29, 2022 at 05:52
What a lovely blanket and I love those leaf paintings! I bet your books will be much appreciated. I always used books as an escape from life too.
Michelle March 26, 2022 at 15:59
Your kitty’s new blanket is so pretty. Thank you for sharing the link to donate books to Ukrainian children.
Michelle
RachelSwirl March 26, 2022 at 13:33
Seriously, you are so so talented. I love your work! Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Sarah MumofThree World March 25, 2022 at 23:56
The blanket is so beautiful. I love that you donate books every year to underprivileged children and have been finding ways to comfort the children of Ukraine. The world is a really scary place right now. It’s hard to believe such atrocities are happening.
Luisella March 25, 2022 at 01:34
Autumn leaves are lovely and picturesque and you portrayed them properly!
EVA March 23, 2022 at 09:36
Thanks Soma for being a part of PPF!
I love the idea of your girl and her cat visiting Death and comforting him! How original! All your pieces are lovely – lucky Charlie!
Debbie March 22, 2022 at 08:17
good that you have been spending some time outdoors, i have been also. our weather has been warming up. the quilted blanket is so pretty!!
a hopeful book is best in lifting your spirits!!
Carol March 22, 2022 at 03:57
I love your story and beautiful art. Charlie is so lucky to have a beautiful quilt to sleep with.
Veronica Lee March 22, 2022 at 00:05
The leaves are so pretty and the blanket is most adorable!
Happy Tuesday, Soma!
Connie Griffin March 21, 2022 at 18:54
Oh wow Carlie should feel very special that you have embroidered his blanket, I made some for my dog and cats but never that much work into it. Our new kitty chews on everything right now. Beautiful watercoloring of your leaves too!
Oh that is so sad about the girl and cat seeing things that would make death cry. I do pray every day and many times a day that Ukraine will be done with seeing all the death and destruction. May those kids find hope in each new day.
image-in-ing weeklly photo linky March 21, 2022 at 15:05
I enjoy your art work very much. Thank you for sharing at
Little Wandering Wren March 21, 2022 at 09:32
Hello – you have been hard at work with your embriodery! Yes, books are wonderful to distract and to give us all hope.
Have a lovely week
Wren x
Sherrie March 21, 2022 at 09:17
Hi,
Love the leaves, thanks for sharing the pattern.
Have a great day!
Heidrun March 21, 2022 at 02:19
Wonderful leaves. Thank you for the Post, I enjoyed reading.
Happy MosaicMonday
Lisa | Handmade in Israel March 21, 2022 at 01:08
The leaves are really lovely and the blanket is amazing! Lucky kitty!
Angie March 20, 2022 at 22:19
P.S. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
Kim Carberry March 20, 2022 at 11:47
All of the leaves are so pretty. Great work!
Lavender Dreams March 20, 2022 at 06:56
The leaves are really beautiful and I love your stories! Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing the leaves!
Anne March 20, 2022 at 04:41
I always love your work Soma and your cat blanket is adorable. I love the idea of the backpacks for the refugee children, that’s such a good idea.
Lydia C. Lee March 20, 2022 at 01:04
Love the leaves! #MySundaySnapshot
NatureFootstep March 20, 2022 at 00:55
lol, visiting from my second blog :)
Amila March 19, 2022 at 23:55
You are so creative. I enjoyed all the creativity shared in this post. This blanket is really beautiful.
Have a nice day!
Wendy K March 19, 2022 at 11:37
I love your little story books with the girl and cat. Have a great weekend.
Bill March 19, 2022 at 11:21
I love the drawing you have done. Only book I read was the Hobbit which I still read now and then
Mary March 19, 2022 at 07:44
It’s great seeing a post from you, Soma. It seems like life has been so heavy lately. I love that you have taken the darkness of your childhood and made the world a much happier place with your creativity. Your leaves are beautiful- in both your book and on Charlie’s blanket. You did a fantastic job with your stitching. What kind of fabric did you use? The artwork I the girl’s blue book is amazing.
Amy Johnson March 19, 2022 at 06:40
I’m so happy to see you posting again. I’ve missed your posts. How sweet to make a blanket for your kitty. Your leaves are gorgeous. And your book looks and sounds beautiful. I love that there is Hope at the end.
John's Island March 19, 2022 at 05:19
Hi Soma, You are so creative and inspiring. The leaves gave me a great idea for my little sketch book from you. Have a great weekend. John
handmade by amalia March 19, 2022 at 04:20
I love the way you’ve interpreted the leaves in your needlework, Soma.
Amalia
xo
Eileen March 19, 2022 at 02:07
Hello, Soma
Your sweet Charlie has a beautiful new blanket. I love your pretty leaves. I love reading books, it is a great idea to donate books to the children.
Thanks for sharing more of The Girl and her Cat. The war is tragic I can understand why Death is crying. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Angie March 18, 2022 at 20:19
Soma – the embroidery on the blanket is exquisite. And I agree with you – I cannot abide a book much less a world without hope. How clever of you to find a way to donate books to the children of Ukraine! Enjoy your weekend!
Karen March 18, 2022 at 17:40
I will check out that link you gave I have been thinking about how I can contribute. Love your drawings and the leafs
Jill March 18, 2022 at 16:58
II like the blanket that you made… and like you…I love to read. Reading in my lonely childhood…after my parents divorced…books were my escape…and I only liked to read “happy” books… I still do.
Janine @ Rainbow Hare March 18, 2022 at 16:12
The blanket you have made for Charlie is beautiful. Fiona would be envious if I told her because she just has and old cardigan – though she is particular and will only have wool or cashmere in her box!
The ending of your girl and cat story is really beautiful and very moving and you are right we are living in times fit to make death cry but most certainly not without hope. I will check out your link to Little Toller Books. I too spent much of my childhood in books. They really are doorways to other worlds.
I hope you are keeping safe and well xxx
NatureFootstep March 18, 2022 at 15:57
nice nature art. I too love leaves and have a lot of dried ones at home.
I am sure we will meet a lot even if PFF is ending now. I found you on FB but I don´t post many photos there.
The Joyful Quilter March 18, 2022 at 14:54
Super sweet replacement quilt for Charlie!! You did a beautiful job with it, Soma.
Dixie March 18, 2022 at 11:34
Wonderful artwork, Soma. I bet Charlie loves his beautiful quilt.
I do so love “The Girl and Her Cat.”
For me, books are a joy and a solace, and often take me down paths I
might never experience. They are the one thing I would not want to give up.:)
And, I agree, there must be hope for hope is the stuff of life.
Linda K March 18, 2022 at 09:53
There is so much to love here Soma. I love that you made a special blanket for Charlie. Your watercolor art is always beautiful- and many times so meaningful as well. And your heart equals the beauty of that. I love the idea of donating books. I have always gone to books, art, and close friends for solace growing up.
Thanks for sharing the links. happy PPF and have a lovely weekend!
Valerie-Jael March 18, 2022 at 09:24
Love the new blanket and the blue book is fabulous. Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie
A ShutterBug Explores March 18, 2022 at 08:13
Love your blue book ~ fantastic ~ Xo
Wishing you lots of love and laughter in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Gillena March 18, 2022 at 06:40
Beautuful leaf drawings. I kept scrolling down looking for the butterflies
Luv the book illustrations
Have a good Friday
Muchlove
Maria March 18, 2022 at 06:08
Really beautiful post. So much inspiration and beauty. Lovely and Happy Paint Party Friday!
Kristin Dudish March 18, 2022 at 04:57
This is such a wonderful post… the art, the words, the content… so, so good! I am so intrigued by your story about The Girl and Her Cat – I would love to read it! I completely agree about books not needing happy endings, but definitely needing hope. Your line, “There are some stories that are so heartbreaking, they would make Death cry.” is so beautiful and haunting I definitely want to read more!
p.s. Charlie is a very lucky cat – the blanket is beautiful!
riitta k March 18, 2022 at 04:30
Thank you for you4 touching post. I love your autumn leaves in warm shades. The situation is so terrible in Ukraine, no wonder even The Death is crying. I cannot understand all this evil. So glad you and me have our kitties to comfort us.
Tracey March 18, 2022 at 00:30
Outdoor space gives us so much, I too find I can breath and come alive when outside amongst nature. Lovely idea to be inspired by the leaves and to bring them indoors and stitch them in your own image. Cosy cat quilt. Books too are a fabulous way of escape, thanks to e-books even the heaviest of books can be taken everywhere.
Best wishes this PPF and much creativity xx
Alison March 17, 2022 at 23:47
A wonderful post! Your leaves are beautiful Soma, and I love the blanket you made for your cat.
Books are a great way to escape, I love reading too.
Alison
Christine March 17, 2022 at 22:45
Lovely leaves! Glad Charlie has a new blanket.
Susan March 17, 2022 at 17:32
Glad to see you back after your break. I too retreated to books in my childhood and still do. I don’t read books that have no hope either. I also don’t read books that are very dark and dreary. There has to be some light in them. Like Kim, I think you should consider publishing your stories. In a way, you do that already on this blog. Charlie’s old and new quilts are beautiful. Thanks for the pattern and also for the link to Little Toller Books.
Kim March 17, 2022 at 13:49
Such a beautiful post, Soma…..and how beautiful it is to visit your world of beauty and wisdom once more. I think there are a lot of adults who as children retreated to their books and looked up at the stars to escape their difficult childhoods; I was such a child, too. I cannot believe that Charlie’s beautiful blanket scattered with your embroidered leaves lasted for ten years. I suppose though, that cats are much more dignified animals than dogs when it comes to cherishing their blankets….their quilts. =) You know, you should consider publishing your stories of The Girl and Her Cat. These last pages you have imagined and created resonate deeply in these times. I believe the world should read your evocative and poignant stories. Thank you for the link to Little Toller Books. I am off to investigate now. So, so happy you are back to brighten my days, dear Soma♡
Kathleen Kingsbury March 17, 2022 at 10:58
Thank you Soma. Your leaves are beautiful and they are falling so naturally on the blanket you made. I downloaded them and will show my granddaughter. I’m teaching her to sew quilt blocks and we also did an applique block. I’ll see if she has any ideas for these leaves.
Sue March 17, 2022 at 03:12
Charlies new blanket is very nice! He is a lucky cat. I am off to check out the links you have supplied. Love all your leaves.