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.

Download Autumn Leaves

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.