Gwen Castal Trio of Vintage Paintings

This is a very sweet and adorable trio of original paintings
by unknown and unrecognized artist Gwen Castal.
Elwood, Indiana - December 1974

Size: Small are 3.25" in dia. and the Large is  5" in dia.
Ready to hang in that little nook, powder room or cabin!

Original Artwork, 1974

Signed and Dated by Gwen Castal

SOLD at auction on

ebay.com

Breathe and Radiate! Light up your life!

Crimson Circle 

(via facebook)

‎"When you breathe, you tend to radiate. It’s taken years of the breathing, of getting you into it – some of you have really resisted it – but when you breathe, you start to radiate. You start to light up, and that’s the reason most of you stopped breathing, because initially, yes, it’s intense. Initially, it hurts. Initially, it brings up your crap, your makyo. It puts the makyo right in your face, so you say, “Oh, this breathing stuff is so stupid. I’m going to go find a lot of books and workshops and complex things and pretend that, you know, there’s puzzle parts that I have to put together. I’m not going to do this stupid breathing. That’s so easy. How could it be effective? I’m going to go out and suffer. I’m going to pay big bucks for enlightenment. I’m going to find a guru. Hell, I’m going to find an alien guru and pay big bucks to learn.” So people stop breathing, because it hurts to light up.

You’re learning … you’re doing, I should say. You’re experiencing. You take that deep breath and realize it doesn’t have to be difficult. It really doesn’t. And you don’t have to process your way out of wherever you were, wherever you are. You don’t have to process your way out. Amazing. Brilliant." (feckin' brilliant)

 

Adamus
The [NEXT] Series

SHOUD 11: "Spiral Experience"

June 4, 2011

You don't need one to breathe...or do you? :-)

 

A Late Quartet Trailer

 Christopher Walken has some very interesting lines in the beginning as he talks about Beethoven's  "A Late Quartet", which the film and story depict, as do many people's lives off screen as well. I loved this film...might see it a second time at the theater, or at home with Netflix.

Branching out into Shiny Zafus! Yay!

Just added these three Zafus to my etsy repertoire!

Shiny Avocado Green Print In a Home Decor Fabric!

Another Mandala Zafu - (again with the Shiny Fabric!)

Pastel Watercolor Print in a Home Decor Canvas Fabric

Mindfulness Meditation in Sarasota

"Mindfulness means paying attention 
in a particular way:
on purpose,
in the present moment,
and non-judgmentally."
~Jon Kabat-Zinn

 

Yesterday I had a bit of a frazzling experience while receiving massage from a friend. Halfway through the session as a result of some of the things we were chatting about she started loudly "addressing" some personal gripes she had with some things I do. I had on other occasions corrected her misperceptions of those subjects, and it became very apparent that she is still clinging to her initial interpretation. She excused what she was (un)consciously doing by saying she wasn't "awake yet" so she wouldn't experience the immediate ramifications of what she was doing. She lost track of what she was doing massage-wise, and consequently my front upper body received 3 vigorous massages in a two hour period. I allowed this to continue for that length of time to (hopefully) enable her to get it out of her system, but then it was time for me to go home and get ready for my first visit to Sarasota Mindfulness Institute for their 6:00 - 7:15 Group Meditation. I received great benefit from being in this quiet, supportive atmosphere and environment. I will have to address the situation with my friend one way or another next time we get together, but I want to do this in a mindful, diplomatic way. One of the women in the meditation group said that in a previous meditation someone had said that they realized that "not all their thoughts were true". So true! Another quote I have seen that i love is "You don't have to believe everything you think."

Cotton Linen Buckwheat filled Zafu

No Ordinary Life, This.

It's not for everyone, but I love Osho and his teachings speak to me...such as the following two.

"To be alone is really the greatest miracle. That means now you don't belong to any church, you don't belong to any organization, you don't belong to any theology, you don't belong to any ideology - socialist, communist, fascist, hindu, christian, jain, buddhist - you don't belong, you simply are. And you have learnt how to love your indefinable, ineffable reality. You have come to know how to be with yourself.

Your needs for the other have disappeared. You don't have any loopholes, you don't have any holes, you are not missing anything, you don't have any flaws - you are simply happy by being yourself. You don't need anything, your bliss is unconditional. Yes, it is the greatest miracle in the world." ~osho

"Everyone is blessed by the divine. A few know it; many more remain oblivious of the fact, hence there is so much misery. Misery is fictitious, it is not real. It is only there because we have not known our blessedness. It is the absence of our knowing that we are already blessed that makes us miserable, and then we try to find bliss, joy. But you cannot find it because it is already there. The very effort to find it is utterly absurd; it is bound to fail.

One has simply to relax, be still and know that one is blessed. It is not a question of achieving. The moment you know your blessedness, all misery evaporates, as if it has never existed at all.

My effort here is to make you aware of what you are; it is not a question of achieving anything. You are holy, you are divine, you are blessed; it is just that you are fast asleep. You have to be awakened so that you can know your own treasure - the kingdom of God within."  osho

The Greatest Scam (almost) on Earth

This entire year I have been giving some time to thinking about money, and "what is money?" Here is one retired banker's version of what is going on with money. It's one aspect of money, and I'm very sure this affects all of us. Banking itself isn't evil...fractional reserve banking is a problem. We really need to put a spotlight on the Federal Reserve. They are a privately owned corporation and not a part of government per se. Except they literally have government by the b--lls. Personally, I like to think that money is a tool for me to use in my daily life to take responsibility for myself, and to be a helpful person to others.

Banking - the Greatest Scam on Earth:

Chasing Ice OFFICIAL TRAILER

I scored a free ticket through one of my Meetups groups to see this movie tomorrow...

"You've never seen images like this before: it deserves to be seen and felt on the big screen." - Robert Redford

For more information see:

- The Chasing Ice Ticketing Team
tickets@chasingice.com

December 21, 2012...Entering the Golden Age, Finally!

Imagine you are standing in a windowless room, and it is dark. You feel fear. You realize you always have, but for some inexplicable reason you now know it is fear. Now, you also see that there is a window with a sortof covering on it. Enough light is coming in for you to see there is an overhead light with a pull string. Over your head, in fact. Is it now time for you to pull the light string, or are you still going to continue to wait for a "messiah figure" to come and do it for you?

 2012 Crossing Over: into the Golden Age documentary...



We have found the Messiah, and it is in us'n! Every minute of every day we choose to live by fear or Love. Which will it be?

Arthur Schopenhauer quote

via facebook: Beverly Gowers Brown

~Arthur Schopenhauer
"To the man who studies to gain a thorough insight into science, books and study are merely the steps of the ladder by which he climbs to the summit; as soon as a step has been advanced he leaves it behind.  The majority of mankind, however, who study to fill their memory with facts do not use the steps of the ladder to mount upward, but take them off and lay them on their shoulders in order that they may take them along, delighting in the weight of the burden they are carrying.  They ever remain below because they carry what should carry them."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

~Sarah: 
"For years, I was so convinced that education and higher education were "the answer".  In retrospect, I don't know the answer to what specifically - human suffering maybe, or the innate desire for unconditional Love. Formal education is OK for this human life. But, it won't get you into "Heaven". Forgiveness is the key to Love. Love is the key to Heaven. Not forgiveness of specific things that have happened in time and space...but the "big Forgiveness of the alledged Separation from God". That one.  We collectively made a miss-Take. We individually correct that miss-take by remembering that we are but dreaming of separation from God. Simple...but not an easy practice. Why? Because we are so steeped in the "reality" of our own ideas of our self/ves and others. Question everything."

Connecting Threads, Freebies and Zafus

In the last few weeks I cut a lot of zafu covers, and am in the process of sewing some every day. As sewing goes it's pretty simple. I am using a lot of thread though, and it was time to buy more. My source usually is Connecting Threads online, and as luck would have it they are having a sale on the kind of thread I use. Usually, I buy the cones but since the smaller spools were on sale I pulled out my calculator and did the math. This time it paid me to buy the smaller spools x 3, which added up to over the $50.00 total for free shipping. Hopefully, my thread supply will hold out till the new shipment arrives during this busy Christmas season mail. I signed up for their weekly email, checked out their blog and saw a post about a making a clutch - something I have yearned to do but never realized there might be kits out there to help me get over the "it's too complicated" hump. And last but not least, I would definitely recommend that you take good look at their freebies section. And, tell your sewing friends!

Without further ado, here are pix of a few zafus that came into existence recently. Oh, shoot! The photos I was planning to use are stored on my laptop. My laptop and my computer aren't on speaking terms yet. Until I remedy that or sign out here and get online via the laptop here is the etsy store link for all my zafus. My favorite is the Cinnamon and Sage Mandala Zafu (made using pie-shaped wedges cut from reclaimed dust ruffles). I also love the Floral Cotton/Linen Zafu (vintage fabric), and the Mustard Yellow zafu (made from a Ralph Lauren duvet). A popular seller has also been Pillow Ticking Zafu, so I felt happy when I lucked out at the thrift store with two large pieces of ticking fabric! And, here's one for the guys made from a reclaimed army blanket.

Present Day Violence

I grew up in a closed religious group, in a small community. In my twenties I became aware of one thing consistently...the tension that grew in the community from "rubbing shoulders" on a daily basis within that close proximity. The tension grew until one day there was a tragedy...such as a terrible accident of some kind whereby some of "our people" were hurt or died. Then, hearts opened up with compassion, and the community reknitted it's relationships. On the surface everybody became sweet and kind. Everything was all "hunkydory" (meaning everything was not OK) for awhile...and then this whole thing repeated itself. Tension building and exploding through one person or an event, and then the coming together again. I used to think this happened only in our little community...until my parameters for seeing better in another radius widened I began to see it happening in the bigger communities as well. Towns and cities are communities. Nations are communities. The planet is a community. The galaxy is a community. Peace begins in the hearts of each one of us. As long as there even one individual left that has not found inner peace then someone is "left behind". It looks like Peace on Earth is quite a distance off yet. The world can't end yet...we haven't finished the Work of Healing yet here. We can't "graduate in the grand scheme of things" until we do heal our World - the outer world reflects the inner world.

Inner Scavenger did it Again!

Once again my inner scavenger lucked out! On Monday I found a lovely 88" x 100" quilt on a neighbor's trash. I also found 3 ceramic soup bowls, and a copper bottom saucepan. The pot is the in-between, Goldilocks size I was wanting. It doesn't have the lid but I'm sure i can find a replacement lid at World's Attic Thrift Store. But, back to the quilt...I washed & dried it right away. Took some time to visualize what it might become. Then...it hit me. I had not yet combined two of my loves....quilts and zafu meditation cushions. Not anymore! I was able to cut 11 zafu cushion covers from that one quilt.

Shabby Chic Zafu Meditation Cushion - from a Repurposed Found Quilt

Fear: Bluff of the Mind ~ Mooji

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGrvPClgh8I&feature=related

Mooji

Can the Self have a Normal Life?

Thanksgiving Day 2012

Yesterday, I had the privilege of eating with two dear friends at a local Chinese Buffet, where they serve turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving Day. No fuss before hand and no cleanup afterward....suits me just fine at this time in my life.  One of the women is a friend of about two years, and the other is a new friend.  We lingered long over the meal, before heading over to Siesta Beach to walk off the dinner. On the way home someone said the word "movie" and off we went to see "Hope Springs"! I love both Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones dearly, but I have to admit this movie put me to sleep.

Anyway, I have in front of me a momento from yesterday in the form of a  fortune cookie message that reads: "Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Beautiful reminder of what really matters.

In the Pink

"Deva's Bouquet" - a gift from friends

Close-up of "Louis Philippe Rose"

Spotted on "The Road less Traveled"

Shabby Earthly Treasures

Found @ Curbside, Inc. ;-)

Unitarian Church Rummage Sale finds

I must be a die-hard scavenger at heart...I know many people can relate!

Grace...

"Grace is the acceptance of the love of God within a world of seeming hate and fear." (WB-169:2:1)

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©2012 Foundation for Inner Peace | PO Box 598 | Mill Valley, CA | 94942-0598

Thrive Movement

Just finished watching the 2 hour movie about the Thrive Movement. If you sincerely desire for the world to become more heart-centered instead of even worse than it is now then take the time to watch this (free) movie. Do this for your children and their children.


Thrive Movement

Another Jacob's Ladder Quilt Top

Another Jacob's Ladder (unquilted) Quilt Top in earth tones, and a warm cinnamon border.Taking outdoor photos was tricky because it was quite breezy.  The quilt is hanging sideways. (74" x 92")

"Jacob's Ladder Quilt Top" - Double Size

"Jacob's Ladder patches" - Up Close

Most of this was done today...a few blocks were left from the previous top. I was surprised to see it became another double bed size quilt. Now I am out of these fabrics, and I'm not going to get more unless I have special requests.

Jacob's Ladder Quilt Top and Happy Flag

Moving right along here on Jacob's Ladder Quilt Top #5....

Jacob's Ladder Prototype

This is a layout to see how adding the muslin and forest green blocks looks...I like it. It's both more subdued and more sophisticated. The muslin fabric came from the circle cutouts from the backs of Dresden Plate patches...never throw fabric out! I mean, who would. It's simply unthinkable. Of course.

Fraternizing Attempt?

That's my mailbox with the happy flag...well, it's always just so good to see the mail carrier! Is there a National Mail Carrier's day by now? No. Make that International Mail Carrier's day.

KidZ Quilts; and Where Do my Quilts End Up?

My membership to our local quilt guild has lapsed quite a number of moons ago, & not because it wasn't absolutely fascinating to attend. It was! It's just that I am such a die-hard morning person. It really takes a lot to drag me out of the house in the evening part of the day when every part of body and soul are begging to be laid to rest for the night on my very own sweet bed. But, when I was a member in good standing I enjoyed "Show and Tell" most of all the activities. The guild participated in making quilts for children that were hospitalized with serious illnesses. "KidZ Quilts" they called them. Like the one pictured here.

KidZ Quilt

made by Gentle Hand Quilter in 2006

Recently, I found this cute quilt by Gentle Hand Quilter Maritza of our fair city at the Goodwill I frequent - priced at less than $3.00.  I looked at it. And looked at it - not quite believing my eyes. Wow! So, we never really do know where not only our handiwork but also our charity is going to end up - do we? Anyway, it's here now and I am going to get it to a good home.

Dhyana or Meditation

osho sez:

"The Hindi word for meditation is DHYANA; the connotation is very different. By meditation, one thing is meant in English; by DHYANA something else is meant. So first we must understand the basic difference between these two words. Meditation is not a right translation, because by meditation thinking is implied. When we say someone is meditating, it means someone is thinking about something. In meditation an object is implied. In dhyan, no-object is a basic condition. By dhyan is meant a meditative mood without any object.

Objects must cease, mind must become just a pure mirror - a mirroring, not mirroring anything - just a mirror without any object in it, a pure mirror. By dhyan, this purity of the mind is indicated.

So first, no object should be in the mind. Mind must remain alone without thinking about anything - with no thought, just a consciousness, just an awareness, just an alertness.

This alertness without any object is meditation." ~ osho

Purple Zafu Meditation Cushion

 Last one of the Purple Corduroy Zafus still available at my etsy store...

Dresden Plate Quilt Block

Dresden Plate Quilt Block  10-17-2012

Six of these blocks have been completed - 12 more to applique tomorrow.  It's been a rainy kind of day - great for mellowing out but not so much for creativity. Not me, anyway!

Forgiveness Process – Accepting Atonement (by Nouk Sanchez)

Forgiveness Process – Accepting Atonement (by Nouk Sanchez)

1. I recognize I am not at peace, so I must be wrong-minded. And I want to be at peace so I ask Spirit to help me look at my mind.

2. I remember that any sign of threat, pain, sickness, sadness or grief, anger, conflict, or scarcity is not part of God. I acknowledge this is the ‘ego’ in my mind. I remember that I must deny the ego’s appearances and focus on the Love that is Truth, beyond all appearances.

3. I invite You (Spirit) in to look at these fears and judgments with me. I will not judge myself or another while we do this. I will leave a space of total non-judgment, so as you can fill it with Love and healing.

4. As I look on it all, I say to myself with sincerity, “Even while this appears as a problem, and despite feeling fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt,  doubt or poverty – I open myself to receive healing through the miracle, in this instant.”

5. God is in everything I see, because God is in my mind. What God sees through my mind, is healed. Together, we look past ‘ego appearances’ as they represent our unconscious ‘wishes with the ego’. In looking past appearances we join with God (light) in asking to perceive what is true, beyond ego appearances (darkness)…this is forgiveness.

6. A Prayer to Spirit within:

“Spirit, I accept the miracle being Your Atonement; I accept Your divine correction of error in my mind, and I allow Your healing to flow through my mind. I accept that You can heal both the cause and effects of any problem, as they are both in my mind together. If the problem’s ‘appearance’ continues, or if there are continuing ‘symptoms’ (appearances) that cause me to doubt – then I offer these doubts to You as well, to correct in my mind. I remember that in any holy instant that I sincerely accept Atonement, it is done! To continue to be concerned after I have forgiven and accepted Atonement, is to doubt Your Love and prolong the illusion of time and suffering. Remember: Love without trust is impossible; doubt and trust cannot coexist.”

~Nouk Sanchez

New Page w. Siesta Beach Pix

New page with siesta-beach-pix-10-6-2012

Morning Sunrise

Reclaimed Linen Zafus

This week I finally got around to beginning my line of reclaimed linen fabric zafus. As follows:

Chocolate

Grape

Lavender Floral

Natural

Taupe Cotton

 The last one is not made of linen fabric but is a sturdy cotton. And now I have to go unload the dryer - more reclaimed linen!

Eye Popping Zafu in Hot Pink!

Now this is "Reese Witherspoon" pink! You know...the movie where she had "all things pink" while studying law.

Zafu Meditation Cushion Cover in Pink

Spiral Quilted on Both Sides

My Lucky made it into this photo.

Espresso Zafu and Lucky dosing

Burgundy and Teal Floral Zabuton

Lucky yawning...no, he wasn't saying Ha Ha!

Espresso Zafu and Floral Zabuton Combo

P.S.... "Legally Blond" is the title of the movie referenced above....

Geometric Laptop Bag and Sage Green Zafu

Another Laptop Tote Bag in a Geometric Tapestry print fabric...

No pockets, but it IS Lined!

Vintage Button and Loop Closure

Sage colored zafu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

x 6...in a sturdy cotton fabric

 And, another Zafu cover in a dried sage color...(Both items available in my etsy stores - widgets on the right.) 

And, that's all she wrote for today! 

NOTE: Remember to enter my September 16th, 2012 Cathedral Windows Pillows Giveaway...to find it scroll down a bit.

Cathedral Window Pillows Giveaway - Sept. 16, 2012

Giveaway is open to entrants worldwide, and the drawing will be held  September 16th, 2012 A.M. EST. The giveaway is for both pillows.

To enter:

#1. Leave a comment here. 

#2. To enter another time add the blog link for the giveaway to your facebook timeline and leave another comment here with your facebook link. 

#3. To enter again, blog about the giveaway, and leave another comment here with the blog post link. 

#4. To enter again include an item from one of my etsy stores (links below) in an etsy treasury, and leave a comment here with the treasury link.
#5. Enter again for every time you include one of my etsy items in a treasury, and add the link here in a comment. 

Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in the event you win the Giveaway.

Front View

Front and Zipper/Back View

Specs:

Cathedral Windows pattern in off-white muslin background and flame print insets. Mostly handstitched. Small pillow measures 9.25" x 9.25" square from side seam to side seam. 100% Cotton fabrics. Zipper closure along the bottom seam. Shown filled with loose poly fiberfill. Cover Only. 

Made by a Small Business in the USA. Smoke-free, cat friendly environments. Free shipping worldwide.

Care suggestion: Avoid continuous bright lighting or direct sunlight. Cover is removable, and washable by hand with warm water with mild soap. Air dry.

Valued at $18.95 each.

Cathedral Windows pillows see: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahsquiltsncrafts
Zafu Meditation Pillows see: http://www.etsy.com/shop/zafuchi
Tote Bags, etc. see: http://www.etsy.com/shop/eclecticarmadillo

Wallhangings to Pillows Makeover

Cathedral Windows Pillow in Muslin with Lime and Fuchsia Print

Originally, these pillows were wallhangings with hot pink binding - now made-over into throw pillows.

Hot Pink with Dots

Lime Green with Dots

Vintage Needlework Tulips Pillow

Batik Backing

Available at SarahsQuiltsnCrafts on etsy.com.

Jade and Cream Floral Tapestry Laptop Notebook Bag

Something I've been wanting to try making ever since I got a laptop of my own is a laptop bag or sleeve. This is the result....after making a simple, more basic version/prototype. It has an exterior zippered pocket that accomodates the power cords; it's lined - with an interior pocket. It sports a vintage button and loop closure, and over the shoulder carrying straps of cotton webbing.

 

 

Jade and Cream Tapestry Laptop Bag

Fits my Compaq Notebook and Power Cords

Matching Zipper Pouch and Credit Card Purse

Zipper Pouch fits into Interior Laptop Bag Pocket. Purse fits into the Pouch

Like Russian dolls one thing fits into the other. I am actually quite pleased with the result of my venture into laptop bag making! I hope the set will find a great owner in the very near future. Available in the laptop section of  EclecticArmadillo.etsy.com . Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post, and if you know of someone who is looking for a beautiful laptop/notebook bag please consider recommending this bag! Thank you!