Rules for Living

I’ve been feeling creative lately. It’s kind of strange because I’ve been trying crafty things that I’ve never attempted before. Earlier this week I tried my hand at a torn paper collage. It was fun, and when it’s finished I’ll unveil it.

My latest foray is into embroidery. Wait. . .let me backtrack.

When we were at the Toledo Botanical Gardens last weekend for the Accessible Expressions art show we wandered across the street to the TBG Gift Shop. It was full of wonderful, creative, very expressive art. One of the things that caught my eye was a set of five pewter buttons. Each one contained a rule for living.

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

I LOVE those! I bought the set of buttons and then started brainstorming ways to showcase them.

Here’s my idea.



I found some interesting, vintage-ish fabric. Then I decided that it would be fun to embroider some kind of “sign of life” image on each panel before sewing the button in place. I settled on dragonflies and butterflies.

I had no idea how to embroider until I found this incredible website!

About six hours later I had these. . .







. . .and I think they are pretty darn cool! If I could, I'd add one more rule to the list.

6. Do something creative every day. It's good for your soul.