May 26, 2016

Giving to Others as a Creative Gift



To be creative means to be in love with life.
You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty,
you want to bring a little more music to it,
a little more poetry to it,
a little more dance to it.
~Osho

Osho (1931-1990) was born Rajneesh Chandra Mohan in Kuchwara, a town in central India. At the end of his life, he changed his name to Osho. He was a mystic, a guru, a spiritual teacher, and a poet. And he was truly in love with life, creative, and had the music, the poetry, and the dance within him.

In love with life, indeed! No matter what my physical, mental, or emotional challenges, I truly do try my best with what I have, and with where I am at.


Today, I have three quilts in progress..not these shown above.... these are in honor of Memorial Day weekend and were donated to a patriotic quilting group. But three in progress in my sewing loft nevertheless..to be donated to Alexia's Cozy Covers in gratitude for being given quilt batting for my charitable quilting projects from the proceeds of our fabulous fabric garage sale a few weeks ago. We all feel so truly blessed that so many came and so many bought fabric so we could then purchase batting and fleece for additional projects in progress!

Most people do not realize that I quilt for others almost nonstop but as much as possible from recycled, reused, thrifted, or donated supplies. It is the only way I can do as much as I do and still be able to give to others, in other ways. My charitable quilts are simple, they are not necessarily works of art but always works of heart.


 The wonderful quilters and blanket makers at Alexia's Cozy Covers all create from their hearts as well..no matter what level of ability each of us has,  or how we may view creativity in our lives.

Creativity means sharing our gifts with others and learning and growing in the process. Creativity is from the heart and the passion of communion with one's gifts at whatever place we need to be in for our own growth.



To create is to manifest energies that broaden and enrich our own creative journey. These lovely ladies and gentlemen shown in this group, give and give from their hearts. And that is the essence and that is the gift.L It does not matter how complicated or how simple the gift, it is the goodness that is carried in the giving that creates the spiritual alchemy of change. Change within ourselves and change within others as they either accept or judgmentally reject the gifts we offer. To me, these are all beautiful as are even the simplest things that I, myself create. I love each and every single one. I know a quilt is a good one if I feel love making it and love giving it away..especially, if I wish I could keep it ;-) and I give it anyway!!!




And today..I am giving in other ways!!!

Today is for playing with my grandson who will arrive soon! Giving my youngest daughter a much needed break. And gifting myself with a lovely chance to play and connect with one of my two beloved grandbabies.

Tomorrow is for shopping for groceries so we can have a picnic sometime during our outing when we will have a family caravan of cars, baby carseats, flowers, and a packed picnic lunch as we all drive off on our our family day of visiting cemeteries in three areas in Oregon. Oh how I wish I could also spend time visiting the resting sites of my Alaskan family in Juneau-Douglas area of Alaska. But I carry their hearts in my heart and they are never more than a thought and a heartbeat from mine.  A time to remember our loved ones on Memorial Weekend. Some fallen during battle, some left this earthly place too soon, but most leaving when they were meant to after having long lives and much love given and received.

With Heart and Hands: Free Patriotic Quilt Patterns


Memories and memorials and the making of new memories immortalized through time. Giving and sharing love..it's truly all that matters on our journeys..quilted or not!


Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.

3 comments:

stitchinpenny said...

I love your giving spirit. I create on a much smaller scale and many fewer are donated, but most are gifted. Babies and comfort quilts or friends and family. You are an inspiration to everyone you touch.

jenclair said...

You are so creative--physically and emotionally! A gift to yourself, but a gift two the grandbabies, too.

pollyanna said...

Such a blessing to the community and to yourself. I appreciate you, my friend.