Who was Saint Patrick?

Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is well known for all sort of stories like the belief that he rid Ireland of all snakes.  Totally untrue and merely a result of many years of folklore and handed down stories that were often exaggerated. For your information Ireland never had snakes but it is thought that the meaning came from the fact that St Patrick was to eradicate all pagan beliefs!

It is known that St. Patrick was born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century.   At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. They transported him to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity.  Lonely and afraid, he turned to his religion for solace, becoming a devout Christian. (It is also believed that Patrick first began to dream of converting the Irish people to Christianity during his captivity.)

After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped. According to his writing, a voice which he believed to be God's, spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland.

To do so, Patrick walked nearly 200 miles from County Mayo, where it is believed he was held, to the Irish coast. After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation; an angel in a dream telling him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish.

His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.

So, are you feeling Irish?  Why not find out how Irish by completing the Irish quiz at this link?

Meanwhile I thought I would search through Etsy to find some Irish related items that had been created by the Boomers and Beyond Street Team (BBEST for short!).  Here goes…….

Irish Eyes Earrings

by

J Stinson

 

 

4 Knit Shamrock Mugrugs

by

Blazing Needles

 

Dichroic Shamrocks Brooch

by

Designs by Christine

 

 

Neighborhood Girl - Original Watercolor ACEO

by

Six Sisters

 

 

St. Pats Day Can Cozies

by

Bags and More by Pam

 

Why not take a scroll over to Etsy and search for more wonderful items from the BBEST team?  Follow the BBEST link or just type in BBEST when you do a search and see what comes up!  I think you may be amazed by the talent in this team, but then I am biased!!!

May the roads rise to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
A GAELIC BLESSING

 

Happy St Patrick’s Day to you!

PQ

Spring is in the air!

An Etsy team called Boomers and Beyond or BBEST for short, are having a new swap challenge this month is to create an ACEO with the theme entitled….. Spring! 

I love sitting back to see what comes out of the woodwork.  Truly inspirational pieces are being created in all manner of mediums.  The excitement is always that each person who contributed is given a name of their swapee but they do not know who will be sending them an ACEO.  To remind readers, an ACEO has only one rule.  That is, it has to measure 3.5” x 2.5”.  It can be created in any medium.  You will note there are glass based ones, fabric, painted ones.  The list is endless.

What did I create?  Well, under the name of Precious Quilts I decided to create an ACEO depicting Spring in the form of the sun shining down on some pretty flowers made with cute little buttons I had in my stash.  For the centres of the flowers I added some seed beads to enhance the image.

Oh yes!  I love butterflies and have one in my avatar  on Etsy so, of course, I had to include a pretty pink one to complete my picture composition!

Now, I urge you to follow this link to see the other ACEOs offered for the March BBEST swap.

Hard to choose my favourite and even harder is the waiting and wondering which ACEO I will be lucky enough to receive!

Some wonderful quilt items

It's snowing outside, cold and wet so what better time to go internet browsing!  I decided to see what I could find in a team I belong to called Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team or BBEST for short!

Since we are experiencing above average snow fall for UK I thought I would turn my thoughts to finding quilted items whether they are useful or just really attractive and pretty.

 

Circles 'n Squares Small Textile Art

Liz Plummer, who hails from the UK,  describes this quilt as a small quilted wallhanging which  is a colourful, playful one which would look great in a child's room or to brighten up a gloomy room. Particularly if you like sweets/candy!

 

Another form using quilting is from Libertybelle's shop

 

Flower Fairy Fabric Postcard

This pretty fabric postcard is made with flower fairy fabric and has been embellished with cute little pink heart buttons. It is finished with lace and hand embroidery.

I don't know about the title of this one except winter flurries might be more appropriate!

 

 

Art Quilt Autumn Flurries

by Artmixter who explains that this hand dyed cloth is raw edge applique'd onto a rich blue velvet base, sprinkled with sequin leaves that spiral in the painted and stitched spiral of the wind, with a golden flower in the centre.

No amount of chat etc would allow this team to focus away from one important influence.......

.... that of chocolate!!

Karen Quilted and Beaded Bag in Chocolate and Blue

Chocolate brown and blue 100 percent cotton fabrics, long brown and pink beading, and silver metal accents make the Karen bag one you will grab often thanks to Kimbuktu

 

Since you now have the chocolate, how about a nice warm cup of tea?  The tea would have been kept warm by placing the teapot in this cute tea cozy by Nonnie60.

 

Quilted Mini Tea Cozy - Country/Folk Art Design

This mini-tea cozy was designed and sewn by Nonnie using a quilted cotton fabric in a country or folk art design. It was designed specifically for the nesting 2C pot and cup, which when assembled stand approximately 6" high. It also accommodates any 1C mini-pot. as shown in the main photo. It can also rest on top of a large mug to keep coffee or tea from cooling off too quickly.

Tempted yet?  Why not browse some more?  You will be amazed at the talent in this group!!!