Hi friends! How are you today? I'm back to blogging regularly after taking August off and I'm glad to be back because I love connecting with all of you as we share inspiring things that fuel us. It really keeps me going and that is why I blog, it's an affordable therapist. :) Whether it's pretty homewares, inspiring colors or how we feel about our life and career - it's so wonderful to have you to connect to daily via decor8 and I'm happy to be back despite how I'm still trying to navigate a few things in my personal life - but who isn't?

I definitely learned during my month off that my blog FUELS my creative spirit. When I'm not writing regularly, I go inward a bit and over-think things. Analysis paralysis is a term I often refer to when I'm lecturing or teaching a class because it's exactly what happens to me when I think too much. I think myself almost into a hole or a corner and become paralyzed.

Writing gets me back out again and for me, is such a huge creative release and exercise - it's like working out - when you stop doing regular exercise you feel a huge dip in your overall feeling of well being. Same for me and my personal creativity - primarily tapped into through writing and photography. I never realized until I took a month away from blogging just how vital is was for my well being and how healing to my soul.

No matter what I go through in my personal life, blogging about design, creative things, art, our community, blog topics, crafts, travel... All of this sharing and processing of ideas helps me to concentrate on positive things that make me happy. This act of giving and receiving makes a difference in my life. In fact, taking a month off made me realize all of this - I have been thinking all weekend about why August was a hard month for me and it really came down to that - blogging is more than just posting "pretty things" or tossing up some pictures with a few sentences. It is my version of painting - and it digs me out of holes and keeps me feeling energized and refreshed.

Now, onto the subject of inspiring objects and beautiful things because when I did research on these quilts today I actually began to feel better because the research gave me the feeling like I had traveled - and now I know more about these quilts and want to share them with you if you're not too familiar with these beauties.

First, they originate from India and Bangladesh. I like them because they're reversible and lightweight but more than that, these cotton quilts are usually quite colorful with gorgeous patterns and patches. They are constructed by hand by sewing layers of cloth and often vintage saris together and then stitched using a traditional, delicate "Kantha" stitch. They have become more and more popular over the past several years in western interiors and you can find them online in these shops listed below in case you fancy owning one (or ten).

I want to own several and stack them on top of my white wooden cabinet in my sitting room - then they are available for warmth when snuggling on the sofa at night and by day, add color to the room and a jolt of personality.

Sources for Kantha quilts, both new and vintage, online include:

The Family Love Tree Connected Goods Fossik Rajasthan Royals Niki Jones

Are you a fan of Kantha quilts from India, too? Now I really want to go to India! :)

(images: from shops above.)