Nighttime Tapestries | Magical Bedtime Story For Sleep

Hello, Jeffrey here, and welcome back to Nightfalls. I've got a quick favor to ask. If you're enjoying the show, please do share it with friends and family. Hopefully we can help ease them to a better night's sleep, and it helps the show a huge amount. Some of you already know this, but I occasionally suffer from poor sleep. I had a terrible night's sleep last night, and today feels a bit like I've got a mountain to climb. But hey, I'm going to dust myself off and climb that mountain. In fact, I've already stomped through the woods with Otto for some early morning vit D and exercise. Wonderful. I didn't give myself a hard time when I woke up in the middle of the night. Just scanned my body, took some deep breaths in and out. And hey presto, I was soon back to sleep. I hope this gorgeous story helps you to sleep well. as tonight we meet a curious young woman who's just settled into her new home. Not far from her doorstep sits a charming, slightly crooked cottage that soon captures her attention. One blustery night, her curiosity gets the better of her, and inside, she discovers a new friend and finds herself drawn into a new kind of magic. Before we begin, here's the quick ad break that keeps this free content possible. To go ad free, subscribe via the link in the show notes. All right, now back to the next one. For a lot of us, making time to take care of our mental health isn't always straightforward. For me, therapy has been part of that. And one thing I've learned is that even after you decide to ask for help, finding care that's affordable and fits into your life can still be difficult. It can sometimes feel like choosing between getting the right support and being able to afford it, which shouldn't be how mental health care works. That's one of the reasons Rula exists. 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You deserve mental health care that works with you, not against your budget. Nightfalls. Katie Louise wasn't embarrassed to admit that she loved her home very much. She lived in a pretty little house on a curved road lined with similar houses. All her neighbors had different colored doors, from Mr. Andrews at number one, bright orange, to the McDonald's who'd gone for a crisp apple green. Her door had been a pretty uninspiring gray when she'd first moved in, so on the weekend, when she'd arrived, she'd donned her overalls, pulled out her stepladder, and painted the front door a cheering red because it reminded her of perfectly ripe tomatoes. Although Katie Louise wasn't embarrassed about her love for her house, she was a little embarrassed about why she'd chosen to live there. When she'd first come for a viewing, she'd gone upstairs to the attic and noticed the forest behind her street had a thin path snaking through it. with what looked like a little house at the end. She was curious, and so, later that day, she put on her trainers and walked down the trail. All the way at the bottom, there was a small cottage. An unexpected neighbor. A rush of sweet familiarity had made her head tingle, even though she'd never seen the place before. The cottage was quite different from her house. Every angle looked slightly slanted, as if it had been built on a hill, though the ground beneath it was perfectly flat. Knowing the laws of gravity, she wasn't entirely sure how it was standing upright. The door was painted brightly, like the houses on Katie Louisa Street, but it was also stenciled with beautiful roses, and then there were real roses climbing up on either side and curling around the doorframe. It was not a normal cottage, whatever that meant, Katie thought to herself. It was like something from a storybook. She could just imagine a fairy tale set in this cottage, and the thought of that was quite delightful. She'd never seen the inhabitants, though, and couldn't imagine who would live there. Though she eyed the cottage from afar, Katie Louise felt too shy to approach the house and say hello. One thing was for sure, someone was keeping the place in an immaculate condition, but she never saw anyone going in and out. Obviously, Katie Louise wanted to meet her new neighbor, but didn't want to be too pushy. So she made a big batch of buttery shortbread and packed it all in a tin. She left it alongside a short welcome note on the doorstep, taking a big breath through her nose to enjoy the scent of the roses. Then she waited for a few days, but she didn't hear back from her new neighbor. Her life continued, and nothing was more enjoyable than coming home from a long day at work, going to the attic, and peeking out to see the beautiful little cottage just in the distance. There was certainly something a little otherworldly about the place, and she was convinced the stars shone extra bright over the chimney at night. Then, a few weeks later, a storm hit in the evening. It started quickly with copious amounts of sleet and harsh rain. Lightning flashes made her jump. The storm thrashed away, and Katie Louise began to worry about her mysterious cottage neighbor. She climbed up to the attic and looked out over the trees. All the lights had gone off. Maybe they had had a power cut. Shivering, she went outside, walking against the wind. She wasn't even sure why, but she just knew she had to. Pushing down the path, she reached the cottage and rang the bell. After a moment, a woman opened the door. She gave Katie Louise a huge smile that lit up her entire face and gestured for her to come in. The woman must have been in her sixties and had long dark hair plaited down her back. I'm Amina, she said. Katie Louise felt quite foolish as Amina looked fine. and there had clearly been no need to check on her, but Amina immediately invited her in, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Inside it was cosy. The room was candlelit with a vast, squishy sofa crowded by an array of rainbow cushions and the ceilings were all low with wonky beams. Rain battered down outside on the roof and then it faded and became a soothing tap, tap, tap. Amina didn't seem one for saying much, but after assuring Katie Louise she was well and that the backup generator was already kicking in, she went and made them both cups of hot chocolate. It was delicious, served with lashings of cream and tiny pink marshmallows. Then Amina showed Katie Louise a quilt that she was embroidering. The quilt was vast and it appeared to be only half finished. Katie Louise peered at the pattern and realized that Amina was creating a scene of the night sky with cleverly chosen materials to give the most beautiful contrasts, so the pearly stars stood out against the rich velvet pile. Katie Louise couldn't help herself. She reached out and touched the embroidery, which felt all bubbly under her fingers. There was Saturn, and you could see the ring, perfectly sewn in a silky green thread. She found it amazing that anyone could create something so stunning. Then, an extraordinary feeling, she seemed to be drifting away from the little cottage in the woods. Touching the quilt made her rise into the sky until Amina and Katie Louise's houses were tiny, colourful dots. looking down she could see churning clouds from the storm and she rose above them until she was high in space the earth the globe below her a swirl of blue and green the world seemed very far away and she realized that she'd found herself lifted up up up into space itself it was marvelous us. She looked out at Saturn and saw the ring around it, and she realized she could reach out and touch it, like she was in a dream world. When she reached out, she could feel the fabric sewn by Amina. She didn't actively feel like she wanted to leave, but as soon as the thought occurred to her, she felt herself drifting back, and there she was, sitting in the cosy living room again. Amina was there looking at her expectantly What was that Katie Louise said and she looked at Amina quilt with interest It was exactly how she'd remembered it, with the ring of Saturn glowing away at her. The rain fell outside, pitter pattering away at the window and making Katie Louise feel so cozy, she could just about drift off again. if she had in fact even been asleep. She felt so comfortable. Then she was suddenly embarrassed that she'd possibly fallen asleep at Amina's house. But Amina gave her a warm and gentle smile, and then took her cup and topped it up with more creamy hot chocolate. Katie Louise thanked her. I was in space, she said. It was magical. And Amina held up the quilt. It will do that, she said. But how? asked Katie Louise. And Amina began her story. I've been around the world, she said. Her voice was very low and soft. My mother taught me to quilt, but really, I don't even remember learning very clearly. It's always been part of my life, and the memory of it lives in my fingers. I need to pick up the needle wherever I am. I've travelled for many years, and everywhere I go, I always collect threads. I look for the most unusual ones I can find, vivid colours, all subtle but unusual tones. I love the chase of finding the perfect thread. I collect fabric too, I've been everywhere from the souks of Marrakesh to the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. I have silks from Jaipur and wool from the highlands. I collect it all, and I sew. From the beginning I was drawn to quilts, and my skills quickly improved. I made more and more quilts. I embroidered tales and fables and dramatic scenes. I sold my quilts worldwide for many years, and the wealthiest people, the kings of the world, wanted them. For many, many years I kept traveling. Word of mouth ended up being brilliant for my business. people saw my quilts in the most luxurious of settings they hung in palaces sat on beds in mansions customers began to contact me they sent me ideas they had memories they wanted to preserve in the form of a quilt and their favourite colours and at first I was so happy to create quilts for other people to do the thing I love and to continue travelling the world every day and see so many different countries and incredible sights. I explored, trekked through rainforests, saw the pyramids, slept out in the desert and the stars and worked harder than ever. I sewed so many different commissions. I didn't want to let anyone down, you see. As time passed, I found it more challenging to work at the speed required. I could barely keep up with the orders. I was constantly pricking my fingers, and my customers became more and more exacting. I missed the freedom of telling my own stories. I missed my own designs. My nighttime tapestries. place. So I decided to change my life. Sometimes all you need is to choose to change your life. Once the decision is made, you feel a certain freedom. I looked far and wide, everywhere around the world, for somewhere to live, somewhere to finally settle after my many, many years of travelling. It could have been anywhere, an apartment in New York or a stilt house in Asia. I had no idea what home was. All I knew was I wanted somewhere cozy and safe, where I could light a fire and sit there in silence with my needles, thread and fabric. I knew it would find me eventually. When I saw this cottage and the for-sale sign as I passed through the town, I was drawn to it. The location was ideal in this wood, and I saw the roses on the door and the vegetable patch. I knew this place was perfect for me as soon as I arrived. I realized that I'd found my home. then I practiced my craft more than ever I could barely stop I wanted to make my own quilts my night time tapestries my celestial designs and you've seen that the quilts can be quite powerful when I get the balance exactly right choose the right thread and stitch in a way that I can't even quite describe something quite magical happens. The quilts take you up high and you can float in space, touch the fabric, live in the sewn world I thought only existed in my imagination. Tonight, before you came, I felt someone was nearby, someone I'd like to make a quilt for, or at least teach my skills to because I've never been able to pass on what I've learned. It's all very strange. I haven't felt that in many years, the desire to sew a quilt for someone else. But I thought when I moved to this house that there was someone out there, nearby, who needed a quilt. Amina finished speaking. Katie Louise felt the fabric between her fingers, but didn't think she needed the quilt. This feels like it belongs here, she said. Not that I don't want it. It's very kind of you to offer, but I think it belongs in the house. But your offer, well, will you teach me how to quilt? she asked. and Amina nodded. Of course I will. Katie Louise didn't know how to sew but Amina showed her a few stitches as they sat together on the squishy sofa. Amina was a good teacher calm and patient. She taught a running stitch which was the easiest. Then she demonstrated a backstitch, which she explained was suitable for appliquing. That was how she'd created a lush Milky Way, by appliquing silk over velvet. Katie Louise didn't understand why she had never attempted this hobby. Sewing was so satisfying with her fingers gliding across the quilt, almost like they had a mind of their own. She felt herself becoming extremely relaxed and she stopped feeling where her body touched the sofa. It was like she was rising as she touched the quilt and then she found she was up again in the sky. She reached out for a star. It was glinting, and as soon as she moved towards it, she saw it was made of a rich brocade fabric with sequins all over. When she touched it, she could feel how smooth it was. The star gleamed and then soared. A shooting star. Katie Louise realised she had a needle in her hand and she felt compelled to unpick the sequins gathering them up in her hands and putting each one in her pocket carefully, like they were precious gifts It was just like the first time but this time she felt herself floating down and away Katie Louise woke up in her bed and in her own house, and the memory of drifting up high was vivid. There were sequins all around her. She mulled over what had happened. The magic that existed at the cottage in the woods was far beyond what she could ever have imagined. She got up and stretched, pushing her hands high above her head and letting her whole body extend upwards as she took a few deep breaths. Then she bent down low to stretch her back and then she found that she could bend deeper than she'd ever been able to before, which felt quite remarkable. There was a residual weightlessness about her entire body, and she couldn't believe how relaxed she felt. It was hard to remember a time when she'd ever felt as relaxed, like her mind was filled with nothing at all, just a sense of immense peace. she wanted to preserve it but a sense of anticipation was also tingling away she wanted to see Amina she wanted to see the quilt again and learn more about her new friend that day the sun was shining and Katie Louise looked to the clock and saw it was pretty early the storm seemed like a distant memory The sky was entirely clear, and it was the weekend. The whole day stretched ahead in front of her, with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Katie Louise got up and dressed, and she headed straight to Amina's cottage. The storm hadn't done too much damage, and the woods seemed to have appreciated the heavy rain. They were full of lush green plants, fresh with life. In the bright sunshine the roses at the door seemed to have grown and flowered. She was sure they hadn been so lush the day before She knocked on the door again and it felt so different that morning It was still cozy but Katie Louise found it open and inviting The door was open, and the windows were open. Fresh white sheets were hung up on the laundry line in the cottage garden, and they billowed slightly in the wind. Taking a deep breath, she could smell all the herbs from the beds, rich aromas from mint and lavender. Suddenly, though, she felt quite silly to have come. Amina had been polite the night before, letting her in and showing her the quilts. But perhaps Amina didn't actually want to show her how to quilt, and it was probably too soon to go round and see her. Katie Louise suspected she was being far too keen and she hadn't even bought a gift or anything. In her rush to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine, she found herself empty-handed. She suddenly felt that lovely weightless feeling start to leave her body. crowded by the panicky sense that she'd misjudged the whole thing. But then Amina was there looking fresh as a daisy her hair all swept up in a scarf on her head. Just like the night before Amina didn't seem surprised to see Katie Louise. Instead of inviting her in she led Katie Louise around the side of the house without saying a word. There were two oversized wooden chairs, aged and weathered, made of what looked like dark teak. The chairs faced the trees and light shone through the dense branches, dappling the chairs and dancing on the wood. Between the chairs was a giant jug of what looked like iced tea with two glasses set out. Katie Louise realized that she didn't need to be scared or worried about what Amina thought of her. Amina was waiting for her. I'm glad you came back, Amina said, taking both of Katie Louise's hands in hers and pressing them together. Then they sat, and throughout the summer morning Amina showed Katie Louise some more stitching techniques. In the bright daylight there was no floating up into the sky, but Katie Louise marveled at the beauty of the materials. She spent all morning practicing, and there was no need to talk or discuss anything at all. Instead, the two women fell into a peaceful silence. Whenever Katie Louise felt a question or comment rise up, she realized that she would prefer not to say a word. Sometimes Amina looked at her knowingly, as if she understood precisely what Katie Louise was thinking. Over the next few weeks, Katie Louise often visited Amina's house. She found that if she went up to her attic and saw the stars shining extra bright over the chimney at night, it was a sign that Amina might need some company. And slowly but surely, Katie Louise began working on her own quilt. She did not choose a night scene because a nighttime tapestry was Mina's domain. She felt instinctively drawn to water, selecting a gauzy fabric layered over silk to create the movement of a stream, stitched with intricate white details to show the rising waves. It took many weeks and months before Katie Louise had finished her first quilt. She found that if she went outside and looked at Amina's cottage, pressed her fingers against the fabric, she was there, swimming in her quilt, the water ever so cool against her skin. and when she dove down in the sown stream she found she was able to breathe underwater effortlessly. Amina was very proud of her that she'd learned so quickly and she said but you still want to come back here and see me in my quilt? Katie Louise sensed a slight hopefulness in her words a little fear. Amina was worried that once she'd passed on her skills, there would be no need for Katie Louise to return. But that was not the case at all. Katie Louise shook her head because nothing could replace the velvety, celestial scenes that Amina created, and Katie Louise wasn't jealous that she could practice for all of time and never be as talented as her friend. Instead, she was proud to know someone like Amina, admiring of her beautiful threads, her immense skill. So a few times a week, Katie Louise would go to Amina's cottage, walking down in the moonlight, further away from reality and towards the fairy tale setting of Amina's cottage, where sometimes the roses on the door were in full bloom, and sometimes they were growing buds. Each time she went, Amina would smile and wordlessly she would let her in. She would always provide her signature mug of the creamiest hot chocolate imaginable, and then they would work on some new patches, or look at the quilt. Sometimes there were soft stories to share, and small updates as the two talked about their days. Sometimes they would sit without speaking. If Katie Louise reached out to touch the fabric, she would feel herself rise into the air, higher and higher, and she never felt an ounce of fear, because she was in the nighttime tapestries, floating and observing the planets, sometimes reaching out to touch their knitted surfaces, and sometimes simply watching and looking down at the earth, wondering if anyone else out there had the power to rise and see the world, feel everything so silky and soft, stitched just for the pleasure. She thought that probably not, and it was quite possibly her and Amina's secret. Then she would slip away and float down back into her bed, feeling her body slowly melt into the sheaths. We'll leave our story there for tonight. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Those quilts sound extraordinary. Sleep well and sweet dreams. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you After the day Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.