The Fab…Life!

Mother's Purple Flowers 2

Another  one of my 2009 journal quilts .   This year I challenge myself to use strip piecing with the  theme (Memories of Nature).  It is the first time I have tried the journal quilting project.  I must say I really enjoyed the process even more than I had thought I would.  I committed myself  to one 8 1/2″ x 11″ quilt per month.  There were times when I got involved and would do two for one month.  The only rule was that I would not throw a quilt  into the waste bin if I didn’t like it.  A was pleased with the results of most all of them.   This little quilt is an intrepretation of remembering the lovely Iries in my mother’s garden when I was growing up.   With 2010 approaching fast means I am starting to think about next years challenge.  I think I will continue  with this size which was nice to work with.   I have been making a list of possible themes for next year.  This piece is also listed in my Etsy shop  http://rainstudio.etsy.com  along with  a couple of other journal  pieces.  I have decided this much for next year’s project.  It has to have lots of surface design.   And I would like to include  some inspirational words or poetry.   Thats’ a start!  Its’ still pretty broad I know.  I’ll need to narrow my playing field a little more.  Just for myself!  Of course nothing written in stone as yet.  A theme…a theme…!   Exhale…

The Holiday season is here and I have a lot to be thankful for.  Some made it through another year and some did not.  I do pray for peace the world over and hope remains in my heart.  While the rush for the perfect gift begins, I’ve been reminding myself to stay within my budget.  So many have lost jobs and are barely getting by or not getting by at all.  When I received my copy of ‘Our Daily Bread” for December and read the first page titled ‘the Best of Gifts’.  I thought these are the  things I sometimes take for granted.   The Best of Gifts won’t cost me any money just my sincerely effort to connect with  family,  friends and those who are alone.   

* The gift of listening

* The gift of affection

* The gift of laughter

* The gift of a written note

* The gift of  a compliment

And I will be sharing with others how God’s love has sustained me in times like these.

 Peace

Ok, I have not been up to power lately on this blog thing.  I have been hard at work though!  Lots of things to get done before christmas.  A few shows to participate in. Gifts for family.  You know the routine.  Christmas is the busiest time of the year.   I second that.  Its not that there isn’t a lot to blog about .   I made a list of things that will go into eternity.   I’m not going to stick around that long!  Hopefully my daughter will pick up where I leave off since the list will be hers by then.  Don’t get me wrong I’m not rushing out of here.  Just planning you could say!    I am a very busy person as I’m sure others are too.  So I figure a pic and/or a line or two is not that bad.  I’m trying, so we’ll see how it goes.  This is one of my journal quilts – my dream garden quilt.  It was so much fun to create these small pieces.  My first journal quilt project.  I’ll post pics of  all my 2009 journal quilts and a summary of my experience  sometime  early next year.  Exhale…