A New Chapter in Quilting for Me

 I have been 'wishing' that I had time to devote to my quilting. I got a message one morning: "Quit 'wishing' and Start 'Doing'. I did.  

A friend connected me with a Facebook Group: 'America Patchwork & Quilting's UFO Challenge'.  I was provided with a sheet with a place for a UFO (UnFinished Object) for each month of the year. At the beginning of each month the Group will give me a number from 1-12. The Challenge is to finish the UFO listed for that number in a month. 

The January number was '12'. I finished it. 'Asian Sunflower' a Shisobi Tie Die fabric with embellishments. I tie-dyed muslin at a class at the Emergent Arts in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 

Coming Out of Retirement

Okay, my friends are right. I have failed at 'Retirement'. I am working harder than I ever did in the 'Real' world. The 8am-5pm five days a week world was a piece of cake. 

My Heritage Quilt
Double Wedding Ring
Hand-pieced/Hand-quilted

When I retired in 2005, I had a bucket-list of things I wanted to do that I didn't have time to do when I 'worked'. The problem is that there are too many things on the list. In order to get them done I have to change my mind set. Therefore, I am no longer retired. I am working as always, but my hours vary from day to day. However, I am working not retiring. My work is different. I volunteer at the library, quilt, paint, sell stuff on Etsy, blog, and read. The only way I can get it all done is to work at it.

Garvan Woodland Gardens
Hot Springs, Arkansas

We even take vacations from retirement. 
Sometimes it's a day-trip. 

Crystal Bridge Museum of American Art
Bentonville, Arkansas

Sometimes it's a longer trip to visit family or enjoy each others company.  














I already feel better. I spent today checking things off my list and still had time to read, watch a little (very little) TV, exercise, and nap.

Double Wedding Quilt Project - Done

In 1990 I had an idea for a quilt and wall hanging for my king-sized bed.  The problem: I did not know how to quilt.  Solution: take a quilting class.  


I started with a pin cushion, progressed to a wall hanging, and then to a sampler quilt.  I was 'Hooked on Quilting'.  Then, I took the quilt class to end all quilt classes...a Double Wedding Ring Quilt.  Of course, mine could not have been a simple double wedding ring quilt.  No...I went for a queen sized quilt with three different colors and a white center.

All documented in this book

Fabric selection documentation

Here you go! 
22 years later...Not only for the quilt, but for the quilter...

2001

20 Year Anniversary
2010

Now, 22 years later...

Of course, I have many more ideas to embellish it.  

I have decided to declare it 'finished'.  Now on to the future.  

Finally, A Room of My Own!

Chuck was lucky
...his room ... 
at times called a
'man cave'...
was move-in ready.

My Room...
("The Etsy Room")
was a bedroom with carpet.
Carpet is not great for 
crafting with glue and 
acrylic paint. I had to wait for a laminate floor and some kind of shelving to be installed. I thought of building some new shelving, but what would I do with all of my cabinets, chests, and tables??? Decision: Keep them and go with the eclectic look.  It's my style after all! 


This is the official unveiling---Ta Da! 

I am loving it. I even took time from the never ending unpacking to work on a project for myself. I have been adding to my inventory on Etsy, but nothing just for me.  I have many projects in the queue.  Some of them are for me, us, gifts, and Etsy.  I promised Chuck that I would bring only one project at a time in the house from the garage or storage.*...unless I want to quilt in the Arkansas room or the living room:)


*Note: In Little Rock I had projects in both guest rooms, the dining room, the breakfast room, the office, and the garage!

To Be or Not To Be Inspired

I don't know about you, but from time to time I go "cold" on my creativity.  As a result, I do nothing.  Then, I start to clean up/organize my craft area(s).  

The minute I start touching and looking at my inks, stamps, clip art, embellishments I get all kind of ideas.  The morale of this story...keep in touch with my "stuff". 

I can close the doors on some of my stuff.

I see a lot of suggestions/tips on how to organize your work space.  To tell you the truth, I do better if it is not organized.  

To give you a peek at how an unorganized work space looks I thought I would take a few pictures of my mess.  I confess to liking the mess and enjoy getting inspired by its messiness.  My "stuff" is spread out all of my house.  If we have company, it has to be planned.  I have to do some major picking up so they will have a place to sit and a table on which to eat.

Am I the only one that likes and gets inspired by this jumble of stuff....or do all artists have lovely studios with a lot of "cubbies" with all of their stuff organized and color coded?

Giveaway Kick-Off!

 



 I am so excited to be asked by MMS to collaborate with them in a Giveaway!  It is a first for me and I am having fun doing it.


You can win your own copy of My Memories Suite software.  It is highly rated by Amazon.com reviewers and was given a GoldStar Award by TopTen Reviews.com.


To Enter:  
1. Click on this link:  My Memories Suite.
2. Choose your favorite paper pack or layout.
3.Post a comment on my blog telling me which ones you have chosen.


You will then be entered.  How easy is that?
I will use Random.org to select the winner on Monday, October 10, 2011. Only one entry per person will be entered.


I love this digital scrapbooking software--My Memories Suite!  If you are a scrapbook-er, crafter, photographer, blogger,  you will love My Memories Suite!  Here are some of the things I am doing with the program.

 I used a stock background and added a bow and text from the software...the flower came from my own stash of digital images.

 I am using a stock photo album to make a 2011 Memory book of my own photos.  It is really easy to select the colors and types of pages you want.  I can hardly wait to get started.

I pulled this page from the "Resource Gallery"...it was one of their free ones.  I will probably make a card from it to give to my husband on Valentines' Day 2012.

I want to buy the Embracing Autumn pack next and see what inspires me.  


You can follow My Memories Suite: 
on their blog:  My Memories Blog
On Facebook:  My Memories Suite
On Twitter: My Memories Suite


Good luck in the Giveaway!

Good News! Bad News?

I know it is not yet the middle of the year, but I feel the need for an accounting of my 2011 Resolutions...well, maybe just two of them.


I finished quilting my Life Time/Heirloom Double Wedding Ring Quilt.  Resolution No. 2 for 2011-Done!  I still have to finish the Vintage Quilt Block Wall Hanging.


Now you would think I could wash the Double Wedding Ring Quilt and let it go?  ...of course not!  I had always wanted a little yellow in the quilt, but couldn't figure out where to put it.  As soon as I finished the the last stitch in the ditch, I had an inspiration.  

I am thinking of appliquéing butterflies flitting across it.  I am also, embroidering the quilting in the center of the quilt. 


 So much for checking off Resolution No. 2.  It's still on my list to complete this part of the project by the end of the year.






I also have a Blog: Tips 'n Good Stuff...Resolution No. 1
I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  I am going to start incorporating my tips with this blog and my other Blog: Eating In and Out and About. 

Tip: Threading Needles

For all purpose thread:  hold the needle over a white piece of fabric.  Look through the needle to the fabric.  Cut the thread at an angle and thread through the eye.  The eye is easier to see and thus the thread goes in easier.  


For crewel embroidery thread:  cut a piece of paper the width of the eye of the needle.  Fold in half and place thread inside fold.  Slip fold into eye and pull through.  Easy, easy, easy as pie!

For bulky yarns:
Use Dental Floss Threaders

For quilting: thread several needles at a time on the spool.  Then, you don't have to stop each time and thread. 
It takes a few minutes, but worth it.

Vintage Notions, a peek at the past!

Vintage Notions: 
An Inspirational Guide
to Needlework, Cooking,
Sewing, Fashion and Fun

by Amy Barickman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just found this wonderful book at the library. I have read through it and determined it is a must have for my library. It is an excellent reference book on everything vintage from the 1920's. It has patterns, crafts and recipes from that time period. It is arranged by seasons and the chapters are months in chronological order. 

Connect to Amy's Blog

The author of the book Amy Barickman is renowned in her field. 

Mary Brooks Picken

This book is dedicated to Mary Brooks Picken who died in 1981 at the age of 95. Ms. Picken was a trailblazer and renowned for her support of the education of women. Ms. Barickman conceived the book "to rescue Mary Brooks Picken from obscurity".

If nothing else the illustrations in this book are beautiful. I loved looking at the vintage pictures. One particular article reprinted in this book caught my eye: "Walking Like a Princess" by Marilyn Madison, Inspiration, October 1925  found on page 182. To quote, "Every woman can take on a new beauty, a new charm, if she will practice lightness on her feet, will wear her clothes rightly and will carry her accessories as well as her arms and head in a graceful and smart manner. As for me, I am practicing, and one of these days I am going to hear someone say, to my back, of course, 'Isn't she charming? She has the carriage of royalty, the poise of a princess.'" Read the book to see how you can accomplish this feat!


Right now I am headed to Amazon to order my personal copy!

View all my reviews

Where Did I Leave My Glasses?

Where Did I Leave My Glasses? by Martha Weinman Lear
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book gave me some good and encouraging information.

Bottom line: I don't have Alzheimer's; it's all about getting old! When I can't run my life like I always have because of faulty memory, it's time to get help.

My "aha" moment while reading this book came at the halfway point.
Quote: (see p. 129):

"'You know, a lot of us have complaints about our memories. I have complaints about mine. The key thing is, To what degree is it affecting your ability to do what you always do? Yes, a lot of us are forgetful because we have so much going on in our lives, and yes, our memories do get worse as we get older, and no, I don't feel my memory is as good as it was when I was twenty. But if someone were to ask me, Well, does it get in the way of your work? Can you still do what you want to do? Can you pay your bills? Can you do your job? Can you still run your life the way you're accustomed to running it?'

Author's reply: 'Yes, of course I can. So that's the demarcation.'"-!Aha!

Other tidbits of information that I may or may not remember:)
1. Exercise in the morning will help jump start my brain for the day's activities. Walking is the best exercise to improve multitasking, planning, scheduling, focusing on the matter at hand and aborting that perilous left-hand turn. (an aside from me...I am already saying: "I take a route where I don't have to make any left-hand turns. So am I going in circles?")

2. We all tease about our memories from an early age. Around 20 I couldn't remember why I went to the kitchen...I had to return to the point of origin to remember...aha! However, when I stop teasing or even hiding the fact I don't remember, it a sign..I need to get help.

3. Again a quote: "But the enormous discovery scientists have made in recent years is that the aging process can be regulated. It is controlled by certain genes, and caloric restriction activates these genes."(p.168) Guess who's been watching her calories and will continue to do so?

Disclaimer: "This review will not spoil your reading of this book. There will be a message in it for you. It may be the same message as mine. Then again, it may be your own personal message."

I recommend this book to you!

There Comes a Time...

The Time is Now! --- 


Time to resolve for 2011! --- jumping in "feet first"! 


 Here goes...

No. 1  Actively Blog on my "Tips 'n Good Stuff" Blog...and certainly continue my other two Blogs:
PLAID Pages, a journal and Eating In and Out and About.  I know all my friends label me "Over Achiever".  So, I love to Blog why not do what I love doing?

Work in Progress
for 20 years-2010

Walling Hanging
Vintage Fabrics and
Embellishments
Started 2010

No. 2  Finish my Quilts that are "almost" there and start on some more that are in the drawer waiting for their turn...know in the Quilt World as "UFOs".

See My Post
9-25-10

No. 3  Continue to downsize...My inspiration is "Throw Out Fifty Things" ...In 2010 I got to No. 8.  I am aiming for 17 more in 2011.  That will put me half-way through.  I am adding No. 9 today:  Delivered unused Christmas Decorations to Goodwill and the Library...reducing my 10 boxes to 5.

A Valentine Book
for Chuck...all the Valentines
he sent me over 30 years
into a blank book from
sale table at
Barnes and Noble

No. 4  Arts and Crafts will always be on my list.  I discovered I have done something "crafty" all of my life so why stop now.  I have a list of albums to make using old coffee table books and blank journals instead of "bought" picture albums or scrapbooks.  In the list for 2011 is:  Arizona, California, San Francisco, "Grant" a tribute to my Dad and one for my Mom....and the list goes on and on.  I will do them as I am inspired. 

Love Lost and Found

 I also love altering 
old "paint-by-number" 
pictures picked up over 
the years from flea markets 
and thrift stores.




No. 5  Start an "Art Journal".  For some reason I woke up on New Year's Day 2011 thinking I wanted to see if I could draw.  I like Calligraphy so I want to draw with pen and ink using watercolor wash as a background.  My daughter sent me the perfect book for my Journal...maybe that's what triggered this urge?


No. 6 Lose 10 pounds-always resolved to keep me on the straight and narrow.  I weigh and measure at the beginning of every month and use a combination of "calorie counting" and "limiting my carbohydrates" to maintain and hopefully to lose... admittedly not always successful but maintaining ...like 2010.  Also, Chuck and I swim, do weights, walk on the track or treadmill, and take a Yoga class as least one time a week at the Jim Dailey Fitness Center.


Six is Enough, don't ya think?---

In the words of Porky Pig---


 "Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

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