Monday, February 29, 2016

February 29


Anita Goodesign Bundle of Joy

Opal had to wait a whole year for her bib, so I made it larger than usual.  Same go-to design, just larger.

On this 29th day of February, I put on my to-do list to look, actually look, at this day.  It will be awhile before it comes again.  You can tell me that I should use the same intentionality with every day, and you would be right.  I'll try.  

Saturday, February 27, 2016

I'll Still Love You Forever



Walking in the sunshine today, I checked to see whether the locks are indeed gone from the Purple People Bridge.  (I know you told me that, Tina, but I was hoping, hoping that it wasn't so.)  The locks were indeed gone and this sign was on the bridge.

I told the grands that I'd still love them forever, but I can't help feeling a little sad that we won't be able to look for our locks in the spring.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Snowman


Anita Goodesign Mini Quilts

I just spent a bit of time looking for Easter things, I'm excited to be doing some different seasonal decorating.  Putting away the little trees I kept out after Christmas.  There will be a short turn-around time between March 1 and Easter this year.

There were a few snowflakes today, nothing serious.  More wind.  This little snowman was left from my class last weekend and just needed to have the binding finished.  I wanted to show one of the other designs in the collection and also the binding technique.  I think I'll call this a mug rug.  There was a second stitching of the cardinals you saw on January 29, and that turned into a potholder.  I wanted to show that with this technique it's important to not trim the fabric around the outside edges.

I'm trying to incorporate just a little more structure in my days.  I have a new little journal for to-do lists with little line drawings beside easy item.  Nothing you might even recognize, just something to remind me that I am a creative person.  So far, it's making me happy.


Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Bookshelves


This worship banner will hang at church during Lent.  Services are based around words and books, and members were asked to bring favorite books for a display in front of the church.  The bowl on the top holds folded papers.  During Lenten services members can write hopes, concerns, and prayers and leave them with the books.

I'm thinking that on Palm Sunday I'll add a glass with a palm frond on that top shelf beside the bowl.  My first thought was to make a separate Palm Sunday banner but I think that the single frond will work just as well and will carry through the theme.

I have to admit that I haven't brought my book yet, maybe this Sunday.  I'll take The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  I've carried with me the basic ideas in that book for many years.  The artist's dates Cameron suggests are the hard concept for me to carry out, but I'm trying to be conscientious about that.  If you're a creative type, or want to be, and haven't yet read this book, give it a try.


Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Potholders With Birds


Just ignore the quilt in the background and look at the potholders laying on top.  I got the idea from Melody Johnson to use my practice free motion sandwiches for potholders.  They are double thickness with appliqued birds.  I found some nicely reduced striped fabric for binding.    

My family and I went on a President's Day Weekend trip to Asheville to see Sarah and Winnie and we had our usual wonderful time.  And we had our usual eye on the weather.  I don't know what it is about that weekend and bad weather, other than it's the middle of February.  There was a bad snowstorm in Kentucky on Sunday, interstate was closed, but the temperature rose and we drove back through rain on Monday with no problems.  In a few days the temperature here should be in the high 50's for a few days.

I love my neighbors who cleared my sidewalks and steps while I was gone.  No rain here to wash the snow away.  I am lucky.












Friday, February 12, 2016

Mennonite Arts Weekend Link

If you have a minute today, check out this link for last week's Mennonite Arts Weekend.  I'm still going over it in my mind.  Again and again.  I think that my church friends are also because every day more wonderful pictures show up on facebook.

https://themennonite.org/daily-news/mennonites-celebrate-art-and-transformation/

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Moving Along


It's a cold day at my house, and as soon as a customer comes to pick up some pants, I'm going outside to run some errands.  New library books.  Binding for a pink project, something in a large print.  I'm trying really hard to keep projects moving, to not procrastinate.  I'm not sure I have the projects lined up in the right order, but they are getting done.

It's an early Ash Wednesday, which means an early Easter, March 27.  I have a lovely King Cake to take to Asheville soon.  It will be a little late for King Cake, but we can celebrate anyway.  I actually had a delicious slice from a different King Cake on Sunday - thanks, Carrye.

The question is . . . should I pick up something for dinner while I'm out?  I kind of think the answer is yes.  Something with veggies.  And the second question is . . . should I go over the river to the Ash Wednesday service at my church tonight.  I know it's well planned and I know I'd get a lot from it.  But, it's so cold and snowy too, so I'm thinking not, not this year.

I enjoy looking at the snowy garden and thinking about what's in there, hidden from sight, sleeping.  Last year I did a lot of planting so there's got to be some good stuff.  The days are long enough now that the string of solar lights on my back porch light up in the evening, for a very brief while.  The ones on the fence I'm not sure about, I haven't seen anything yet.  I'm telling myself that I didn't put the charger in as sunny a spot.





Monday, February 8, 2016

It's Been Awhile . . .


It's been awhile since Aaron's been at my house, but today he was there as an only child while his sister had a pitching session.  He was absolutely adorable, and I only wish I'd taken a picture of his high-top boots.

We sang about Max and Ruby, and he ate chicken nuggets and watched Sponge Bob.  About forty-five minutes after he came in the door he was out again, on the way home with his mom.  He made my day!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Mennonite Arts Weekend 2016


Every other year, the first weekend in February, our church hosts Mennonite Arts Weekend.  It's always amazing, and this year was no exception.

The music was exceptional, the gallery filled with incredible art, the presentations engaging.  In two years it will happen again;  I hope all of you can come.

Years ago, my uncle Darvin, who was a potter, told me that this Cincinnati Mennonite church hosted this weekend and that I should go.  I lived in a different place then, had a busy life, and agreed that I should go, but I didn't.  He was right, of course.  He also told me that the church itself was supportive of the arts and that I should look it up.  It took a long time, but I got there.