And We Begin Again ...

Happy New Year, Everyone!  Today we start anew!  2011 stretches ahead of us, the next leg of our journey on the Road of Life, just waiting to be explored.  What will it hold for us? Probably much of the “same old same old”, but also we are likely to experience highs and lows - good times, bad times, unexpected bumps and ruts.  Whatever comes our way, I hope that the friendships we have made online through our stitching, reading, blogs, etc, will continue to be a source of happiness and goodwill. And that they will help bolster us through the rough patches.  


The older I get, the more I feel compelled to squeeze into my life. You’ve heard the saying that life is like a roll of toilet paper; the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. People make Bucket Lists (things to do before they “kick the bucket”). And then there are the inevitable New Years Resolutions.  


I prefer to think of resolutions as GOALS.  I know full well that I will not accomplish every single thing on my list, and that is okay.  That will not make me a failure, just perhaps overly-ambitious.  I am not clairvoyant, so there is no way to know that curves Life will throw at me in 2011. Things will change, goals may shift mid-stream ... that is the way of things.


But with that in mind, I still believe the best way to get where you are going is with a roadmap, or a list of goals.  So here are mine for 2011. They are primarily my art-related goals, not all of my personal goals, like financial and family. But I do plan to lose another 35-40 pounds this year, reaching (and hopefully dipping below) my Weight Watchers goal.  I would like to become a Weight Watchers instructor so I do not relapse again like I did in 2007-2008!!


2011 GOALS


1.   Participate in 3-4 crazy quilting round robins. These will serve as a personal refresher course in lots of disciplined, regular stitching.

2.  CQby2012:  Sketch out the design idea and colors of a new crazy quilt.  Gather fabrics and piece all blocks. Complete at least 50% of the seamwork and several primary motifs.


3.  Enter at least two CQ/quilting competitions this year.  Stretch!


4.  Teach a crazy quilting class either at a local fabric store or community education venue.  Ulterior motive:  begin building a local CQ group.


5.  Attend 3 CQ retreats or gatherings.  Already committed:  CQ Adventure in CT (April) and CQI Retreat in CO (Sept).  




6.  Take a class with Carole Samples somehow, somewhere.  


7.  Finish (or get rid of) at least 3 UFO’s.


8.  Finish Seascape Valance.  This is separate from the other 3 UFO’s.  I want a d@#% valance up in my bathroom!!


9.  De-stash. Use some, share some, reorganize. Get rid of the monster storage unit on wheels that is wasting so much space in the studio.  (Anybody local who might want it?  Bev? Colleen? Stasha? Adele?)


10.  Sew a quilt for London.  Hopefully, by destashing and reorganizing the studio, I can make an area for London to “play” with Grammy and her Stuff!


11.  Ramp up Etsy sales presence.  More potassium-permanganate dyed laces, vintage lace and trims.

12.  Resell vintage fabrics, linens and collectibles on Ebay and/or find local venue (consignment shop?) Explore the possibilities and get rid of 50% of “sale-ables” by year-end. If good progress is made by May, I will give myself permission to continue scouting estate sales!!


13.  Conduct a local sew-for-charity event (similar to Operation Pillowcase that we did in 2010) at Wheeler Farm.  


14.  Blog:  Reach 250 followers and 400 posts by year-end.  Have at least three giveaways and provide two tutorials.  


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I think I’ll stop at 14, since that is my personal lucky number.   What goals do YOU have for yourselves, ladies?  I would love to hear what your plans are for 2011!!  


Hugs,

Happy New Year!

Here are some lovely vintage images for you (copyright-free). 

Please have a safe and Happy New Year.  

My wish is for only the best and brightest things to come your way!

Warm hugs,

A Review of 2010

One of my very favorite people - and for so many reasons - is Kerry Leslie of Kerrykatiecakes.  I have the pleasure of being a co-moderator with her (and Leslie and Hideko) on Crazy Quilting International.  She is our esteemed leader and a wise and intelligent woman.  Plus, she is a lot of fun and has a killer sense of humor.  Her only fault is that she likes to push maple cookies on me, but that’s an inside joke, LOL.

Anyway, earlier this year Kerry published a list of her 2010 goals and then periodically reviewed her progress against the list.  I found this fascinating and also made a list at the beginning of the year.  I never published it, but I did monitor my progress.


So, here is my 2010 list and my comments.  In a day or two, I will publish my 2011 list, but wanted to get this one “off my plate”.


1.   Participate in CQI Challenge, doing at least six (of 12).  Finish Challenge piece by year-end.   50% accomplished.  I did participate in at least six challenges, but since I was the Challenge coordinator, that was not such a great accomplishment, LOL.  My challenge piece was a valance I pieced for a bathroom window.  Most of the seams are stitched and I have a plan.  All supplies and embellishments are gathered.  That’s it.  It will move on to the 2011 list.

2.  Help plan and attend the CQI September Retreat.   Check!  It was a blast.  I blogged about it in October. 


3.  Begin selling off extra fabrics, laces, linens, books & other items on Ebay and Etsy. Well, yes, I did do this.  I sold alot of fabric on Ebay in the fall.  I opened an Etsy shop in July, but haven’t given it the proper attention.  Will continue on these in 2011 with more realistic and specific goals.

4.  CQ by 2012: Finalize theme, colors, format.  Piece the entire quilt. Yeah, right.  I wonder what I was smoking when I wrote THAT.  I’ve finally figured out what I will do, which to me was half the battle.  And I gave myself permission to do “just” a crazy quilt, not the masterpiece I initially felt compelled to do.  I haven’t sketched the layout yet, but it’s in my head.  I will talk more about this in 2011, because a significant portion of my stitching will be geared toward that after spring.

5.   Participate in the CQI Purse contest.   Check!  I got second place with my “I Love Paris” purse.


6.  Learn Photoshop Elements.   Yes and no.  I have learned some things (and used them in designing my Etsy header), but it’s such a complicated program with so much to learn, that I am still only a novice. Will continue this in 2011.


7.  Finish 3 UFO’s.  Well, ooops!  I had listed the three specific ones I wanted to finish, and those are DEFINITELY not done.  But I did scrap one UFO project and am almost finished with the Tea Time wallhanging, so there was some progress here. This needs further attention in 2011.

8.  Participate in Salt Lake Farmer’s Market and sell consignment items at Wheeler Farm Country Store. The Salt Lake Farmer’s Market kicked out the Sidewalk Vendors this year, so that venue was a no-go.   But I did do a boutique at Wheeler Farm and had consignment items at the Wheeler Country Store.  I sold some aprons (girls and women), some vintage baby clothes, a couple pillows, and some purses, sachets and artsy small wallhangings.   I will stick to sewing and CQ, because the my jewelry only sold when I marked it to clearance prices, and the altered bottles were a resounding flop.  


9.  Make a quilt for London.   Shame on me - that’s a no.  I have all the fabric and will try it again in 2011.


10.  Participate in 3 Round Robins.  Check!  I did the Wool RR, the Art Nouveau RR and have started the Autumn RR.  


I also had some personal goals, which included losing 35-40 pounds (did that) and getting through Level One on my Rosetta Stone Spanish.  Didn’t get that one done because DH hasn’t installed it yet.  I guess I’ll have to perfect my nagging hounding asking pleading skills in 2011!!

Christmas Crackers and Steampunk Block

Did you all have a nice Christmas? (Or a nice Whateveryoucelebrate?) Ours was an almost textbook perfect day, with the exception of one daughter who lives with her family in another state and could not make it to Utah. Personally, now that Christmas is past, I am grateful for a few days to relax and take a few deep breaths. Now I just have to psyche up to begin taking down the decorations and tree.

In the meantime, I’d like to share the Christmas Crackers I received from our Crazy Quilting International swap, as well as some other personal gifties.

Ely sent me a Christmas Cracker wrapped in this lovely crazy-pieced block! The fabrics she used are all very beautiful, and she really put a lot of effort into making a divine gift!

And here are the goodies that dear Ely included INSIDE the cracker. More beautiful fabrics (and I mean BEAUTIFUL), buttons, lace, trims ... WOW.  Thank you so much, Ely!

My second cracker was from Lorrie R in Canada, and her cracker, too was wrapped up in a lovely block she had pieced. She also included a wonderful (and thoughtful) note.  Lorrie is masterful with details - the cracker was tied up with red glitzy rick-rack and had little purple jingle bells on the bows!

Her gorgeous fabrics were all beautiful fancy solids and incredible Christmas sheers to coordinate and overlay. I love Christmas sheers and have used them quite a bit in my Christmas stitching in the past.  But it’s been hard to find any lately, and these just made me weak in the knees!! Thank you, Lorrie!  You can also see how generous Lorrie was with threads, beads, buttons and more!

And Stacie B., who is a new CQ’er with whom I’ve become friends, was so sweet to surprise me with these lovely tatted flowers. Or snowflakes. I can use them as either, and definitely WILL be using them.  Aren’t they darling? I love tatting, but can’t do it myself. However, I know the effort that goes into making tatted motifs. By the way, Stacie, any time you want to come over and teach me to tat, mi casa es su casa, OK?? Thanks you for your generosity, my friend! And what a cute envelope, too!

And last, but certainly not least, were these glamourous goodies that my friend Diane M from Canada sent to me. You may remember that Diane stayed with me for a few days here in Utah before we drove together to our CQI retreat in Colorado last September/October. The fabrics are lovely embroidered fabrics. The two charms, which are both sea-themed, will go onto my Seashore Valance, which is on a back burner for now (but is on my New Year’s list of projects to be completed the first half of 2011).

Look at those lovely white things! Are they shade pulls? I guess I should ask if they WERE shade pulls, because I can definitely see them as treetops, peacock tails, partial snowflakes, fans, etc. Oh my! I am planning to have a contest or drawing sometime in early 2011, and ONE of those will be in there. I reserve the right to be greedy and keep the rest for myself, LOL!!  :-) Thank you, dear Diane!!

Below is the CQ-ed heart ornament that I made for my friend Leslie.  The picture is of Sheba, her sweet furchild who lost her battle with cancer this past fall.   Sheba was a great pooch, and had been a part of our CQI Retreats in 2008 and 2009.  Just a great companion!  I have felt so badly for Leslie, knowing what a close bond they had.

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This is the block I pieced for our Steampunk Round Robin at Crazy Quilting International.  It’s a 12” block and will be worked on by four other ladies before it returns home to me.

If you aren’t familiar with the steampunk style, it is basically described as Victorian (or romantic Victorian) meets technology and science fiction. Think of steam-powered computers with heavy brass keys, black lace Goth-inspired Victorian clothing, monocle-wearing men with pocket watches.  Gears and ornamentation and clocks and time machines ...  If this confuses more than clarifies, just Google the term “steampunk”.

And so, five us of crazy ladies will attempt to translate the look and feel of Steampunk into crazy quilting.  Now that ought to be fun!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays) to all !!  I hope you are all enjoying the love and comfort of family and friends!

More Christmas Images for You

Hi Friends,

If you are like me, you are often on the lookout for interesting vintage images.  So, I have been trying to upload some for you every few days..... my meager Christmas present to you.  But please know that your friendship and comments are so appreciated.  It’s always nice to know that you’re not just talking to yourself, eh?  LOL.

Our Christmas decorations this year are very much on the traditional side.  I love color too much to have an all-white or low-color decorating scheme.  And we have downsized to a smaller tree because it fits better in our small living room in our smallish home.  Of course, when this house was built in 1963, the original owners, who lived here for 40 years, raised their four children here.... and it was perfectly fine.   

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Bruce and I both lived in McMansions in our previous marriages, but have never loved a home as much as we do this one.  As Bruce says, “it hugs you back!”  And the fact that it is nearly paid for makes it all the more wonderful!     

Everything is ready to go for Christmas.   Will upload more images tomorrow for you.  We are off work now for several days and I plan to get some good stitching time in.  I finished piecing my 12” block for the Steampunk RR and will take a picture of that tomorrow with my new camera!  Bruce wanted me to have it early for Christmas picture-taking.  Smart man.  

Goodies and Prizes and Sales ... Oh My!

Oh, where to start?!?  I may end up dividing up this post, LOL.  So much to talk about....

First of all, let your fingers do the RUNNING over to Gerry K (Olderrose)’s Etsy Shop, where she is selling her remaining pincushions for 50% off.   This is unbelievable to me, because I know she has waaay more time and $$ invested in them.  And once they’re gone, that’s it.  I own one that Gerry made for me a couple years ago, and I am ALWAYS getting compliments on it.  It is the centerpiece of my pin cushion collection (OK, I heard that.... you’re mumbling “she collects pincushions TOO?”).    Here is my favorite one in her shop.... at least for the moment, LOL!

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When the mailman arrived on Saturday, he brought me a surprise package.  Apparently my friend Freda Butler   was sneaky and sent me a totally unexpected gift!  She knows I collect vintage hankies and hankie holders, and she found this beauty from the 1950’s:

This lucite hankie box is triangular shaped to accommodate folding one’s hankies in that manner.  My daughter, who studied ballet for 12 years, was totally enamored with it (as was I, of course, LOL!)

Bruce and I got a chuckle out of the pink men’s hankies that Freda sent along.  As Freda pointed out, it probably got mixed up with some red laundry to come out pink!  But I see possibilities for that black crown motif with a pink background!  Thank you, Dear Freda!!!

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And if all that good stuff wasn’t enough, Kathy Shaw (shawkl) had a giveaway on her blog.  To enter, she asked us to write her a little birthday rhyme.  Well, the random number generated selected me (for my number, not for the poem, LOL).  If you have ready Kathy’s blog for any length of time, you KNOW how generous she is.  Well, she really outdid herself this time:

Wow, I sooooo needed an infusion of Good Stuff in the way of silk ribbons, threads and laces as I am participating in FOUR round robins this winter.  I can’t wait to dig in.  Let me tell you, Kathy has a great shop that you can browse here.   I know some of us get $$ to spend on ourselves at Christmastime, and if you’re like me, you begin shopping in January.  You may just want to bookmark her site.  Some of her goodies include laces (including some designs I haven’t seen elsewhere), scissor fobs, beaded hat pins, needles, charms and PET COLLARS!!

Thanks, Kathy!!!

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Here are some more vintage images for you (it appears my theme today is aqua!)

Hugs,