Thankful, Grateful and Blessed

 A finish finally after many humps and yikes along the way.   Not sure why my craft is giving me hiccups along their progression and am still trying to know the why of it all, but alas this one is done!    

My attempt at "Ruler work"ed into the quilt design:

Placed it on one pepper plant that must have given us over 50 plus peppers!
Tried a new to us recipe from the family freezer for sausage stuffed mini peppers
in Marinara and it's a keeper.

Small sampling of the quilting behind the motifs after echo stitching:

A detail pic and hint of the binding finish:

Full project finally finished:

Used a couple of different threads for those wheat stalks inserted in the hat brim - am happy with it.

Feeble attempt of an art shot on the flowered boxes on the deck:

Thankful Grateful  and Blessed  that it's done.

TTFN,  Jane

Contemplating a quote

"Complacency is a health hazard that curiosity can cure."  a written quote by Elizabth Lee's article shared via the Press Republican on January 4ths:  With new year, time to put dates to plans struck a soft ping within me.   I will "focus" on this and see where it leads me.  

Quilt Show Entry #5

 
Was a Jack in the Pulpit wall hanging.

 

  

The main panel in this was stenciled in 1998 and then it sat.  After getting the borders on a radiant star quilt that shares these fabrics, I was finally able to select which fabric this one called for and am pleased.

This one was finished in about 20 hours worth of time.  Now why did it wait for a decade and a half to get totally done? 

I swear this perfectionism thing is so crippling when it comes to creativity. 

Done is better than perfect any day.

 

For finishing a dark green flange edged between the first maroon border and this batik was the final border. 

For quilting, a meander around the centered stencil's background with an 100 weight ivory silk thread and Superior's Bottom line in the bobbin. For the maroon border, it was just echo quilted 1/4" away from the seam lines with a dual duty thread that matched that color the best. That left the outside border of batik to be quilted with a 100 weight dark green silk in a vine and leaf freehand motif where again a Bottom Line thread was in the bobbin.

All in all this one is pleasing and I am so happy it's done.  It amazed me during the layering process of my hesitation to use "good fabric" for the back and how crippled I became.  Since there really was no time to hesitate in that step I called my Mom after wishy washing for over an hour contemplating which fabrics to use and/or how to do the backing.   Her response was classic.

She said, "On No Janie.  Don't use that fabric.  Wait until you die so your daughter or Wayne can throw it in the trash bin or give it to someone else." 

Obviously I became strong and cut the fabric I wanted.   Will have to frame those words for future projects and reference to stop this paralyzing hesitation.  lol  

Only 2 left to share for entries.  Not sure when, there is more quilting that needs to be done on all three large quilts.  Am currently working on the Tweet Camping, quilting the dark brown sashings and inner borders right now.  Will show all of that when it is totally done.

My list of Four this week is;

1. June's Lil' Miss Shabby embroidery block
2. Brown sashing in Tweet camping quilted
3. Hem work Pants for son's friend
4. Carve a pumpkin

Of course I won't be listing all the other chores needed like chauffeuring, cleaning, cooking and  other hot spots that need action but I'll be making efforts there along with letting my body exercise which it so desires. 

Enjoy your week.  
Jane

 

Synchronicity

An email I received notes perfectly my feelings from this past weekend.  While doing that workshop and errands completed around my home this was my mood.  It was the inner child coming out and being an imp.  Or as I explained recently to my Mom, a blessed Minx.  Just one of the many facets of my character, lol.    Just wanted to share it with you.

Playful AwarenessScorpio Daily Horoscope
Your desire to be mischievous and playful could amuse your friends and you may find that this sense of fun could pervade all of your interactions today. Being impish and upbeat might be the result of your ability to connect with your inner child and let go of any need to censor or inhibit the carefree part of yourself. Reveling in this sensation can not only entertain you but it could also bring you to a deeper awareness of the joy that comes from living spontaneously and in the moment. While at play today you might take a moment or so to breathe in the joy and freedom you feel being present to everything that is around you, and you may notice that by being full of life, you are also able to become more mindful of yourself and how you live it.

Letting our inner child out to play allows us to experience the wonder that exists in the present totally and with complete abandon. When we were children, life was something that held the unexpected in each and every moment. Reconnecting to this part of ourselves helps us to go back to the time when we didn’t care about trivial concerns or what other people thought about us, but rather released ourselves completely to the joy of what we were doing. By bringing this sense of fun into your life today you will rediscover what it is to really live and savor the time you spend with others fully.


Wishing you a spontaneous day with joy in your spirit and a song in your heart.
Jane

Stash Report 4 of 2013

Scheduled this to appear today  since I'm out of state just now and shopping!  But as of the time I left NY, my numbers are still nice and respectable.  I had a gain this week since I received a lovely package from Sue of desert sky quilts when I won her giveaway.  Thanks so much Sue! 

I'll be using that Brooklyn revolver a lot, it's a great portable size and I really love the bright colors in the "Gypsy Girl" charm pack.   Wasn't sure how to add that charm pack in to my stash, so I figured it must be close to a half a yard and calculating it as such.   What a nice surprise and thank you for both Sue.  Don't you just love blog friends! 

 

Stash In:     0.5 Yards

 

Stash Out:    0 Yards

 

YTD In:         1 Yards

 

YTD Used: 13.5 yards

 

Net change is  12.5 yards out the door!

 

 

My net change amount is starting to dwindle down a bit, I'd better get some finishes done and soon to move that number back up!  Check out Judy's blog to see how other bloggers are doing.

 

Will be home this week, actually a day before DH and I share our 39th Anniversary! 

That is if no inclement weather changes my travel plans, he didn't want to go this time.  All I said in response to him  was, "see ya"!! lol 

 

Jane

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
-- Annie Dillard

"Procrastination is

 attitude's natural assassin. There's nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task."


-William James

Ain't that the truth!  So with appreciating that recently read quote, I decided to tackle a project that's been going through my head and wearing me out.  Are you recognizing a theme here? 
I've carved out some more time to play besides auditioning those stones Ithought would work great as a piped area for  the table top quiltlet "Inukshuk".

 What do you think?     I am at a quandrary and I thinking that this won't work at all.  It doesn't seem to enhance it, only to cheapen it.    I really appreciate you stopping by and leaving all the lovely comments.  So don't be afraid to give me your  honest thoughts about this.  Keep going? Or abandon the stones and bind it as it is.   

I also have some ocean rolled stones from our trip to Nova Scotia in my work area of the garage that I hope to make a Stone Inukshuk cairn for someplace around my home.  Either inside or out in the garden.  I will be tackling that soon. 
After posting the links and what the term means, perhaps I should start calling  this my  Inunnguaq.

Jane

Like it:

“Getting started, keeping going, getting started again—in art and in life, it seems to me this is the essential rhythm.”

— Seamus Heaney

Great source for counted cross stitch questions is here.

think quote

Think

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think you dare not, you don't;

If you'd like to win but you think you can't,

You can almost be certain you won't.

If you think that you'll lose, you are lost,

For out in the world you will find

Success begins with a person's will;

It's all in the state of the mind.

If you think you're outclassed you are;

You've got to think high to rise.

You've just got to be sure of yourself

Before you can win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go

To a stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the person who wins

Is the person that THINKS they can.

- Anon.

You are your choices

I ran across this on a recent blog visit, (sorry I can't remember which one) and the saying just connected with me. So simple, yet profound. I find myself repeating it sporactically through out my days. And it seems to help me make the better choice. Be it finish a little job, having more patience with others, or making a meal. Who knew 4 little words would have such an impact. Thanks whoever you are.

Enjoy your day and remember "You are your choices".

Jane