PRAY TO GOD, BUT ROW FOR SHORE

It has just been one of those weeks, you know? The bigger picture, however, is that it is the closing of one long chapter and the beginning of the next. So things will get better, right? Either way, this next chapter is chock full of ironing! Clothes, not quilts. Yuck! Last October, my husband learned that he would be losing his job at the end of the year. His company decided to close the facility located in our area. We only recently bought our house and I didn't want to hear that we would have to sell it, possibly relocate, that we would have to pack again, and that I would lose my studio space. I could only think "Pray to God, but row for shore." Well, Ryan did all the rowing. Today was the last day at his old job and his new one starts Monday. It'll be Groundhog Day! I picked up the "Groundhog Day" DVD today and told Ryan his life from now on would be like the movie. Every day he'll wake up and go to the new job....over and over and over again. And that will be just fine. I'll even do the ironing. We can keep the house.

QUILTS IN THE SKY

My favorite quilt in the show is this Cathedral Window by Christine Fuller.

All I can say is, "Wow!"

And here is my contribution, decidedly failing in comparison and completely obstructed by a gaudy 8.5" x 11" piece of paper that should have been pinned to the back of the quilt.

BLACK, WHITE, & RED ALL OVER

I'm so in love with my new bag! I bought it at a local shop. Turns out the very talented woman who crafted it, lives right here in my town. It's exactly what I was looking for and red just happens to be my most favorite color! Love it!

SWEET SANCTUARY

I love this place! My sweet sanctuary! Still a work in progress, but it's my favorite place to be creative, to be myself. I just knew those Elvis plates would come in handy some day. (Thanks Mom!) And thanks to Jo James for sharing her creative space. Check it out at: http://www.thecartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/

SOMETHING FISHY

I usually keep my sketches way on the down low. In other words, I do NOT show them to anyone! I'm typically so anal that I'll only put my completely finished product on display, not a "mish mash" of all the thoughts and ideas floating around in my mind. Today, I've been sketching all afternoon and it has been going swimmingly. So this time, I thought, "Why not?"

SCATTERED FLURRIES

Hand cut snowflakes that were once quilted ornies, are now repurposed as applique on this hand quilted piece.

This quilt will be on display at the "Quilts in the Sky" show January 24 - February 8, 2009. See "Where I'm Going" to the right for more information.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN...BURY EVERY THREAD

"Climb every mountain, bury every thread, follow every rainbow, 'til you find your dream!"

So apt. I'm cooky, but it's like that scene in Moulin Rouge where Ewan breaks out into song, "The hills are alive with the sound of music with songs they have sung for a thousand years!" I thought I'd title the post simply "Bury Every Thread", but "Climb Every Mountain" was crowding in as well.

So this is how I've recently been spending my time. I free motion stitched an intricate design onto a quilt. It came out really well and I will reveal all in time. In the meantime, I had to bury each and every thread into the body of the quilt, front side and back. It took forever, but I ended up with...

Nice and clean, huh? Whenever I'm at work in the studio, I always have music playing. If you ever crept up on me, I'd probably be belting out something or another. I can't help it. "My heart wants to sing every song it hears." Oh, and speaking of music, I added a music feature to the bottom of the blog. Just scroll down and hit play to hear some of my favorite tunes.

DINNER IS SERVED...AGAIN

We had friends over the weekend after New Year's. I love setting the table with our pretty dishes! One of these times, I'll have to make myself break out the new silverware! First, I'd like to get a case to store it all in. It's still in the box it was purchased in. It's just too pretty to throw in the drawer with the everyday fare!

2009

...And now let us welcome the New Year, full of things that have never been...