settlers peace

Keep Going

The clutter in my brain is clearing, unlike today's fog.

It made for a beautiful walk, so peaceful and with limited distractions. The birdsong sounded pure and delightful. But before my walk, my day started with this:

Years ago, I started writing 'morning pages' - three long hand written pages of brain dump first thing in the morning. It was introduced to me by Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way. I've recently been going through another of her books, Walking In This World. I have a separate journal for the many lists that one must make, such wondrous things are recovered and discovered through this. It isn't very often that I ever go back and read my pages, but something has been off for me lately, and like a detective, I went searching. And there it was, in my own handwriting, the action that I needed to take: a walk, some time in prayer, and a more disciplined use of time. It's time for a Pinterest diet and some actual time behind the sewing machine. "I'm off to the sewing room" she says, with a smile on her face and peace in her heart!

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Warning: Pity Party Ahead

If you are here for quilting and craft inspiration, today is the day to skip this blog.  However, if you can offer up any creative suggestions to simple daily tasks, offers of encouragement or prayers, please read on and leave a comment.

Wednesday afternoon I got a call from our youngest daughter, S. age 17.  20 minutes after starting a job of painting logos for a restaurant, a gust of wind caught her and had blown her and the ladder over.  She landed on her wrists and head on the concrete.  After the ambulance ride, the ER doctors, the 2 orthopedic doctors, the pediatric concussion specialist, and the orthopedic hand specialist, the results are a mild concussion, stitches in the forehead, severe whiplash, and two broken wrists.  One wrist will heal in a cast for 3 months, the other, her dominate hand, will require surgery with plates and pins to get it back together, that is scheduled for later next week, ugh. 

She has been a real trooper through it so far, not an easy thing for someone so independent.  Such a drastic change from invincible to needing help opening a drink, packages of snacks, doors, seat belts, getting dressed and going to the bathroom.  We are so thankful, it could have been so much worse, she could have gone through the window or backwards with no way to protect her head or break the fall.  The wrists will heal.  She will one day be back to playing the piano and painting.  And one day, I won't be the hands for two people, I too, will be back to sewing and playing with fabric.  Until then,  "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Phil 4:13"

Navigating New Waters

I discovered, way back here, that I'm not much into figurines, or portraits for that matter.  Hardly any photos around the house, even of the girls.  But I love quilts, and I love to learn new things to do with fabric and quilting.  I really try to be choosey on what classes that I take, not wanting to create a new UFO and the pressure that comes with it, I'd rather expand on something that I already know and love.  Then along came Lola.  Wow!  She is a burst of creative inspiration, talent, humor, passion, heart, and a whole lotta push!  She's totally into portraits, I was into soaking up some of her energy and artistic eye.  I took a workshop with her in June and was satisfied with leaving the class with this portrait, (no, not a self portrait)

and my name on a list to take another class with her building on what we had learned.  By time the second class rolled around two months later, I was dragging my feet and bemoaning how "I don't DO portraits", "I don't DO fusible" but I was committed to attendance.  I waited until the last minute to gather supplies, it was an all around bad attitude that I had, and prayer snapped me out of it.  I guess that God had other plans for me, because I sure can't explain how what I created in the workshop this past weekend came to be.  I am pretty stinkin' pleased with this portrait of my great grandfather though.

I learned a lot from Lola, she's a great teacher and an artist that really inspires.  Now my mind is beginning to whirl with all of the lovely little, old faces that I deliver Meals on Wheels to.  Wondering how they would feel if I asked to take their photo, even a photo of their hands would be an interesting piece.  So many ideas and faces to do.  But wait, I really like flowers and landscapes, too!  Lucky for me, Lola is working on developing a class on this subject as well, and has a book slated for publication in 2012-2013!  I'm thinking that I may keep leaning on God's direction, I like where this is going. 

 

Forward Motion

Well, I can't say that I've hit a comfortable stride yet, but I am at least moving in the right direction.  I am finishing some projects and have avoided starting any new ones.  First up was getting the binding on this quilt.

While it looks rather nice on my bed, it is a gift for my niece's 16th birthday.  

I'm trying to spend time daily in the sewing room, wether organizing or sewing, and I am constantly amazed at how much gets done with just showing up.  I am also reminded of the investment of time in these projects.  It is so often that I think "I'll just whip that together" and it sits unfinished because I lack the ability to forecast the time involved.  I'm getting better by forcing myself to spend the time to complete those projects, even though the intended deadline has passed.  And it feels so good when they are d-o-n-e.  It sheds new light on wether or not I want to start a new project, too.

With the start of school we have also begun a new soccer season.  The weather around here can be spotty, and since we live 1-2 hours from the games sites, our weather doesn't always look like the weather at the fields.  Last week, we were experiencing thunderstorms and flash flooding but at the game location 2 hours away, sunny.  Being the super prepared woman that I am, I packed beach towels for after the game, bags for muddy cleats, and hand quilting for observing as I watched from the van.  I am totally a sidelines mom, unless it's pouring like it was at home.  We drove for an hour and had stopped to get food when I realized that this super prepared mom had completely forgotten her purse!  No cash, no credit, no ID, no insurance, nothing, nothing but enough gas to get us to game and home.  What to do?  What to do?  As we travelled on, munching on almonds, hoping it will carry them through the game, I realized that I would be very close to a quilt shop and I just might know someone there.  Heaven smiled down and I found a friend.  With the biggest smile and warmest heart, she handed me cash and suggested I write my phone number on my arm in case of emergency.  Who does that anymore?  Oh yeah, middle aged, forgetful, over prepared and desperate women facing 2 more hours of driving in these storms.  Moments later, we've had a snack and get word that the game has been cancelled.  We turn around and head home, back through the storms that have followed us here.  Eventually we emerge the other side and see the most beautiful, full arching rainbow, with a faint double on the outside.

 The next time I hear myself thinking how prepared I am, I will stop and thoroughly question that thought.  God's amazing grace of friends in distant places is as precious as a rainbow after a storm.  Thank you, Carol!

Spring!

I think that spring is finally happening and I am loving it!  We've aired the house for a few days, but the nights are still too cool to have the windows open.  The other evening I was outdoors and heard the frogs on the pond.  There is something so soothing about the croak of a frog in the night breeze and now I am even more anxious to sleep with the windows open!

I have finally gotten my Matchless Star top done, and I am fairly pleased with it.  I have visions of making another one soon, in an entirely different color way.  I say that, and yet plan on another pink background, but in a linen, maybe not so different after all.

But, I am going to try and get this one finished, as in quilting and binding, before I start a new one. 

This week I am helping with some spring break service projects through our youth group.  This is the group that I was with today, extending a hand in a metroplex community.

 I enjoy these kids so much, and am amazed at their willingness to get beyond themselves and become a better part of our society/world.  It makes me happy and proud to know them and blessed to be a part of their days.

Merry Christmas

May you draw near today, the one that is the reason for the season, Jesus Christ. 

May you be blessed with peace, safety, love and joy.  Merry Christmas!

Missing.....

I've been away at summer camp, a leader in the senior girls cabin last week.  It is always so fun and rewarding to spend time with teenagers, mind you, a break from my own.  I love my girls dearly, but time spent with other kids gives me a fresh perspective and new found appreciation for the life of all teens.  Days were spent on the beach, hanging out, knotting friendship bracelets, and competing in team events.  We had time for worship and Bible study and a time to share all that they are experiencing, along with the trials of NO computers, cell phones and ipods!  What a time to actually get to connect with others instead of through little technical gadgets, refreshing.  It's always interesting to hear how the guys entertain themselves, with what seems like self torture to us, when they are without all of the gadgets as well!  It was a week of hearty laughs and tearful sighs, a time to treasure as time goes by.

I'm feeling recovered and back in the swing and am completely absorbed with the idea of a sewing room re-do.  I'll keep you posted on progress.  Hopefully something creative to share with you soon.  Have a blessed day, I have missed you!

Recovery in Process

I have been spinning trying to recover from the trip in ArtFiberFest and haven't had time to get much creative time.  I was hostess this month for our book club meeting and that meant having to actually clean house, only to discover the night before that the vacuum cleaner had no bag, nor were there any in the pantry!  Lint rollers work great in a sudden pinch, accompanied by the re-routing of traffic through tiled rooms!  It is a fortunate thing that I don't get too hung up on such things, I figure if I lose a friend over a slight in housekeeping, we didn't have much in common to start with!  But I do dream of being magnificent at housekeeping and still having time to create, reality requires choices and the housekeeping generally loses.

I managed to stop by a sale today and found some goodies.  Most things were priced SO high and I think that even at half price tomorrow, I won't be going back.

I have also been recovering from political news.  History is being made and that is very exciting.  I do, however, find it a bit disconcerting that it seems the general public have such expectations of elected officials, and little faith in God.  Our country was based on religious freedoms, and it is beginning to feel like there is simply the freedom of religion, meaning people are self reliant, not having faith or even beliefs in God, let alone Jesus Christ. God has so blessed this country and I just hate to think of people choosing to take him out of the equation and relying on their own abilities. I am totally reliant upon His graces.  Now, back to our regularly scheduled crafty blog.