An Escape From the Rain

Don't know why, but I really liked this picture in the paper this week. Taken by Karel Navarro for AP (in Rio Branco, Brazil).

Wow--It's the BIG 25!

Have a Max Fischer, Hamlet, Cyclops, Orwellian kinda day. May all of your travels be inspired, all classes be attentive, all your dreams be great adventures, and may the rainy season be mild. May you find stories that still excite you and trees worth climbing, may your coffee be warm and may every Q find it's U!

Wishing you love, peace, and hopes fulfilled--and may your every wish comes true when the candles blow out! Birthday hugs, kisses, & misses!

UFO update--Purple Pillow

So here's another item off the list: the dragonfly pillow.

I'm still hopeful that it will get warm enough for dragonflies some day...but not this week! The wind had an arctic bite & once again the island had snow & hail...

Here's the back:

UFO Project--Circles R Us!

Remember that fateful list of UFO's that never seems to get shorter? Well I'm working my way through it...slow but sure.

This wall hanging was started at the class I did in LaConner in November (was there on election night!--a night to remember!).

The instructor was Reynola Pakusich and the class was on circles. It was a great class, and definitely gave me the skill set I was looking for to be able to draft/use circles in the future. Reynola is just a great teacher, mentor--don't hesitate to take a class with her, given the chance. It measures about 28 x 32. (can click on the pix to get a closer look...)

2009 Monthly Challenge Project - April

This one brings me back to 'real time'! Small victory...

Assignment for this month:

Color: Neutral

Theme: Nature

Technique: Convergence (ala R. Tims)

Of note: the leaf is real. Jim & I tried a preservation approach last fall with glycerine & it worked pretty well--it's still pretty soft & pliable. Also note the hanger. Remember the African porcupine quills that we found? Seemed like a great place to use one...

2009 Monthly Challenge Project - March

This weekend was my first one 'off' since mid-January--wow! The weekend definitely involved staying in the bunny-slipper mode for much of Saturday, doing laundry, having a great Easter brunch with Jim & Mom (at our favorite Oystercatcher!), & actually getting reacquainted with my retreat space (aka: sewing studio). Starting the catch-up process.

Here's the March contribution to the monthly challenge. The assignment was:Color: spring colors

Theme: architecture

Technique to include: stamping

2009 Monthly Challenge Project - February

Here is the February contribution to the monthly challenge project.
Color: contrasting
Topic: animal or bird
Approach: 3-dimensional
I like it, do you?

Trivia about the piece: the branch is real, just painted a silly orange; the bird sits away from the base about half an inch or so & has a wire tail that can be arranged (the legs are wire too); the orange buttons have been traveling with me for years--they were on a play top I had when I was about 6 and I've kept them all this time for the 'right' use.

2009 Monthly Challenge Project - January

You might remember one of my goals for the new year was to have a monthly challenge project for myself.

I came up with three categories that made some sense:

• color


• a topic-of-the-month


• a technique or format to include.

I made a list of twelve items for each of the three categories, put them on little pieces of paper in three separate pots--and randomly drew the combinations for each month of the year.

For January, the combination was: complimentary colors, abstract theme, and curved piecing. (And all months are still in the square-in-a-square series.)

My photos really didn't come out--but you get the idea. Given how little time I've had, it's a good thing I chose this to be a monthly challenge--and that the pieces are small!!

And what's with Minnesota?

The fact that there still is no end to the Franken-Coleman standoff since I 'disappeared' in January is quite apalling! Come on people, let's get on with it already!

Returned From the Abyss!

Wow! Yes I did fall off the face of the earth . . .and hopefully am now returning.

The day BEFORE the Inauguration, my work partner was heading out of the house on one of our many icy mornings, and fell--breaking her arm (and we all know that we try to break a fall with our dominant arm, right?!).

Anyway, the world went tilt on Inauguration Day, but not for all the reasons I expected! My partner-in-crime was in surgery as Obama was sharing his thoughts on what lay ahead--and was out for some time after. I was more than happy to pick up the pace to try filling in the gaps, but it has left me little time for much else beyond laundry & sleeping!

She is coming along well--now has the pins out, the cast off, and is actually starting to write with her dominant hand again! Yeah!! I'm beginning to see the end in sight of this siege--looking forward to a day off sometime soon. The auto-pilot mentality will likely start wearing off in the near future--and I'm thankful that I work with a great group of people (even more than usual!).

It was the day before the 'new era' when I posted last, and so much has happened. I am still in awe of my new President--and the fact that he can be articulate, energized, and a leader in such a dark time. Many of my first wins have happened--Guantanamo, CIA renditions, stem-cell prohibitions, gag-rules on birth control counseling . . . may it continue.

Caught an interview with a Obama staff member recently & when asked about health care he actually responded that there is another approach beyond either cutting benefits or raising taxes to pay for the existing (broken) system. I still have hope . .

I also still have hope that spring will come--which is has not, despite the calendar's version. This has been the coldest, darkest, dreariest winter for a very long time--and I am truly ready for it to be OVER!

So--I will try anew to be regular with some posts. Hope the last two months have treated you all well.

One Day Left!

Are you excited? Are you ready? Only 24 hrs to go!
I admit: I've dared to get excited--to get hopeful--to get ready for a change. Whatever lies ahead, it IS a step in the right direction. All of the Inaugural hype aside--this IS a time to celebrate, to come together.

We've not been successful in getting tomorrow declared a holiday at work, so I have no doubt that we will be grouped around our respective computers to listen/watch the live feeds available--I don't want to wait for the replays and analysis later in the day. But the evening will be a time of celebration as the next chapter begins! The embarrassment & shame of the last eight years will FINALLY be over! I'm ready...

Festivities Were Had by All!

The month-long comings & goings of friends and family ended Monday--boy did we have some fun! The amazing appearance of storm-central went on for an extended time; the island (and us with it) hunkered down for one of the most pleasant holidays the four of us could remember. Nick & Devin were here for two weeks--it was a total fluke that Nick made it from Costa Rica as planned. How wonderful! We had some lovely days of snacking, catching up, reading, sleeping, and playing games.

We bid a loving farewell to the boys as they headed on to Seattle for Nick's last few days. Jim & I took a deep breath & then it was time for the 25th Thanksmus gathering at our house the following weekend.

Although usually between Thanksgiving & Christmas, this year's Thanksmus was postponed until early January for Julie's arrival--one of the founding 'mothers' for the gathering. Julie hasn't traveled to the NW for way too long and we had a great visit! Bonnie & Andy came for an impromptu afternoon visit from Pt. Angeles--how great to catch up! And then ten of us gathered for dinner & festivities--and fond thoughts went out to this year's missing players: Kerry, Naomi, Nick, and Mary. I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time for the game of Dictionary--Francois definitely has a future in comedy! What a gift of a lovely, laughing tradition!--thank you to Michael, Julie & Richard for launching such a good idea...

Then yesterday we attended a wonderful gathering celebrating Aunt Polly's 90th. What a gift she has been to all of us over the years, and we lift our glass to many wonderful years ahead! She has been such a source of love, humor & inspiration to all of us.

Whew! What a whirlwind month--it was so much fun. Through all of the festivities and the back-to-work drudge I've had zero time in the quilting loft. Gotta make up for some lost time soon! The Hambones (my small but mighty quilting circle gathered at my house on Thursday to launch a new year of plans & fun. I was fortunate to have my name first on the list for this year's project: signature blocks for each other (good idea by the other Judy!). By next month I'll have a stack of signed autumn blocks to make into a new quilt to enjoy! Hope the new year has started off as well for all of you--loving thoughts & thanks to all of you!

Monthly art practice--2009 Square in a Square Project

One of the annual goals I identified was to commit to a regular creative 'art' practice for the year. One of the surprise discoveries I experienced after I began blogging was the 'world' of creative people out there. Many blogs I've visited or routinely follow portray and share the journey of a daily, weekly or monthly creative endeavor. Approaches can include photography, painting, journaling, collages, etc. Two of my favorites this last year were Elin Waterston with her daily block print and Natalya Aikens with her weekly journal collages. There are many, many more out there and some web sites to help spur you on--like Illustration Friday (providing you with a concept or idea to be portrayed weekly).

I've spent some time exploring, thinking, planning for a 'challenge practice' for myself for this year and in the end, I think I will go my own way, rather than be involved in a group process.

My small quilting group spent a fair amount of 2008 working through the Art Quilt Workbook (by Davila & Waterston). My group had difficulty committing to the process due to time and also a varied level of comfort/discomfort with the process. I really enjoyed the projects we completed--and really liked the book. (The authors have now released a second volume that I've not yet seen, Art Quilts at Play--should be fun to explore as well.)

So to fulfill my 2009 goal I'm going to continue with the format, approach to the 'small quilts' done for the Art Quilt Workbook series:
Size: 9" x 12"
Overall theme: continue on with my Square-in-a-Square theme started in 2008
Time frame: each project to be completed no later than last day of each month
Other 'rules':
identify topic or technique for each of the 12 projects with the goal of getting out of my comfort zone (working on that now),
use up materials, scraps, leftovers for all as much as possible, and
have fun!
I've become preoccupied with the square-in-a-square idea over the last year--I 'see' the concept everywhere now & have collected a lot of media/fabric as well as inspirational pictures, etc.
Guess I better get going--only 28 days left for project #1!

Happy New Year!

2008 will certainly be a year to remember--may we all maintain some of the thrill and confidence of "yes we can!" as the unknown & uncertainty of 2009 begins.
New Years has a similar feeling to the first day of school for me: a chance at a fresh start, the new list(s), a clean slate, recommitment.
I've been watching & thinking about the tendency (or hesitancy) in making New Years resolutions. To be resolute implies change and most of us have a resistance to that, especially if it implies getting out of a habit or rut that seems familiar. There is something positive or empowering, however, in 'having goals' --even the prostitute friend in Pretty Woman asked her future roommate "do you have any goals?" Goals imply moving towards something--as opposed to arriving (like resolutions).

So in the spirit of starting fresh here are a few goals I'm ruminating on for the year 2009:

1. Revamp & continue on with my list of UFO's (unfinished objects--i.e. projects) to be completed. Only 8 of the 41 on the 2008 list reached the finish line. Not a great percentage, but many others are nearing that status, and the 'group' energy of our local guild was helpful in completing the old before starting the new. It was popular enough that it will likely have a repeat performance in 2009--but I'll be pursuing a revised UFO list either way
2. Organize & USE the many containers of scraps that have accumulated for 'later'. In the spirit of 'simplify, use it up, throw it out' I would like to use the old as much as possible this year.
3. Say thank you more often--I always think it & frequently express it, but I can & want to do better.
4. Find a repetitive art practice to encourage my creativity for the year. Many of my favorite bloggers I follow have been engaged in a daily, weekly, or monthly endeavor challenging themselves to stretch, explore, improve. I have some ideas--and hope to settle on a plan shortly. I want it to be a challenge, but not get in the way of all the other project plans for the year--translation: it will not be a daily project, likely monthly.
5. Walking, walking, walking. I used a simple pedometer a lot during 2008 & it was helpful. My workplace is sponsoring a 'get moving' project for employees this year--for $20 you get a very sophisticated pedometer allowing you to upload & track your info, while providing encouragement & information. I'm not much on the 'group thing' but some of those approaches can be the helpful nudge at times you need it. I didn't make the 5000 steps a day during 2008 but I'm game for that aim in 2009.
6. Continue on with the 'cleaning' idea at home. In mid-late 2008 I started 'picking a small item' each week (a drawer, a box, whatever--something achievable?!). I like the results--just need to keep it going. And in that vein: get all of the 'work boxes' out of the house--I like the idea of the work/home demarcation being more clear, less blurred.
7. Get the bills back on a more manageable system--procrastination just makes more piles & really has no value. (In 28 years together, the 'pile issue' has never really been solved in our house...)
8. Find another adventure that Jim & I can do together this year. The California vacation/art workshop was really great in 2008. 2009 might be less exotic but may the search begin!
9. In 2008 I tackled one of my art quilt weaknesses: circles. The three day workshop I went to was well worth it--I think I can successfully incorporate the technique into whatever 'round' idea I would want to portray. Along those lines, I want to make progress with two other weak areas for me: machine quilting & embellishment. Both are part of the 'finishing' process and often by the time I'm that far along with a project I just want it over--my sights are often on the next several ideas in the hopper. My long-term vision for a mid or long-arm machine will have to wait for some time yet--so I need to get more comfortable & productive with what I have. (This item certainly relates to the UFO list--'finish what you start', right?)
10. Do better at keeping in touch with dear friends & family. I so often have good intentions that do not take shape...

So there it is: a 2009 top-10 list. There are likely three times that many things I could think of--but these float to the top at the moment. Nothing earth shattering or particularly new. Hopefully that means they might all see some semblance of progress throughout the year. Ten is too many for true resolutions--goals seem more approachable. Resolutions seem more 'all or nothing' oriented--goals seem like they can be achieved in degrees. Let's see how I do as the year reveals itself--I'll provide some updates from time to time.
Meanwhile, warm & wistful thoughts for all of us in 2009. Let the roller-coaster ride begin!