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!

25 days--can we just start now!?

With all of the frenzy over the weather, the holidays arriving, you look away and then look back: it's less than four weeks away until the Obama inauguration! 25 days!!
Information abounds about all of the new appointments, new faces, new influences on the soon-to-be Obama administration. I liked this link I found today as a quick reminder, overview for the whole team (even though there was music involved!); have a feeling that I'll return for a reminder here & there as things get 'underway'.
The annual poll 'who do you admire most' just conducted has Obama far ahead of any other (over 35%)--which is a great place to be starting a 'trial-by-fire' term. (First time since Eisenhower that an incoming president-elect filled that slot. Of note, GW Bush is 2nd (5%) & J McCain is 3rd (about 3%), and Sarah Palin is 2nd for most admired women (about 11%). Dang--still! Hillary, however, still reigns in the #1 spot--and has mostly maintained that spot for over fifteen years. Again, a good thing for the incoming administration that 'the public' starts with good thoughts at the beginning of what certainly will be a long slog.
I was reminded this week that not all of us were winners on the home front in November. My Arizona brother pointed out that even though collectively we all gain from Janet Napolitano moving to the Obama cabinet, the governor's seat will revert from blue to red at home; and Senator/candidate McCain had some coat tails at home which moved the state legislature to firmly red both houses. The Arizona flip flop from blue to red to blue over & over is not a new surprise, but it is disappointing that our national gain enhanced their loss at home.
In other national winner/loser catch up, however, we may have gotten a Christmas eve present from the Minnesota supreme court: it looks like Al Franken may really be 'the one', can you believe it? Although the certification of the election (which will surely have court battles to follow) is not expected until after New Years, Franken is now 46 votes ahead. So the 'unknown' senators are narrowing down.

In Memorium

Another amazing woman--a true pioneer & role breaker for all of us--passed away yesterday. As long as I can remember, Eartha Kitt was so vital, so positive, so sensual. She was open about the challenges of being a mixed-race child of a single mother but never bitter (at least publicly) or apologetic. At the time, I was a bit disdainful of her taking the Cat Woman part on Batman (the series), but in hindsight--it must have been a hoot, and a risky, bold thing to do. She will always trump Madonna on 'Santa Baby' in my book!
And it sadly is a season for paying honor, as Harold Pinter also passed away this week. Also such an influence on my generation--not just as a playwright, writer, but an activist willing to speak his mind. I'm so glad that he received the Nobel while he could still revel in the fact that he was respected & admired on a grand scale.

Merry Christmas!!

The Arctic Blast!

This winter stuff is getting CRAZY! We've had snow on the ground for a week now (an uncommon occurrence in Puget Sound). It has been just beautiful, although brutal at times. We've had temps down in the teens at night and the snow accumulation has been ten inches or more, depending on where you are on the island. Many days of minimal car travel & the kids around town have been having a blast sledding, building snow forts, etc.
It can be Grinch inspiring in the work world--trying to figure out how to get people's needs met--but all in all, it's been relatively OK. Since I'm closest to the office--I've had a few wild & woolly days being mostly on my own with the usual daily grind, but everyone has tried hard to do what they can--and that's all you can ask. No power outages as yet--the dire predictions of extremely high winds did not come to pass. The dog & cat have been pretty clear they are staying inside, except for extreme potty breaks or (in Cassie's case) a quick romp in the new skiffs. Definitely a good time to catch up on reading, baking, decorating & movies.
Christmas will be here sooon! I took a couple of hours to make some simple pillow covers to add a little holiday cheer--they were fun. Think I might make some for the holiday sale next year!

Much to be Thankful for!

Wow--this month is really scooting by! So many events since posting last.
We had a great Thanksgiving holiday--lots of food, family fun, and relaxation was had by all.
Thanks to everyone who traveled so far to be together for a brief time. It was great to catch up, share news & hugs, and play awhile. I love it when we have enough on hand to put the leaf in the table!
It was our first chance to see the 'newlyweds', Joe & Amy--that was a treat. The wedding quilt had just come off the quilting machine before their arrival.

So we 'presented' it, but I wasn't able to send it to it's new home quite yet, as it still needed binding, a hanging sleeve (just in case...) and a label. Those tasks are almost finished so it will be mailed very soon after Christmas--sorry guys!
Just a note about the quilt: it's a one-block-wonder creation (the lower right panel is the original fabric). It went together much better in the 'trip-tic' format and was much fun to design. My friend, Arlene, quilted it--and did some great work; there's even a little quilted crane in the lower left side!

We're gearing up for the next holiday fun fest--it will be here before we know it!