A Little Red in My Life...

Almost always when people get sight of my hand projects, they want to know who will receive it. Since so much work goes into them, my answer is some version of "I don't know" or "I can't give this away". This is true of  the quilt above, which I refer to as "the yellow quilt". This quilt was and is giving me trouble or should I say "lessons".

I've remade one block twice and still I couldn't get it right (notice the block way off to the left --Not only is it not quite in the picture, it has been booted out of the quilt).  I've also struggled with the  blocks lining up. The top row -- applique work -- measures fine. Three 12 inch finished blocks...perfect!. But the others range anywhere from 12 1/2 inches to 13 1/2 inches! Not so perfect!

I finally took out the Dutchman's Puzzle (first block, left, middle row) since it was the largest offender and have sworn to never, ever create another Sampler Quilt. So as you can see, there is a lot of work in creating a quilt! No wonder I often feel that I will keep them. (just in case you don't know, I hand piece and hand quilt. No brag, just want you to know... there is a LOT of WORK in creating a quilt!)   But I digress...I started by talking about not knowing who might receive the finished quilt.

Recently I was discussing with my BFF what colors she would like me to use in a quilt I'd make for her. As we were considering her color preferences (greens) she mused aloud, "maybe I should add a little red in my life". "I'm the red in your life!" I quipped. But when I returned home and began working on this, it became ever so clear to me that this was to be her quilt and that the quilt's name should be "A Little Red in My Life"!

BTW - shhhh...she doesn't know.

Our "To-Do" Lists as Art

Yesterday, my SNL, suggested we go to a public art installation that he saw featured in the Washington Post.  A couple from the area put up large chalk boards, left some chalk and encouraged passers-by to write. It seemed an interesting thing to do on a day that was warm and sunny.

All the way down I tried to think of what to write. Yet when I arrived, all I could do was read. Some of the offerings were outlandish and grand; but others were so sad and compelling that I wished I could hug the writers. "I want to go home". "I want to become a lawyer and pay my family's debt". "I wish my father would accept my sexuality and be proud of me". My own concerns--of the day at least--seemed small in comparison.   

Just as my heart was breaking, I heard Repeat and Shortie yelling "Come see what I wrote". And there in the painstaking writing efforts of a six and four year old  was "I want to visit another galaxy" and "I want to go to the Aquarium". Children. Wonderfully sweet,clearly loved children.

May we all get to do those things we most want and need to do long, long before we die...

and may we all come to believe that our lives matter ... because the way I see it ...they do.

Wiser on Wednesday - Our Deepest Fear - Marianne Williamson

Our Deepest Fear - Marianne Williamson




insert picture of the counted cross stitch I made for Repeat's birthday here. started Summer 2007 - completed April 2012

 see post October 28, 2009



Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

It's FINISHED!!!

Yes. well almost. I've finished ALL the quilting on Baby Girl's quilt! I'm soooo excited. Today... Tuesday, April 17, 2012, the quilting is COMPLETE!!! The only thing left to do is the label and the binding. Something called a "continuous binding" is supposed to be best. Something that my quilting friend--who lives several states away--can't tell me over the phone. But no worries! At least not today. Today...I am celebrating! Today... the quilting is complete! Today... I am that much closer with being "ta done" with this "to do"! Today... I am HAPPY!

Two-s - Day - to -do

Two small things for my ever increasing To-do List

1- go to as many different beaches as possible.

2- plant flowers in my DD's and DSnL's the garden (side yard or pathway -grin) of their first home

Two-s - Day

I just found out that there is a "protocol" for Thursday Thirteen. So until I work through it I'm creating a Two-s - day list...Two things instead of thirteen.

Here are Two things I want to accomplish in the next 200 days!

1- clear out every unneeded, unnecessary thing from the basement

2- turn the middle bedroom into a tranquil study

Two-s - Day

I couldn't think of thirteen things this morning! But I was determined to post so here are two!

Two things I want to do next year (2009)

1. ride in a hot air balloon
2. learn Tai Chi

Two-s - Day - learning

Two things I want to learn:

1- spanish

2- tai chai