thought for the day

Our mental and emotional diets
determine our overall energy levels,
health and well-being more than we realize.

Every thought and feeling,
no matter how big or small,
impacts our inner energy reserves.
--Doc Childre

The Changing Face of Alzheimer's in Blue

Once again I'm trying to do 2 things at once. The FFFC [Fast Friday Fabric Challenge] this month is Color Concept: Monochromatic + perspective. My theme for the year is people, so this is a BIG challenge for me. We were to pick our favorite color [purple for me] and then develop a perspective using our theme.

The first photo shows the paper print of my face; the second shows the fabric print. Quite a color shift. Therefore, instead of purples, I worked with blues in creating my challenge piece. Not yet quilted or finished. Now it is just up for comments. I will quilt and finish it to send to the Alzheimer's quilt sale. I'll post again when it is finished. Just wanted to show the difference in color between paper prints and fabric prints.

thought for the day

"There is only one way to happiness
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and that is to cease worrying about things
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which are beyond the power of our will. "
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-Epictetus

thought for the day

...............Every man's work,
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whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else,
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......is always a portrait of himself.
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--Samuel Butler

Turkey in my Driveway

I was tired when I drove in my driveway. Actually it is a shared drive between 2 two families. This is in the historic district, 1.5 blocks from the center of town. As I parked my truck I could NOT believe my eyes. A wild turkey was pecking at stuff on the black top drive. I got out quietly [didn't even close the door], went the long way around to go in my house and get my camera. The turkey seemed undisturbed. After he tired of pecking at the driveway, he went under a small tree beside my car. He pecked around there for a while. His head was in constant motion, bobbing and jerking as if looking for something. Then he went onto the side walk and started pecking between the stones of my dry wall that keeps back my garden.

Now if I lived in the country, this might not seem so unusual. However this district is tight with houses on lots between 44' and 66' wide. The usual pattern is drive, house, drive, house, etc. So the idea that I had a turkey, who didn't seem to mind my taking photos, really amazed me. Hope you enjoy these photos.

An Ancient Sanscript Poem

Look to this day for it is Life.
..........The very Life of Life.

In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence

The joy of growth
..........The splendor of action
....................The glory of power.


For yesterday is but a memory
..........And tomorrow is only a vision

But today well lived, makes every
..........yesterday a memory of happiness
....................and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day!

My First Year of Quilting

Fall 07 though September 08

Before I could quilt I needed a place to do it. I built a table into this planned balcony-workspace a few years ago. The dining room skylight becomes my balcony window. Only problem is when something goes over the edge and lands on the floor below. The balcony is a tight space, but I also use my bed in the nearby alcove to lay out fabrics and pile other stuff when the table is too too over flowing.

I really think I started my first quilt project, a cover for my mixer, in the summer of 2007. I was still quite ill so things went very slowly. I made some pillows and a throne cover to try and learn some of the steps. My first BIG quilt was a memory quilt for my Mom. Didn't have a clue how to sew it together. I just had an idea and the determination to get it done while she could still enjoy it. I made a LOT of mistakes. I learn a LOT about what not to do again and some real no nos of quilting. I also learn one can't dye after the fact when a small purse I made for my daughter got charred in the micro-wave when I tried to set the dye on the rope handle.

Sometime in late fall of 2007, after a lot of encouragement, I started a blog. The first one didn't work out. I loved the format, but after a month or so they wanted me to pay. With so many free blogs available, paying was not an option. I continually tweak the format.

As the year started, my health was still very fragile. It took me 6 months to complete my next BIG quilt, 'The Retrospective Theater'. It traveled to California for the 'Silver Screen' exhibit which was part of the International Quilt Festival-Long Beach. It is now featured in 'Quilting Arts Magazine' page 53. WOW! What a thrill for me.

I worked on 2 different quilts that finally became UFOs. Other projects were part of quilt group activities, for Mom or for gifts. I also have to quilts that are going into gallery shows. They can't be exhibited until I'm given the OK.

I felt this was a good month to do a review for 2 reasons: my birthday and also it is almost a year since I started a blog. Hope you enjoy the reminiscence.

Balcony work area seen from the dining room


one side of mixer cover


other side of mixer cover


throne cover


green pillow


basket pillow


pink star pillow


water color 'strips that sizzle' pillow


pillows on my built-in day bed


Mom's Memory quilt


Mom's memory quilt pillow with explanations


Mom's memory quilt pillow front


burned purse for my daughter


'Angels don't have wings' for an on-line show


'angels don't have wings' for green postcard challenge


'The Retrospective Theater'


'The Retrospective Theater' close up


'art from the heart' for a thank you


aluminum butterfly for a positive-negative challenge


positive butterfly half in situ


negative butterfly half in situ


frog for "It's the year of the frog"


frog side view to show dimemsion


Angel for Mom standing


hanging angel showing 2 of 3 bells


leaf square for a 'Lovie'

Nana

Just finished this 14x14 quilt top. I hope later it will be part of a larger quilt.

Thought for the day

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"I think what has this day brought me,

and what have I given it?"

- Henry Moore

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