Blessings and gratitude

Years ago, I started a practice of a daily journal in which I wrote at least 5 things for which I was grateful.  I did this for about a year and a half.  It is a wonderful practice; perhaps gratitude is like a muscle, it becomes stronger with use.  Now lest anyone be tempted to give extra credit for this practice, I must admit some evenings my postings were sad indeed, and really were not in the spirit originally intended.  Now if your sensitive, overlook this next part.  I think I once wrote: "I am glad I am not in the grave... I think."   You get the picture.  This is probably true of any practice, the point is to do it regardless; constancy and steadfastness, not perfection.

So, here in 2012, I want to do a reprise of a gratitude practice.  It seems to me, many times our unawareness of our gratitude is less a matter of lack and more just inattentiveness and forgetting in the rush of daily responsibilities and activity.  So in 2012, each month I want to focus on something for which I am grateful, remembering each day to attend to the blessings. 

This month, my focus is on my ability to see.  This is the sky I saw the other day here in North Carolina.... I pulled over on the side of the highway (way off I might add) to take some photographs. 

This winter has been spectacular: mild by any standards for NC, and fortunately we have been getting some rain, so to my knowledge we are not in a drought in the triad .  I am restraining myself from posting lots of photos of the sky as after a while (a short while) photos of similar images loose impact.... so just one.

When I returned from living in Key West, Florida for six years, I found a new appreciation for NC winters.  Prior to my NC sabatical, I just thought all the grays and browns were just boring and depressing.  Upon my return, I marvelled at the structure of the tree limbs and all of nature.  The limbs are like an inverse of the tree root systems: one can see their balance and design so well.  The subdued colors remind me that we all must rest.   Yes, we breathe out and are active, but we must also breathe in and rest and replenish our energy and indeed our spirit.

So, my wish for you dear reader, is that you also find rest and restoration in the winter's quiet here in the northern hemisphere; that each day, your attention is grabbed and held by the sublime beauty our eyes can perceive and our minds can comprehend.  May we all experience softening of our hearts.  Peace, b

Mom

A friend recently began a series on her blog called Folk Tales in which she reminiscences about her family elders: so tender and wonderful!  So, as I am wont to do, I think I'll follow her lead and begin to share about my family folk.

Recently, my Mom has been much on my mind and in my heart.  She has had a rough winter with 4-5 bouts of illness, the last being pneumonia about 3 weeks ago.  Yesterday the palliative care nurse (and close friend) told Mom she is improving, very welcome news indeed.

I don't really know where to begin to share my love and admiration for her.  As she has aged, she has grown in grace: amazing.  She began a practice of meditation and other spiritual disciplines in her seventies.  She continues to soften and enlarge her heart.  As anyone who has watched a loved-one age realizes, there are many losses to be endured.  Mom has an intentional practice of "letting go and surrendering."  I can imagine the angels singing her on as God delights in her willingness to dance this poignant, difficult and tender dance. 

Here are some of my favorite photos of her in her youth.

Blessings to you, Mom with profound love and respect, B

One Flower Wednesday

One would think it is March here in NC as warm as it is.  I've been taking the opportunity to get outside to make my photos for the blog... a great improvement!  Here's this week's flower:

The pale peach dotted fabric always seems to read as offwhite.

The Camellia is from a bush that was just tee-ninesty when I moved in; I think it was a volunteer.  We are in zone 7 for planting... to my knowledge folks have trouble growing camellias much north of here.  My sister in zone 6 can not grow them (even with her very green thumb!).

I do love mine.  They are of the Japonica species which, according to my records, are blooming a bit early this year.  Their blooms often peak through snow which will fall in February & early March.

Thanks for stopping by and hope all's well in your world!

Sign in for Janaury 2012 Quilt Square Quilt Along

Dear and fun Jo, at Jo's Country Junction is hosting a quilt along in 2012.  Our blocks are only 12" and come from the sweet pattern line by Lori Smith.  So here's my January 2012 posting of my first log cabin ever...  Over the years, I have collected reproduction fabrics, but for some reason rarely use them... so I used them in this block.  Here is a link to Jo's site, so you can see other blocks: Jo's Country Junction Reveal .  Here is website for patterns:  Lori Smith's website
Thanks so much to both of you.  (Once I figure out how to grab a button, I'll add it.)
 
The flower is a Lenten Rose from my garden.  The tonal violet goes well with the block, I think.  Lenten Roses (hellebores) often have very subtle colors and simple, fragile looking blossoms.  Nature's wisdom is evident in that these delicate flowers bloom when little else blooms here in North Carolina.  These flowers would be over looked in a summer garden with its riot of color. 

For others who love this flower, here is a tip for keeping them after cutting: cut the flower (you can cut a bunch & keep them in water until you are ready to process them them all.)  Dip the lower inch of the stems in just boiled water (read: piping hot... not kidding) then immerse them in tepid water (with flower perservative) up to their "necks" (the flower.)  I use a narrow tall cooler.  Leave them to "condition" over night.  I bet you could leave them until the tepid water got to room temperature.

Last year we used over 125 stems for table decorations for a women's retreat @ church.  We treated all of them like this and NOT A ONE wilted!  They lasted beautifully for over a week.  If you do not have any of these flowers, consider planting them.  Once established, they do fine in dry shade, even here in zone 7!

Hope all is well in your world... thanks for stopping by!

First One Flower Wednesday post for 2012

The flower with the lilac center and light outside ring is my most recent flower.  I was not tall enough to get them all in (and was too afraid to stand on the crumbly cement benches), so I recruited a tall (very nice) fellow in our office to get a higher vantage point.  He stood on the bench, perspective is a wonderful thing!  His photo follows....

Wasn't that nice of him?  I love working with wonderful folk.

Take a visit to Karen's wonderful blog where she has great links to hexi instructions and others who are in One Flower Wednesday:  here you go One Flower Wednesday link up. 

I did do some sewing & knitting over the Holidays (which starts in November and runs into January for my large, extended family.)  I gave some away, made progress on other projects, but only am now getting a new flower completed.  To me that means life is getting back to normal!

Our family is quite close... (and did I tell you LARGE?)  I have a son and a step daughter, between them, they have 8 children.  My daughter in law's family counts me as one of their own, and she is one of 4 children with 4 additional young ones.  I have 4 siblings with thier own children & grandchildren.  (My younger sister & her husband have 7 children.)  My mom is one of 4 girls, each of whom have 3-5 children of their own.  So when we gather, it is a happening, and we gather a lot.  My holidays include most week-ends away, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I hope you all had wonderful, joy filled holidays, and warm wishes for joy, hope, health and family in 2012!  B

One Flower Wednesday # 13 (but who's counting?)

A short post for today.... 
I am delighted to say that I find endless joy and satisfaction in English paper piecing.  Each new flower feels like a discovery as the color play unfolds.  Thank you to Karen who has hosted a most wonderful website to instruct and encourage us as well as helping to build community.... Go see her site as well as all the fabulous flowers at  Journey of a Quilter sign in page

So here is number 13:

Thanks for stopping by... and have a great week!  B  

One Flower Wednesday First of Advent 2011

Winter has arrived.  Yesterday afternoon, in anticipation practically freezing weather, I picked some of my last roses.  I must admit though, they looked better from a distance than they did up close! 

On a different note, I am delighted to finally have been able to "grab a button."  I learned how from Konda Luckau from her blog Moose on the Porch Quilts.  The link takes you to her blogging tutorial, so be sure to click to get over to her blog too!  She has other tutorials and a stars quilt-along happening too. 

My life has been a bit discombobulated lately, so not as much sewing or knitting getting done, but I do have a new flower for my garden...

Take a look over on Karen's wonderful blog for more hexis... Journey of a Quilter; she also has a wonderful tutorial page with great links too.

For those of us who celebrate Christmas in the western christian tradition, this past Sunday was our entrance into the liturgical season of Advent.  The word comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "coming."  Advent begins the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas day and ends Christmas Eve.  It is a season in which we renew our focus on our faith in anticipation of a new birth of God in our hearts.  Despite the hustle and bustle and distractions of my preparations for all our celebrations, when I take a moment, that feeling of being grounded in the great mystery brings me great peace.  Regardless of your faith tradition, I hope you accept my wish for you: May you be filled with "...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding."  Surely our loving Creator desires this for each of us.

Peace, B

Take a deep breath....

Thanksgiving has come and gone.... which means Christmas is fast approaching.

In years past I would make quite a lot of handmade gifts: knitted hats, scarves, cowls and Christmas stockings; reed baskets; linen and japanese print journal covers; pillows and other sewn gifts; spiced honey, vanilla sugar, decorated Moravian beeswax candles, della robia wreath candle holders out of salt dough, and North Carolina wreaths with mixed greens and natural cones with red ribbons.  Do you know when I REALLY want to start Christmas projects?  Right about NOW... and especially right AFTER Christmas... boy have I got a timing problem.

When I make gifts after Christmas, they are always long gone by the time Christmas comes around... so here I am on November 29, less than four weeks from Christmas wanting a hand made Christmas... but I can see on my calendar what is ahead: working more than full time, traveling week-ends and LONG days of continuing education (truth be told, I do get some knitting done while in class!)  Still, I guess there is still time to complete a few things...

So while looking around for seasonal images, I found this

Oh my, how cute are they?  And they are little (read quick.)  So, I think I may, I think I might have some little stockings to knit.... and just in case YOU too want to knit a sweet little stocking or two... here's the link:  Little Cotton Rabbits website with free super cute patterns...

So off I go to dig out my tee ninetsy double points... can't wait.

Thanks for coming by!

A Poignant day...

Such a poignant day... Today has been a glorious fall day in North Carolina with many of the tobacco-gold colored leaves still on our trees, stunning when surrounded by the rich deep green of the pines and brilliant against a classic cloudless Carolina Blue sky... the temperature is cool and refreshing.  (Sorry no photos today.) 

A little over a week ago, a friend, Ann, sent a flyer to me announcing a sale of an individual's sewing goods (Joyce.)  In her day (only a little over a year ago), Joyce was a highly accomplished quilter and appliquer.  She did most everything "except the binding" by hand according to our mutual friend Ann.  Joyce designed many, many lovely applique blocks and was a leader of and very active in both of her Greensboro guilds.  An amazingly talented, vibrant and generous soul... and now, she is quite ill and is in a nursing home...

Her husband (and family) have had to make what I am sure was a difficult and emotional decision to open their home and allow folks to come and buy her fabrics, books, machines, furniture, partially competed projects, patterns and notions.  Before I left this morning to go to her home, I sat down and wrote a little note to the family.  I could not (and still can not) quite get past how very poignant and difficult this must be for them on so, so many levels... so I wrote a little note.  I want them to understand that she was well respected and many of us who take her things home feel privileged and will remember her and them as we use her things.

Her grown daughter and son were there and I really enjoyed talking with them; they are both delightful and charming.  They did seem grateful when one acknowledged how sad this occasion is and how difficult this process must be for them.  There were times when I felt that her children might have been a bit baffled by her stash of fabric, books and patterns.  Those of us who do handwork and sew were less amazed by the stash than of how orderly everything was.  She had applique patterns and their templates all organized in 3 ring binders, with little envelopes attached to heavy notebook paper to hold the pieces that were cut.  Her original drafting of the blocks on graph paper was often included. There were notes about when the blocks were made, who was involved (even with email and phone numbers included); often they were guild projects.  She combined like projects in the same binder if room allowed.  She used some cool plastic things which allowed for booklets to be included in the binders (like in her Mola themed notebook.)  I sat in the floor for a very long time marvelling at her organization and attention to detail as well as admiring her exquisite taste.  She even had a binder with plastic sleeves in which there was a collection of oriental fabrics she had obviously used for fussy cutting.  Treasures all.

What was so difficult for me was realizing how so much of one's life can be dismantled in a matter of hours (not taking into account how long folks must have worked to get it all in order).... fat quarters all in boxes sorted by color (had she kept them that way?) small boxes priced with partially completed projects in them... grab bag like.

Now, I had to remind myself that her completed projects are in her childrens' homes, and many, many others have her creations... those will last; those will hold memories of her for family and friends. 

My sympathy for her family and the profound feelings of how transitory life is have slowed me down today...

After leaving about 1pm, I travelled from Jamestown down to Asheboro for the Randolph Quilters' Guild 2011 quilt show.  Really lovely, with some exquisite work... They have some amazing professional and amateur quilters... the tiniest flying geese blocks I have ever seen... one half inch, if that.

I also saw a wonderful Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt... I've been pondering how to finish mine and I liked this setting... double flowers, with connectors, and then 2 rows of outline connectors around the outside of the flowers in this largish throw.  The outer-most row was filled in with hexi's of the same color similar to the look of setting blocks... then the whole top was appliqued onto a border that was about one & a half times as wide as the one inch hexi's.  The corners were not 90 degrees, but rather angled, sort of like they were beveled.  I also realized I probably don't need as many flowers as I thought I would to do a large throw.

I got to see a lot of friends and was very inspired by the Guild's show.  I only bought one thing to bring home: a lovely rag throw rug for my guest room.  After being immersed in Joyce's family's sadness I realized (again) that I have a gracious plenty fabric.  I needn't buy another piece of fabric in my whole life and I still probably would not never use it up.  And, I haven't even mentioned my knitting stash!!!  Geesh.

I did buy a couple more tickets for their raffle quilt.  It is wonderfully HAND QUILTED!  (Please, please, please let me win it!!)   There is a big modern baltimore album style embellished basket with rouched flowers and embroidery... on black background and an appliqued and pieced border.  (I promise I would love and care for it... please?  I can be quite a lucky girl sometimes!)

So, as this day draws to a close, I think I'll head home for a quiet evening... and perhaps I best get on some of my UFOs! 
Thanks for stopping buy...  

Back again!

Well, long time, no see!  Being a CPA, I was swamped for the October 15 final due date for personal tax returns here in the US of A.  We even had some which were filed late!!! Eeeyikes!  This was followed by a complicated corporate real estate transaction... so no blogging, little sewing.

Still, now all's right with the world and I am resuming what I now consider "normal routine;" this includes blogging. 

Now, be warned, I think these photos were taken while I was in a daze, as they are a bit fuzzy...



Oh my gosh.... not only fuzzy, but where o where was my iron?
 
I also want to share with you all my mostest favoritest paper clips... they are rectangular, with a heart of sorts in the middle.  They are shorter than the normal "trombone" shaped clips, so they stay out of my way.  They are also a bit wider, so they hold my fabric a bit more secure.  One can get them at most office supply stores.  Hope you can give them a try sometime!

You can check out other folks hexi postings at Karen's One Flower Wednesday page on her fab web site Journey of a Quilter  Don't forget to click on her page One Flower Wednesday (different than sign in page) for fantabulous tutorials which ensure elegant and wonderful hexi flowers.  Thanks Karen!
Hope you are all well.  See you next week!

One Flower Wednesday Week 10

Well, I am excited to see my garden grow, but now I feel like I want to start to see them joined together.  I've been debating about this a bit.  They are scrappy and I want to ensure they look balanced once put together... So I don't want to start yet.

Still, I have some of the joining hexi's made.  I think I'll start making them each week... but not until AFTER October 17th (the final tax filing date for indiviuals in the US.)  I am an accountant and can hardly do anything but work for the next week and a half.

See all the wonderful hexi's folks are making by visiting Journey of a Quilter where the wonderfully generous Karen hosts us all. I had to laugh, that after writing about having a desire to start joining my hexi's several of the posts showed how they are joining theirs!  One person had just this week started that process, so I guess I am right on time.


Hope all's well in your neck of the woods!

First One Flower Wednesday of Autumn 2011!

Last Friday was the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Autumn.  Autumn, a pensive second spring wherein the earth explodes in color, bearing seeds and fruits, all in anticipation of Winter: a season of rest... well, I don't rest in Winter, but if I took my cues from Mother Earth I would!

Still, I love the warm colors of Autumn.  I love how the light is different, with the sun in a lower trajectory the air seems clearer, brighter.  I bought local honey and quilted crystal jars to make up spiced honey for gifts for the fall.  Well, I could go on and on... perhaps another day.

For now: One Flower Wednesday!  Please check out Karen's inspiring blog where you will find great information about how to do English Paper Piecing as well links to the wonderful flowers posted this week... Click here for Karen's blogs with links 

And here are my flowers for today.  I usually do 2 row flowers (19 Hexi's) but I'm a bit over-extended, so I have two 1 row flowers (14 hexi's) this week. 

Hope you have a wonderful week!  We are expecting some cooler weather... and our trees are beginning to change... all good!

One Flower Wednesday

We have had a change in season here in North Carolina.  Today we are having a wonderful rain... soft, steady, refreshing our dry soil and rinsing the dust off of our plants and trees...most welcomed.  It is a bit cooler also.  So my desire is for fall colors, comfy sweaters and a good book.

Today is also our weekly check in for One Flower Wednesday hosted by our dear Karen... stop over at her blog and take a gander at the great English Paper pieced flowers folks are posting.  Karen's blog

This past week, my public English Paper Piecing has garnered lots & lots of interest... I gave a mini lesson to folks in my 3rd Monday applique group, and generated interest Tuesday while attending Sew Original's Block of the month.  This makes me so happy... I feel like an English Paper Piecing evangelist!  Join the fun!

My new companion

I can count on this friend... dependable, predictable, gentle, low-maintenance, effective... what? effective?  yes:

One of my Hop To It blocks had been doused with ice which had fallen into my purse while in the kitchen at Church.  I didn't realize until I got home.  The darkest aqua color ran all over the white back ground.  (When I photographed it, it just looked like a shadow, so didn't include in post.)

Kathleen, my applique guru advised Oxi Clean.  Trusting her implicitly, I bought some.  Generally, I use cold water to remove stains, but the directions advised warm to hot.  I used warm, adding the recommended quantity of the powder, immersed the whole block in the solution and allowed it to sit for maybe 20 minutes.  I rinsed thoroughly (took several times to get the slick feeling out of it.)  I hung it to dry.  Later, after a thorough inspection, I ironed the block (upside down on top of toweling.)  Not even a shadow of the color-run remained.  Now, Oxi Clean has the prized place of honor on my cleaning shelf... my new friend and companion.  I also like that is does not use harmful bleach, but rather enzymes to do its magic: easier on the fabric and no color fade.  I still need to do the research to see how environmentally friendly it is. 

And I have learned a lesson.  I know there is some debate as to whether one ought to wash fabrics prior to sewing with them.  When I buy yardage or fat quarters, I always wash them first, but when I bought kits I have not.  Well, I think that is going to change.  Now, I think I will sort the fabrics in the kit and then gently soak them in the sink for a bit to see if they run before including them in my project.

A happy ending for me.

One Flower Wednesday... A weekly event!

Karen's One Flower Wednesday is so helpful!  A week can easily slip by if I don't have something to help me keep track.  See more folks' flowers at Karen's wonderful website here:  Journey of a Quilter... and if you have any interest in English Paper piecing... even if you are already doing this technique, check out her page with all the weblinks by clicking on the One Flower Wednesday button.  I love the How-To Hexigon Flowers Part 2 instructions  Link to favorite Hexi instructions.  I probably do too much work, itsy bitsy whipstitches (@ 18-20 per inch) using a buttonhole type stitch (see instructions link above) and knotting at each corner, but the neatness & results front and back give me great pleasure... plus I think it will really hold up over time and use.  Hope your garden is growing!

Stewardship

A friend, Mrs. Goodneedle, has used this word "Stewardship" in several different contexts.   (For link to her wonderful blog,click here) One, is a new idea for me: our use of time.  I've always thought of the giving of time to Church or charities as a response to Stewardship campaigns (such as in "Time and Talent" info given to Churches and actual work in committee and service work) but I never connected the dots that how I spend ALL my time falls within the context of Stewardship.  Doesn't this just seem so right though?  Our lives are a gift to us, how we use our time can be an intentional response to that gift.

Some of us are joining our friend as she shares her personal experience in bringing her use of time into this realm of the Spirit.  Periodically, I'll post my response to this journey.  Peace, b

Hop to It: Block 8

I am having a bit of a tussle with this one fabric... the lighter green print used in the stems and Calyx.  Everytime I use it, I am surprised by how it behaves with others, despite auditioning; it is a morphing fabric.  It changes between auditioning & stitching; sometimes it changes its color family... going too olive, sometimes (often) it changes value.  Even in this photo is shows up differently than in real life... The photo has more value punch than when viewing the block on the design wall (after stitching, it was fine in audtition.) I had really wanted the value of that second set of stems to be in between the dark fluid stems/leaves and the rest of the block so that the beautiful movement and interaction of the stems would be the predominate feature of the block.  Ah well.

One thing I have learned is to "move on."  I used to rip out everything I didn't like or just abandon the project all together.  Consequently, few projects were completed.  Now, I ascribe to the principle: "Done is better than just right."

I can't claim them as "humility" blocks, as I understand that humility mistakes have to be INTENTIONAL!  (Can I just tell you how much I admire the spiritual maturity of those who, in an effort to keep their pride harnessed, will add an intentional and noticable pattern error.  Bless them, bless them.)

Back to this quilt... I think I will not use that fabric again.  Still... Block 8 done in time for next week's workshop! 

A solemn anniversay

I just returned from a lovely retreat with 15 other Episcopalian women from around the state... We met at Avila Catholic Retreat Center in Durham.  What a wonderful place for reflection and renewal.  Avila Website  I am refreshed and restored.   They are such sincere and thoughtful women who have great capacity to love and are willing to plumb difficult questions.

Following the retreat, three of us talked about a book we had read in anticipation of the 10th anniversary of 9-11; written by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Cantebury: Writing in the Dust.   He was in Manhattan that morning, at Holy Trinity Church. Two years later, he wrote this book. It is no longer in print, but we found excellent used copies. At less than 80 pages in length, it is profound. Although very articulate, he makes no attempt to simplify the issues, if anything he communicates how complex our reactions and the ramifications are... much food for thought as we look back to that fateful day and then forward to put the last ten years in perspective.

Although horrific, the stories of how people acted with such profound selflessness and generousity lift my soul.  I am reminded of Lincoln's first inaugral address... modifying it slightly:

The mystic chords of memory, stre[t]ching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus..., when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

If you lost a friend or loved one in that devastating series of events, or have family or friends who have paid a price in our country's military response, my prayers are with you. 

Hop To It: More Blocks

Hope you are enjoying a wonderful week-end... it is still a bit hot here, but absolutely beautiful...

I've taken a couple of photos of earlier Hop To It blocks... so here goes:

Block 1

Block 3

Block 2 photo didn't work, so will post that later...

The Shop Hop was a lot of fun and the stores really did knock themselves out.  I got to all of them & turned in completed passport... Plus I bought tickets for all the Raffle Quilts on display.  So, unless my luck has run out, I out to win SOMETHING!  I'd certainly love one of the machines, as the one I am using now is not computerized, so no needle down... still it sews well, and I am grateful for that!  One of the raffle quilts was hand quilted... so lovely... fingers crossed!

One Flower Wednesday Loving English Paper Piecing

This week's flower:

Hmm, my screen shows the center hexi fabric a tad on the blue side, but it really is more of a lilac, less of a lavender color.  Occasionally, the Ralph Laurenish ribbon fabric lines up where the hexi's meet giving the illusion of a continuous line.

Here in this neck of the woods, we are gearing up for our first quilting Shop Hop with 8 stores participating. The stores are a bit far ranging: one is @ 25 minutes southeast of there, another is @ 40 miles northwest.  Since I can be a very lucky girl, I'm going to try my best to make them all because of the possible prizes: a Bernina 430, Baby Lock Sohia II, Janome Sewing Machine, or a Sizzix Big Shot cutting machine... any one of these would be a well loved tool in my home!

Happy stitching... and if you too are going to be on the road... Travelling Mercies!