Challenge quilts

The other day I sewed all the 16x 20 quilts together and put a sleeve on the top edge and hung it up. Then I took it down to hang up the quilt I needed to photograph to enter the AQS contest, then hung it back up. Whew the ladder got a workout too. Probably the most exercise I've got since this crappy cold weather set in. It's just too cold and dreary for walking (no matter how much I bundle up) and although the temps forecasted (sp?) for tomorrow sound good, rain is imminent. Boohoo! Since my spectacular week of Thanksgiving, when I walked over 30 miles, I have been a slug in comparison. Plus I've nearly eaten my body weight in candy. Ugh. I do not want to get that sweet tooth back. And my vehicle is acting up again.
Will stress and anxiety see me out of this year? Okay by me as long as it does not follow me into the next one!

2010 online challenge quilts

   So here's a photo of all my challenge quilts from 2010. I really did enjoy doing these and was able to put so much more of my heart into my work than ever before. I hope to continue the feeling with whatever art I make from here on out.

2010 challenge quilt

Alas, the 2010 online challenge has come to an end, as all good things must. I'm not sure where we are supposed to post the final installments so I'm showing it here.

  The final theme is "Destination". Very fitting place to end up, I think. This offering describes a happy place for me, the home body. I hope to someday get to that happy place, wherever it may be.(For some reason I remain the eternal optimist, despite my comments to the contrary.)
  I sewed all the challenge quilts together today and will post a photo of that on a different day. 

Holidaze

It's nearly over! I have not been a holiday person since forever and this year seems to be worse than other years. Worse than the year I asked my teenage children if they REALLY wanted a tree in the house. Being boys they had no preference one way or the other and it was fine by me to not have that dead plant in the house again, since the tree from the year before did not make it to the curb till nearly Easter. Ah, Easter. At least yummy chocolate bunnies are involved in that holiday.

   So here's the best I can do to summon up any holiday spirit. This is the card that was sent to all deserving friends and relatives for the xmas season of 2010. Enjoy. The caption on the card was something about food. This refers to the weight loss experienced at this domicile. You can lose 40 lbs in no time at all, if you quit cooking dinner!
 

Winter Solstice

Even though it was a few hours late, I had a solstice fire this evening. I missed my pyro buddy, but he had to go home and I had to attend a guild function. I spent ALL day at the zoo with my grandson and missed the actual solstice time preparing food and myself for the get together, but I did have a fire to celebrate the time of year. Unfortunately there is a tinge of sadness as was the case for the summer solstice last June. I do so hope my life gets back on track soon. I'm starting to believe it has something to do with planetary alignment. Just when I start feeling like things might improve, there's a full moon or equinox or the earth has a hiccup and I'm back at square one.
  But what else can I do but dust myself off and set on another course that might be in the direction I should be heading.  We'll see.

Artistic Validation

Dragon Moon

Today, I installed the wall hanging that a wonderful art supporter commissioned. I had a very hard time walking away from the quilt, but it's new person assured me it would be well loved in it's new home. I enjoyed every moment of creating the quilt and it was a total pleasure working with the art supporter. I wish everyday could be this fulfilling.

A date to remember

Today would have been my father's 100th birthday. He was born in 1910. For some weird reason this is special to me and I sent "Happy Birthday Dad" cards to my siblings to honor the occasion. It seemed like the right thing to do.

It's Official Now

Tonight I attended the Memphis Association of Craft Artists annual holiday party. My first function as the incoming president of this fine organization. The food was fabulous and plenty. It is an awesome responsibility and I hope I can live up to everyone's goals and expectations, especially since I have a tough act to follow. Gail Grice, the out going prez, raised the bar VERY high. Fortunately, the board is an outstanding group of people, who are willing to work for the members. Wish us luck for the coming year.