Fun stuff and success

First, the art stuff -- I am working on a new class to teach about messing with fabric using stamps, stencils, etc. A one-day class does not give us enough time to carve eraser stamps. So I have been playing with sticky back foam sheets. Fun and easy. Here are some that are successful.

A sorta art thing:  someone at my church is starting a Sunday class using The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I have taught classes around TAW for 14 years in the past and can always use a tune-up. But, more than that, this might be a way for me to meet some more people there. I have been struggling about fitting into this church. for a long time. Churches are not always easy to meld into, especially being a single woman without family there. I am encouraged to find this option. 

A couple fun things around Westminster today: traffic was backed up on Main Street this afternoon behind a horse drawn open carriage carrying a bride and groom through town. It was nice to see drivers being patient and giving them time and space. Back home a bit later, I looked out my back door and saw this brilliant hot air balloon sailing close by. Nice colors against the blue, blue sky.

And, as if all this wasn't enough to make a great day, I found the missing link to make my bookkeeping reports balance. Whew! Now I can reassure my boss that I am ready to meet with the auditor to get the review started. A relief!

Almost forgot, here's the link to the CBS segment on the Stitching History project here in Baltimore. Many quilters and other volunteers have been working on this project all summer and last night, the "new" Star Spangled Banner, an exact replica of the original, was hoisted up from many hands holding it at Ft. McHenry. Mimi Dietrich supervised the creation of the stars and is featured in the video.
 http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50155101n

Thanks for stopping by. Karen

SAQA entry

The SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) auction is underway. My 12 x 12'' is on page 3A - "New Growth". Today it was a thrill to see it featured in the weekly SAQA newsletter.

The auction is a fundraiser to help keep this great organization going. If you are interested in acquiring an original quilt, check it out. Here's the link http://www.saqa.com/gallery-mini-detail.php?ID=2416

Back to work - I am working on a new class to teach. More later. As we enjoy this changing weather, let's keep the folks in CO and NJ in our thoughts and prayers as they deal with the horrid effects of weather. Karen

Catching up

I'm not very faithful about blogging - I think about it often - sorry. Today is some catch-up posting.

I've been busy on the art front. A bit ago, I helped paint an 8' x 8' 'quilt block' for the Carroll County Arts Council. A total of ten were painted by other quilters and will be displayed on barns in the area. This is similar to the Barn Quilts in Garrett County, MD http://garrettbarnquilts.org/ and 30 other states. I helped create the crazy quilt design.

Been spending a lot of time decorating scarves for the show in November. I want to finish them so that I can sew again - I miss my Janome time. Here are some of the scarves I have been creating with stencils, stamps and other mark making tools. I love this stencil from Stencil Girl Products (an angel company).

 

I really like the shading in this one.

Here's a scarf that I made last year, but it did not sell. I added some textures to it and like it much better. Hope it goes home with someone.

I finished my birthday week by seeing The Butler. I highly recommend this movie. It is well done and Forrest Whittaker deserves an Oscar - as does the make-up artist - he and Oprah age decades in this film. The film depicted some of the worst ways people treat each other - still hard to see. I've been watching episodes on DVD of Downton Abbey - lots of class issues there as well. Food for thought.

One last thing. Sunday I met with my guild mini-group. Two members gave us a lesson in zentangle making. I can easily see why so many people love doing these. Here's the start of mine.

With all the other things I need to do right now, I have to put this aside. Time to focus.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll try to be more faithful in posting.
Karen

Continuing

the birthday happenings. Little things make life so wonderful. All we have to do is pay attention and savor them. Here's some from this week.

Walking into the room where I work one day a week and having everyone sing Happy Birthday.

Emails from friends and many quilters -- even one from someone I have no clue who they are -- that gave me a smile, as if there is an angel out there wishing me well.

Waking up on my birthday in a glorious state of calm and happiness, then finding out later that my Benedictine friends were praying for me at that exact time.

Laughing with my son during our second phone call yesterday when he realized that it was my birthday and had forgot to wish me HB earlier.

Getting an email tonight from a friend after several years of no contact, reading she got married in March and moved from GA to DC, closer. I hope we can connect in person soon.

And this beautiful weather has added to my joy - open windows, sunshine and cool nights.

Having my grands sing to me again yesterday and today.

The little things mean so much. Who sang that song?

What little things are you cherishing right now?

Thanks for letting me share my joys. Karen

The birthday feast

was just great - two trays of manicotti, fresh beans from my daughter's garden and lots of ice cream. But no one noticed my hair or just didn't want to say anything about it. Folks today where I work agreed it was fun. Here's a so-so photo.

Here I am surrounded by all five grands. A great group.

And here's the requisite funny one.

Today's treat for my birthday week is to start the  

Artful Card-Making Techniques Instructors: Jane LaFazio  & Joanne Sharpe Then go to bed early and read. No work tonight. It's free and should be fun. Here's a link http://www.strathmoreartiststudio.com/. Thanks for reading. Karen

It's birthday week

A little history and yuck to start this post. Birthdays have always been a very mixed bag for me. Growing up, birthdays did not exist in my family. Since my birthday was right around the start of school, the family focus was more on getting me in school than celebrating me. Over the years, a number of family tragedies occurred on or next to my birthday. Heavy stuff. So, I tried to ignore my birthday for many years and would not celebrate it. Of course, my daughter and son would not let that happen and have always had a celebration. But I don't count the great birthday evening my son and I spent in the ER getting his eyelid stitched up and repaired after his encounter with a barbed wire fence - we postponed celebrating til the next day. Add to this, a general heaviness and even depression that have always surfaced in August -- I attribute this to body memory of my early years - stuff I wish would totally go away.

Now, on to the good stuff.

A number of years ago, I started celebrating me on my birthday. One year, I celebrated for an entire month, doing little things every day. Several years, I have hosted some of my women friends for dinner and laughter. I enjoy the family gatherings even more with all my grandchildren. There's nothing like having little people sing to you and want to help blow out the candles. Today is this year's party with a couple twists. I actually requested what I want to eat (manicotti). and I am supplying the dessert - the grocery store had Ben & Jerry's ice cream on sale, so I bought six different flavors for most of us to gobble up ( the youngest kids get plain ice cream since that's what they like).

I also decided to celebrate for a week this year and do something cool every day for me. Today's the party. Yesterday I did something I wanted to do for a while -- get a spikey haircut! (a photo will follow tonight or tomorrow - I do not know how to use the camera on my laptop). When I asked Donna to do something different, maybe spikey, she got excited and said YES! and had great fun. It is cool and I can put the hairdryer away. Fun, fun, fun! I have to go out to run some errands soon and am wearing my black t-shirt (I never wear black, even with this silver hair I have) and am stopping at my daughter's to get something from her shed. I'm curious to see if anyone notices there.

This is all part of closing in on 70 - I'll be 68 on Wednesday and have been journaling about how I want to live and what I want to do for this next chapter. I definitely want more fun, more love and more adventure. Today I'm happy and ready for new fun.

Thanks for stopping by, Karen