The show is history

I woke up Friday morning with a great sense of relief  and excitement - the show was about to begin - at last. And now it is over. Lots of mixed emotions and just plain being tired.

If you have never been involved in having a booth at a craft show, I can tell you it is very little glamour and lots of hard work. But usually fun. It's been eight years since I stopped participating in the show circuit. This past weekend reminded me of the highs and lows. And now it is over.

Here are some photos of my booth in full regalia.

I am so thankful for all the help from family and friends and for all my friends who came to visit. Some former students and dear friends sent me some congratulatory flowers today - a bouquet of sunflowers and lovely purple somethings - a great contrast of colors. They know my love of purple.

How was the show, you may be asking after following me for months now? I had a lot of fun and talked to many, many people (lots of quilters). Compliments were shared freely and frequently. I felt a bit like Sally Field: "you like me". Sales, however, were low - some disappointment for me to process and just accept "it was what it was". And now it's over.

Time to rest a bit, get back to my usual routine and then pick up the unfinished projects and move forward. Thanks for following this journey.

Oh, I can check this off my bucket list and pick the next right thing. What are you moving toward?

Karen

Really close

Two days and closing in on the start of the show. Today we set up the booth. We got there early and had no wait on the loading dock. I'm guessing that tomorrow will be much busier with lots more exhibitors coming from out of town. That's why we went today. The booth looks good. The quilts look good hanging up together. I used several from my southwest series to start the show. My son helped and when I asked what he thought, he said I use color well. That's pretty good coming from a really good photographer. I'll  take a photo of the booth before the show opens to share in this blog.

So, it's really happening. My hardest task of the day was deciding what clothes to wear for three days. I thought about a dress, but it has no pockets and I like to have pockets at shows. Plan B includes some nice pants with accent pieces. The suitcase is packed and I'll be off to the monastery where I'll be staying in the morning.

I'm thankful the show is almost here, for this springlike weather and for all the help and good wishes from family and friends. And I'm ready for showtime.

Karen

Three days!

At last, it's almost show time. I've spent so much time getting ready and anticipating this show that I'm antsy and tired of waiting. Now, it's time for real action. Today I borrow my daughter's minivan and start loading it. Tomorrow my son and I head downtown to unload and set up the booth. Whew!

Thursday I'll move in with some friends for a couple days and spend the day at my bookkeeping job.

Then it's really show time on Friday. Woo Hoo! Say a prayer for me that all this goes easily with no problems. Thanks.

This show is big for me for several reasons. It's a great opportunity to show and sell my work. It is an honor to have juried into the show and be included with so many outstanding artisans. And it's a dream come true. I have done a lot of craft and art shows over the past 20 years and have dreamed of doing this one. So, come Monday morning, I get to check this off my bucket list. Life is so very good.

What's on your bucket list?

Karen

More twinchies

I took some time this past week to play with more twinchies.
These were made from leftover pieces from the last shoulder bag I made for the show. I never thought I would be having fun with such small pieces, but I am. After I cut all the 2" squares, I had to put something together. This Kokopelli cloth jumped out and became the center. First, though, I bordered the image with a hand dyed orange piece. Then I arranged twinchies all around the image as a sort of frame and fused them down. Twinchies formed the next border with a bit more orange on the outside. I hope to have time to quilt and bind it tomorrow or Monday, then add it to my inventory.

Tomorrow we celebrate Abigail's 15th birthday. How did that happen? She is a delightful 15 year old. I am so happy to be her Mimi. Here she is with her cousins, Juliana and Bella - all three of my girls together.

Karen

In the homestretch

I'm down to one week until the show. It's time. I am eager to set up and meet all the visitors to the show. This week was focused on final details and a lot of administrative stuff - pricing, labels, signs, packing quilts, gathering all the stuff needed to do a show.

I took a break and visited my friend in Delaware overnight. We had a good visit and caught up on many topics. On the way home, I was able to stop at Assateague National Seashore and walk along the beach. It felt so good to be near the ocean and hear the surf, walk on the sand and relax and be refreshed. I want to plan a longer trip after the show is over - probably spend some time near the Chincoteague Refuge and just sink into nature. I love the quote from the book of Job: "listen to the earth and it will teach you." I am ready to listen and be taught.

Today, it was 50 degrees here in Westminster - a great day for a walk. Surprises popped up everywhere in the form of flowers and greenery breaking through the dirt. Yes, it is early to see crocus and vinca and pansies, but I am loving this mild winter. I am very happy to be free of possible snow next week. Here are a couple of the surprises on my walk. Lovely.

What tells you that spring is on the way?

Karen

Little things ...

Today I welcomed coffee and chocolate back into my life. How wonderful to be back to normal.

After spending a few hours organizing for that show, I pulled out some fabrics and started building strata to make another bag. It's amazing how doing what I love changes everything. My spirit lifts and focus returns. Joy. It is so easy to get tied to things that need to be done and put off what feeds me. I can only do that for a couple days and then I get on my own nerves. Today was grand. Chocolate. My favorite decaf coffee. Pasta for dinner. Time to sew. The snow melted. I called a friend and reserved a room in her house for an overnight next week. Lots of little things that bring contentment. Life is good.

What brings you joy?

Karen

Hooray for chicken soup

The nasty virus is history for me, but I am still eating lightly. The funny thing is that I have had no desire for my decaf coffee or my dark chocolate treat since last Wednesday. For now it's tea and toast.

I did get some things done in the past few days. Nothing exciting, just those mundane things. I made hangers for all the wall quilts. I got the merchant card thing straightened out. I emailed the world with show and discount info. I delivered postcards to a couple shops. I got labels on all the quilts. The list is getting smaller. Whew!

In the midst of trying to get better, I got a phone call from the local art council asking me to be an exhibitor in a quilt show. How nice to be invited to show my work.

I have a few days at home to do what has to be done and maybe play with those "twinches" I made, when? Let's see what I can get done tonight and get organized for tomorrow.

What was the last surprise phone call that you received?

Karen

This was the week that wasn't

Or maybe I should say that this was the week that dissolved. First into some tough stuff that ruffled my feathers, nothing earthshaking, just stuff that I let bother me and had to spend time fixing. Then on Wednesday night I had a very unwelcome visitor -- the nasty digestive system virus that is "going around". Two of my grands had it, but somehow the virus decided to stay longer with me. I am back up today, but just going outside and downstairs to do laundry is using up a lot of energy. Enough of that. I am on the mend.

I had emailed some friends about the show and mentioned that I had a virus attacking my system. One friend wrote back that first she thought a computer virus had attacked that system. Funny how words have taken on new meanings connected to our world of technology. Virus. System. Network. Bugs. Apps. Text. Her email did remind me to run a virus scan on my PC so that it stays healthy. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could run a virus scan on our bodies and detect the germs and erase them?

Hope you are well and avoiding these winter bugs - all types. I hope to get a bit of work done while I have some energy.

Karen

Ten hours of daylight

Ah, the earth is tilting and we now have ten hours of daylight. I love reaching milestones like this one. The waxing crescent moon has been lovely in the evening sky and the temperatures have been warmer than usual for the end of January. I've walked outside several times this week and noticed tiny buds starting to form on the trees. It is too early but I enjoy seeing them and feeling the sun on my face.

I took a few hours away from working the to-do list and dug out the first quilt top I made using a pattern. I have always liked the spring feel to this top, but never finished it. One of the local Guilds is sponsoring a project to provide quilts for each bed in the local women's and children's shelter. Some other groups have painted the walls and done some other things to brighten this transitional shelter. I wanted to participate but felt I could not meet the spring deadline in the midst of my show preparations. Then I remembered this sweet top and found it quickly. It wasn't quite twin bed size but I had matching fabric packed with it. I added two more borders that brought it to a good bed size. It feels good to participate in this project. A guild member will long-arm all the quilts and hopefully someone will be able to bind this.

Today I looked at the list and picked a project that I have been postponing. No excuses now - got to do it. This quilt has always been a favorite of mine. It's titled Earth, Sea and Sky and was made using Karen Eckmeier's layered wave technique. I used some gold and silver metallic threads for the quilting and left the threads hanging on the front. It has an organic feel to me.

The reason it was on the to-do list is that I did not like the way it hung on the wall. I had originally used plastic rings on the back to hold the branch in place, but those rings were too bulky and caused the quilt to hang awkwardly. A friend recommended using Velcro instead. What I thought would be a quick job wasn't - Velcro is a buzzard to stitch by hand, especially so that it looks more than decent. Finally, I got it sewn down and hung it. The work was worth it - it is flatter on the wall and just looks even nicer. (Thank you Penny.) Here are some photos of the 'after' with Velcro.

Tomorrow, Abigail, my almost 15-year-old granddaughter, is coming to help with postcards and labels and some basic organization. I hope to work on the labels needed for a number of quilts and will enjoy her company.

Do you notice the lengthening daylight? How do you respond to it?

Karen

Two more and the list still is huge

In one month, the show will be over. This has been busy and too consuming. Of course, I've let it consume me. I'm getting down to nitty gritty things to do ... make labels for quilts, make hanging devices, send out postcards and emails, buy lights and little things. Enough already! Years ago, I had a recurring dream that my to-do list had legs and was chasing me down a long road. That dream has not returned, but I feel the nagging list on the counter yelling at times. That's when I have to remind myself that this is a really good thing to do and I am on schedule.

But I want to play more. I want to go see the Stephanie Plum movie when it comes out this week. I want to do a jigsaw puzzle. I want to figure out what to do with all my twinchies. Soon.

Today I finished another bag and the Winter Trees. I am pleased with the Trees

As I finished the quilting, I saw that the outer border did not lay quite as flat as I wanted. So, I stuck it in hot water for a few minutes and laid it flat to dry. Not only did it flatten out, it also got more textured. The trees look more real and want to be touched. Here's a bit of detail that shows the quilting.

Tomorrow I will work on a new method for hanging one quilt and see what else I can do on the list. It's going to rain so I'll probably stay inside all day and maybe play a bit.

Karen

Iced in

Winter came last night and dumped a bit of snow and too much ice. I'm happy to be inside and warm, even though I probably won't get to the SAQA meeting today. It took one of my neighbors over half an hour to chip away the ice and get up the hill out of our driveway. I think I'll wait for warming.

Last night I went to an opening of two exhibits at the Carroll Arts Council here in Westminster. My friend Donna Yarish had several of her abstract paintings in one exhibit - they were bold and colorful and exciting. You would not know that she is fairly new to painting - she has found her niche.

One of the other artists was a man who had moved to the US from Colombia a year ago. Fernando Alvarez does these vibrant, sensuous paintings, mostly still life and landscape, that brought a smile to my heart. All his paintings are full of life and joy, even when the subject is a tomato. I want to go back and maybe take some photos to share (he doesn't have a blog or website).

I came home with a full heart and a smile on my face. Balances out this ice mess.  Now I need to finish quilting my trees.

Karen

Good to be home

I've been out a lot in the past few days and I am happy to be home for a couple days.

I have to pay attention to some business stuff tomorrow, but then I can play again. I pulled out a bag of scraps from a quilt I made two years ago and found some strata in big chunks just waiting to become something new. Once again, I plugged in a DVD and started stitching them together, making new fabric. I now have a stack of pieces.

Again, I have that urge to cut them into 2" squares to see what I can do with them. Who is this person cutting small squares in my studio? She seems to be having fun.

Last week, I did make some progress on the TO-DO list for the show. I got info on merchant card services - I'll make a decision this week on which company to use. I also did some remaking of the covers for my booth panels. They are okay. I don't want to make all new covers for the panels because I don't know if I will be doing more shows. That's a decision for after this show and some pondering over directions I could go in.

For now, I think I'll put on my jammies and curl up with a book and get back to all these things tomorrow. Scarlet had a good idea for some days.

Karen

Taking a break

I've been playing. I needed to take a break from the show to-do list. I did research some merchant card services this week and that seemed like enough for a couple days. So, I found those geese I made last week and cut some more strips and put together some wonky stars and threw them all up on the design wall. Something may come of these.

I was left with a pile of pieces of many sizes and shapes and didn't want to toss them in the trash. I knew better than to put them in a drawer - they'd be there forever and get ignored. So, I put a DVD in the player and started stitching them together - just to see what might happen. I got many pieced pieces - small but nice. I cut them into 2" squares - lots of them. They look nice laid out together. Can't call them inchies - maybe twinchies.

Next step was to stitch them together with yellow squares in between and throw them up on that design wall.

That's enough for today. I guess I should look at the show to-do list tomorrow, but these things were fun and could become something all together.

Are you taking a break and having some fun?

Karen

Details, details, details

When I first posted this finished quilt, I did not have a name and I forgot to post some close-up shots. I've named this Color Play - later it may become Color Play 1. Not very original, but it fits. While I was working on it, I referred to it as "Rayna #1" since it was the first piece I made using Rayna Gillman's book "Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts". Great book.

I had fun with FMQ, putting slightly different designs in the body and overlapping leaves in the border.

A couple years ago, I started using the same thread in the bobbin as I was using for FMQing on top. I like seeing a separate design on the back of a quilt. Some viewers of my quilts like that surprise on the back. Here's the back of Color Play.

Here's a close-up of the back quilting.  I like it.

Time to get back to work. I have two pieces I am working on and hope to have one ready to share later today.

Karen

Check off one more thing

I am making progress. I have to keep telling myself that so that I do not panic. Today I designed and ordered postcards to mail out and to hand out. Of course, it took longer than I planned. And that was with help from a friend. Last spring, the Baltimore Heritage Quilt Guild had its biennial show and exhibitors had the opportunity to get some postcards with their own image on the front. Cathy Kleeman took the photos and handled the processing for us. I am very grateful that she still had the jpeg file used for my postcard and was willing to share it with me.


So, one more thing is done. Since the sun is shining and it's over 45 degrees, I need to get outside and walk. Then, I'll get back to the next right thing.

Don't you just love to check off things on your to-do list?

Karen

One more

Here's one more quilt for a wall that is almost finished. I just need to sew the binding and sleeve down. It is bright and in a class by itself - different from my other pieces lately. Do you have any ideas for a title? What do you think of it?

Karen

A New Year and Some New Projects

Yesterday I was speaking with a painter friend of mine about getting ready for shows where we exhibit our work. She's leaving for Florida next week to do some shows there and is busy painting the small originals that usually sell. I've been in a similar mode, trying to make things that might sell at the ACC show in 49 days. After I got off the phone with her, I realized that this mode is making me tired and not very productive. This seems to be a lesson I have to learn every so often - to make things and create from my heart and soul, not for the sole purpose of selling. Many years ago when I was primarily a calligrapher and painter, I decided to make a piece about boats for an upcoming show in Annapolis, MD - a boat town. I came up with a product, had 20 copies made (I sold a lot of prints at that time) and got ready to sell out. Well, I did not sell any at that show and it took over ten years to sell those 20 copies, some at rock bottom sale prices. Here I am learning that lesson again. I have been so focused on having enough stuff to sell and trying to make what I think people will be drawn to that I feel dry. This realization was good to ponder and got me thinking differently about what I do next.

First I made some wonky geese using Mary Lou Weidman's spontaneous technique. They are fun and quick and make me smile. I don't know how I'll use them, but they look good on the design wall.

Then I pulled out two blocks I had made years ago for a quilt for myself that did not get made (the Hummingbird and Sunflower of past posts were part of that group) to see what they were saying to me now. The first one, this spiral, is too dark - dark image on a dark background. I'm thinking I may brighten it with paint of the background. These fabrics may be good borders. I like spirals - they indicate change and growth in many cultures.

Next I spent some time with my trees. I love trees in all seasons. These are definitely winter trees, naked yet standing in community. I took these trees from a painting I did in 1995. That painting was in many shows and exhibits, yet did not sell (several people wanted me to make prints of it). I am so happy that it did not sell so that I can look at it every day and remember the trip that inspired me to paint it.

I have a couple ideas to try with this block. I'll get to those tomorrow. First, I wanted to share just the basic block. One thing I know for sure is that any quilting will be minimal, not my often used OCD FMQ.

I feel much different at the end of today than I did after my phone call yesterday. I am back to creating from my heart rather than trying to fill a booth just for the purpose of having stuff there. Lesson learned -- again. Isn't that part of the fun of this growing stuff?

What lesson do you seem to need to learn again and again and again? All we have to do is listen to our hearts and be true to who we really are.

Karen

Paperwork - arrghhhhh!

Well, it's actually it's electronic work now, but I did a mess of it this morning. Whew! I finished the contract for the ACC show and ordered my electric service for it and did some other administrative type stuff for this show. Now I want to get back to making something. The holidays have distracted me from being in my studio. Now it's time to get going.

Today's morning pages were so helpful. I dumped some frustrations on the page and then started brainstorming, mostly asking myself what I wanted. My answers were all about making things. I need to be creating stuff in order to get my energy zooming. That may sound backwards, some people feel they need energy before they can get creative. But I have found that I cannot wait for that to happen -- I need to get moving and get involved in making something in my studio. Then I feel energized. So, morning pages once again got me back on course. Thanks again to Julia Cameron and The Artist's Way.

First, though, I want to get outside and take a walk. It's in the low 50's and mostly sunny today - such a treat for winter. I've been using a DVD for exercise inside lately, but I miss the sun on my face. So, off I go.

It's New Year's Eve and like so many folks, I'll think about making some kind of resolution. A friend of mine always chooses a theme for the next year. I guess mine might be about being more positive and more compassionate in our crazy world. Hard to come up with a word or theme that feels right. I'll ponder for now.

Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope that our world calms down in this coming year and that we will see positive changes for so many who are struggling. Peace and hugs, Karen

Christmas Blessings to All

It's that time of the year when we get stressed and run at warp speed, trying to get everything done until we finally make ourselves stay "STOP" and take time to get quiet and realize what's really going on -- Christmas. Christmas means so many things to so many people. First and foremost, it is the birth of Jesus and time to savor the mystery of faith and hope. Right about now, I'd love to be walking on the beach at Chincoteague - it's where I feel closest to God and the intimate immensity that the ocean brings reminds me of the bigger picture of life.

Christmas is also family, traditions, memories, time together and time to remember others. If you have time, check out this video using Mary Chapin Carpenter's Come Darkness, Come Light  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb4id4rDwd0&noredirect=1 . It says a lot about Christmas and what we celebrate.

I hope that the mystery and miracle of Christmas touches you and blesses you with love for the new year. Karen

Progress

Finally, some progress. I just finished the fifth shoulder bag. I always forget that these things take longer than I think they will. So, I am happy that five are ready for the big show. Here are some photos ...

This is what I call my crazy quilt design. It's made of layers of fabrics, all fused down, then stitched like crazy. I love using the stitches on my machine to decorate these.

This is a nice applique (machine, of course) bag. The opposite side has a fish design.









This last one uses layers to create a landscape of sorts.

I guess I'll start another. Maybe I'll use some of these batiks I've been collecting. It's a good evening to stay in. We are having some snow showers here and it's chilly out there, but cozy inside.

I want this week to go slowly, this last week of Advent. My devotion booklet this year has hope as its theme. With all that is going on in the larger world, we need hope and we need to be God's presence in this world for others, however we can do that. I hope you have time to ponder what this season means to you.

Blessings, Karen

The tradition continues!

Wednesday was our annual Cookie Day. This tradition began before I was married when I spent a day with my then future mother-in-law who taught me some of her favorite recipes. My second married Christmas season found me doing cookie day alone since Katherine had passed away that year, way too young. I have continued making two of her recipes ever since. This was my daughter's 45th year of cookies (sorry Susan for the number) - well, the first two she sat and watched, just as all my grandchildren have done. This year, my daughter Susan, my daughter-in-law Jessica and I were assisted by Abigail, Josh and Bella. It was Bella's first Cookie Day and she became an excellent smasher of peanut butter cookies, with instruction from Abigail.

We've settled on five main cookie recipes, but we make many, many of all of them. The day begins around 8:30 and continues til we are finished - this year it was 12 hours by the time we cleaned up and packed cookies. Here's the morning's first round, which included peanut butter cookies, two kinds of chocolate chips (dark and white chocolate), and Katherine's riscottas.

Then we moved on to do sugar cookies and jelly roll cookies (another handed-down favorite) and Jessica made her peanut candy.

Here are our helpers, Abigail, Bella and Josh celebrating their success and ready to eat COOKIES. All the children  love Cookie Day because all dietary limits are set aside, as you can see from Bella sampling her mom's peanut candy.

As you can tell, this is a wonderful and important day for me. It's so nice to spend time with family, making yummy goodies and carrying on the tradition. Cookie Day adds to the specialness of the Christmas season and gives us gifts to share with others.

Now I have to get to work. I have gatherer's bags in progress and fabric and socks ice dyeing (some are gifts). More later.

What special tradition do you cherish? Karen

No photos today

Today I received an early Christmas gift from my daughter Susan and her family - an orchestra seat at a matinee performance of The Lion King. It was amazing, magnificent, wonderful, breathtaking. I was enthralled and mesmerized. If you haven't seen it, go. The music was energizing and took me back to my days spent in dance studios. I'd love to dance like that. The costumes are amazing - they take the place of scenery. Rich textiles were used in wonderful ways. I really don't have the words to describe all of it. I'd love to see it again and again. I'd love to go backstage and see things up close. Thank you my dear family for a day of magic.

What has left you speechless lately?

Karen

Some progress with a break for tea

The past few days have been busy - time in my studio and time for tea. Actually, tea was a lovely annual Christmas Tea at my daughter's church. Yummy scones with clotted cream and jam. Tea sandwiches. Tiny carrot cupcakes. And, of course, tea and cucumber sandwiches. This year was extra nice because Jessica, my daughter-in-law, sang several seasonal songs and led us in some carols. Jessica has a beautiful voice and was a gift for all of us. Susan, my daughter, gave a great introduction, pointing out that the rest of the family cannot carry a tune or stay on key - it's true, singers we are not and we all admire Jessica's talents. The tea was a nice break from work and a true blessing in this Advent season.

The previous few days have been fun and productive. I played with one of my fused pieces and now have two versions, each with different finishing touches.

First, it was horizontal with confetti. Hmmm.

Then it became vertical with some skinny pieces.



I'll look at them for a couple days before I do the next thing.


Then I took a break from these color play blocks to start some crazy quilt fabric for some bags to sell at the show. I have made several bags of different sizes for myself using this method and constantly get admiring comments on them. So, I'll see if others want them. Here's side one.

Color play and Tea - a lovely start to a new week.
Karen

So much fun

Oh what fun it is to play with fabric and try new things. I put together two pieces following Rayna Gillman's book - well, kinda followed. I'm not sure where either is going. I just have to go to the next chapter in her book. Both have promise. The first is using two of my hand dyed, stamped fabric from a workshop. I like what the turquoise is doing. The orange brightens it. This odd shape is inviting in a goofy way.

This strata (or is it stratum?-don't like that word) was put together by just pulling some strips from a drawer of scraps. I will chop it up and add some boundaries.

Today I plan to do some fusing to make some crazy quilt fabric that will become bags for the show.

It's a gorgeous day, not too cold yet and the sun is shining. My kind of day and a good day for a walk - to walk off some of those calories from all that good food last week.

Enjoy. Karen

Number 33

For the last few days, I've just been coming home and dropping things. So, today I tackled and organized my chaos. Part of this was inventory-ing the quilts I have on hand to take to the ACC Show - 32 are finished! Hoo-ha.

Then I got to sew and put the binding on No. 33 - the small sunflowers. Here it is ...

To celebrate, I opened my thank-you gift from my son and daughter-in-law - deep dark chocolate. Her mother and I watched the children while Sean and Jessica went on a trip. Last night, they gave us a dinner and some yummy chocolate. Really gooooooooooooood!

Now it's time to begin a new piece. I just received Rayna Gillman's newest book, Create Your Own Free Form Quilts. I started reading it a few days ago and felt that I didn't have time to try new techniques; that I should FOCUS on the next ACC piece. I just love her methods and freedom of design. After sewing the binding on the sunflower, I realized that doing that inventory gave me time to play and try something new. As she suggests in the book, I pulled out three pieces of dyed and stamped fabric from a workshop and looked for some go-withs.

Next step -- cutting them up and playing. And I feel that this is play, not work. I'm excited to see what emerges. 

Is there something you need to do that will bring you freedom for something new? Hmmm.

Karen

Fun, Food and Laughter

Thanksgiving weekend is one of my favorite things. This year, three dinners, time with my children and grands, lots of good food, lots of laughter, even a parade, and glorious weather. Three different desserts over the three days. And tonight, when I finally got home after working and a side trip to get some stuff for the ACC show booth, I ate my soup and the last of the desserts - a yummy black bottom cupcake. A good way to end the weekend.

I live on top of a big hill and overlook Westminster. Tonight I can see holiday lights twinkling in many areas, signalling the start of the holiday season. Fun. I wish folks would leave those lights up until the end of February to brighten winter's darkness.

I have a confession -- I was one of those nutty people shopping at midnight Thursday night. I must admit it was kinda fun. People were nice. There was lots of laughter amid the lines waiting for those bargains. I was amazed at the number of big screen TVs going out the door. I guess I thought everyone had one already. AND I actually went out again on Friday morning. AND I did my Amazon order last night. So, I am way ahead on my shopping. That's a relief because the countdown to the ACC show is below 90 days. So I have to get to work.

Karen

Happy Thanksgiving

Don't you just love these gourds? The middle one is know as a Mexican hat. Happy things for my table.
With thanks to Mary Lou Weidman, I recommend a very moving and inspiring video on gratitude ...

http://www.wimp.com/simplegratitude/. It's about 8 or 9 minutes long, but it has a lot to say.

I believe that every day needs time for gratitude. I begin and end my days by giving thanks to God for at least five things. Today began with gratitude for sunshine after several days of heavy rain and gray skies and that Bella is recovering from a long and difficult croup attack. I have found that focusing on being thankful lightens my mood and helps me get through dark times and moves me from negativity to a new view.

This morning, as I sit here typing, everywhere I look I see another thing that I am blessed with - flowers, photos of my family, these crazy bright gourds, books waiting to be read, a painting I did years ago that I love, the radio with shows for this day, a finished quilt, the next one in line to be sewn today, lots of bright fabrics, and the notes on my calendar for family dinners this week. Absolutely wonderful, make that wonder-filled.

I hope that your day and week and year are blessed. Check out that video - it could change your day. I give thanks for all of you who are sharing my journey.

Hugs to you, Karen

A full and fulfilling weekend

This was a busy weekend. I taught two workshops and shared a Thanksgiving dinner with my Benedictine friends. Each event filled me. I like to teach and I like to eat and I love being with friends. AND I feel really good when participants go home happy.

Today I led a group through what I call "Praying with Watercolors." Every time I've led this workshop, I have felt so blessed as people shared what they did and how a few hours doing something new or different has refreshed them. I know it's not me - it's Spirit being present and gifting us all. Truly awesome.

What a nice way to start a new week.

What blessings are you bringing to this new week?

Karen

Yikes - 98 days til the ACC Show

This countdown thing makes me nervous. How will I ever get everything done that I want to have done for the ACC Show in 98 days? And I sure don't have time for worrying or panic. It all will get done, maybe.

I have made progress this week. The hummingbird is complete and bound and actually hanging. I started working on the small sunflower wall hanging - put two borders on it and here I am testing the outer border ...

Today I put two pieces of fabric into ice dyes to be used for backings. I really like this process of dyeing fabric. It's pretty low tech and low effort AND since the fabric isn't sitting in the dye, the rinsing process takes a lot less time. Below is a photo of an ice dyed piece that will be the background for a field of sunflowers.

This weekend I have two workshops that I am leading. So, I won't have studio time until  Wednesday. Another YIKES! OK, I have to quit whining. Sorry about all that. All these things are great. I am very blessed to have work to do, to have this show to be in, to have workshops I can share with others, and to have three Thanksgiving dinners to look forward to.

Now, if I could only figure out how to make this blog work like other blogs, I'd be giggling all over myself.

One more photo of a really cool ice dyed fabric.

It reminds me of a spring garden.

Time to get back to work. Oh, this is really cool - tonight is the peak viewing time for the Leonid meteor shower AND the sky is clear. So, maybe I might see some dazzling meteorites flying through the sky.

What dazzles you?
Karen

Check one more off the to-do list

Well, it's almost finished. I just have to put the binding on this charming hummingbird and then it's ready for the show. Whew! The design is based on native American/First People of Canada/Inuit styles of drawing and painting animals and birds. It has a flavor of drawings from totem poles. The figure is broken into basic shapes within shapes. I have a pin that inspired this design. In native cultures, the hummingbird is a symbol of joy and healing.

The hummingbird was one of the blocks I did years ago for an autobiography quilt that never got made. My next small quilt is another of those blocks - a sunflower. Here's the beginning.

One more photo from my family. Last night was Matt's last football game. His team made it to the finals and came in fourth for the league. The best part was that he played in this game. Congrats, Matt.

I keep getting emails about November being gratitude month. I am certainly grateful for family and completed projects.

How about you?
Karen