Adventures in Creativity

Decision, Decisions

 Happy Monday everyone!

Over the weekend, I did some soul searching, some thinking, some planning, etc. One of my "issues" is that I have so many things I want to do and varied reasons for not doing them. My reasons include money, skill, fear, time commitment and confusion. My husband, being the remarkable guy that he is, sat down with me, listed all the things I want to do and which reason applies. Then, we came up with at least one action step I could take towards the accomplishment of that thing. 

Being the type A person that I am, I then proceeded to create a spreadsheet with all the goodness in it. We didn't go crazy with action steps either. It was already overwhelming, no need to make it worse. 

One of the things I want to do is be more diligent with my blog posts. Unfortunately (or not) I have several blogs I'd like to maintain. I always seem to have good intentions but the follow through is less than ideal. Action step: post on each of my 3 blogs once per week. Mondays is Adventures in Creativity. Wednesday is Balancing Space (which is my all things feng shui and zen blog). Friday is Crafter's Devotional. I was doing so well with that one, doing some activity and blogging about it every day. And then, poof. 

Another exciting happening this weekend is a decision was made and a date was set. April 2013 is the date. The decision is that we will move by that date whether we think we're ready or not. At some point we have to just do it and stop talking about it. Now we are researching regions. It's between the Pacific Northwest and The Southwest. Neither of us have been out to the Pacific Northwest but we just know we'd love Seattle and Portland. Now, the difference between the regions is great but what it comes down to are a few things.

1. Arts community

2. Open Space: minimum of 5 acres but the more the merrier

3. Maximum of 45 mins to nearest large city 

4. Temperate climate

And the only big concern about the Southwest is access to water. So we set a date of April 2012 to decide on the region. As far as cities go, we can get more acreage cheaper in New Mexico than Oregon. And we can get land significantly closer to Santa Fe than we can to Portland or Seattle. We've been planning and drawing and dreaming for a number of years so this is an exciting move. I know several friends who will be less than pleased to hear it but, they'll get use to it. 

We can get 40 acres in New Mexico for $70K with hills, an arroyo and a cave all its own. Here is a picture:

 So there we are. It's Monday. I'm blogging. I'm working at River Hill Pottery. I am mending a super retro quilt made by mother-in-law. I am working on my new in-box magazine website. Hoping to watch Monday night football. 

My back feels great!! My broken toe is healing but man that takes a long time. 

I hope your week is starting off fantastic, full of energy and positive vibes.

Yours in Creativity!

 

Llama llama Red Pajama!

This year, I am participating in the Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Of of the tasks for each team is to design and compile a basket for auction at the event. Our team is called Lynda's Llamas, in honor of one of our lost family members. 

I found the book Llama Llama Red Pajama by Vermont author Anna Dewdney.

I decided it had to be in our basket. But to give it that extra little something, I decided to make a matching quilt. 

I tried to match colors as close as I could. I opted to add a blue watery border around the edge. The sqaures were quilted into blocks using my machine and then I hand stitched the edges in a wavy pattern. All that's left is to hand sew the binding. It's all pinned and ready.

Here's hoping this quilt will find a loving home.

Yours in Creativity!

Finished!

Well, I did it! I finally finished the queen size batik quilt I've been working on forever. I love it!

 

Can't wait to snuggle under it tonight. Feels so good to finish it. On to the next one...

What have you finished lately?

Yours in Creativity!

Project Updates

Well, I figured I'd give everyone a sneak peak into what I've been up to, other than my Crafter's Devotional daily practice. I love it, by the way. It keeps me creating and thinking every day.

So, I've been planning that sign for the outside of our loft. Today I broke out the acrylic medium, which I've never used and got those petals and leaves adhered to the canvas. When it dries thoroughly, I'll add stitching and beads and paint. 

I found a site on-line called Connecting Threads. It's a quilting/sewing/notions type place. Well, they had fat quarter fabric on sale. Plain cotton in bold colors. So, I bought 2 packages. They arrived yesterday.

They are very soft and I am excited to use them. My husband has had a piece of Laurel Birch fabric for years. I don't know why but I've claimed it because I absolutely love it. It's totally crazy bright with these mythological horses on it. I think I will use these fabrics to create some kind of art quilt for myself. I know I can't part with this fabric. I love it too much.

I think I'll use metallic threads and beads to quilt along the manes and stripes and what not. It just makes me feel all magical and fun.

My last quilting class was on applique. I shared a picture before I quilted the piece and this is the "after" version.

I might have placed my stitches a little too close but I like it. It'll be cut into a circle and then bound with the purple fabric. 

My first quilt top, that has been hanging in the studio forever, is now basted and ready to quilt. I just haven't figured out how to quilt it yet. I don't have a walking foot for my sewing machine so I can't just whip it out there. If I get one, I could stitch in the ditch (quilting lingo) along the seams and then add some funky designs. What do you think? Suggestions?

I treated myself to a totally funky knitted bag. I love this thing. It's bright and fun and has these crazy dyed stones for buttons. I couldn't resist. I'm a tactility junky.

So, that's what I'm up to. I'm reading a new book, Tales from the Yoga Studio. And I'm busy trying to plan and fund-raise for Relay for Life. Always lots to do. Always lots of fun to be had.

What are you up to?

Yours in Creativity