Where have I been?

Good question!

I've been busy! In a good "I've been doing alot of quilting" busy! One of my new years resolutions was to start to become a person who finishes things. This is something that I fall way short on. I am great at starting. All the planning, the excitement! Then, low and behold, I get distracted. I get drawn to the next project, next idea, next best shiny thing! And then...there things sit. Neglected. Unfinished.

I don't know about you, but I HATE picking up a project I started months...ok...years ago! I have no idea where I left off. What my plan was. What to do next. It's so stressful! So then I let it sit some more.

Well! Not this year. I dug out all my unfinished quilts! Wow. I had a few surprises.

This quilt:






When I dug this out of my pile I had absolutely NO recollection of ever making this quilt. None. Oh boy. And to top it off....it's finished! Well, at least the top is finished which means "finished" in my book. I had to think, and think, and think some more. Then I pulled out my files to jog my memory. This was a block of the month quilt I did back in 2003!! It started to come back. I think it was just the shock of the fact that it was finished that thru me! Now I just need to have it quilted. Joy!!

Next up, this quilt which I talked about before:



This picture doesn't even show it completed up to date. I have all the log cabins together and I just need to shop for border and backing fabric. Yeah!!

Then there was this quilt:



This was a Jacob's ladder quilt that I started in, dare I say, 1995. Yes, 1995. When I originally started the quilt I had some different fabrics that I replaced with the rust fabric I used. I didn't like it. So, I didn't finish it. When I pulled it out I had one border on and the other three cut. That's it! So close, but still unfinished. I was amazed that I found the borders. Sometimes I posses organizational skills that I don't know I have. So, I sewed them on. Finished!! Now I kinnda like it. Who knew?!

WhooWhoo

I also finished the lap quilt top that I pictured before AND got all four borders sewn on. I don't have a picture to share right now. This is a quilt that I'm going to try my hand at machine quilting in the near future.

So, in conclusion, I vow, to TRY very hard to not leave another quilt unfinished. Girl Scouts honor. It's just too much pressure picking up where I leave off!

Life is good.

Catching up

I have finally arrived to that place of "catching-up" with my life. Things that I put on the back burner have now moved to the front. Quilting is one of those things. I started quilting about 15 years ago. I loved it. But then, life happened and it got pushed back and put away.

Now I can begin again. I think those things we love never go away. They come back. It's the ebb and flow of life.

Quilting was re-ignited and waved hello. Frantically. I caught a glance of it again through my friend Robin who is new to quilting and quite the natural. We signed up for a block-of-the month club. It was a baby step. I had forgotten how much peace quilting brought to me and my life. I am so glad to be back.

These are my blocks thus far. My heart sings.

Next came the new sewing machine. I had been sewing on my trusty Kenmore. It served me well but was tired. It was time.

Nothing to terribly fancy but, oh the joy!

I then dug out all my old "works in process". Many. Too many. I need many more Friday Night Quilt-ins to catch up...but catch up, I will.

This is what I have been working on.

I began this scrappy little piece about 6 years ago. I just finished up the top and now I need to add the borders. I bought the material for that yesterday but since it has been so long since I have mastered borders, I am feeling a little intimidated. I may tackle that tomorrow.

This is a quilt that I began for my daughter when she was 9. She will be 21 in May. umm...yea.

It's a log cabin quilt that is suppose to resemble a starry night. Now that so much time has

passed, I am not sure I will applique the stars on. I will decide later.

What amazes me the most is I had forgotten how much I enjoy making Log Cabin squares. I am breezing thru this.

Then there is this. My non-traditional looking Grandmothers Flower Garden. I love to work on this when I am feeling the need to do some hand sewing and do this.....

GO VIKES!!

Do the things that bring you joy!

Friday Night Sew-in

Friday Night Sew-In

I'm going to participate! This is my first time. I am new to the quilting blogosphere. I have been working hard on some UFO's. VERY old UFO's. I pledged to myself that this would be the year I finished some up.

It helps to get a new sewing machine! Inspiration!

Pics to follow.

Wishcasting Wednesday

Todays wish is What Dream to you wish to Explore?

Oh! EXPLORE!! Just that word stirs my soul. I wish to explore my pioneer spirit. I wish to explore the "outside" girl that lies deep inside.

I love nature. I love being outside. I NEED to be outside. I would be happiest living deep in the woods. Chopping wood. Gathering food. Living intimately with Mother Nature. Moving with the rhythms of the earth. Surviving on my own strength.

While many dream of visiting warmer climates, much warmer climates (I live in chilly Minnesota where the temp right now is -6), I dream of visiting Alaska.

I dream of adventure.

I can do that.

Creative Body and Beginnings

I have become inspired to try a few new things for 2010 to keep myself creative and open. One is the Creative Every Day Challenge. I don't know if I will be bound by the "every day" as much as being open to being creative every week.

This involved expanding my perspective and beliefs about myself and what I considered creative. When I contemplated and researched other people I believed to be creative, I discovered much about myself. It opened doors and windows to the small thought box I had on what was creativity. WOW. I, too, can be creative. I, too, AM creative.

If nothing else, that is enough. But, I will continue.

The first month Leah inspires us with the word BODY. Of course, my mind immediately goes to my body. Being a long time practitioner and long time out of practice yoga student, this is something I needed to bring back into my daily living.
Next up is journaling and creating art within that journal. I am not an "artist" in the sense of being about to draw. A gift I wish I possessed. But I love the written word and would like to begin a journal of my life. So I will use words and pictures. Dedicating a journal for 2010 and participating in the 365 Project, taking a picture every day. I will post those on Flicrk when I can figure it out.

At the current moment, my creative art is quilting. I am in love with quilts. When I see a quilt it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. I want to curl up in front of a fire with a great beverage and a great book. A quilt is grounding, comforting and infused with love. I have a few projects in current process, a few that I am vowing to finish up and a few planned for the future. One such project is Hazel's Diary: A Quilt-Along.

So, my friends. These are my goals. This is what I am hopeful this blog will evolve into. I am brand new at this, forgive me. I am looking forward to making many friends on the same journey. It is good to share.

Blessings

2010 dreams and goals

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing all a blessed 2010 journey filled with abundant happiness, beauty and bliss.

My intention for this new year is to return to my creative soul self. I look forward to the journey. The discoveries, the new opportunities and the unknown.

Thanks to all who travel with me either by guiding, walking alongside or following silently behind and holding me up. Your strength and courage is always felt and welcomed.

May all be well.

Christa

A 2010 Wish

Wishcasting Wednesday
Today is the last wish in 2009. The wish is for 2010. Jamies asks, "What do you wish for in 2010?".

Well. hmmm. ummm. Wow.

I am finding it hard to put my wishes out there. There is so much of 2009 that I want to forget. That I want to let go of. That I want to fix in 2010. But, that doesn't sound FUN. I want my wish for 2010 to be full of JOY and HAPPINESS.

There it is. My wish for 2010 is to follow my dreams. To do the things that bring me joy. To find happiness in the daily. And to LOVE. To draw closer to God and give thanks for all the BEAUTY He gives us in this world. Every day.

I am hopeful that this wish will bring me back to my creative self. To have no fear in expressing and creating the things that I find beautiful.

I'm moving forward. 2010, here I come!

I hope all your wishes come true.

Blessing,

Christa

A creative spark

I did it. I signed up. I miss my creative spirit. I am hoping this keeps me on task. Keeps my hands busy, my mind open and my heart happy.

I have always had sort of a mental block when it came to being creative and finding my creative soul. I wanted it. Bad. But never thought myself capable or good enough.

As it turns out, I am discovering that I, little old me, is quite capable of being creative. I just needed to redefine and rediscover what that meant to me. Just me. Not anybody else.

I am going to fan the spark. I am going to participate.

Oh. And getting a new sewing machine always helps. Yes! Happy day.

Please join me. It will be a wonderful journey.

Blessings,

Christa

Winter Wish

Wishcasting Wednesday

What is your winter wish?

I am one of those odd people who actually likes winter. I have lived the majority of my life in Minnesota. Winter is part of who I am. I don't see any point in hating winter as many people do. I would rather choose to see the beauty in winter. To appreciate her gifts.

So, what is my winter wish? I wish to let my spirit rest in the hibernation of winter. To slow down. To collect my energy. To enjoy the inner things. To give them strength and voice.

What is your winter wish?

Blessings

How dare you!

Wishcasting Wednesday

Today our wish is "what do you wish to dare?"

Oh me, oh my. Sounds dangerous.

I dare to continue to be myself. To speak my truth and seek truth. To not compromise myself in order to feel loved. I dare to love myself just as I am. I dare to follow my path. I dare to take the risks I need to take. I dare to be strong. I dare to make the hard choices.

I dare myself to think outside the box. I dare myself to create a life full of joy and happiness. I dare to be anything less.

I dare others to do the same.

I dare you.

Play? Play! Play?

See that?  That is a wall.  Isn't it a lovely wall?  That girl.  That is me walking on that wall. Well, not really.  It's a stock photo.  But, this is what happened to me when I read the chapter on play. I hit a wall and in my mind, that is what my wall looks like.  Lovely.  It's a familiar place I hang out at from time to time. I like to walk on my wall.  Practicing my balance.  I find it fun.  It was something I loved to do as a child, come to think of it.  Trying to stay balanced as I walked on a narrow object.  Walls, trees fallen over streams, edges of the sidewalk.  I wasn't very good at it, but I liked to try.

So, back to the chapter on Play.   As I said I hit a wall.  I always hit a wall when I am presented with the thought of work vs career.  When I am told..."do something that you love and then you will have everlasting happiness.".....or something like that.  Those people who are always telling me that always seem to be doing what they love and making a very good living at it to boot. Don't get me wrong, I know there are people who can make that happen for themselves.  I know they worked hard to get to where they are at.  That is just not me, yet.

I have a job, or work.  I am thankful everyday that I have my job because I need to work.  But it is not play for me.  It is stressful and absolutely no fun.  But I do it.  It is what I need to do right now.  Support my family.  

I once tried to make something I loved into my job.  It didn't work out and that something I loved, I love no more.  So, I am a little leary of making my play into a career.  It changes it, for me.  But I think about it often.  

I understand what Martha was saying in this chapter.  That isn't the problem.  The problem is my sense of responsibility and reality of where I am in my life at the moment.  I accept that. 

And one day I hope that my choice of work is more play.  I think it will be. Someday.  Not right now. 

But in the meantime.  I am exploring my play.  I am doing more things in my non-working time that I love.  It keeps me balanced.

I am going to read what everyone else has to say on the subject to get more perspective.  Maybe something will get me over that wall so I can see what and perhaps who is on the other side. Maybe it will be someone  or some thought who wants to come out and play. 

Book thoughts

The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A story about stories. Everybody has a story waiting to be told. Do we tell our stories or do we walk away from them and not give them words. Eventually, all stories want to be told. We can have a choice in that.
Beautifully written . Anyone who loves books, everything about books, will be immediately drawn to this tale.

View all my reviews >>

Experiencing acceptance, life and joy.

Wishcasting Wednesday

Today Jamie asks, "What do you wish to experience?"

hmmm....that is a very good question with many answers. The first thing that came to my mind is healing. So I asked myself, "how can I experience healing?". The answer was a whisper. Acceptance. Not the kind of give-up acceptance, but the acceptance of faith. The acceptance of letting go and being at peace. Letting go of the things I cannot and never will change. Accepting with open arms who I am and loving that girl. Allowing life to unfold. To learn. To live.

To live! To experience life. All of life. What fun! What joy!

To experience joy. Working with Jamie on "The Joy Diet" has made me acutely aware of all the joy there is in life. The little things we take for granted and/or ignore. The things that make us smile and our hearts sing. Those are the things that have jumped to the top of my "to-do" lists. They are my priorities. They are my faith, my family, my friends. It is my creative energy. The energy that fuels my day. It is who I am.

What do you wish to experience?

I am wishing that for you.

Treats in the everyday.

Joy!

That is what receiving treats brings me.

Treats are those little pieces of kindness we give ourselves. They are the things that make me smile. The things that lift me up when I am feeling down or burdened. The little things. They surround me daily, when I step back and take notice. They aren't always material things. They can be kind words from a friend. Encouragement when I need it most. They can be a smile, a hug. The song of a bird. The look of "pet me!" from my dog. The sun rising, the moon shining. A moment of silence. The whisper of God. A great cup of coffee. A good glass of wine. Dinner with my kids. Holding hands with my husband. Reading a book. Creating with my hands. Doing nothing.

Come to think of it, everyday is full of treats. No matter how big or how small. Gratitude for the lessons, hard or easy, that show up at my door.

I just have to remind myself to take notice and receive the treats that abundantly come. To be open. To be thankful. And then to give as much as I receive.

What treats have you received today?

Wishcasting

Wishcasting Wednesday

Today Jamie asks, what treat do you wish for?

Silence. Peace and quiet.

My work days are filled with noise. In the evenings, I love to sink into silence. To hear my thoughts. To hear my breath. To shut off the electronic messages and just hear the natural sounds of the day.

Today, take a few minutes to just be silent.

Wishing you all peace and quiet.

RISK

I've sort of been at a loss on what to write about risk because the truth is, lately everything feels like a risk.

Things have become complicated and shaken up since I took the risk and spoke my truth.  I have been battling against doubt and guilt.  I have pondered the need for this risk.  I have felt sadness and loneliness.  I have also had doors and windows fly open.  I have felt closer to my values and have shifted my priorities.  I have had joy and new things come to me.  I have also been grounded. I guess my sadness comes for what I let go of.  Not that it was good for me to hang on, but I had become comfortable in that roll.  But, that roll didn't fit me anymore.  It was no longer who I am. I had to speak about who I am and face the risk of rejection.  Rejection.  

Rejection is something I have grown up with.  It is a familiar friend.  It was time to have a heart-to-heart with this friend and ask myself, who is rejecting me?  I needed to change my perspective. While I was trying to be accepted and loved by those society tells us has to love us, had I been rejecting my true self?  That answer was yes.  I needed to face that fear of rejection from others and be honest and open.  I knew the risk and I took it.  I could no longer reject myself. 

I am waiting for the mud to settle.  To let the changes take place.  Slowly with compassion and acceptance.  Staying true daily. Keeping my heart open for the next risk so I can walk with it with strength and courage and an understanding of purpose. 

That is my personal risk.  

Just say YES

Wishcasting Wednesday

I have been looking forward to this day since last Wednesday and my first time participating in this powerful and grace filled group.

Today Jamie asks us to wish for something we want to say YES to.

What joy! This was easy peasy. I wish to say YES to who I am! YES!

Yes to every part of my unique self. To honor my strengths and my weaknesses. To love myself with the compassion and kindness as God loves us. Yes to my growth. Yes to my mistakes. Yes to the path I am on. Yes to discovery. Yes to happiness. Yes to sadness.

With this love and acceptance I can give love and acceptance.

Life is a splendid gift. May I always be grateful. May I always trust.

Saying yes opens my heart.

What do you wish to say YES to?

Be creative.

I love to be creative. I find joy in being creative.

I have always been an "idea" person. Ideas are always flying around in my mind. There is always a solution.

The biggest eye opening aha for me in this chapter was expanding my idea of what creative is. I tend to live in a box. I have rigid definitions of things. I use to think that being creative only had to do with art or music. I loved being shown how to expand and to look at even the things I do daily as being creative.

An example is cooking. I love to cook. I read cookbooks in bed. I have food blogs I read daily. But I never considered this as being creative. I don't know why. I now see the creative in this activity I just do out of love and adventure. What joy.

Now, the problem I have with being creative is follow through. I am a great "starter" and a not-so-great "finisher." I know this about myself.

I tend to let my feelings of fear and not being good enough stop me from moving to that next step of creativity, following the dream.

I guess that is where our next chapter falls into place. Risk.

I can hardly wait.

The banishing of doubt.

Hello all who are reading this.

I just wanted to take a moment to comment on my experience with Wishcasting Wednesday.

I am humbled by the power of this group.

I need to say Thank You. Thank You.

I now believe. I have no doubt. Wishing and praying for others is powerful. I know this now.

Thank You.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” – Meister Eckhart

I wish, I wish, and then I pray.

Wishcasting Wednesday.

This is the first time I am participating. What a blessing.

Jamie asks, What do you wish to let go?. Today I wish to let go of my feelings of self-doubt.
I want to gather my strength, let go of fear and doubt and be open to where God is leading me. To be open and willing to follow my desires without that inner voice of doubt. To get my-self out of the way.

Peace and Love