Simple Challenge

It was a challenge for me to finish this little quilt, but it is finally done. For some reason, my brain just can't "keep it simple" when it comes to my quilting. I have done simple, easy to do quilts before, so why did this one challenge me so? Maybe because it was a special order for someone? Maybe I was trying to be too orderly? I mean, after all, what is random placement? It should have been simple to just place whatever came next. Not me, I had to arrange and re-arrange the pieces until I saw order in their placement, and yet, I wanted it to look random.

Ok, it's time to go back to therapy and do another quilt from a brown bag again. I remember the time I placed the pieces to a quilt I was making in a brown paper bag and told myself, to take whatever piece came next and just use it. I had such a hard time with that concept. It's suppose to be a freeing experience, not having to think about placement. Not for me it wasn't. I struggled to make myself use whatever came out of that paper bag, each and every time. I felt compelled to evaluate its placement. But, alas, I did make it through the bag and finished that quilt and it really did come out beautifully. So, there really is something to be said for random placement and letting go of the need to put it all in some kind of order.

I mean, I'm a fun gal, I like spontaneity so why not in my quilting. Ok, I shall challenge myself to do that once again on my next project. Let go, let it freely come together and..now, where did I put that brown bag?

Finished at Last

Today, I finally get to start my quilting for Valentine's Day.. yes, Valentine's Day. It's not that far away and I need to get some things made fast. Over the holidays, I finished up three quilts for our prayer quilt ministry which will be given to the recipients tomorrow. I am always touched when I hear how appreciative the recipients are of these quilts of love and their gratefulness for receiving one. I am thankful that I have the ability, means and support to make a quilt of love for someone else. When I think about my own trivial problems sometimes , and then get a request for a quilt for someone who is really in need, I am humbled and reminded that my world is blessed, and thankful that I have the ability to get up each day and make another quilt or something quilty. Here's a picture of the two latest ones. I did the one on the left and the 0ther one was done by another member in our ministry. Her pattern was a simple 9-patch believe it or not. It's one of those cut and reassemble blocks that I just love doing. She'll be teaching the group how to do it at our meeting in February.

Change is Good - Right?

Today, I've decided it's a New Year and change is a good thing. I'm a Patriotic girl at heart and since most of my quilts and quilty things are also Patriotic in nature, I've decided on some changes for my Blog. Hang in there, I'm still a work in progress, but eventually I will decide on what to change and what to leave alone. Besides, it's more interesting when you see different things each time...right? I mean blogs are like fabric, the more I see the more I want....LOL The more I have the more I can create.

Music Please

I view and visit all these wonderful blogs and wonder...how do you all do it? Where do you find things like the beautiful music, the christian sites, etc., etc. I would love to "dress up" my blog a bit, but don't know where and how to get these great things. Anyone?

New Year's Resolution

Well, it has been so long since I last blogged, but my New Year's resolution is to get blogging again and be consistent. It has been such a busy, but wonderful December this year. My husband sang in the Living Christmas Tree production at church this year. It was the 13th year for the Living Christmas Tree and I do believe it was the best ever. All the performances were FABULOUS. Last I heard there were more than 4,000 who attended this year. I helped decorate the tree this year and when I had to get inside to put in the decorations, I had a much better appreciation for the tight space and how hard it must have been for each of the singers to stand for so long. WHEW!! I know I could not have done that.

Two winners from my blog have been sent gifts for participating and I do hope they have both received them by now.

Our Prayer Quilts ministry has grown so much, it's amazing. We have completed 14 quilts, 100 military prayer squares and more than 500 pocket prayer squares since October. These women have become such a part of my life and their quilting and frienships are truly treasured.

Last, but not least, I was elected the President of our Quilting Guild for 2009. I will do my best to bring new ideas and interests to the guild and feel so honored to have been nominated. This is a great group of quilters that I have enjoyed being a part of now for more than 3 years.

So, as we begin a new year, fresh with new possibilities, new ideas, new friends and old, may 2009 be a blessed and wonderful year for all of you.