Quilting with Joy

I took on a unique quilting project last year when I won a contest on  Barbara's blog, Cat Patches.   The moment that I entered the contest I had the thought "if I win I'll share the prize with the blogger that told me about the contest."  So when I won a stack of fabric, I contacted Denise at Count It All Joy and told her she had also won.  I sent her half the fabric and she picked out a pattern for us to use.  I had plans for this little project to be finished by March 2012 so that I would have a 'ready made' post for you.

Life got busy, almost to the point of overwhelming, and my sewing machine made two unexpected trips to the repair shop.  I made it through all this and I am proud to announce that I have (at last) finished my block.  That's right, we were making just a simple block...  Here's the pattern by Adrianne at Little Bluebell with its own little story.  The original was a little pillow.  What did Denise make?  Here it is (along with her adventure in making this little gem). 

What did Joy do?  I promise I started off thinking 'little pillow' - something to give a friend who likes to read in bed so she could prop up her book.  But as I played with the fabric something else came to mind, as you can see in this post from July.  If I bought just a couple of yards of fabric I could make a blanket.  Off I went in search of more of the MODA 'little apples' fabric.  (This was the year I learned that fabric lines can come and go quickly.)  All I could find was a few fat quarters of the printed white, a few more of the gray fabrics, and less than three yards of the green. 

This "Mommie Blanket" is for Allison, a new friend of mine.  She recently had her second baby - two under three.  I figure if anyone could use a blankie it would be this sweet (and brave!) young woman.



My 'little pillow.'

Here is it, almost the end of the year, and I have finally finished this little quilt. Many thanks to Denise, Barbara, and Adrianne. 

Cute Fabric - Love the Squirrels!

I learned a few more things working on this little project. Like "share your joy" and "there's no job that can't be put off" and, my favorite, "be nice to strangers - that's how we make friends."

Happy New Year !

             Joy

*

It's beginning to look...

When I'm in the mood to create, there is such a lightness in my heart, I work without effort.  I enjoy creating things. Fabrics become quilts. A few flowers and herbs become a garden. Furniture, curtains, meals, and memories become a home.

This past month has been unseasonably warm here in Texas making it hard for me to decorate for Christmas. In my brain, cold weather and gray cloudy days demand color, sparkle, lights, and festive music, but lately my days have been all sunshine and springlike weather. It makes me want to get out in the garden or take a trip to the zoo or do just about anything except create a winter wonderland in the house.

Sunshiny days make it hard for me to focus on decorating the tree.

I am happy to report that we have had a couple of days of cooler weather and I just heard the Christmas Day forecast for a chance of snow - that's more like it. I'm on a roll now, maybe I can finish gift wrapping and just sit by the fire with a cup of tea.

When it gets cold enough to wear a heavy coat,
I can't wait to trim the tree and deck the halls.

I'm off to bake one more batch of cookies and spend some time with my family.   

At last, it's the most wonderful time of the year...

Thanks for spending time with me and my blog.

I hope your holidays are happy and bright.

*

Celebrate

Life at our house has been crazy lately. My husband is retiring in less than a month and the parties have already started. If anyone is retiring PLEASE take time to celebrate.

I know so many people who say they want to 'go quietly.' Or you'll hear someone - birthday girl or guy - say "Oh, I don't need anything..." (Yes, I'm guilty of this.) You need it. And your friends need this celebration, too.

Each life is unique with its own series of important life events. In a world with Twitter and "In Your Face" media, you and yours are the Stars of your life.  So, please, enjoy your life - do lunch, brunch, dinner, and Sunday Supper whenever you can.

Take pictures.

Email and snail mail cards for all occasions. 

Light candles, sing songs.



 

Celebrate Life!

Get out there and party. Because every life needs a way to mark time. Life markers to remind us how far we've come, what we have accomplished, and who we love. Places and dates where we can look out and observe the changing of the guard and the beginning and ending of things. So go to those graduations, showers, weddings, birthday parties, funerals, memorials services, Christmas open houses, New Years parties, and retirement ceremonies.  Make time to stop and visit with friends at the nearest bar, tea room, or coffee house.

Even if you live to be 100 life is short.

Celebrate every time you get a chance.

*