Three day lilies bloom
Bright orange on this grey day,
Raindrops fall gently.
It is no secret that the lily is one of my favorite flowers; they do indeed make me happy. I wrote this haiku this morning as I looked out the window during MSQT...perfect for the beginning of a watercolor wednesday. Enjoy!
Cheers~
Earlier this month, actually at my last quilting association's last meeting (excluding the luncheon) before our summer break, we had a guest speaker who owns an online + brick/mortar quilting store. Webfabrics . The best of both worlds... and the shop is located in Purcellville, Virginia... an hour and a half s drive... Road Trip!
She brought show and tell - what's going to be hot in the near future. For example: grey (color, fabric, accents, etc) is out. The new grey is navy. As she talked, my creative juices started to gurgle - it had been a few weeks since I'd even set foot in my sewing studio other than to dump stuff or iron, let alone do any stitchin.' I made some notes and bought a few items; a tool for weaving fabric strips; some magic clips one can sew over - no need to remove from the machine; and a quilt pattern: Clay Court that gave me an idea for the dozens of photos I've taken since the #the100dayproject began, April 4.
After the talk (and lunch with a few quilting friends), I stopped at our local quilt shop and bought a few more quilting items: a jelly roll of fabric, a 60 degree cutting triangle to use with the Clay Court pattern and some more clips - these are teeny tiny. And then, for the past couple weeks, I reverted to my former pattern of not even setting foot in my sewing studio other than to...bad habit.
This morning I had a dexa scan appointment (every couple years) and after, went to IKEA for breakfast and to browse; it has been a while since my last visit. Wandering through the store, I saw a pillow that reminded me of my project idea. A few minutes later, I saw a little mesh 3-drawer unit that I thought I could use in my sewing studio so I bought it ($15. The reviews are mixed...will see). And then, on my afternoon walk, of course, summer's flowers and plants captured my attention..
All of this - inspiration and thoughts - has conspired to reawaken my interest in reacquainting me with my sewing studio and quilting/stitching projects. After my walk, I sat in my studio, looking around and thinking some more. Ideas and thoughts began to swirl. In Writing with Quiet Hands, ( a nonfiction book I'm currently reading ), the author explores the relationship and meeting of inspiration and craft via quiet hands. I think I may be at the juncture.
Joining Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday.
Cheers~
Driving today to our next-to-last quilt meeting until September (we have informal gatherings on Mondays during the summer months), I had an enlightening thought. Running through my mind: things I need to do this week; summer plans and activities; thoughts about my 100DayProject...I'm still not quite settled on how I want to proceed. My design wall and cutting table are filled with odds-n-ends: fabrics; threads and yarns; sketches/notes; notions; tools...all have possibility but nothing has really grabbed me yet...and looming in my mind : July 12 is just, literally, 37 days away...and I need to get a move on.
And then I thought: "Sez who? Of course I don't have to finish by/on July 12!. I'm the master of this ship, the decider-in-chief of what I do and when I do it. Beyond paying taxes (due the 15th) and taking my car in for the emissions test before the 25th, I'm not obligated to complete the project, ever, let alone 12 July. And the next quilt show is in 2019! Lotsa time!"
Since my May 23 post on #the100dayproject I have been operating with a rather foggy crystal ball ...allowing my creative juices to be stirred by a due date rather than my creative energy and excitement. I arrived at the quilt meeting feeling pounds lighter, perhaps even a bit excited, my enthusiasm for the project rekindled...and my crystal ball looking clearer.
Today is the 5th day of June; the letter E in my About Me A:Z project. The story kit's E word is "eat." Hmmm... I looked at the kit's contents and nothing immediately jumped out at me...I guess I'll have to let that simmer a bit, too.
So that's the way it is. The mail was blah all week - just the usual.
Have you had a eureka moment recently?
Cheers~
P.S. The geraniums are leftovers from last summer; they wintered in the house. I put them outside about three weeks ago and I am ecstatic that they bloomed.)
Today, I went to Pier 1 with my friend MT. She was in the market for a new loveseat and wanted my opinion about one she'd seen. We decided it was a "buy." While we waited for paper work to be completed, etc I looked around and saw the above pillow. I thought it was another good candidate for my #the100dayproject - even though I'm finished gathering ideas and inspiration - so I took a photo ...and also Waterlogued it. Worked just fine.
I didn't buy the pillow but I did buy a director's chair - counter height to use with my sit down/standup desk. I need to screw on a foot rest but I was sleepy when I got home, so I took a nap. Maybe tomorrow I'll set the chair up. Off to watch the news...
Cheers~
We are halfway there! Today marks Day #50 of the project and to celebrate, as well as catch(myself) up, I created a photo collage with the COLLECT app for the first 50 days: 4 April - 23 May, 2017. I started the project with a vague idea of what I would do: something that involved stitching, mandalas, an occasional drawing, Haiku... and that's about as concrete my vision was. Plus, I would do a daily Instagram post. Ha! That - the Instagram post - quickly fell to the wayside - blame it on the quilt show. In the meantime, I was taking photos daily of the evidences of spring, the season; some days I easily added 20-30 pictures, dare I say hundreds? (Probably stretching that number a bit). As I selected photos for the collages, I looked for:
In addition to the photos, I have also journaled and kept notes throughout...
Of course, in the background, my mind has been chewing on the project...just what will I do, wind up with? Something - probably a quilt, a wall hanging, no bigger than 30" x 30" square, consisting of a varied background. Color, line, stitch and shape/s , brought together to create a pleasing and intuitive piece, perhaps in some sort of grid - tho' all pieces may not be equal in size. I have pulled yarns, embroidery threads; perused a variety of books in my stash, including some new that I ordered/received over the past few weeks.
My goal is to finish near the July 12 end date...my intention is to continue to do something every day that moves me closer to a tangible end product. I am looking forward to whatever materializes.
Watch this space...
Cheers~
Click on photos to enlarge and let me know if you want more info about any photo...
Monday ended quietly, as have the previous 8 days since the TV just "quit." I finished stitching the hanging sleeve on the the Flower Garden quilt...so, it's ready to display. I also remembered I need to fix a label to the back of the quilt, so added that item to the "to do" list. I spent more time than I'd anticipated clarifying my idea for my #the100dayproject...in many ways it's much like a gigantic puzzle - you know the kind where once you get the outer border pieces joined, the middle suddenly becomes easier to assemble. I'm not quite at that stage - still looking for border pieces... Since we've been tv-less, we've retired earlier. I read a few more chapters of Still Life and Norman, looked at performances of his favorites: jazz musicians, especially Charlie Parker, saxophonist, on YouTube. Always a win.
Tuesday after MSQT and before Norman got up, I went for a long walk. I think I am going to dub today as "Green Day!" It's as though all the trees' leaves opened up overnight! Gorgeous.
Day 8 of being TV-less; how long can this keep going on? YesterdayI almost said to Norman: "Do you want me to turn on the TV?" And his reply: "I wish you could!" Well, I couldn't but the next best thing: the TV repairman came and, and, AND: we have TV again! He arrived about 12:30 pm and left about an hour later. T'was the "main" something or other and in the scheme of things, just under $400 to fix. Happy Days are here again! I left Norman watching TV 'cause I needed to run errands:
I don't think it was quite warm enough to run through water but these kids didn't at all seem to mind. Oh, to be young again...
And that's the way it was today. As I wrap up this post, the TV is playing loudly and clearly. I'm thinking Norman may be up a tad later tonight. I doubt that I will.
Cheers~
April 16, Emancipation Day, is a legal holiday in Washington DC and because it was also Easter Sunday, today is the day it's being celebrated. That is also the reasons we (US citizens ) get until midnight, Tuesday 18 April 2017 to file 2016 taxes. Go here for the complete story. Today is also the Egg Roll at the White House, happening in between the rain drops.
Normally on Mondays, I attend my quilting group's meeting/gathering but our meeting place - the church - is closed. So, today, I have the time to post earlier in the day... I may also post again this evening as I am documenting this, my Week in the Life, along with thousands around the globe. On my agenda today is to complete most of the preparations I need to do for my quilt group's biennial quilt show, April 27-29. And to get a little clearer picture of my #the100DayProject. I have spent the first two weeks capturing inspiration for the stitching portion of my project and I am slowly beginning to crystallize the process for expediting the written down story portion. Every day counts.
And to that end, last week was a quiet mail week. I mailed taxes Thursday, no last minute rush for this girl and Saturday, received this book from Amazon written by Elle Luna, one of the creators of #the100dayproject...
And life continues in this household without a working TV...certainly is a different vibe...
Do visit Sian of From High in the Sky for her and other's sharing of their mail and other good things last week.
Cheers~
PS. This is for sure a "link up" post - I count 6!
The weather today has been a glorious 71 degrees Fahrenheit...bright and sunny, low to no humidity and just enough breeze to encourage people to "come outside and play." I, among many, took up the invitation and walked to my favorite neighborhood coffee shop - Zeke's. I've not been at all in 2017.
My first stop was the library; I had a book due in a couple days and I wanted to determine the status of the book I ordered two weeks ago - I'd not received any notice that the book had been arrived...and lo and behold - it was there, sitting - who knows for how long - on the "hold" shelf! I of course found a couple other books to check out - those I'll share later. As customers left the building, we were greeted with three kids' bicycles, casually lying just where they jumped off them. It was to laugh...and as a woman who was sitting outside on the bench said: "At least they are in the library!" She and I chatted a bit and I learned that she's resided in the area for sixty years...I think her family must've moved here when she was quite young 'cause she doesn't look "old."
Onto my fave place. On the way, my attention was captured by the pretty pink tree flowers. At Zeke's, I looked at a new book: The Mandala Guidebook. It looks fascinating...After about an hour of drinking coffee, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine and watching the people traffic on the Avenue, it was time to return home. On my walk home, I saw a bird's nest - possibly left over from last year and upon arrival at home: the budding azalea bush in the front yard.
I'm pretty positive that these circles will appear in my #the100dayproject...stay tuned.
Cheers~
In 2009, I made my first trip to Sisters OR and immediately fell in love with the town, the area. With the exception of 2016, I have returned annually; on two occasions, twice in one year. I would move to Sisters in a heartbeat! Visit this post to read a little more about how I truly feel...
In 2014, I began a small quilt: "A Sense of Place - Looking Out the Window of Sisters Cottage." Every morning during the week there, I sat at the dining room table, drinking tea, enjoying my MSQT (morning solitude and quiet time) and watching the birch tree slowly and softly begin to leaf. In that week's workshop, we focused on the natural aspects of a place: trees; flowers; brooks; rivers; etc. The tree was perfect for me; I have this affinity for trees, especially when they are bare or just beginning to leaf.
Today, I put the finishing hand stitches on the piece as part of my #100DayProject; tomorrow, I shall do a minimum amount of quilting and the piece will not only be done but also ready to be displayed at the quilt show.
And another small yet continuing story about me A-Z told and shared.
Cheers~
In 2003, Kayla, my youngest grand niece was just two years old. Her day care provider lived two doors away from me and about 5 o'clock, M-F, my mother would walk down, get Kayla and bring her back to my house until Cissy - Kayla's mom - came to pick her up - usually about 6:30 pm. That hour and a half with Kayla was just the most fun: she was a typical toddler and into everything. She especially liked to hear stories read aloud, perching herself on the arm of the Queen Anne chair as either my mother or I read to her. It was at that time that I decided to start scrapbooking, to record the stories of our lives - as we remembered them and as we lived them.
Fourteen years later, I am still gathering stories - they are in a variety of formats: notes scribbled on bits-n-pieces of paper, or stuffed in the pockets of scrapbook page protectors; layouts made or in the process of being made - photo/s, notes, memorabilia such as tickets, etc, gathered; blog posts written and published; etc.; etc.; etc... Twice in the past five years I've selected as my One Little Word , a word or phrase that I hoped/planned would encourage and enable me to apply some rhyme and organization and tell the stories of my/our lives...
Contemplating the project for the one thousandth time, I decided to use the 2017 #the100dayproject as the framework for getting (some more* of) those untold stories told. I'm not too sure how it will work out but I am committed and dedicated to working it out. Along with telling stories, words+photos, I also intend to tell some via stitching. Again, I'm not too sure how it will work out but I am eager to play, experiment, try, learn...and fail. Today, for example, I "penned" a story on my iPadPro using the Nebo app...and promptly, inadvertently deleted it! Smart - not! I am definitely learning as I go along...and fortunately I'd taken a photo before I deleted the text.
At the forefront of my mind is the admonition to not overload my plate, to focus on keeping it simple...and to remember that I can see both the forest and the trees! I have no idea how this will all wind up, no preconceived notions of what it must look like tho' some thoughts are emerging as to what it might look like. One thing I know is that by the time July 12 rolls around, I should have mastered Instagram, that is if I remember to upload photos to it!
And with having said that, guess I'll upload today's words + photo; on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honorel/
TBC...
Cheers~
Over the past three years, I've specifically told a total of a dozen stories in the category of About Me A-Z. Just a bit o' trivia.