ON a Little Break

sorry I have not posted in a bit, my father has been very sick. I have been thinking about you all though and I will post as soon as I get an opportunity! Also, does anyone know how to delete comments on blogs? I have been getting all kinds of spam like comments from "anonymous". I did change my settings for comments so "anonymous" should not be able to comment. Always someone trying to spoil our fun!
Hugs
Lesley

Eye Candy Found in Quilting Books and Magazines

I suppose I needed a new place to wonder and work in the creative zone. Lately, I find myself attracted to quilting magazines and books. I'm loving the whole "art quilt" concept. I guess quilting always seemed a bit rigid and maybe not enough media to play with.....BOY WAS I WRONG! I bought the above book by Spike Gillespie which features many wonderful quilt artists and provides much eye candy and inspiring words. You can get it at Amazon.com for a lot less than I paid for it at B&N (mental note to self for future purpose).

You know me, I could not stop, I also bought the Quilting ARts Gifts holiday issue. How could I not get it? The cover was so bright and beautiful....it seduced me! It did! Anyway, after going through that about a thousand times already in less than a week, I decided on trying one project...the legal portfolio on page 11o by Diane Rusin Doran. The first one was so hard, I had so much trouble with the directions mostly regarding the flap placement and closure. I'm sure experienced quilters and seamstresses had no trouble. The second one was a little bit easier but I still don't have closure problem solved....I just used velcro on the second one. They are cute anyway. PICTURES OF COURSE.....

Oh, and I have to share some fun pics and story about my little neighbors. Gabi and Mary are my little neighbor friends. They caught me out on my front swing sewing on a purse one night and talked me into making them one for Christmas. Well after much thought, I decided these girls needed to experience making their own purses. I wanted them to be exposed to the whole experience of painting on fabric, hand sewing, maybe even a little sewing on the old machine. So I invited them over yesterday for a few hours of messy fun. Their pieces are painted and they will come today to start the sewing process. I enjoyed the girls and their delight in creating. It was one of those "take time to smell the roses" moments. It was a "not all about me" moment and it was wonderful. Here are some pics...

Feeling it for Fabric Postcards

Somewhere in between the laundry, housecleaning, and grocery shopping, I decided to work on fabric postcards. I finished this one. I must say that I like my first one better as it was stiffer and that is because I used a stiffer pellon. So, forgive me-oh receiver of the not-so-stiff fabric postcard. You will know who you are in a few days unless the wimpy card gets lost in a crevice of some mailmans car or something like that...oh well...."small things.....great love" lol.

Then, I made fabric postcard number 3. It is a Halloween style card and it is not even worthy of a picture. Really, it looks like something a first grader would make. You still want to see? OK, here it is.....

Did I scare you? This card is being mailed to a family member tomorrow. I am working on number 4 fabric postcard tonight. I think it is cool that you can send these in the mail. Please email me if you have any questions about making these. I have found a few really helpful tutorials and then I do what I want with some of those instructions. Can't help being a bit of a rebel! Still hoping to hear from some more of you with fall photos for the fall photo challenge.

Where My Girls At?

OK, I Posted the Fun Fall Photo (fhoto) challenge and only a couple of you have bitten? I know that there are more of you out there that love a good photo challenge! I really hope you will share your fall photo with me for this challenge. You don't even have to have a blog (Rhea, Ronetta and Mama). I just want to see your interpretation of "fall". So get to sending! (Not mentioning any names....Renea, Lisa, Susan, Susan the Queen, Marah, Amber, Running with Scissors, Rhea, Ronetta, Mama, etc) I know you got something in your mind, go and get it. Share it sistah!

Here is a pic I took of my little decoration for my front yard. I had to do something to keep up with the neighbors. Really, my neighbors go all out for Halloween. They do an inside spook house. Last year, I got some great shots of their indoors spookhouse. Really, these

guys were in their living room~

CHANGING TOPICS

Sorry to change topics on you so rapidly but I have to tell you about the lovely little envelope I discovered in my mailbox this evening. I had a sweet little card with 6 moo cards from RXBAMBI in my mailbox today. Wow, what a nice way to finish off an exausting (bad shoe day) Monday. It made my day, really Susan~! Makes me wanna do a Moo card swap...Thanks and watch your mailbox for something sweet. That is all folks for today.

FUN FALL FHOTO CHALLENGE!

FUN FALL FHOTO CHALLENGE


Yes, I do believe it is time for a creative challenge. I think I have just the thing for ya! Did you know that I got married on the first day of Autumn? That is September 22 (25 years ago). We certainly did not plan it that way....it was just a convenient date at the time.

I love the fall season. I love the colors that appear in the trees and sprinkle the ground. I love the pumpkins and all things that honor the celebration of the harvest. I remember this song we used to sing in music class way back in elementary school....

"Voices of the Autumn Winds

Through the mist are calling

Hum farewell to a summers going

as the leaves are falling"

This season makes me think of school days, riding on the school bus, football games, homecoming,Thanksgiving, Halloween, Orange, Brown, Black, baking sweets, cooking more, crafting, decorating for the holidays.....so many pleasant thoughts. What does fall make you think of? THE CHALLENGE: Send me a picture of a photo of something that you love about fall. It can be something you created, something you see, a journal entry.....But send me a link and I will create a FUN FALL Fhoto mosaic with all of your works. We will each get to vote on one favorite (not our own) and the winner will receive a little surprise from me. Addendum: This challenge will end Oct 31 and winner will be announced first week of November! Thanks RXBAMBI for asking about how long challenge lasts!

The above picture was taken by me on Bainbridge Island while on our trip last week in Seattle, more about that later. The leaves were so beautiful I had to take pics of them. I digitally enhanced the photo.....I just can't leave well enough alone!

Fabric Postcard

I made my first fabric postcard today! I enjoyed the process. I followed a couple of online tutorials (just google "fabric postcard instructions" and you will get all kinds of information.) I love the whole idea of mail art and since I'm enjoying fabric art right now....it seemed only natural to try some fabric postcards. So.....without further ramblings......here is my first fabric postcard.....

One of my loyal followers will be getting this in the mail in the next few days.
Today we went to Midland to get a new pump for our pond. We stopped at a few other places and ate at Texas Burger. YUM!
Craig started packing for Seattle which got me inspired to start packing. (Heather is already packed). We leave Tuesday. Tomorrow will be a day of getting everything ready for our trip as we leave Tuesday morning.....I'm so excited. Will keep you posted.

Small Things Great Love

"We can do no great things...only small things with great love." Mother Teresa

There it is! Eureka! Ah-Ha! Elation, joy, and excitement, lights flashing, trumpets blowing! I get it! I get it! I finally get it and I'm so exited about this revelation that I can hardly write it down fast enough so that I can share it with you later on my blog.

"It" has been in front of me all this time. My favorite quote, for so many years, has finally revealed to me my truth, my meaning.....the answer to the constant nagging questions burning in my heart.....Will I ever do something great?......Isn't there something far greater that God intended for me to do with my life?

While asking myself these same old questions today, this quote came into my mind very strong. "Small things.....Great love". Boom! It hit me! Stop pushing so hard for that ONE GREAT THING.....that great craft book, the greatest piece of art ever, you get what I mean.

Take every day and every little opportunity to do small things with GREAT LOVE and live your life to the fullest every single day....one day at a time. Every day do little things to make other people happy. Give lovingly of compliments and little recognitions such as birthdays. If you find a particularly heart warming article in a magazine, share it with others. Little things- great love. Do you understand? I believe that if I start trying to live more in the present and for today that the rewards will come through peace in my heart.

I would love to know your thoughts on this. I would love to know if this makes since to you. I would love to know that my journey has had a positive impact on you. Please leave your comments. I love them and cherrish them.

Some small things you can do with Great Love

1. Sneak a sweet note in your spouse's/lover's lunch or book bag

2. Warm up someones bath towel in the dryer while they are showering and hand it to them when they finish showering. It will be a warm and nice surprise!

3. Sign up for a birthday reminder service online (here is one that I use) and start asking your friends and family to sign in or give you their birthdate. You will receive notices. Then....recognize their birthday in some way. It does not have to be an expensive thing.

4. Remember names-Figure out a way.....that makes people feel so good

5. Give compliments freely. If you feel it say it!

6. Copy feel good articles and share them with people that like this sort of thing.

7. Listen-Just stop and listen to someone.....stop talking, make eye contact, and listen and encourage and support....make it about them today....not you!

8. Send a card or letter by snail mail.....email is nice but getting a nice card in your mail box is so tangible and wonderful...Do MAIL ART! OH I HAVE GOT TO DO THAT SOMETIME!!!

9. If you make a cake for your family, take half of it to a neighbor......you don't need all that cake! They will be so happy!

10. Do Gorilla art! Make a little ATC or some kind of art and leave an inspiring message on it and drop it in a public place for someone to pick up. It just might make their day. If you have never heard of gorilla art, google it. It is so cool.

11. I know that times are tough economically but just once try paying for the car behind you at the fast food drive through if you have a little extra and check out the smiles in your rearview mirror.

12. Volunteer for community project.

13. Send another idea to Lesley (Funky Art Queen) on how we can do small things with great love.