Happy Hanukkah

I can't believe how quickly this year has passed us by. I haven't been actively posting this past year  but my plans are in the works to post again on a regular basis after the first of January. I'll be giving this blog a fresh new look. There are lots of ideas rattling around in my head to make this a better blog.

I just dropped in today to wish all a Happy Hanukkah no matter how you want to spell it. :)

               Chag Samaech!

And Time Flies!

It's hard to believe but the last time I posted here was July 9th. I guess it's true that the older you get, the faster time flies! And what have I been doing with my flying time you ask. Here's my list:
  1. First and foremost, I started taking Torah study classes from an internet Bible college and lovin'
      it!
  2. Still settling in to my studio. This week we're hanging shelves to provide more storage space.
      Yes, I admit I have way-too-much in the way of art and craft supplies and need more space
       to accommodate them.
  3. Working on new and reworking old artwork to hang up on the bare walls of my studio.
  4. Working on my veggie garden. Lots of wax and green beans this year.

  5. I spend the last 2 Wednesdays playing with encaustic (wax) painting at a friend's house.

Make sure to click on the above picture to read the poem and get a chuckle.

Ribbon Work

Escape

Can you hear?

From The Ocean

  Okay, so this isn't great art. Remember this was just playing and we were trying out the medium.

Toodles until next time.

And Will I Ever Catch Up?

Well, I'm going to give it the old college try anyways! I'm determined to at least try to get back on a regular schedule and post more often on both of my blogs.

I've been a bit busy this past week moving my studio space from the back of the house to a room in the front of the house. That includes exchanging the contents of the two closets for these rooms too. Uh...what a job! Why would you do that you ask. The short explanation is the noise from the neighbor whose property is adjacent to ours. Enough said or I'll just get riled up. Sigh. The disadvantage to the move is that I loose my lovely view to the back of the property. Now I get to look out at our parking area. The advantage is that I gain an extra window for light...two windows!
Woohoo! And an air conditioner! Helps drown out the neighbor. :-)) And...more wallspace for hanging paintings and quilts! Another woohoo!!!!! I haven't hung anything on the walls yet. It will motivate me to make some new paintings.

I'll give you a peek at my new studio but I'll wait to show it again when the walls are more filled up.

See how bright it is! I just love it. I have to say it was a good move.

I even did a couple of sketches of one of my petunias. See...I'm already motivated!

And lastly, I've got to share with you a couple of bandits that showed up in our yard last weekend. We heard a horrible noise that kept getting louder and looked out the window. this is what we saw.

A set of twins looking for 'mama' and making a terrible racket! Young enough to still be fuzzy!

But the most important thing I can write on my blog today is that with all that is going on in the middle east of late...please remember to  "PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!"

Hoping To Make Up For Lost Time

Wow! It's been quite some time since I posted last. The end of February to be exact. I'll be attempting to post on a more regular basis. At least, I hope to. It seems that time is speeding up and making my days go by in a blur.

In trying to grab hold of time and whip it into shape, I'm changing some of my priorities around. While I have spent many happy hours sewing and quilting, I feel that I'm suffering from quilting burnout. Hence, the change for quilting being at the top of my creativity list to closer to the bottom.  But, being a fickle human being, that could change in a New York minute. Meanwhile, I have also decided to not participate in our local quilt guild for the coming year and to pass the baton for our guild's blog on to another well qualified member. The ladies at the guild are a wonderful group and I've enjoyed the fellowship I've had there. I'm more of the 'independently-minded' artist type and I get the most enjoyment of working on projects of my own separate from group projects. Would I ever give up quilting entirely? Definitely not!

My interest in creating art has risen and I've taken a few online art classes in the last three years. I've experienced using new art supplies in my work recently. In fact, I joke that I have so many art supplies I could open my own store. How long will my intense interest in making art last? I have no answer for that. It could last for years or it could blow away with the next windstorm. Meanwhile, I have accumulated supplies that I haven't used yet and I'm determined to get to know them all.

A painting from one of my classes. Something different from my usual work.

If all else fails and I lose interest in art making, there is always spinning and weaving to fall back on. I know...you're thinking how much does this girl dabble in? I would answer 'a lot'. Some might think I have too much time on my hands. LOL I wish I had more!

Oh, but there's something more to this! I have another blog where I share ideas for those crafters who are walking in the Hebrew Roots movement to incorporate into their creations. http://asweetsavor.blogspot.com/  I also signed up this month to start Bible College. I should complete it in about three years.

The hard part for me is to juggle my time for creativity, household obligations and other distractions. I've tried making a schedule but find it hard to stick to. It seems like there are always interruptions. Ha! Certainly I am not uniquely a victim of this. But life goes on.

I leave you with a iris blossom from my garden that probably was a victim of a curious rabbit. It was broken off at the base of the flower so I rescued it and enjoyed it for the day.

 Have A Great Weekend Dear Ones!

I Love Cardinals

There is a Cardinal couple that visit my birdfeeder on a regular basis. Their colorings are such a contrast against the stark white of the snow in winter that they add a happy note to the seemingly too long winter.

A couple of years ago I decided to add some Cardinal decor to our home. Last year I started this wall hanging and have finally finished it. Now for fresh paint on the wall and I will be hanging it to remind me that winter doesn't last forever.

Too Much Snow, Must Be Time To Make A Snowman

Between the icy cold weather we've had and the snow that keeps coming back, you'd think I wouldn't want to remind myself by making snowmen. However that's exactly what I did. Quilted snowmen that is.

I found this free pattern on Debbie Mumm's website but I'm sorry to say it has since been removed from her site. While my piecework isn't perfect I still had fun making this wall hanging.

Just in case you're wondering what I've been up to, I'm working on other UFOs, taking online art classes and, of course, planning this year's veggie garden. And in a major move, my art table is now next to the window and I can't believe how spacious my studio looks. It is a much more inviting atmosphere to work in then before. I'll keep it this way until late in the spring when the sun shining in the window makes it too hot to be comfortable. I'll be out working in the garden instead of inside anyways.

May you all enjoy a wonderful weekend. Hugs!

Am I Back To Normal Yet?

On my last post I shared with my readers my dad's 96th birthday on December 11th. Two weeks later his health started to fail and he quickly went downhill. His life with us drew to a close on January 1, 2014 and he went home to be with his King.

My dad last year on his 95th birthday.

 I can't believe it's already been 18 days since he passed. Time is certainly flying. I'm still dealing with bills and paper work but I've started to get back into creating little by little.

I have finally finished my Thanksgiving project from 2013 or I should say it's for 2014. That way I've finished it early. LOL

 This pattern was from Quilt in a Day. I modified and resized it. I guess I just can't leave these things alone!

I have two more wall hangings in the works. I hope to have one of them finished in the next few days
and will be back to share it with you.