Progress

I promised myself not to start any
new quilts this year until the tops that I
have are all quilted. (with the exception
of Dawn's BOM)

When I finish a quilt top it goes
in my closet on a hanger.
The ones that are completed are
either hand quilted or quilt-as-
you-go.

So I was very excited when one
of our Guild Members bought
a Longarm Quilting machine!
And she is doing a fabulous job!

This is the first quilt that I had
professional quilted (for me).

Quilted by Kim Loar

I blogged about this top HERE

Quilted - binding on - Finished! Yeah!

I love the way that it turned out!

Here's the back where you can see
more of the quilting.

Large flower with meandering

Kim also did one more the Wonky Star
Cats but I didn't get a chance to do the
binding yet. Maybe I'll have time this
week. I have 2 more for Kim to do
once I make the backings for them.
Catching up! Feels so good!

I also have, in my closet, 6 to 8
table runners but those I'll do
myself using some free motion
quilting.

*************************
On my previous post I had some
photos of my sketch book challenge -
Highly Prized.
One of them was my daughter but
I wasn't happy with the way it
turned out and so I did it over
again.


I like this one a little bit better but I
had too much shading. I'm afraid to
use the eraser fearing it might make
matters worse.

I also did a self-portrait from one of
my photos.


Drawing faces is one of my favorite
things to do. I'm just using a pencil
for now.

I tried something that I never did
before. On the Sketch book Challenge
blog Melanie Testa did a video on
using gouache. I really wanted to
try this and so I went to Michael's
and bought some (the very inexpensive
one) And I used one of my woodpecker
photos as my inspiration.



I could point out several things that
I did wrong but I won't (-:
I'm very happy with this one as it's
the first painting that I've ever tried.

That's what the Sketch book Challenge
is - trying new techniques and challenging
myself to go out of my comfort zone.
And Practicing! Every Day!

Have a Blessed Week! Can you believe
it's almost the end of January already?!!

Wordless Wednesday

Embracing Winter

A time for renewal

With the onset of winter my mood
would automatically change;
I would start feeling very blue.

This winter I decided that I
would embrace the winter and
try to change my attitude.

I found some Ways to beat those
winter Doldrums that so far work
for me.

When I go to the supermarket

1 - I buy a bouquet of flowers -



These were on sale for $5.00 !!

Having fresh flowers around cheers
me up.

2 - Feed the birds

During the summer; I use my deck upstairs
to dye fabric. Now it has become a
place for me to feed the birds. I put
up some suet to attract Woodpeckers.
And I was pleasantly rewarded!

Isn't he handsome!

Red Bellied Woodpecker - Female

Flicker - Female

I have never had the opportunity
to see woodpeckers this close!
And I'm shooting through my
double-glassed sliding doors
with my Kodak camera.

3 - Enjoying the Beautiful Winter
Sunsets

Glorious!

4 - Changing my routine and taking on
new challenges - such as the sketchbook
challenge.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

And more Practice!

5 - Exercise and a brisk walk in the park
is invigorating - especially on a sunny day.
And I don't forget to take my camera!

I need a caption for this..... It's so cute!

6 - Relaxing and reading a good book before
going to sleep.

I discovered a new Historical Fiction Writer!
Bernard Cornwell - I'm currently on the 3rd
book of The Saxon Series - "The Lords of the North".

So far, I'm actually enjoying the winter -
despite the snow and cold!

"Life is a Gift!"

Wordless Wednesday

Letting Go

Sketch Book Challenge

I did another sketch for the Sketch Book
Challenge - title "Learning"

Learning

I have 2 others on my Pages (on top)

See my sidebar for the button for more
info. on The Sketchbook Challenge. There
are tutorials, techniques and a lot of inspiration!
I would like to try all of the Artists' techniques
and tutorials!

For example, Melanie Testa has made a video
on Gouache. I've heard of gouache before but
didn't know much about it... Melanie's video
shows you how she uses it. So I went out and
bought some (the cheap stuff for now) and am
going to experiment with it.

There is also a Flickr page that you might
like to check out HERE
What a great group of Artists - from beginner
to the more experienced.

If you've never kept a journal before; let me
tell you that it is fun. I have several that I have
written my thoughts and ideas in, doodled and
even kept a food diary in but now I would like to
be more organized.


You'll be amazed at what you find out
about yourself. It's very cathartic!

My word for 2011 is "Grow"

Blessings,

Wordless Wednesday