Back Forty

I have been working this week on a Toni Whitney applique design. I love the sky in this design and it reminds me of so many farms in the middle of the country. Oh give me land,  lots of land. Reminds me also of the song" Don't Fence Me In". It is ready to quilt and hang on the wall. Thank you Toni for the beautiful designs.

Circle of Life awaiting quilting

I have finished the circle of life and it is basted and awaiting quilting.That was a most difficult project and it is not done yet.I have gone back and forth about hand vs. machine quilting. I am waiting until my muse comes back on this one.Anyway here it is in it's entirety.

June BJP

Okay so I am a Sunday blogger. A once a month Sunday blogger. My June BJP has been finished since the end of May and I have been negligent in posting a photo of it.But here it is: I call it Her Majesty's Jewels.

Progress

Here is the progress on the Circle of Life quilt.Now I just need to piece the center circle piece to this outside New York Beauty arch piece and the middle part is done. I have four sawtooth borders to piece and this quilt is almost done. I just have to quilt "as desired."

May is done

May's Bead Journal Project is complete and I am making progress on the Circle of Life quilt.I have even gotten some spring cleaning accomplished.This piece is called May's Maze and is one of three of the series complementery colors.

Here is the progress on 'my distraction'.I need to piece these outside arches into the background and piece the borders.Still a work in progress.

I also made a small piece as a special thank you to a friend. She loved the "Rock Circles" she said it reminded her of camping.So I made her her own campground.

March and April are done and I am doing a series of the elements but with a twist.January was frozen WATER.February was AIR, the air way up in the atmosphere and how it looks up there. March is Earth and the tiny particles that make up EARTH. I am also doing my interpretation of the seasons and that is April's theme of spring. I call March "Rock Circles"

and I call April"Tiptoe through the Tulips" I am happy to be all caught up and inspired by the beautiful beading everyone is doing.

My distraction

In the middle of February I decided to begin work on a quilt that has been "aging"
on the shelf.So I dug in on Valentine's day and began a colorful journey on The Circle of Life quilt.I have been busy and my blogs have suffered.It's a trade off-to bead or to quilt or to blog?Blogging usually loses.Ahhh there are only so many hours in a day.Here is my distraction quilt in progress...

February is Done

Here are some photos of the work in progress of my BJP for February and the final piece.

Ocean Retreat weekend

Just spent a great 4 day weekend at the ocean sewing with seven of my friends.Got a lot accomplished and still had time to relax.I was thinking how much I appreciate the friendships I have made in this part of my life.When I was younger,I was too busy to contemplate the deeper meanings of friendship and how important they are.This past weekend I really felt what they mean to me. I laughed and cried and sang in my heart the joy of love and cooperation.And I still got lots of things accomplished.I will share a few photos with you.Until I post again- May your joys be many and your sorrows few.

Snow Day Two

Today is snow/ice day number two and I am using the time to get caught up on various projects. It is very quiet around here as the ice is falling and covering everything.About one car goes by in an hour.Reminds me of a time when I was a child and when we heard an airplane, we would run outside to look up and watch it fly over.Today as I listen to cars go by,I look out to see them travel sideways down the road and hope they don't hit any parked cars. I will continue to sew and stay as warm as possible.

#1 is finished

I finished putting the edge on my first BJP.I am very happy with it and have named it Ice Edge.I am hoping to keep up with all the months but I am going to proceed as my muse moves me. I want no extra pressure in my life, just the joy of beading I hope you like this one too.

Ready to Finish

I am finished with my first BJP project (at least the front of it) and now I just need to finish the edges. My inspiration is snow and ice and the feeling of cold.I also had many snowflakes to use in some manner and they seemed to fit with this design. I am happy with how it turned out. My style is just to pick out some beads that have the feeling I want to express and then just intuitively bead. Not too much thought, just whatever feels like it should be in a certain spot. continuing on.....

Some of last year's work

These are some pieces I did last year that were inspired by looking at some of the work of the BJP participants. I just set out on my own to play with color and beads. I learned a lot and it was great challenge for myself. I am happy with the end results.

New Beginning

I am beginning this blog to continue on the next leg on my journey of creativity and this ( blogging) is a new path to wander down. I feel like the brand new year is a good time for a new adventure.
I have been quilting and beading for 30 something years(approaching 40) and I would like to write about inspirations and techniques that I have come across on the journey so far.Just this morning I was greeted by a bright coral and baby blue sunrise.
Beautiful in it's everyday-ness. A color combination that would make a beautiful quilt.
I have started a retrospective on the past year and I hope you enjoy looking at the eye candy and perhaps be inspired. I am always inspired by the work of others and how they express their heart and soul. In my heart and my soul,a thread runs through it.