Things that make me .....

I finished my word quilt this past weekend!!!

The blue fabric is hand dyed fabric in my stash 

and the background fabric is snow dyed fabric

 I created when we had snow last winter!

This winter I haven't been able to snow dye...

I played a lot with free motion quilting...

it's always easy to experiment on small projects.

The binding is some of the hand dyed fabric

 on which I had stenciled

with iridescent fabric paint... 

I am happy to have finished this word quilt

but it is a little more monochromatic than I am used to creating

so it may need some embellishing...

not sure yet.

This past week was 'winter break' in New York State schools.

Not really in need of a break from winter 

but Sugarbaby and I made our way down south to warmer and sunnier Florida

for a little R & R...

I always find plenty of inspiration in the little things...

flowers...

leaves...

raindrops...

seashells...

ocean waves...

French desserts...

and sunsets...

Feeling happy!

Tiny (?) changes....

Hoping I haven't bit off too much more than I can chew.....

My word of the year top is done with hand dyed and ice dyed fabrics...

but feeling a little under the weather has messed with my desire to quilt this week.

In the meantime...

I am participating in a 7 day nature photography challenge

 over on Facebook...

and so I have been posting mostly old photos....

that I tinkered with using iPhone apps...

  and Photoshop Elements,...

while I train for a new job....

study for an old job....

keep on top of my Happiness Project....

find time for exercise and meditation...

enjoy some company....

and

knit in my spare time (did I say spare time?!!!)

"True life is lived when tiny changes occur."

-Leo Tolstoy

Happily resolved....

I have several projects going on right now

but it's never too late to start another!!!!

(right?!)

My friend and I are now into our second month of 

The Happiness Project!

The first month went very quickly since we started a little late.

The chapter for February is a great chapter for everyone!!!!

(no matter what kind of a relationship you are in or are working on)

So I came up with some new "resolutions", 

as Gretchen (can we be on a first name basis by chapter 2?) 

calls them...

One of my resolutions this year 

is to practice meditation daily

so I treated myself to a mediation cushion!!!!

and while I work on the second month of "One Little Word" 

with Ali Edwards

I have added this resolution to my one goal to practice this month...

feeling pretty happy :-)

Clearing my head.....

I have had people asking me how we fared through the 

the snowstorm that hit eastern USA..

here, in upstate NY....

we didn't get any snow,

not even one flake!!!

In fact, 

my snowshoes are still in the box!!!

So for now,

I am busy running inside..

It gives me a chance to start my day off 

with a clear head...

I play the music loud!!!

and keep the tv off...

Exercise also helps to combat the potential side effects

 of using my new bread maker...

cinnamon raisin bread is especially delicious!!!

(just sayin')

Another place that helps me clear my head

is my studio ...

which I share with two of my fiber art friends.

It is housed in an old building which was 

a shirt factory once upon a time...

and you know how I looooooove old buildings!!!!

My spot is in the far left corner near the window

that blows and rattles in the wind...

sometimes windows need a bit of duct tape too....

Polka dotted tape, of course!

(I love the sun that shines on my spot)

Sometimes my spot is neat and tidy...

 but

most of the time....

um...

it's not!!!

Over the years,

as my interests have, shall we say, expanded...

I have "collected" many items...

and stuff is stashed everywhere!!!

but

when I am here at the studio...

I forget about my worries, 

my anxieties, 

my problems...

I slap paint around...

swish the water...

cut up fabric...

and just play!!!