Choices ...

"You are never too old to be what you might have been." George Eliot

 



Heartfelt thanks Madame Samm and Jane ...

for choreographing all this inspiration and creativity.
A big thank you to the very generous Debbie, Cyndi, and Madame Samm
for these wonderful patterns -
what would we do without you - you give us sew much!!!

We all love Presencia and Colonial Needle, our
wonderful sponsors.

 





I downloaded all the patterns, printed them ... and then decided.

The three I picked really told a story to me of a different time. 

Being a child of the 50's and 60's

 - what a clean, fun time with really good music -

 there were very few options for females after high school.
Some of my friends got to go to college or as they referred to it,

"A place to find a husband and get away from home."

 

 Others were limited to finding work at the local store or telephone company,

 or to get married and start a family.
We were accepting of being stay-at-home wives and mothers,

and were content with that choice.
In my opinion, they were the greatest and hardest vocations of all.
 

Sad but true, my generation simply did not aspire to be a lot more independent.
Aren't we happy today that our sons, daughters and grandchildren
 have so many options open to them.

Did you see the 2003 movie,  Mona Lisa Smile, starring Julia Roberts?

  A really great one to rent or buy.

excerpt ... 

"In 1953, a time when women's roles were rigidly defined, free-spirited, novice

art history professor Watson (Roberts) begins teaching at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College - which despite its academic reputation, is an environment where success is measure by "how well" the students marry.  Encouraging these women to strive for a more enlightened future, Professor Watson challenges the administration and inspires her students to look beyond the image of what is, and consider the 

possibilities of what could be - contrary to popular belief." 

from the Yahoo Movie clip  

 

"Professor Watson lived by example

 and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes."

 

My stitchery represents so much more than what is shown -

I have stitched all the dreams, the choices, the acceptance,

 and determination of our generation into this,

while remembering a really happy other time.

 

 

 

I chose the comfortable old chair pattern because 

I love being a wife and mother and to me it represents my home.

The 50's gal (had to add ruffles for Samm) gave me so much comfort and the

styling lady (turned her around) gave me the joy of dreams and what could have been.

 

My professional career came later in life.

In truth, we really do get to choose our destiny.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I decided to do another stitchery as I have a lot of time right now -

a redwork "House in Spring" pillow to add to my collection.

I Love this pillow... and the bunny surely is quite comfortable. 

 

 Jane had the perfect "Spring green" Presencia Finca Perle Cotton,  

  and the red floss is new for me - DMC 115, variegated garnet. 

  Kaaren Johnson told me about this and I really like it.

 

 I used an off-white, tonal background

Please be sure to visit all the blogs and let them know you love their participation

in this wonderful, creative and inspiring hop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I leave you with this thought ... because we could start a Bee!!!

"In my Father's house there are many mansions, I hope yours is next to mine." 

 

 Kristin @That Other Blog

Robin @That Other Blog

Jane's Fabric and Quilts

Dexterdays The WorldThrough Our Window

Sew Nicely

thistle creek cottage

My Art, My So Called Life

Just Sew Sue

Co mne bavi...

life, quilts and a cat too

TeaTimeCreations

Read, quilt, cook, pray

Cate's Linens

Shade Tree Quilting - there you are !!

Ladybug Dreams

 

Happy Easter Everyone from Judy C  

Spring has Sprung

Waiting and Wanting Spring

Seems like I spend a lot of time wishing my life away ...

here I am waiting for Spring and wanting to get to planting things.

I keep trying to organize my sewing space ...

and then again just maybe I should accept the fact that it

isn't going to happen.  It is suppose to be a working room after all.

This little wall hanging quilt is only 38" x 38" and was on my UFO list from last year...

remember, the year I took off, so thought it was time to get 'er done.

First Five Blocks

Simple enough to piece and the applique

will be a good project to do when I get to sit outside on

my first ever screened porch and watch the flowers grow

while the birds and squirrels squabble for the seeds.  The pillows for the wicker were

made before we moved in and the cushions have been under wraps all winter.

Brings me to a question I have ... what to do about the treasures.

As I try to decorate my new sewing space, I realize all that I have made

and framed over the years - embroidery, needlepoint, applique, cross stitch.

 I had oddles of room before and I am now faced with what

to do with all my pictures.  I can part with the bought prints

or silly little signs, etc. but I am really stumped

over parting with the handiwork I have done.

My daughter is left with no more room to store these treasures,

even though she wants them all because I made them.

Any advice at all will be considered and very much appreciated.

North Carolina, at least where I live, had their first snow over the weekend.

I know it does not look like much compared to what

most of you have gotten ... but we love any and all snow we get.

We are not choosey at how much either - the great grands

got a snowman out of it, and they were so excited and happy.   Yeah!!!

 Garden bench by the

driveway with husband's

sign that says.

Welcome, be nice or leave!

Our kids have had a lot of chuckles

 over it.

The Garden Fairy keeping

sentinel over the

Lenten Rose plant that had

just started blooming.

The tulips we planted in January

 have started sprouting up -

Surely the Jonquils

can't be far behind.

I did see some little green peeks

through the mulch.

We surely do love our seasons here in the South.  Come on Spring

in all your glory.  I would love to make a quilt with just the

colors of Spring.  Can you replicate that Spring green from the trees?

I have yet to find the perfect shade.

Cross stitch and embroidery I can't part with.

May your week be delightful, creative and full of happiness

Judy C

Heartfelt Pictures and Stuff

Already Valentine's week and here I am

wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day full of love, family and friends.

Valentine quilts... just for your enjoyment.

Beautiful batiks done in stained glass method...

Hearts using doilies for the hearts - guess I should have put on point ...

Redwork heart with roses - rainy here so could not get a good picture ...

just completed last night.

I have been playing in the sewing studio, and yes I think I can call it that

now that I have yet AGAIN reorganized and rearranged.  The room just was

not set up right before and I was feeling claustrophobic -

know what I mean?  More pictures later.

Showing you my progress these last two weeks - time well spent ...

Valentine potholders for the neighbor ladies ...

My Magnolia Wreath wall quilt I started last week,

needs some sort of quilting but really love it...

I want to "wave" the borders

and I plan to use on the round dining table.  

I actually have two embroidery pieces completed,

 will probably be Christmas presents and

certain person(s) may be looking at this... pictures later.

Hopefully, I will not wait another two weeks before

posting - I really meant to do better - just got very

involved with all the organizing and we have

also unpacked another 20 boxes - yeah for us!

One day we will have it all organized and put altogether, 

hopefully, we will remember where we put it.

Spend some love time with your loved ones

and remember how special we all are.

Judy C

Encouraging Signs

Ever so slowly, and hopefully on a daily basis, I am returning to

my sewing room.  After a very long illness and a broken arm,

I am calling this "my kind of physical therapy."

This past week I definitely enjoyed sewing and having fun,

even if my arm doesn't particularly like a lot of cutting right now.

I can work with that by just spreading it over a couple days.

Thank you ever so much to Marlene from

Stitchin By The Lake Blogspot

for her brillant idea of "Welcome To The Neighborhood"  visits.

We will be getting to know our blogging friends a lot better

so be sure and comment telling me a little something about yourself,

or what you have been working on or hope to be working on,
or any new quilting trends or really good tips I likely have missed,
Everything works for me ...  

What Fun -

From the first of January

 

To the last of January...

All that inbetween stuff is what took so long and I am pleased

it is now a workable room with new organized bookcases and plastic bins.

I "kinda know" where things are stored and anticipate rearranging as I go along.

.

I downsized from a 14'  x 24' to a 10' x 12' room,

spent many days unpacking tubs reorganizing

and labeling, sorting and stashing.

I now have my own gorilla shelves in the garage for batting tubs,
 and other "needful things."  Love it !!!

Projects and progress for this past week ...

Magnolia Wreath Cut Ups

An old UFO Pattern

Starting off small and all ready to sew tomorrow.

I found my tub of pillowcase kits that were made by

my Golden Girls sewing group a year ago when we sewed bi-monthly

for ConKerr Cancer patients.  A couple of the ladies have moved away
and we lost one of our very creative Golden Girls.
 I want to finish the pillowcases for ConKerr, A Case For Smiles, while

 remembering all the really good times we ladies had making them .
I started with the Easter fabric kits.

Oh so cute.

Another wonderful finish was my Redwork tea towel last weekend...

this is a Busy As Can Be design.
A future Christmas present and isn't she lovely!!!

I feel that I have a made a good start with my sewing room therapy...

which feels more like mental therapy.  I have so many kits and projects

that were packed away last year -  all just waiting for my attention.
I definitely forgot all the projects that I have been so richly blessed with.

Feels pretty darn good to be creating and sewing again.

I will be looking around to see what kind of wonderful things

I can pass on in a giveaway very soon.

Thank you for dropping by and

please have a delicious kind of day

filled with joyous things that make you happy.

Don't forget that comment!!! and come back often
to visit.

Judy C

Tad Bit Late - Well Maybe

Christmas came and went so fast - a blur ...
I am just plain late showing my Christmas pictures,
 I could have waited until next year - I love to take pictures each year  so I know where and how I decorated the year before.  Does that make sense to anyone but me?
  Since this is the first Christmas in the cottage house we moved into in October, I thought you might also enjoy these few pictures... please humor me.
I am trying to ease back into posting and have a very limited supply of ideas right now.

"Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation..."  Jane Austen

Santa's Kitchen Helper

with my

new

tea cup -

just adorable. Susan Branch gave one away on her blog this year...  I did not win but found one.

Mini tree on kitchen counter..

Dear Daughter and I have been collecting miniature ornaments since the 1980's.

Usually sits on a lazy susan so you can look and rearrange all the ornaments to your heart's content,  I do that a lot. 

The lazy susan has not been unpacked yet, a story for another time.

Christmas Soldiers from flower pots Dear Daughter made for me.

Amarylis wreath ended up hanging on the French Door.

So many treasures and so little space in the cottage.

A person has to do what a person has to do - I will stop now...
 thank heavens I got it out of my system for this year. 

Thank you for dropping by and hopefully you will check back often.

If you feel inclined,  

sign up for email alerts for any new posts.

Now that my health is improving and the sling is off my broken arm

I plan to get back to the enjoyments of life ...

sewing, creating and you my friends.

Have a delightful day full of creativity and wonderment.

Judy C

My Forever Words

~This is what my word cloud says on my Shade Tree~

We are born into this World

Like a blank canvas

And each person that crosses our path

Takes up the brush

And makes his mark

Upon our surface

So it is that we develop

But we must realize there comes a day

That we must take up the brush

And finish the work

For only we can determine

If we are to be

Just another painting

Or a Masterpiece ~ Javan ~

I have learned that people come into our lives and some stay for a really long time and some stay for just a short time ... I know they all come for a reason...

The above poem was my inspiration and taken from Javan's book

Meet Me Halfway

He has always been one of my favorite poets

and a true North Carolina native.

Timeless Message - about Javan

A little quilt for my Ackfeld stand to remind me

about my belief in my Masterpiece,

which is still being painted and perfected
everyday by wonderful people like you.

These are two of my favorite people and they make a difference

every day to all of us...

Thank you to the amazing Madame Samm

her wonderful self

for her insight and delightful blog hops

into all things creative... and

Linda Winters and her wonderful blogspot

for being our cheerleader, confidant

and inspirational leader.

Did you see her post yesterday?

She is so amazing, creative and so extremely talented.

On December 13th I broke my arm and right after thinking "I wonder if

I can move any part of me and what did I break,"

I remember thinking "Oh no, I am not going to be able to

participate in the blog hop."  Honest, these were my thoughts!!!

Thankfully, the dog did not get hurt in the destruction of my arm.

I was not dropping out and decided "things" would just have to
take care of themselves ... I wasn't it charge of it!!!

  here I go working on that patience thing, again.
 Here I am!!! typing with both arms today,

which is much better than last week.
Uploading pictures has been a real pain in the arm, however.

My second project is the result of a very special and wonderful blogging friend,

and another one of those fabulous people I admire,

Pat Taylor http://thoughtsfromtaylorsoutback.blogspot.com/

Awhile back Pat blogged about what quilting means to her.  She has such a

beautiful way with words and her blog is always a joy to read -

she is very inspirational, insightful and creative.

I asked, and she granted permission, to use her words .. so

I stitched and sent her a pillow so the words

would always be near for her.

Well, I needed one too, didn't I?  This is my redwork pillow I finished on Monday

using Pat's beautiful words and I added one or two words of my own.

The stitchery has been done for awhile, I just made it into a pillow this week.

I was unable to find ready-made piping (off-white muslin)

so had to make that also.  What's with JoAnn's?
  I thought for sure I would

be able to save some time and energy with ready made.

Patience is definitely being practiced here. 

 The words on the pillow - sorry the picture isn't better ...
(Quilting) is the knowledge that

while quilts are being made, each stitch

holds a private thought, a prayer, a wish, a dream

or a promise.

Last of my projects are my "be happy" signs ...

which were on the wall in my other sewing room because that is

where the Golden Girls met bi-weekly - 

they certainly made their mark upon my personal canvas.

Some have moved away and we "lost" a member last July. 

These words represented all the fun we had together
whenever two or more gathered.

I really should have also created the words

eat and coffee - we did that very well also.

I apoligize for the pictures are not being clear and bright - sorry Samm.

Saturday and Sunday we had sun and out-of-town company  ...

and my projects were not completed.

We have had clouds and rain for the last two days, of course,

- part of that patience thing again -

and then Blogger sure created some challenges for this post.

I requested my post for today - my own birthday - I also needed the extra time.

This is the first week I have been in my sewing room

for a year and found this very challenging to get this far.

They say if you want a clean house, have a party!!!

If you want to get back to sewing and creating, join a blog hop 

I did it!!!

Please visit ALL the others participating today -

My Collection of Things (Jenny K)

Quiltin' Jenny (Jenny)

Shade Tree Quilting (Judy C.) This is Me

(Rosemary B.) at “that other blog”

Pat Sloan, The Voice of Quilting (Pat. S.)

Dachsies With Moxie (Agnes B.)

Sew Many Yarns (Lyndsey M.)

Tomorrows Treasures Today (Denise D.)

The German Mom (Tina S.)

Christa Quilts (Christa W.)

Read, Quilt, Cook, Pray (Aletta D.)

Sew We Quilt (Mdm. Samm)

Hopefully your days will be delightful, challenging and inspirational.

Judy C in NC is just so darn tickled to be here  

 

In Your Wonderful Words



Inspired



Ready for a new blog hop - for inspiration and to be impressed

with all new and wonderful projects.

 There is a great deal of talent coming up,

all for your enjoyment.

 Please visit Linda, our wonderful hostess, for a complete list each morning ...

  http://buzzingandbumbling.blogspot.ca/2013/01/in-your-words-blog-hop-schedule.html.  Some of the 89 bloggers will have giveaways,

  but please visit all the blogs and leave comments ...

 all blog hop participants, old and new, want your encouragement and 

appreciate your kind words and comments about their work.  

Monday, January 7

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch, Stitch (Cyndi H.)

Kwilty Pleasures (Kathy G.)

Debby Kratovil Quilts (Debby K.))

Sew Darn Quilt (Carolyn R.)

Mary On Lake Pulaski (Mary K.)

Traveling Quilter (Debbie A.)

Just Let Me Quilt (Carol S.)

Vroomans Quilts (Sharon V.)

Cate's Linens (Catherine R.)

Nini and the Sea (Denise)

Sew Much 2 Luv (Karen)

Just Had To Share

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

 when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

 their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

 they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

 they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

 they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

 "where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

 "this is heaven." declared a small boy, "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

 when what to their wondering eyes did appear,

 but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

 He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

 then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

 and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring

 those children all flew into the arms of their King

 and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

 one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

 and as if He could read all the questions she had

 He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

 then He looked down on earth, the world far below

 He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

 then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

 "Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

 "may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

 "I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

 then He and the children stood up without a sound.

 "come now my children, let me show you around."

 excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

 all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

 and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

 "in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA
"Fair Use For Educational or Discussion Purposes 

A Challenge for Sandy Hook

Jackie from CV Quiltworks passed this info along:



Help the families in Newtown... Here is how... Becky at Quliter's Corner in New Milford, CT is collecting pillowcases for the children at Sandy Hook School. She is trying to collect around 600.

Please pass this message to any sewing friends.

Pillowcases can be mailed to her at


Quilters Corner

312 Danbury Rd.

New Milford, CT. 06776