Life Conduction

2011-04-17T06:01:00.001-07:00

If you aren't using HootSuite dashboard to manage and monitor your social profiles, you are wasting time. http://ow.ly/4BXpO

2011-04-08T17:32:00.001-07:00

Light Shield Meditation Video - My friend Satya Colombo has a fantastic email series on Epic Source Flow. What it i... http://ow.ly/1c6B71

2011-04-04T17:35:00.001-07:00

Vision Boards How to Use Them - Vision boards are a very popular topic. On my last post Vision Boards Do They Spee... http://ow.ly/1c2lfQ

2011-03-09T16:48:00.001-08:00

Meditation for Beginners - Meditation for beginners. You know you should do it. You know the benefits. You've been t... http://ow.ly/1bGYmm

2011-01-24T16:47:00.001-08:00

Authentic Happiness Part 2 - Authentic Happiness 3 Steps This is a follow up post to Authentic Happiness Part 1. ... http://ow.ly/1b0KLI

2010-12-20T16:49:00.001-08:00

No Mistakes - Today I was listening to the new audio program by Joe Vitale called Abundance Paradigm. And in it, h http://ow.ly/1axAoC

2010-12-16T16:49:00.001-08:00

Abraham-Hicks Prosperity Game Day 9 - How to play the Prosperity game: Pretend you receive a new sum of money every... http://ow.ly/1aukG8

2010-12-13T16:47:00.001-08:00

Authentic Happiness Part 1 - Authentic Happiness (first in a 2 part series) Authentic happiness comes from within. ... http://ow.ly/1ar9JO

2010-11-26T16:37:00.001-08:00

Share Your Dream Friday - I am so excited to be sharing my dream on Edward Recommends. He has been such an inspirati... http://ow.ly/1aba2I

2010-11-10T16:48:00.001-08:00

Does Clutter Block Success? - by Christine Kane I looked at my phone in horror. "You want me to what?" I said into i... http://ow.ly/19UtVV

2010-11-05T17:44:00.001-07:00

Abraham-Hicks Prosperity Game Day 8 - How to play the Prosperity game: Pretend you receive a new sum of money every ... http://ow.ly/19Pngu

2010-10-25T17:46:00.001-07:00

Abraham-Hicks Prosperity Game Day 7 - How to play the Prosperity game: Pretend you receive a new sum of money every... http://ow.ly/19Dik1

2010-10-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

Blog Action Day 2010 RainWater Harvesting - Today is Blog Action Day. This is an annual event held every October 15... http://ow.ly/19tmcT

2010-10-14T17:43:00.001-07:00

Abraham-Hicks Prosperity Game Day 6 - How to play the Prosperity game: Pretend you receive a new sum of money every ... http://ow.ly/19sehs

2010-10-08T12:53:00.001-07:00

Have you heard? Josh Bartlett is getting ready to release Easy Video Player 2. Check out the cool features. http://ow.ly/2QOFK

2010-10-07T17:55:00.001-07:00

What is Your Business Avatar? - Creating a business avatar can be the key to your successful business. Your business... http://ow.ly/19ldi6

2010-10-07T12:42:00.001-07:00

Easy Video Player 2 is on the move. Simplify your video marketing and make more sales. http://ow.ly/2QctX

2010-09-21T05:12:00.001-07:00

Best Idea for Humanity - Did you know there is a contest right now for the best idea? http://ow.ly/18Uqss

2010-09-21T05:09:00.001-07:00

Full Bellies for All - Full bellies for all is inevitable. Do you believe that? Can we really end world... http://ht.ly/194IQH

How I Mail 'Squishies'

2008-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful swap hostess, Sophie, on about.quilting.com has asked for photos of how we mail quilt blocks to each other.

First, I take a skinny Sharpie and add my user name, and the name I sign my posts with, to a pre-printed address return label. Then I put a label on each block.

Then I fold the blocks and put them in a plastic re-sealable baggie. I always include the name and address on the inside of the baggie, in case the envelope doesn't make it.

Then I squeeze all the air out and zip the baggie. I like to enclose a nice card (if I'm not too excited to mail the 'squishie'), and put them all in a #12 Kraft envelope. I kiss the envelope and wish them a safe and speedy journey and race off to the post office.

ALQS2

2008-08-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

Today I signed up to participate in Kate's 'A Little Quilt Swap 2' (although it's not a little swap as there are many swappers). I'm really excited to participate since I missed the first one. Hello to my new swap partner when you come visit my blog. Make what your heart tells you. In any manner you choose. I'll love it.

Beautiful Quilt Giveaway

2008-07-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

I just saw the most beautiful quilt. And they are giving it away at the Old Red Barn blog You should check it out for a chance to win.

Row Robin 2008 / Birthday blocks

2008-03-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is Diane's row that I'm working on right now. Isn't it pretty? I'm drumming up inspiration for the row I need to complete.

And these are my Birthday Blocks. March is my 'birthday' month and I should be getting blocks from the women in the birthday swap. The three on the top row are mine and the 3 on the bottom row are are my 'presents'. I love them so far.

Walking in this World Week 6

2008-02-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

This week focused on a sense of boundaries. Sometimes, the people around us aren't the best sounding boards for our art. Sometimes art projects benefit from some private, internal developing. I've found this to be very true. As a relatively 'new' artist, the people around me rarely catch my enthusiasm regarding my latest 'project'. But I've been very lucky in that I can't recall a project spoiled by indiscriminate input.

My morning pages - didn't. No reason, particularly. I think I felt so good about doing them consistently, that I took a day off and that sent me spiraling downhill.

20 minute walk - it's easy to walk in Florida

Artist Date - Fabric Surface Design class. This week we silk-screened. Fun but not outstanding. I did manage to make this bamboo watercolor and ink drawing. I was going to photo transfer it to one of my leaf stamping fabric pieces.... however, the photo transfer didn't cooperate. I still have the drawing though.

What Punctuation are You?

2008-02-17T06:38:00.000-08:00

You Are a Dash

Your life is fast paced and varied. You are realistic, down to earth, and very honest.

You're often busy doing something interesting, and what you do changes quickly.

You have many facets to your personality, and you connect them together well.

You have a ton of interests. While some of them are a bit offbeat, they all tie together well.

You friends rely on you to bring novelty and excitement to their lives.

(And while you're the most interesting person they know, they can't help feeling like they don't know you well.)

You excel in: Anything to do with money

You get along best with: the Exclamation Point

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Thanks to Sophie for this quiz.

Walking in this World Week 5

2008-02-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

This is my check in post for week 5. 'A Sense of Personal Territory'. The chapter looked at how we allow others to sap our creative energy. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I'm in a really good place right now. I have time for my art(and little for anything else) and supportive people around me. I am really enjoying the 'tasks' ineach chapter. I guess it's the self-discovery I'm enjoying. Who knew I kept all these secrets from myself?

The morning pages are going well, and my artist's date was to my 'fabric surface design' class. Last week we stenciled and this week we stamped. I'm enjoying the creative outlet, but was hoping for something a little more. Maybe more specific technique. I never stenciled before, but I get the concept. I wish it had more specific technique. Like how to achieve a certain look. But I will say, the creative muse is buzzing around like crazy.

What Cocktail are You?

2008-02-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

I just read this on Sophie's blog and thought it was cute.

The Recipe For Debbie

3 parts Naughtiness
2 parts Warmth
1 part Dignity

Splash of Energy

Limit yourself to one serving. This cocktail is strong!

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Walking in this World Week 4

2008-02-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

Obviously, my walk this week went well. I walked on the beach and it was a perfectly lovely day. Some days I feel like these seagulls... standing around with the crowd waiting for something to happen. And other days I feel like 'Johnathan Livingston Seagull'

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

The novel tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull who is bored with the daily squabbles over food and seized by a passion for flight. He pushes himself, learning everything he can about flying, until finally his unwillingness to conform results in his expulsion from his flock. An outcast, he continues to learn, becoming increasingly pleased with his abilities as he leads an idyllic life.

One day, Jonathan is met by two gulls who take him to a "higher plane of existence", where he meets other gulls who love to fly. He discovers that his sheer tenacity and desire to learn make him "a gull in a million". Jonathan befriends the wisest gull in this new place, named Chiang, who takes him beyond his previous learning, teaching him how to move instantaneously to anywhere else in the universe. The secret, Chiang says, is to "begin by knowing that you have already arrived".

and I'm flying far away from the other birds, daring to be different. This week was a Johnathan week. I had some great insight on helping my friend from the 'collage' exercise. And when I did the 'I secretly would love to' list, I really narrowed down my 'artistic direction'.

I started a new art class on fabric surface design at a local college... so that was my artist date. Lots of fun. And morning pages are going well.

However, some of my 'co-walkers' struggled this week and I wish for them the week I had. Whenever I set my intentions in a certain direction, it seems like life wants to get in the way, so I sympathize with those struggles. Walk on.

Literature as Quilts - Mystery

2008-01-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

I'm participating in the Literature as Quilts challenge in the Art Quilt Forum on about.com. This challenge was a mystery and I chose Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. I painted lutrador (a non-woven interfacing) for the background then fuse the 2 divers and the boat. The boat is black netting fused with black misty fuse. The whole piece was then fused to a blue and gold piece of fabric before fusing it to fusible fleece for the batting.

I really had a lot of fun doing this challenge as I used a lot of techniques that I rarely use. I can't wait to see some of the other quilts.

Walking in this World Week 3

2008-01-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

Very productive week, I'd say. Morning pages went well. I loved my 'Blessings Walk'. Many times when I walk, I recount my blessings so this was something I enjoy. Artist's Date was terrific. I went to an art gallery that is at a local art college. I was stunned to realize one of the artists featured likes to display his art on a visible grid. (warning: it's hard to see the grid aspect on his website; and his work is in the 'portfolio' section) Tom Nakashima also likes to use other material in his paintings like newspaper and magazine pictures. (also difficult to see) I've been trying to get my art focused in a direction and this art really narrowed my path for me. It's not linear, but it's kind of 'collage, mixed media, photographs and quilting.' I don't have anything concrete but the direction is exhilarating.

I also enjoyed the tasks this week. It's funny. When I started the 'anger' list I thought, "I really am not angry about much." But I got to 50.

And the collage I made is related to my best friend. She has had a lot of medical problems and is really stuck as a victim. I made it my goal this week to help her change her perspective. I can't fix the medical problems, but I can help her feel better about it.

p.s. anyone know how to take better photos of small items? mine are always blurry.

Walking in this World Week 2

2008-01-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

I'm posting this quite reluctantly. I think I was delaying the post hoping I would complete the standard assignment for week 2. But, alas, that is not going to happen. I did my morning pages faithfully... and even noted how easy they were to do. Artist Date? nope. 20 minute walk? nope. What does that mean? Maybe I'm avoiding my inner artist? Hope to do better this week as I am enjoying chapter 3.

Walking in this World Week 1

2008-01-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm reading Julia Cameron's book Walking in this World and participating in an online study group. The tasks for each week are to do Morning Pages each day, (three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing) go on an Artist's Date (someplace you enjoy that feeds the artist), and a twenty minute walk. Progress update: Did morning pages every day. The one thing I noticed was there wasn't much whining. I did the Julia's first book, The Artist's Way about 10 years ago, and there was a lot of whining in those morning pages. Feels good not to whine (or have anything to whine about, yet).

My Artist's Date was to Staples. I looked for non-traditional items to use in my quilts. The upper left is electrical tape. The upper right are staples. And the lower center is decorative tape. I really enjoyed the date and look forward to next week.

Revisiting Completed Quilt

2007-10-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

I got to spend a couple days with my sister and her family in New Jersey. And I got to revisit a quilt I had made for her. What a lovely evening I spent snuggled up with the quilt. It really felt like coming home. So much love and care went into the making of it and I was thrilled to find it actively used.

Mirror Mirror Inchie Set

2007-09-27T16:07:00.001-07:00

I've so admired when other artists make a set or series of inchies so this is my set of Mirror Mirror inchies. I rather like them.

Mirror Mirror Inchie

2007-09-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a challenging inchie. The challenge on Inching Artists was 'What do you see when you look in the mirror?' I see myself growing into the person I was meant to be. This is my inchie representing that. I used some silver ribbon to represent the mirror and the flowers for me. Hope you like it.

Christmas Postcards

2007-09-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

No sewing or crafting today. Santa has the right idea. Thought I'd make some Christmas postcards from this fabric. I wonder if you can mail a postcard that is bigger than a postcard. Like 6" by 9"? These motifs are pretty big.

2007-09-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt at using Lutradur and lace. The new zine Fibre and Stitch issued a challenge to use Lutradur and Lace to create a new 'fabric' with lots of texture. I'm pretty pleased with the results. I'll use it to make a cover for a sketch book.

Inchie

2007-09-21T14:20:00.001-07:00

Wowie wowie this is my first inchie! This piece of art is 1 inch by 1 inch. Boy was it hard to photograph. I finally took a picture of a quilt block with the inchie on it and then cropped it. I discovered a new blog called 'Inching Artists' http://inchingartists.blogspot.com/. This week's theme was 'wings'. Just happened to have the dragonfly button. I love it.

2007-09-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

Like most artists, I have lots of WIP (works in progress) as well as a few UFOs (unfinished objects). These blocks were made from a pattern from Contemporary Quilts. I've been looking for stash busters and I had a lot of purple. I'm using purple, blue and green with striping in yellow. The final quilt will have about 75 block and I'll name it 'Pansy something'. I've made 8 blocks so far and have already cut all the main fabric. Some additional cutting of the yellow to come.

2007-09-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

This block is for Quilt Pink. The quilt is being assembled by some swap hostesses on about.com. Quilt Pink raises money for breast cancer research.

These block are for a batik star swap on about.com. I'm not feeling very chatty today so I hope you enjoy the pictures.

2007-09-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

Well, doesn't this palm leaf have cool pattern? I'd love to incorporate it into a quilt.

I decided I didn't have enough projects to do, so I signed up for a new ezine and it seems terrif.
The first challenge issued is a Lutradur and Lace project. It looks great.... so I'm waiting for supplies I ordered online.

2007-09-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

This is quilt #1 of two quilts for my mom for Christmas. It's off the the LAQ. Its 'sister' is sitting on my living room floor waiting for borders. I vowed not to move it til the borders have been added. The living room is wasted space anyway.

Birthday Block Swap

2007-09-12T03:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a member of about.com's quilting forum and I'm participating in a year-long birthday block swap. This one is for Joy. She wanted batik stars on navy.

This one is for Linda. She wanted orientals, quilter's choice. They are all lots of fun to make.

2007-09-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

This beautiful peony grew for several years in my garden in New Jersey. When we moved to Florida, I dug up this one and all the others and distributed them amongst family members. This photo was take by my sister Pam in Boston. This is the first year it bloomed there. Long time gone but the quilting has been going on fast and furious. I'm taking an online course at Quilt University called Flower Power. This is a mock up I made to see if the color choices were going to work out. Over all, I like it but think it needs work in the light area center top. Love the classes there. I made a Stack 'n Whack, a needle turn appliqué Hawaiian Quilt, learned some beading techniques and some embellishment. Wish I had time for more!

2007-08-31T04:50:00.001-07:00

I am a
Snapdragon

What Flower
Are You?

I like the name, snapdragon. Sounds saucy. I am mischievous, and a good friend. Nice combination. Who thinks up this stuff? Snapdragons are beautiful. Disney World had a huge area maybe 20' x20' filled with colorful snapdragons. I need their landscaper.

Quilt Muse

2007-03-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

I've actually made some progress on the quilt. I tried all kinds of tricks to get myself to work on it. Like.... forcing myself... hated what I sewed so frog stitched it. Then... putting it away: thinking reverse psychology... but it just stayed away. And finally, I started another project and wooosh, the quilt muse landed on my shoulder and prodded me to continue. So yesterday I finished the last of the thread painting, ironed the backing and basted the quilt. Well, not really basted. I used some iron on batting and used spray baste for the back. I hope I don't regret it. Hopefully today I'll do some quilting. Come on quilt muse!

My Atlas WIP (work in progress)

2007-03-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my WIP. I feel like Atlas holding up the world. And I must say my hardest challenge ever. I've been working on it (on and off) for about 8 months and it is just inching along. It was supposed to be a Christmas present for my Dad.....then it was supposed to be ready when my Mom and Dad came for a visit March 1st.... well, maybe before they leave at the end of April. I took an online class at Quilt University and the technique is by Marilyn Belford. I got held up at the beginning of thread painting. I didn't want to ruin it. A brilliant quilter asked if my father would notice if I ruined it... so I began threadpainting immediately. Now I'm stuck on the quilting. I'm waiting for the quilt muse to land on my shoulder.