Autumn Light

It is hard to describe the special quality of the sunlight in autumn.  Sometime in August, though we are still experiencing hot temperatures, I can usually sense as the sun moves south when it changes from the hot summer light to the warm glow of the coming autumn.  Then I start to anticipate the cool mornings and warm comfort of the sun as the season shifts.  

The sun's light, especially in the mornings and evenings draws me to the window to see it make the leaves and flowers glow.  Partly cloudy days make for lovely sunrises and sunsets.  Though I couldn't really catch the loveliness of the light, I wanted to take a picture to remind me of how much I love the fall.

Bye, Bye, Baby

About a year or so ago, since I was getting requests for my quilting, I applied for a business license and started doing commissioned quilts.  Since I wasn't really interested in building a business, I had opportunity to see how I liked doing commissioned quilts, and to determine if I would also have time to do personal projects.  While I did enjoy the commissioned work, personal projects languished.  Having to choose between the two, I decided to no longer take on commissioned work. Besides my sister-in-law's queen-size quilt, which I am still working on, here is the last of the my commissioned quilts.  It is called Baby Steps.

It was a good experience, and many thanks to those who asked me to work on their quilts.  

A Simple Style Continued...

It is always the little odds and ends that take the most time to complete.  My dear hubby's schedule doesn't allow him much time to do the extra stuff, but he took some time during his last vacation to take care of some small to-do's around the house.  Several of the dowels that we use to hang my quilts needed painting, and there was one last quilt that needed to be hung above the fireplace.  Now that it is up, that space in the house is finished.  And again, I am loving this simple style.

Sunrise, Sunset

I can't resist a pretty sunrise or sunset.  Enjoy…

Playtime

Everything has been rather hit or miss these past few months:  blogging, letter writing, quilting, knitting….Thankfully, the weeks ahead look to be settling back into a normal rhythm.

Earlier this year one of my dear quilt group ladies passed away.  Her family donated her sewing materials to our group and we took time to sift and sort through it all.  One of the things we found were several blocks that had been embroidered.  L. took them and set them in a quilt to give her great-granddaughter.  She commissioned me to do the quilting, and I named it Playtime.

 Since the theme of all the fabrics was polka dots, I did a stipple with circles across the rows of blocks. 

 Butterflies in the sashing.

And hearts in the border.

 Here it is, almost finished.

Bound and ready for snuggling.  Adorable!

Music to Quilt by

Music.  It uplifts, calms, energizes.  It sets toes to tapping, feet to dancing.  It soothes the soul and makes the spirit laugh.  I don't know of anyone who doesn't have music he loves.

For me that is instrumental--jazz, bluegrass, Latin, Celtic and a new one for me--classical crossover. I have wondered if my preference for instrumental is tied to my being an introvert.  Song lyrics don't particularly interest me, but I love rhythm.  Singing, even someone with a lovely voice, clutters up the music--please, just give me the notes.  

My favorite times to listen to music are either when I clean or when I quilt.  Nothing like a good beat to get Mr. J and I dancing together.  

Enter Pandora.  I create a station with a favorite piece and from there I find songs I like.  I write down the artist and song, and off I head to iTunes to create my own playlists.  Once I sync those playlist on my iPod/iPhone, I set it to shuffle and off I go. 

Here are some my favorite songs I used to create my Pandora stations:

Latin:  Cafe Mocha by Jesse Cook

Bluegrass: Dawg's Breath by Ricky Scaggs

Celtic/bluegrass:  Crossing the Briney by Ricky Scaggs

Celtic:  Dawn Dance by Alasdair Fraser

Jazz:  The Wave by Kirk Whalum

Soft electronic:  Summer Groove by Jesus Tamames

Classical crossover: Rolling in the Deep by The Piano Guys

Very rarely do I buy whole albums, preferring to create my own mixes, but one artist stood out to me as I listened to my classical crossover station on Pandora:  Lindsey Stirling.  Much of the music on that station tends to be on the quieter side, but she creates a wonderful blend of dance/electronic with classical violin. I bought her first album (the second was a little too heavy on the electronic for me). Her music puts a smile on my face and makes me want to dance. :-)

Here's to good listening!

Dreams

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

With social justice being so much a part of the conversation of ministry these days, I have wrestled with the feeling that all or most ministry should serve the disadvantaged.  I have come to see, though, that there are other issues of concern that people deal with--illness, injury, grief. Here is where my gift of quilting can be of service, and it is what I am passionate about doing.  

Beyond receiving a thank you note, my quilt group doesn't often hear about the impact our quilts make.  Every once in a while, though, we do, and that is what encourages me in this ministry.  With our quilts we can offer warmth, color, and prayers.  

As I have been doing the commissioned quilts, I have given this idea some thought and realized that there are three areas I would like to focus on in quilting.  First, our Tuesday quilts.  I love working with this group of ladies, and that says a lot, being the introvert that I am.  Secondly, I would love to be able to make quilts for something like the Linus project locally.  And thirdly, I would like to create wall art that we would display in our home for a while and then donate as fundraisers.  

Right now, once I finish some current obligations, I could manage two of the three, which would be the Tuesday quilts and the wall art.  Perhaps I can work in a few kid quilts along the way as well. 

What does this mean for doing commissioned quilts?  I am not yet sure.  While I enjoy quilting for people, I do know that I don't want this to be my focus.  And I have learned that dreams are not just for the young.