Sometimes I really enjoy large swaths of favorite fabrics sewn together in a mish mash way

like this hoppy frog quilt

and this bright and happy quilt I made for me with my then all time favorites - pure color by Freddy Moran, chickens, and the fresh paint line.

This past week I worked on a sweet pink quilt with a Mary Lou style cow (don't forget to leave a comment on the last posting to win some Mary Lou fabric) for my niece Sarah. It's a no stress and fun way to piece and enjoy large chunks of favorite fabric! Time to start on a quilt for Sarah's sister who likes purple...hmmm....

CURRENT HEART ART AND ANTICIPATION FOR SOMETHING NEW

I have had several charm packs of this fabric line for a while...moda?...and finally decided to DO SOMETHING with them. I sewed a free hand heart with two squares, stuffed it with scraps, and trimmed it with my cool wavy rotary cutter.

added some buttons (a reminder to keep working on the true story)

added trim and dangled a bell to ward off evil spirits with happy jingles

Picked from lots of ephemera (of course I had a hard time actually USING anything, hence the collection - I might need it later, right?! LOL)

Voila - a string of heart art next to my growing line of liberated hearts. (Liberated hearts, free from old emotional baggage!)

Or, a little clogged with cheese?

If all the hearts make you feel crabby...

I am using the rest of the charm packs for this

and another charm pack for this

And then today I started subtly shifting my thoughts from red/pink to green. I gathered these up and and am smiling with anticipation...to be continued!

CELEBRATING THE SACRED IN THE ORDINARY

My washing machine Buddha

Several years ago, Oprah had about show on happy moms. One of the moms said that she strives to find the sacred in the ordinary. She wasn't angry about another stupid pile of dirty laundry she was grateful for the opportunity to provide her children with clean clothing. That mom put a Buddha on her washing machine to help her remember to think in this positive manner.

In the book The Flow, Mihaly Csikczentmihalyi says that, "how we feel about ourselves, the joy we get from living, ultimately depends directly on how the mind filters and interprets everyday experiences."

My perception IS my reality

"People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can some to being happy."

I leave you now, NOT to struggle AGAIN with what to have for dinner, but to welcome the opportunity to nourish, provide energy, and creatively craft a sacred meal!