Being Free and Passionate

New piece I am working on for competition

Just read an article from a friend about our "Passions" and the week before she also wrote about "Being Free to be Myself".  Both have reminded me of how important our time is to do what is best for ourselves without being selfish.  Most of my friends are younger than me and I think that while I am not hung up on age, I do see my time becoming more precious, moving faster and more limiting. Recently I had to take a look at how I should use my time to pursue my creative life.  This means I had to bow out of some groups, classes and teaching schedules to concentrate on what I want for me with my art.

I have always loved my quilting, over my years and in my retirement, and I think that really is my 'Passion". Creating art quilts, continued learning of new techniques and entering competitions keeps my mind alert and creating with it every day, even if just for an hour or two.  I love the process of creating my quilts, the fabric shopping, soaring through my stash, figuring the plan of pattern, and the constant changes my mind makes to reach a final piece. All keeps my young!  I am, today, sitting here with a broken foot in a heavy cast I am not allowed to walk on, waiting for my husband to wheel me to my sewing friends group. I  keep rolling around the house picking up the equipment I need to do a day of sewing. It has continued every day, since this has happened, that I go through some quilting process that keeps me moving and active.

As I see people around me, sitting in their homes daily, I feel compassion for them that they do not know the joy of creating and how it keeps your mind active and young.

Enjoy everyday you can, follow your passion and be glad you are alive.

Road to California

Spent and exhausting day at  Road to California Quilt show.Was raining all day, but had good time seeing and being with fun friends.  Saw some nice quilts and couple of the winners were really unique. My friend and I had a quilt in a special exhibit of and "Iris Garden".  They were positioned together and the entire exhibit was big and beautiful - we had a good spot in a hall where everyone walks.  I have a quilt in the Route 66 exhibit which was at the entrance of the show floor - really impressive.  I did Oatman, AZ with a quilt depicting Prospectors on their way to the mining fields with burros that are today still there and roam the town with visitors.  My Estuary in Oregon quilt was also on exhibit with the Faifield Create American Calendar Contest.  It will be with them for a year of displaying.

Got some great fabric from Tapestery Quilt Studio - my favorite dyeing place and see her only once a year at Road.  Now time to get going on some new creative quilts.

More birds

I have been having so much fun photographing spring birds.  A friend told me to hang a sock of nyger food on my tree and it would attract a variety of finches.  We found one at Walmart and the birds have been having a frenzy over it.  It took a couple of days for them to discover it and then it was covered with birds. Within 2 days they had devoured it all!   I set my camera on a tripod in the kitchen window (so I am shooting through glass) and snapped over 200 photos to get some good shots of the birds.  They flutter so fast that I just took different times of the day, for lighting, zoomed in on the sock, and took continuous shots and got several really nice one.  This is my favorite one.  Have some more seed and sock and will put it up later in the season for more photographing - a good way to learn your camera and play with settings.  Enjoy spring!

Today I am going to my monthly sketching/painting class and we are doing birds.  Will take several of these photos to sketch from.

Happy first day of Winter

In Sunny California you wouldn't know it was winter - except for a little cold wind.  I do miss the snow of a Winter Wonderland that I grew up with in Chicago - but at my age, I think California is better.

We have a lot of migrating birds that come through here, going south for the winter.  These are couple that love eating the seeds off the tree in my front yard.  Was able to get some photos of them through my kitchen window (through glass).  I took repetitive photos and was able to catch them with their heads up. 

Back from Houston

My quilt at Fairfield booth with, Judy Novella from Fairfield

View from 2nd floor of Houston Convention Center

View from our room - Doubletree Hilton

Had a fantastic trip to Houston thanks to Fairfield Processing.  Was a much larger show than I expected, but again, not sure what I expected - Road size maybe.  It was so exciting to be there and see so many new things - my friend Christa was a joy to have along and celebrate with me.  Our hotel was the best, if you asked, they supplied!  Fairfield's booth was outstanding and so clever with everything made of batting and they gave out the wonderful calendar to many, many people.  I came home with so much more inspiration, where will I have the time!  Posting below are some of my photos and hoping to go again one day

Fairfield booth with batting flowers, booth was loaded with flowers of batting

Meeting new friends - Abby, Bev, Christa, Pat

Night view of fountain at the Houston Aquarium

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Off to Houston

Estuary - Oregon Coast

I'm headed off to Houston Wednesday for Quilt Festival.  My Estuary-Oregon Coast won the Grand Prize in the American Spirit Calendar Contest 2013 and they extended this great honor to come to Houston.  Looking forward to meeting everyone in their booth and having lots of things to see.  My first trip.  My friend Christa and i will have lots of fun for 4 days!  Going to a TQS dinner too and will meet lots of great quilters and will be taking lots of photos to share.

Also have my small Labor Quilt in Meander Publications booth which won a 3rd place in their reader challenge. 

Seaside & Astoria

Been playing with my camera and seeing some of the things it can do.  Not only can I get close-ups, but I can get really far away and also snap fast consecutive action photos.  Here are a few samples of what I took on a bike ride to the beach and Sunday Market in Astoria.  Just for fun!

He's Up!

Surfing the Wave

Loosing his balance

Oopps - he's down

Interesting Gate on Beach Cottage

Sea Bird perched in Astoria/Columbia River

Fresh vegetable stand

More Fresh Veggies

Flowers at Sunday Market

More Flowers at Sunday Market

Interesting glass blocks in Astoria Sidewalk
I think the under ground Astoria is beneath these sidewalks.