One lone tree and moon in winter: my first journal quilt for the CPS Journal quilt group. I actually finished this late last night but was hoping to write a journal piece on paper before I posted it. I am running out of time and the deadline for the group, while "there are no police" is January 31. Though it is only 3 p.m. here, over in Australia it is quickly approaching a new day, a new month. And so I post.

I have had so much fun doing this quilt and have learned so much along the way. I will not show the back. I used a layer of actual quilt batting and the layers were not pinned very much before I started sewing. I will next time use something much thinner like a piece of flannel or something similar. The light blue and light purple fabric were both hand dyed. I recycled an old sheet for those pieces. They dyed nicely. The different textured pieces are dryer sheets painted with inexpensive metallic acrylics. Around the tree I zig-zagged over embroidery floss. Most of it was complete a number of days ago. I did more quilting lines, finished the edges (please do not look closely) and added the beads and sequins last night.

Watch for the further posting about one lone tree and moon in winter.

Wind - the word for artwords this week. Wind is important to me. I decided I would try to create something that would speak simply about wind. This very simple journal quilt says part of what I know. I have also written a small piece for windyangels and you that you might like to breeze through.

Please click on picture to get a more clear view.

Life is good: It feels like often I don't have the inclination to say that. Today was different. There was a tiny glitch but I'm working towards not focusing on the glitches but instead that "life is good." I'd seen words to this effect in someone's profile and I thought "WOW! I wish I could say that." Then I thought, "why don't I try to say it?" Today was the day. Hopefully there will be more.

I have so much I want to say. However part of the idea that "Life is good" may mean trying to get more sleep. So I will just say for now that these are three of the thirteen postcards I am working on for valentine's day. Exploration of the topics of love, the number thirteen, miracles, french knots, hand dying fabric, printing on fabric, "talk" and self-esteem will all have to wait.

Stay tuned.