Dream jar: Last Saturday on CaC (create a connection) a dream jar was suggested by Jennifer. I see she actually called it a wish jar. I like dream jar so will stick with that. I really liked the idea and finally got to making one last night. The photos are taken outside because I love "outside" and I am so happy the weather is being warmer and I can take pictures outside more easily again. The sun was, and still is, thank goodness, shining too - a perfect time for dreaming. I should mention that I got the images on the jar from the collage images pool at flickr, a wonderful sharing site. I think they were both from redbudinnh.

My dreams would include more reachable ones:

- starting an etsy shop and selling more of my artwork.

- getting a new kitten, cat.

- creating much more of my art.

- feeling more comfortable within my own body (long story - I'm working on it, with a very

good team I am told.)

- getting to spend a week by myself during which I can create to my heart's content (this has been happening every year for the past nearly 10 years thanks to Greg and other wonderful helpers).

- getting to create in a 100 year old house for a day or afternoon (I've been invited and have every intention of accepting the offer.

More far fetched dreams:

- getting to travel this year with Greg as we both turn 50 and will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year also. (I love to travel and we need time away with each other).

Pie in the sky dreams (the best kind sometimes):

- owning a horse and learning to ride.

- living in the country.

- living by the ocean.

- returning to Australia and New Zealand, particularly because I have friends there now.

- returning to Amsterdam - I love the flowers and other things.

- travelling to the UK and getting to meet Suze and Jude in person - they are so dear to me.

As I wipe the tears from my eyes I must move on to the creation piece again. Maybe I'll go outside and play with Billy a bit before I do that. I need more sun.

I forgot to mention that I found the little nest this morning when I was out taking Billy for his walk. It was laying on the street if you can imagine. Maybe someone was brushing snow off their roof or something. I picked it up immediately when I realized what it was - number four in my little collection.

Angels be with you as you think on your own dreams.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentines: These are a few of my postcards. I've also shown the front of a card I made for a wedding shower. Katie's fiancee has taken her to a nearby place where chickadees will land on your hand to feed. They both love nature and animals. They love each other and plan to exchange vows on February 24. We wish them the very best.

And I learned late lat night that my January journal quilt "One lone tree and moon in winter" was chosen to be on the homepage for the CPS journal Quilt Challenge for this week. What a very pleasant surprise.

Life is GOOD - Day 2: My assembly line is still happening. I got busy this morning and was into a French knot mode again. I think there are 11 on this piece. If I ever want to finish these 13 postcards I'd better get to work on my machine and stop all this hand sewing already.

Besides a continuation of the assembly line I also started this cling wrap piece. I'm quite happy with the results. I just placed the lace down on the scanner to do the scan but will probably do lace on the final whatever I do with it. I'm kind of in an eclectic mood as you'll see when the postcards get finished. I'm mixing multi coloured rick-rack with fancy pink lace. Fun stuff. I wasn't really certain about this cling wrap but thought I'd make it and then see what I come up with. Tomorrow will not be so productive with art. I've other things happening as well as Friday and Saturday. So I'll see what will happen yet for these postcards. I'd like to finish some so I can mail them to my friends and they be received before Easter.

I also have to finish my journal quilt page before next Tuesday and I must post something for artwords this week as the theme is wind. I got an idea for that today. My only hope is that I can print pictures onto fabric as well as I did with the words. It's being a bit tricky but I shall persevere.

'Till next time. Angels be with you.

TIRED but - Friday's finds AND Valentine Inspiration:
I'm having much difficulty focusing today. It's been kind of a tough week. There've been appointments in Saskatoon. At one we learned that our daughter did not have a seizure. Her EEG was totally normal and she fainted instead of having a seizure. Huge relief sigh. I was reminded by two important people that as a large part of a teen's developmental tasks involves establishing identity, I should not be alarmed by her low self esteem but just to be encouraging and supportive, as much as one can to a teen, especially when they have issues. I have been challenged with trying not to get overburdened by other people's challenges but again to be supportive. I have realized that I have been quite strong the past few weeks even though this has typically been one of my most difficult months, for many years. I also finished a project started month's ago.

Today I feel tired. I think I should. I'm allowing myself to feel OK that I didn't do art today, other than taking a few pictures. I didn't even feel like having fun with doodling or stamping.

Yesterday I used part of some Christmas gift certificates at Fabricland. I got some taffeta, chiffon, lace, and lots of buttons. They were 50% off. I'm planning to do some experimenting with cling wrap. I happened to have some red cling wrap stashed away in the room I will eventually have cleaned to put a studio in. I'm finding numerous treasures there.

The other picture is of some of the fabric and treats I have in store for Valentine's day.

Tomorrow is another day.

Believe in love. Believe in magic. Believe in Santa Claus. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will?

Jon Bon Jovi
American Rock Star

Inspiration Peak


My first squares 1" x 1". I am amazed by the options of supplies I actually have here for making valentine's "candy". This is just the beginning.

Friday Finds: I decided to start sharing in this Friday's Finds group with the hopes of being inspired even further to actually do what I plan to do?? Plans are great but can I carry them through? Hmmm. I've shown fabric before but some of this is for a specific reason and I have ideas for doing something soon.

I absolutely adore the art of my friend Judy Scott. I love her choice of fabrics, mostly with flowers. I especially love a couple of pieces she's posted for Valentine's.

I really thought I'd never touch silk flowers again. My mother used to make and try to sell arrangements. Just not my style. And then I saw Judy's valentine with silk flower bits. I've been very inspired AND I've also seen silk flowers used on fiber pieces under chiffon. OK, this I can handle.

These purchases were made locally We have a wonderful Haus of Stitches close by. The silk flowers and a couple of other pieces I got at "the Mall". I forgot to mention that the fabric was purchased partially from a gift cert. from daughter for Christmas. She has some very good friends working there.

While I was there I also received the "In a Stitch Newsletter". I think I have decided that I may actually be brave enough to try a couple of their classes in the next weeks. I've been paranoid about classes since I tried a painting on wood, Baurenmalerei class a few years back. The instructor was just too critical for sensitive me. After being brave with my blog and writer's group I might be ready to try to learn to knit. Enough already with trying to learn on a virtual website.

Please remember to review post below, huge leap