A New Year - A New Decade - Anew.

Begin Again.

A new year, a new decade.

Some times in our lives, in our work day, in our projects, in our quilts, in our breathing in, breathing out, 

it is hard to distinguish between the sunrise and the sunset.

The breath in, the breath out.

The beginning of a project, the completion of a project.

Are we cutting the binding to finish the project, or to start to give the gift?

On this magical New Year's Eve

With it's wonderful full moon

With it's beautiful blue moon

I wish you both.

I wish for you the quiet still and the wonder of a sunrise

a new day

And the peace and majesty of a sunset

a day well done.

I wish you both.

And the smile that both brings.

I wish for you the fabric, the project, the sewing, the quilting, the giving of the quilt.

I wish for you breath in, breath out.

Simply that.

I have said it before, quoting Julian 

quoting Rumi:

Begin Again.

2010.

Merriest Christmas + Happiest Days

H A P P I E S T   D A Y S

Why is this dog SMILING?

Why is this dog so peaceful?

Why is this dog so happy?

...thinking about his happiest days ahead...

Buddy.

off of the streets, out of the hills

away from the concrete kennel

for good

It just doesn't take that much to make a difference.

For an animal, for a person, for a family.

Try it on for size.

Welcome HOME Buddy.

Home for good.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BUDDY!!

HAPPIEST DAYS!!

please welcome buddy barnes

he has already helped me baste and quilt a quilt

and he'll be the support team for beyond the reef

and if I can, I will train him to answer the studio phone and take your orders

or at least answer an email here or there

buddy was dumped up in the hills

he lived for a while with dogs, cats, horses

until he ended up in a shelter

quiet

one day a girl came to see him

he sat with her on the floor, and she rubbed his belly

he felt secure - he closed his eyes and relaxed under her touch

but she left

he sat

quiet

and watched her walk away

but she came back - he came around the corner, saw her, and put two muddy paws on her shoulders

licking her face and wagging his tail

"she came back for me"

Woods Humane Society

San Luis Obispo, CA

PS - altho the shelter thought Buddy was Border Collie/Lab mix, the vet thought he might be a McNab Border Collie
from Mendocino, CA
Who knows.
What he IS, is a happy dog.

All things...big and small...

California Rains....

They're the best.

They bring out the best in our world, don't they?

They clean, they refresh, they delight.

It gives us a lot of inspiration as quilters, too.

Colors are brighter, and we wake up refreshed to the possibility of making wonderful things for wonderful people.

Ways to keep warm, ways to bring in the cheer on a cloudy day.

Big projects.

But then, there are the small projects.

A coffee cup holder.

An eyeglass case.

Even coasters.

Simple.

But still delightful.

All things, big and small, are gifts of ourselves, given with creativity and love.

And whether big or small, you can bet they will light up a persons life.

Including your own...

Sparkle + Shine

2009

natalie.

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