Quilted Bags.....

I am going to share some pictures of the little projects I have been working on.... maybe

First, my sister, Brenda and I spent a day making quilt blocks for an annual Quilters Exchange that we participate in every year. The quilters are a variety of women with varying degrees of talent, the gift for gab, projects that we have worked on during the past year and also share a meal. Every year, my sister and I hope that we get a really easy block to make.... we make 30 blocks to exchange having enough to make a full size quilt when put together... and every year we say we are really going to get the blocks done early... and every year we seem to be down to the wire and sewing our little fingers to the nubs. As of today, I think we both are halfway done. The pressure is on.

Now, my other project that I have been working on is a tote bag filled with spa related goodies that will be chanced off at work to reduce some costs of our retirement/Christmas party in December. (That ol' E word again raises it's ugly head --economy). I really like how it turned out... I followed a pattern; but, adjusted it to suit me and made some other alterations to make it "me". Does that mean I developed a pattern or did I just tweak someone else idea?? I worry about that ... I don't want to infringe on someone's artistic talents.

I have to tell you that I have made a few purses in the past few months and friends and family are talking me into selling them at local craft shows... this may be a possiblity if not a dream.

So, on to the bags.... the first bag I made with this pattern and design is the one being chanced off for the party. I really like ME (Mary Englebreit) and her "fun fabrics". The second one is very "Tuscany looking material"... and I have to tell you that while I was sewing this one... turning, twisiting, inside/outside... pulling, tugging, and getting a little light headed... I felt like I was "birthing" this bag... Hey, it's only me in my little sewing room and the music had ended so my mind was just going... So, when I thought about the "birthing of this bag" I also thought if I did birth this bag it needed a name... so I am calling it - Sophia... what do you think?? Well, then the ME bag cried out "what about me?? I know, she's your favorite, huh?? so I named her Lucy... doesn't she remind you of LUCY... the one and only Lucy there can ever be... just fun and full of frolic and adventure...

So, there you have it ... some pictures of my endeavors... of my attempts at artistic pursuits... of a way to go in my little sewing room, turn on some music and just let that little ol' sewing maching do it's majic.... nothing like a little room of your very own, some music, crafty pursuits, the solitude and time to think to make a person very happy....

In Search of.....

In search of... what are you searching for?? have you been searching long?? do you have help in your search?? do you think you will find what you are looking for?? have you given up your search?? will you search forever?? are you searching for answers?? are you searching for others?? are you searching for yourself?? are you searching for something bigger than everything else??

I don't know about you; but, I have searched for many things in my life. From the little to the big and from the least important to the most dear. Sometimes I wonder if that's what we are put on this earth for... to search. To search for the truth and righteousness above all else. To search for love and caring; because, who in their right mind would search for hate and carelessness?? To search for peace... not world peace; because, after all these years I don't think that's a possibility. Maybe just peace and solitude in my own little corner of the world.

To search for a way to make it through the next ten minutes if not the next hour or the day ahead. Sometimes the search is an easy one... and you reach the destination in a decent amount of time... other times it may be days, weeks or years .... maybe it will be a lifetime.... doesn't this search give us a purpose in life??

Do you sometimes feel that your life is just "going along" with no direction or aim?? Do you feel that everyday is just another day followed by many more just like the one before?? Do you feel that the world is rushing by and you can't keep up?? I think, whether we are searching for something, someone or ourselves... we are destined to travel on the path we are on until we take the first step down an untraveled one. In order to pursue a fulfilling life... we need to search out new experiences, change the status quo, shake things up, rock our world a little or at the least get out of our comfort zones and live a little.

So, whether you are in search of your car keys, all the unanswered questions in the universe, world peace or Him... don't stop searching... you will find it when you least expect it and you will realize that your needs have been fulfilled. Keep searching.... when you cease to search you cease to be....