I like....

I like the calm and quiet days between

Christmas and New Years

I like when we get a break from the

usual schedule and get to sleep in

and eat when we want and do

what we want when we want too.

(Antelope Island-west of our Home)

I like the anticipation of a new year

I have goals and projects going

on all year long, but there is something

about the beginning of the year and the 

that everything is new. 

It makes me want set some new goals.....

I like positive changes in relationships

I have had an ongoing, somewhat

difficult relationship within my bio family.

(I am an adopted person). The last few

weeks, my interaction with this person

has turned the corner towards a much

more positive path. After 20 years, it's

a much nicer road to be traveling.....

I like cleaning out

Every Christmas break, we try to clean

out from our house or work. This year, it

was books. 

We have books everywhere. I have books

from when I was a kid. We have books

that were passed down from our parents

or Grandparents. We have books that

were gifts.

Now, hopefully these books will find a

good home.

I love reading other "I like" posts at

Not Afraid of Color

I like...

I like  creating.....

I am finishing up my kids-grandkids

Christmas presents. I still have a 

quilt to bind, gift certificate to buy

and stocking stuffers to purchase 

for my Husband.

 

All the grandkids are getting handmade

quilts for Christmas. I am now caught

up...except for Grandbaby 2019...

he/she will get a quilt next Christmas.

I like Holiday music

I like to listen to the choir, choral

and Holiday related music while

I sew or am out and about during

the Holidays.

(Local High School Madrigals at

my Husbands Staff dinner)

I want to share a new song 

I discovered this year on YouTube

Peace in Christ

I like to improve my life

I tend to set goals more in 

September....something about

the new school year (being

married to a Teacher).

This year, I am really feeling a

need to make some changes in

my life with the coming new Year.

I set my goals in groups of three...

I don't know why...I just do....

Knitting:

1.Knit the other sock, so I have a pair

2.Clean out (knit or give away) 5 

shoe boxes of stored yarn.

3.Finish my two current knit projects

I have already begun, before starting

any other projects.

Needle and Thread:

1.Finish Pine tree quilt for Husbands

2019 birthday gift

2.Begin hand quilting Trip Around the

World quilt top.

3.Finish Vintage Block quilt for me.

I have many other areas of goals, but

you would be pretty bored reading

the ongoing list, believe me.....

I love all the positive and 

uplifting posts that are part of

the "I like" group at 

Not Afraid of Color

Click on the site and enjoy the love!

Back to posting

I have not posted at

slow-sunday-stitching

for a long time.

The reason:

I was finishing many gifts

and did not want my family

to see them on my blog.

Today, I am posting a 

finished gift to myself.

Our town has a Creche festival the

second weekend of December. The

residents display hundreds of

Nativities. They come in all forms of art.

This year, I made a felt nativity

to display. The pattern called for

wool, but I decided to use up

my felt and beading supplies.

The pattern is "O Holy Night" by

Kasia J Embroidery & Design

I also messed up my hand from

daily hand sewing for the last month.

I still have two quilts that need

the binding finished...they just

may be done on the machine.

I am taking a few weeks off from

hand stitching until my hand

heals completely.

I like...

So...the last two weeks I have

spotty to no internet. I posted a

"I like" post last week, but, no

photos showed and I was not

able to comment on anyone

else blog post.

Let's see how we do this week....

I like decorating for Christmas

Each year I decorate the house a

little less, but I still have certain

items I like to put out for the

month of December.

I always put out multiple Nativity scenes.

The tree is decorated in one of two themes....

either nativity ornaments or ocean-beach

themed ornaments.

This year is beach themed ornaments.

I like hand stitching

I have been doing hours and hours

of hand stitching the last month.

Bindings on quilts (Christmas gifts)

Making a new felt Nativity.

Mindless, but calming, random

needlepoint stitching.

I like finishing a goal or two

2018 has been a crazy year for

 my family. Too many

unexpected adventures to name.

I have felt a little like I was not

getting anything accomplished.

Looking back to goals set in

January, I have made some

progress.

I finished some quilts...

I read-studied the New Testament....

I read a few books by new authors...

I cleaned out quite a bit of clutter....

I donated a number of quilts...

 

I like a new fresh start.

I am ready to take on some new

challenges in life for 2019.

I am going to be the President of

my local quilt guild. I did the job

about 10 years ago, but each

time it is different. Our guild blog is

syracuse utah quilters

Any suggestions of activities you

like to do in your guild would be

very much appreciated.

(post your ideas in the comment section)

I am going to plan new adventures

and experiences for myself and

Husband. For me....I am going to

the Road to California quilt

conference in January

(anyone else going?)

So....this is kind of a long "I like" post.

Sorry....I had lots to share after a few

weeks of no blogging.

Go on over to

Not Afraid of Color

for more great "I like" posts

I like....

Yeah! We have internet again! 

Weather and construction south of

us took out our internet for a couple

of days. Hopefully, this will post....

I like having internet!

I forget sometimes how much I do use

the internet. Email...reading blogs...taking

classes online...

I like being a Grandma!

And....

We just found out that Grandchild #9

is on the way in late Spring. So excited!!!!!

I like Nativities

I collect Nativities and display

the entire how with them every

December. Our town has a 

Creche Festival the second

weekend of the December. 

I always try and display one

or two of my own.

I like reading all the other positive

"I like" blog posts at 

Not Afraid of Color

I like #27

Another wonderful week of " I Like"

posts at Not Afraid of Color...go

check it out!

I like non-traditional

Christmas Tree's

I grew up with a Mom who created

amazing Christmas Trees

When I was little, our home had huge

windows across the Living room. It

was perfect to show off a tree.

This tree was made from white Pampas grass.

Mom made a tree shaped cone of

chicken wire....started at

the bottom and wired in the grass.

She added gold ornament balls.

She grew the pampas grass in our

backyard. She cut long pieces of it,

sprayed it with cheap hairspray 

(so it wouldn't shed all over)

and hung the pieces in the garage

to dry for a couple of weeks.

Another year, she made a tree out

of another tree shaped cone of

chicken wire...this time she

bunched up pieces of Kleenex

tissue into the wire holes.

Again, she added ornament balls.

Unfortunately, I can't find a photo

of the tissue tree....

Lastly, is my Mom's Philippine

Stick Christmas Tree. She didn't

make this one, but she could have

figured it out....

It is made of a center wood post 

with layers of individual real

tree branches attached with

small nails. The who tree is

hand painted with white paint.

My Mom brought it back to the USA   

after she and my Dad lived in

the Philippines. I inherited it,

repaired and repainted it, 

decorated it and donate it this

last week to a fundraiser

(Evergreem fundraiser for Safe Harbor)

Besides a tree, I always have

many Nativity scenes and sometimes

a Christmas Village.

Do you have something you especially

LIKE for the Holiday season?

Share in the comments....

I like #26

I did not realize it has been

6 months since I joined the

"I like" post group at Leeanna's

blog, Not Afraid of Color.

It is a happy, positive group

of bloggers across the World.

This week, I Like....

Viewing-Visiting-Experiencing

different forms of Art:

This week, I discovered 

teamLab

More specifically, their current

show in Tokyo, Borderless

It is a light-digital-computerized

show you walk through and it is

interactive with the viewer.

The Lanterns (shown above)

change color when you hold still, 

but then the color spreads

to others in the room.

There is also digital birds flying from

room to room in the Gallery. 

You can color a animal picture (on paper)

and they scan it...then it comes to

life on the floor or walls around you.

Next is Marie Saudin, also known as

mademoiselle Maurice

Her work in paper origami is amazing!

Wouldn't it be nice to pass by this beautiful

art on your way to run errands?

The third artist is Karen Anderson of

Tiny Doors Atl (Atlanta)

As an artist, she began to make little doors,

just 7 inches tall, and secretly install

them as art projects in public places

around the city of Atlanta, Georgia

(photo from Google)

I think it would be a fun adventure to travel

around the city and find all the little Doors.

Lastly, is the street artist Alexandre Farto

aka Vhils

He use to tag-paint on buildings with

spray paint, but now, he creates his

images by using a jackhammer and

chisel to chip away the concrete on buildings.

A beautiful way to bring a flat, boring

concrete wall to life!

I am always on the hunt for new forms of Art,

so if you have someone you really like,

no matter their use of materials, please

leave a little info about them in the comments!

Slow Sunday Stitch

It has been a few months since I posted

at Kathy's Quilts

for Slow Sunday Stitch.

I have finished the binding on my

BOM Star quilt-wall hanging. 

I need to hand-sew on the label today.

This quilt is being auctioned off at 

Safe Harbor

fundraiser, called Evergreen. 

It is a great organization.

What are you slow stitching today?

I like

Oh. My. Stars!

It has been a crazy day and I am just getting

to posting my "I like" blog post.

Be sure to go over to

Not Afraid of Color

to read some more great "I like" posts

I like...

Getting a fun package in the mail

Today, I received a beautiful package

from a knitting swap partner. We

are all in the same online beginner's

group on Ravelry.com

The main part of the swap was a skein or two

of lovely fiber, and I scored big!

The blue is from a sheep farm called

Foster's Sheep Farm

of Schuylerville, New York 

I love the color of blue.

My swap partner, Maureen, also included lots of

other goodies, like a handmade pumpkin

and crocheted leaves. 

I like...

Getting ready for the Holidays

I do not especially enjoy Halloween, 

but I love Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I like handmaking gifts for

those I love....and big meals with all

the family and friends we can fit 

around the table.

I have two quilt tops going to the

quilters this week for Granddaughter

gifts.

I need to make two more quilts...one for

my son and the other for another Granddaughter.

I like....

Trying new recipes

My Husband and I are part of a Supper Club

and we have all our children living within

a close drive of us, so we have 

regular dinners and get-to-gethers.

And there is ALWAYS food!

So there it is...short and sweet.

Thanks for visiting!

I like...

I like the freedom to choose

Elections are coming up soon.
I always work a polling place during
Election time. I use to maintain the
Election machines, but my County
has gone to the electronic paper vote.
This Election, I will be a clerk.

Read up on the candidates.
Know the facts of the Propositions.
Get our and make your Vote count!

I like learning about the Past

I took a DNA test at Ancestry.com
a few years ago. Every so often, it
matches me up with a cousin. It is
interesting to me, because I was
adopted as a baby, so I do not know
all my biological line.

This week, I matched up with a lady
who lives in my State, as 6th cousins.

The mind blower....I am the 9th
Great Grand-daughter of Reverend
Roger Williams, who established the
State of Rhode Island. It's crazy!

I like to try new things

Currently, I am attempting to
research and schedule new activities
for myself and my Husband.
I feel like we have become a little too
comfortable with the same old routine.

This week, we are going on a
Pumpkin walk. Not exactly sure what
it is, but it is a popular area activity.

We are going to a First Friday art
exhibit next month. I have gone
before, but it has been years and not
with my Husband.

I am going to paint some furniture. I
know this is not a big first, but my
Husband usually does any furniture
refinishing (and building), but I am
going to this time.

I like good customer service.

My car, known as Big Red, is on it's last
bit of life. She is almost 20 years old and
we need to replace her.

And I hate car shopping!

We spent last Saturday morning going to
various dealerships to look for cars. For
the most part, the salesman were very nice.

Except for one place. We walked around and
around the lot and saw no one...not one
worker. Finally, I walked in their lobby area.
There sat a kid, I assumed a salesman, on his
phone, playing a game.

"Hello"....no response.
"Hello" (a bit louder)…..no response.

I walked to the back of the room and found
a secretary. I asked for a salesman...oh, he's
right there...Nope, I already tried him and
he did not respond...please find me someone
else.

Instantly, the secretary and a manager found me
a great salesman. The other boy tried to cut off
the new salesman. Nope, you had your turn....

I still have not decided which car I am getting,
but I know who I will ask for in the future.

For other great "I like" posts, head over to

Not Afraid of Color

I like...

I like seeing the geese fly in Fall

(photo from google images)

Each morning and again in the evening,

we have huge groups of geese that

fly over our house. I like to see them

in their line or V formation.

I like a good book and time to read

I am currently read the second World War II

book by Kimberly  Brubaker Bradley. This

first one, "The War that saved my life" was

so well written...I am glad she continued 

the story.

I like learning something new.

I am currently taking an (free) online

class from Trinity College (Ireland)

about the Book of Kells.

I have been fascinated about the book

of Bible scriptures for years. I am

working on a fabric version of a

Celtic Letter for an assignment.

The college offers other online classes,

so I think I will continue with them

after finishing this class. 

For other wonderful "I like" posts, click

on Not afraid of Color

Plans for this week

I need to get back to planning out my

sewing week, as much as my cleaning

and errands.

This week:

1.Make backing and take quilt to quilters

The top has been done for a 

couple of weeks...now to

get it all to the quilter.

2.Make top 

(and hopefully backing) for

Christmas gift quilt

I won these block many years ago

(probably about 16 years)

and plan to make them into a

quilt to be given as a gift

3.Make a backing and get quilt to quilter

Scrappy star blocks I made many years ago

I sewed together the quilt top.

Now to make a backing and

get it to the quilter.

Another Christmas gift.

I have a very busy week planned with

a quilt guild sew-in day,

a day at my Temple with friends,

a day of sewing for the

Days for Girls organization, 

plus picking up my next

BOM at K and H Quilt Shoppe

I guess it is the week of sewing!

What are your creating plans for the week?

Check out other creating posts at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

I like....

I like Vintage clothing

(this was my blog header photo for years)

I like when it was fashionable to dress

up, even for everyday activities. I was

watching some movie with my daughter

and we both commented how nice 

women looked back in the day, even

when grocery shopping.

I like making something new

out of something old 

I have received quite a bit of fabric

and old clothing from friends in the

last few weeks...everyone is cleaning out.

I want to get back to sewing clothing

or other items from old clothing and fabric.

I use to do it all the time when my kids

were younger (stretch that budget!)

I like baking in the Fall

There is something about the cooler 

weather and wanting to bake. I always 

bake bread each week, no matter

what the weather is like.

This week, my Husband has made lemon

cupcakes...weekend forecast is for lots 

of rain and maybe a carrot cake.

I like pumpkins

I am not a big home decorator when

it comes to Halloween, but I do

like to have a couple of pumpkins

on the porch or kitchen table.

(granddaughter at local farm)

My Husband always grows a few

pumpkins in the garden each Summer,

so we have them for the 

grandchildren and for decorating.

  

I like going to the Movies

I grew up with a Grandfather who

was a movie projectornist, so we

were always going to the movies.

I like going to see a show with my Husband.

There is something about watching a movie

on the Big screen that just can't be beat.

I like being kind

I have been feeling like there is change in the

air-attitude-community lately.

I have been making a conscience effort to

be nice to others. Smiling at stranger...

giving out more compliments...

assuming the good in others...

For more "I like" posts, head over to

Not Afraid of Color

I like

I like having the Internet

Everything has it's good and it's

bad qualities. I like to focus on

the good the internet provides me.

I can keep in touch with family

all over the World

I can learn something new from

someone's tutorial.

I can visit-view places.

I like surprise presents

Recently, I was given

a huge box of fabric (friend 

cleaning out her Mother's home)

Fun treasures for me and some

fabric (actually, most of the fabric)

to pass on to others to use.

I like a sense of Community

This past week, one of my

Husbands students passed on.

It is always difficult when a 

young person dies. 

Our community came together

and has taken care of one

another. We have talked, we

have mourned and we will

continue to watch over

one another.

For more "I Like" posts, go to 

Not Afraid of Color