Susans block

Susans block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is my work on a block for Susan. She just recently joined CQI and a local cq i'm a part of..and that group is doing a rr. Her fabric had what I call "cone" flowers on it, so I embroidered them, crossing the seams and adding in some beading for the cones. I also outlined the ily with beads and did some beaded feather stitching. Hopefully she will enjoy it!

Beaded RR block

Beaded RR block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is a pic of my work on Cheryl's block over at CQI. This is a beaded rr soooo, I beaded a peacock, feather stitch treatment and cabbage rose for her. I tried to make a solid peacock, but it just wasn't pulling in the colors the way I envisioned so I switched to irridescent hex delicas and it came out better. Still perfecting my technique, but do love this beading!

Signature stitches

I have been working with Janet Popish, who is on the CQ for newbies group. We thought it might be kind of neat if we had an embroidered "signature" that we could put on pieces to always be known for stitching. She is VERY efficient and already has developed her's... and here at long last is mine!

I for some reason like to stitch trees.... and willows have been a fascination to me of late, so I thought i'd give this a whirl. It's all of about one half of an inch big, takes just a few minutes to stitch and might just work! I'm going to keep on playing, but so far, i'm liking this one!

Charity Quiltlets

I thought I would snag pics of all of the quiltlets that have been completed to date and share them with you! Each contributor will have their quiltlet which measures 6 x 8 inches, digitally signed with their name, state and country. I will then consolidate it and print that off to go with the wall hanging when it is donated.

As blocks are completed, I am not only posting them at CQI, but sending off pics to CQMagonline where we will be featured in the upcoming issue all thanks to Jo Newsham! She is such a marvel and I really appreciate her asking about this! I will be pushing the date for completion out to accomodate any interest that may be generated by the article! We have until the end of the month, so please be sure and send me a pic if you are working on something for this project!

All of them are so unique and so very special! I can't begin to express how very grateful I am to everyone that is and has taken part in this project! I am positive the kids will LOVE spending time looking at this quilt and that it will bring many a smile!

Season To Season Block

seasontoseason blockhalf
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I finished up what is basically my half of the block so now it will sprout wings and fly off to be stitched on by someone else! It will be interesting to see how it comes back! I have to admit its tough to add things like the buttons and all now, when there is still stitching to do. Its feeling seriously OFF balance to me! All the buttons are old vintage gems from grandmas button box. I'd do more but it wouldn't be fair to my swap partner! VBG!

Comfort Doll 1

Comfort 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Now I think I know the advantages of blogging from flickr.... this will go to a bigger pic! LOL! Sorry for the dup, but wanted to fix the problem! Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments!

Comfort Doll

I have finally completed a comfort doll for Pat Winter's project! She has been languishing on the sewing machine waiting for her backing and finishing touches..... now to finish her sister and then she can fly away to Pat!! I hope she will add a little bit of brightness and hope to someones day!

UTS Charity Block 1 COMPLETE!!!!

YIPPEEE!!!!!

Block 1 is at long last complete!!! It no longer languishes on the sewing machine waiting for me to put its backing on!!!!

Meet "Zipper" the Technocolor Tophat DogFish! LOL!!!! Got a bit carried away with the beading, but enjoyed the block!! I will have to try to find a place to hang the other blocks that came in and take pics and post them here as well! I am sooooo grateful to everyone that is joining in on this project. Linda in Ny sent the most gorgeous beaded mermaid and Debbie S sent two wondrous scenes with glorious fishies glinting everywhere! I know Jo in New Zealand has a treasure packed one on the way and I absolutely cannot wait to see the ones that Gail in Wyoming is stitching! A turtle and dolphin!!! PLUS she's adding a bonus of some hand painted fish and a sea horse!!! HOW lucky can we get???? THEN..... Judy in MN is working on one...... and Susan N fully surprised me by informing me today that she is preparing to make one as well!!! This project is growing wings and with it creating many smiles!!!! Thank you soooo much everyone!!!!!

NOW..... got to finish the outside edge beading on the comfort doll, the pic and another project bites the dust!! VBG!!

Forest Face

Sorry for the massive blitz in posting here, but when Dad's away..... Mom will POST!!! LOL!!! Here's a pic of a brooch I made for cq acquantaince (sp?) I like how she came out. I brain stormed and thought it would be neat to make some with a willowy bark face, maybe a mapley bark....ohhhhh....heck....the brain's been churning on alllll kinds of bark!! LOL!!!! Any way.....here she is!!!!

Sweeeetttt & Innocent!!!

Weellllll...... Everyone has seen pics of Koda.... This first one, where the nose is niccccceee and clean.... smile is great! He's perfectly sweet and innocent. I'm happily pecking away on the computer when he trots in and plops his happy little back side down with a nose that is DRASTICALLY different from its normal color!!!! Hmmmmm....... Whattttt have weee been up tooooo??????? Soooooo...... I wander outside, expecting to see a crater the size of the moon in the middle of the yard..... fortuneately for him its only the size of a football, but we're not tellin' Dad!! LOL!!!

Pediatric Brain Cancer Wall Hanging

I previously posted a couple of quiltets that I have started for a project begun thru Crazy Quilting International. I've opened it up to the population at large, but I hadn't really explained fully the whole idea behind the project. The Ride For Kids is an organization that donates thousands of dollars for research each year. I am but a teensy weensy contributor to that grand scheme. I have a friend that conjured up, allllll by herself, over $11,000.00!!! I need to get some pics of the jackets that i've embroidered for her. They have come out pretty cool. We have listed all of the corporate sponsors on the back of her jackets the last three years running and she has been the State Grand Champion for the last four years. I'm impressed! LOL!!! Sooo, thats the "why" behind this project. I would like to brings some smiles to the faces of the kids in a local ward. I know that its not as effective as dollars for research, but it will help bring some joy to their souls. I hope some of you will be able to jump in and join the fun!!! Thanks again to Gail for adding me on her blog and anyone else who I may not have run across yet!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

What Is Your Element?

Kind of fun! A bit accurate too! Tooooo funny! LOL!!

Your Power Element is Wood

Your power colors: green and brown Your energy: generative Your season: spring Like a tree, you are always growing and changing. And while your life is dynamic, you are firmly grounded. You have high morals and great confidence in yourself and others. You have a wide set of interests, and you make for intersting company.

What's Your Power Element?

Minor musings...

I occasionally like to mutter on about things i'm curious about or those, albeit HUGE, findings in the garden... LOL but I wanted to post a quick note about something thats come into my life and is gradually re-shaping it. Think that my slow posting here is a reflection of it. I was recently "diagnosed" with fibromyalgia. Not the end of the world, but definately a painful annoyance. At least it explains the new features around here, like hand and wrist pain that affects typing and stitching and well everything a hand does and thats not mentioning other areas of the body that aren't feeling so great either. I'm not posting this because I want attention, but because i'm slower at accomplishing things due to the pain that has jumped in with a huge "bang" and I am apologizing in advance for any hold ups. I'm adjusting and trying to learn work arounds while the silly medical community figures out some meds that might help. Thank you for your patience.....i'll be about as much as I can.

Tomatoes, pumpkins and squash, OH MY!!!

This year I enlarged our veggie garden quite a bit and after a rather rocky beginning, this is sort of what it looks like now!!

Then, one day while climbing thru the forest of leaves I can upon this monster! This pic was several days ago,





It was measuring about 14 inches then..... and i've just discovered a cousin across the patch that is 15 inches! Pink Banana Squash.....shoulda read the package closer. Typical size is....well....what I have... typical weight... 10 to 15 pounds!!! OUCH!!!!! THAT'S a LOT of squash! LOL!!! Now i'll have to figure out a way to store it for gradual use! Boy....looking a little bit like squash cakes, cookies, soups, bread, noodles....ummmm.... any ideas??? LOL!!!

Thank YOU!

Ohhhhh, myyyyyy!!! I am so humbled and speechless. I had no idea.... Thank you Jo and Hideko for thinking of me. So very sweet and I do VERY much appreciate it. It came at a time that I was needing a bit of a boost and thank you so much!!!

This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people, good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!

Now, I have to nominate which is terribly difficult as there are so many I don't know where to begin.... soooo, I guess i'll start with JO, Hideko, Judi (new on the CQI scene and fast becoming a friend), LouAnne, Mary Frances, Melissa and Jackie Y.....

That's just a bare beginning i'm afraid! THere are a bunch of other wonderful folks out there that have supported, helped, be-friended and in general cared ..... Pat, Clairee, Janet, Lauri, Susan.....just to name a few more! Thank you all ever so much for all you do and for absolutely MAKING my day!!

Hugs...Leslie

Late Night Musings and Charity

Today, I read on Gail's blog.... Big Horn Mountain Creations - quilting and crafts, about her disappointment with not being able to effectively sell her wares. I want to first say that I really understand where she is coming from! It hurts to hear that something you have worked so hard on is of little dollar value to someone. That said, I believe its symptomatic of the economy, which here in the West is rather tight AND its really important to display our creations in the correct venue. The audience and timing is everything. So.... Gail.... Please hang in there and keep at it! You WILL find your niche and things will work out! Just keep up the faith in yourself and your abilities! It takes time to develop everything! This is an issue I have struggled with for quite awhile, even within my commercial embroidery business as well. Theres always someone out there willing to sell "themselves" for less than you. I have actually done that occassionally just to keep the machine going, but have rather evolved past that of late because the customers themselves are more demanding than the little bit of money I get EVER begins to be worth. It skews the pricing for other embroiders too which defeats the purpose of being in business. So, I fired one of them this week.... graciously....but they have moved on and I can't say i'm sad about it. It frees me up to do what I need to do creatively!

I "think" i'm evolving into what I am meant to be doing, which is using more of my creativity in special projects for folks rather than the run of the mill, 100 shirts with the same logo embroidered on them. I am content to puddle along and experiment with new things as money allows. I'm challenging myself with new ways of doing things and operating under the "pay it forward" type philosophy. Its been amazing what comes back! It feels SOOO good to give of yourself with no expectations.

With that in mind, I have headed up a project for mini quiltlets to be made into a wall hanging for the brain cancer ward of the Childrens Hospital. Why this specific choice? Well, i've been working with a friend for the last several years who participates in the "Ride For Kids". This charity is for children that have been diagnosed with brain cancer. This year, she collected over $11,000.00!!! WOW!!! I am soooooo impressed! And... she said that she is actually seeing that the donations are making a difference for the kids. Many are now in remission and finally enjoying better lives! As a result, I thought that it would be a nice treat for these kids to have a visual wonderland to look at and perhaps help take their minds briefly off their pain and the treatments they are under going and came up with this idea. At first I wanted to be able to give a quiltlet to each child, :(not dissimilar to what Pat Winters wanted to do with her Comfort Doll project) but that would restrict what we are able to put on them, so the project morphed into a wall hanging. Each quiltlet will be attached to the others with free standing fish i'll embroider on my machine. Sounds fun, I think!!! Anywhoo, I would like to invite anyone who might be interested in making one to join in! The theme is Under The Sea.









These are my two nekkid blocks that will be formed into quiltlets. If you are interested in perhaps joining in...please let me know and I will HAPPILY send you the guidelines. Dependent on the response, I may extend the deadline that is currently set for September 30. Heck, if this goes well, maybe we'll make this an on going project and donate wall hangings to other Childrens Hospitals! The more quiltlets created in love for these courageous kids the better!! I can't WAIT to see their smiles when its delivered!! Thanks for reading and listening. Off I go to get some things done!!

Its In My Bag swap project

This is the first time that I have participated in the Its In My Bag Swap! It was interesting....even tho I stressed a bit. You see, i'm not a planner. If I get an idea I sort of dive in and work things out as I go. Now, had I planned this would have been a bit less challenging, BUT I learned a lot and truly hope that Clairee enjoys her purse. I am NOT a great seamstress and Clairee is, sooo, i'm still waiting to hear her scream!!! LOL!!! Seriously tho, I am over all pretty pleased with it and am THRILLED to be able to finally show it!!!

The front of the bag, pictured above, is fabric manipulation techniques. I created some mountains for her to enjoy with some flowers of ALL kinds tucked in at the base. There are some SRE, some brazilian and some basic embroidered flowers there. Along with another mongram for her enjoyment. I added her charms up at the top. The flap closure has more lace embroidered onto it and the inside is completely lined with a zippered pocket in the middle separating the purse into two sections.

This is the back of the purse. I decided to make it more flat so it would withstand brushing up against her body. There were furry fibers included in the baggie so I decided to play around a bit and VOILA, a willow emerged from the fibers!!! Theres a little nest on one of the limbs with some eggs and a bird I made out of fimo to match the purse. I also added her monogram and a pansy....i'm suspicious that she likes pansies! LOL!! You can just see the handle at the top. I machine embroidered some lace patterns on it to give it some extra zing! Next challenge will be to make some of that free standing to put on some blocks!

These are some extra goodies I added for Clairee. I made an ultrasuede pansy pin with picot beaded edging on it. I also sent along some of the fimo doo dads that I had made...the top one is made into a pin as well.

Sooooo.....another project bites the dust! LOL!!! On to the next adventure!!!

What Flower Are You?

I am a Nigella What Flower Are You?

You Are Sunrise!

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

SBDYB Bonnie

SBDYB Bonnie
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is Bonnies block from the Summer Breeze round robin. Funky button and bead flowers, a cabbage rose (beaded)... her initial....and the design outlined with beads on the lower corner. The fan is from Carole Samples book...and then the herringbone cretan stitch combos at the top. Hope ya like it Bonnie!!

seasontoseason block

seasontoseason block
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is my nekkid block for a swap that I joined! A little funky.....but... kind of like me, I guess!!! LOL!!! I have to embroider half, send it off and then someone else will embroidery the other half and send it back! Should be interesting, eh? Mooooorrrreeee later!

BB coat epaulet

BB coat epaulet
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Not a great pic, but I couldn't fight with this coat anymore! LOL!! This is a colonel epaulet. This was machine embroidered then hand stitched onto the leather.

BB coat 2

BB coat 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is a full jacket back on the same deer skin jacket! I spent a goodly amount of time digitizing a bit of this one....had it at the size the owner said they wanted it at UNTIL they brought it to me....then it changed! LOL!!! Good heavens! Anyway, I will sposedly be doing the beaded version of this jacket, eagle, buffalo, vines, epaulets and all before too long. I just hope it isn't the finished jacket WITH Fringe. Ughhhh.... stuff is a bit difficult to maneuver around! Enought fussing! Off to post a final pic! VBG!

Buffalo Bill Coat

BB coat 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

PHEW!!!! Another project done!!! Pics aren't great....taken at ohhhh twelve hundred A.M!!!! This is a deer skin coat WITH fringe.... that was left with me to embroider last friday afternoon! I had to create the flower vines, re-size and make corrections on the buffalo then hold my breath while this things stitched. I don't "think" i've bought myself a jacket yet! BUT....haven't heard from the owner sooooo...STILL holding my breath! LOL! Now, keep in mind, NO design on this jacket is under 20,000 stitches and my machine stitches at a standard 800 stitches per minute. This doesn't take into account for thread changes, breaks, needle changes.... and I have a commercial machine!!! Good HEAVENS I couldn't imagine trying this on a home machine!!! NOT a slam against em.... just couldn't imagine the hourse that would take cuz this took me the whole weekend!!! Tis done tho! YEAHHHH!!!

I have SOOOO got to research and get more designs pre-digitized so I don't have this madness again! Regardless....I think it looks good. Just hoping for kudoos from the owner! G

Hideko's Sampler blocks

sampler Hideko
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Another rr I am participating in, is the Sampler rr! We were asked to create 2 eight inch blocks with loooooonnngggg seams! So we would have plenty of room to practice! I was the first in line and had the herringbone, with the optional detached chain stitch! Watch this spot. I have to get the ol 'puter to cooperate and i'll get closeups loaded for everyone to see! Anywhoo....another one done. Off to embroidery for my re-enactor friends....again....on their deerskin full length jacket. NOOOOOO room for screw up there......sooooo, wish me luck!!!!

SBDYB Jakkie

SBDYB Jakkie
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Second block done in the DYB round robin! This one is for Jakkie! I had a bit of a brain blank and FINALLY at oh zero hundred in the night inspiration came! LOL!! I had some dyed rococo braid that made the foundation of the arbor, the I added sre leaves and roses. Next to that is the sre magnolia tree with beaded flowers and the the wisteria on top. I beaded a cabbage rose up above, and the used a bead treatment to pull out the rose on the other patch that is held down with the herring bone, ribbon woven thru, sequin flowers and then beaded the roses on the lace. I hope she likes it!

Evolution of design cont......

Annie panel 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is the final panel! These are ALL off to their owner for construction now! I hope to get a pic of the completed costume!! I did my best o replicate the original design so that the costume will be authentic. Think I succeeded?

Evolution of design cont.

Annie panel 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Almost done! This is one of the panels for the skirt. This is a combination of machine embroidery and hand embroidery! Again, the fabric had to be backed to control the stretch. Approximately 80 hours has been spent in design, digitizing and embroidering this costume.

Evolution of design cont

Annie gators
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is the gaitors. They top gloves in the western costumes....I rather thought that they were cuffs for the jacket. Regardless, they are also entirely hand embroidered with rayon. Thankfully the owner is pleased!

Evolution of design cont

Annie collar
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Here is a pic of the collar. This was entirely hand embroidered. The material is a stretch gabardine which was a challenge for me, so I fused a light weight webbing to the fabric to stabilize it. All of the embroidery is done with rayon.

Evolution of design cont.

Annie designs
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is the designs. Hand drawn onto a plastic film that I then placed onto a light box to trace onto the panels.

Evolution of a design

Annie pic
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

As many have read here, I do a lot of embroidery for a friend that is heavily involved in character re-enactment. The latest project I completed for her is DONE!!! YIPPEEE!!!! I took this pic and then designed the panels on the skirt, collar and gaitors.

Koda

Koda2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Here he is just hamming it up! NOOOOOO personality here! LOL!!

Koda

Koda1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I FINALLLLLLYYYY got this little imp to sit still long enough AWAY from the tree to get a good pic! You'd never know, to look at him that he could wreak such havoc! LOL!!! He brought home kennel cough that swept the house. Thank heavens everyone is finally feeling better!!! After supporting the drug companies for all the antibiotics! LOL!!! He's cute....and DEFINATELY allllll puppy!!! Gooood grief I forgot how busy they can be! LOL!!!

New kid on the block!

New kid on the block!
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Looooookkkkk out!!! Here he comes!!! Kona.....THE PESTTTT DOG!!!! LOL!!!! Here's our recent addition.... another "rescue" dog from the pound! All of.... or so they said... 6 months old! ALL energy, pestiness and cute, cute, cute! Still chooses whether or not he'll respond to his name, is ornerier than all get out, but has all the makings of a lover dog! Course.... what four legged doesn't love? I'm sure there will be more pics to come as he continues to grow into those mammoth feet! VBG!!!

Buffalo vest 2

buffalo 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Ok.... last post for the day.... prolly for a WHILE! LOL!!! Goodness.... i'm on a binge it seems! VBG! This is for my friends husband who plays Buffalo Bill. I was really challenged to find the right colors to work on black but stay true to a buffalo. Think I did ok tho. Hope he likes it!

Buffalo Vest 1

Buffalo 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I've posted some things that i've done before. I do some work for a couple of re-enactors (western history buffs). Anywhoo, this is one buffalo I just stitched for them on a vest. Its to be a giftie for one of their dear friends. Came out pretty well I think!

New project launched!

Forest within 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

This is the beginnings of project I WILL finish! LOL!!! Actually I will because of what if means to me. This is a center diamond that will act as the medallion of a small quilt. The surrounding cq blocks that I will attach will all have scans of leaves, trees, etc. This is The Forest Within. I did a TON of fabric manipulation here and am now in the process of beadingand embroidering this baby. In the upper section you will see a clump of beads...well, its a poppy that worked GREAT for the sunset and i'm seeing the flower IN the sunset so i'm playing that up. Makes no sense probbly, but its where my brain went, so there you have it! LOL!! Mountains are figuring largely in my work these days. They are a part of my soul as I was born here in Colorado. More updates as progress is made! Enjoy!

Spirit of Friendship doll 3

friendship 3
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Look at this little gem!!! Linda in NY from CQI made her and I HAD to have her. (I was the swap mama.... hehehehe.... ) Isn't She great?? The face is drawn by hand! I keep looking at it and looking at it....just amazed at the talen. All the stitching as with Jo's and Hidekos is eensy weensy and WONDERFUL!!! Sooo, i've taken the leap and have entered another swap due to complete before Christmas! Ohhhhh myyyy...I just can't wait to see the gems that come out of this one!

Spirit of Friendship doll 2

friendship 2
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I was a part of a doll swap over at CQI. This gem is from Hideko!! Isn't she wondrous??? Hideko has SUCH a knack with her marvelous silks and wonderful stitching! All my girls are hanging out with me, acting a my "muses"! I love them all!

Spirit of Friendship doll

Friendship 1
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I just LOVE this little gem! She is a giftie from my fellow group owner, Jo over at CQI. I just adore all the teensy vineys ad leaves and the intricate stitching! She is WONDERFUL and I will treasure her always! Thank you JO!!!

sampler blocks

sampler blocks
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Another rr entered, 2 more blocks ready to rock and roll!!! This one is alllll about stitch variations so I tried to make some longer seams! Should be fun to see what comes home!

Creativity Strikes Again!!!

I'm on an inner journey trying to explore and "find" what my purpose is. Expressing myself is a big part of that. I'm trying to figure out what i'm good at and develop it. I LOVE nature and find much to stitch about by just walking out into my garden! I am intrigued with textures and colors and love to see how the plants all blend together into one harmonious symphony of color! I often find myself looking at things differently. Through a different set of glasses as it were. I'm in a more creative mode and I "see" faces or flowers or animals in the swirls of plaster on the wall, horses chasing the wind in the clouds. The colors of a flower share the emotion of their incredible ability to burst with life! Does anyone else see things this way? Anyway.... through all this rambling, I came across a blurb I had saved that was given to me bya friend. I thought that i'd share it. Its a great way to help get past a block and unleash all that talent stored up inside! I especially like trying to draw with my non-dominant hand! WOW!!! The things you can discover about yourself! LOL!! Have fun!!


10 Ways to Cultivate Creativity: A WildChild Primer for Kids of All Ages

1. Color. Buy crayons and a coloring book, and purposefully,intentionally, color outside the lines. Scribble, break the crayons in half,smash them into the page. Write in the margins how it feels to break therules.
2. Spend some time thinking about what you loved as a child. Whatcolors, clothes, games, toys, activities, dreams do you enjoy? Which arecurrently in your life? Which have you not seen or enjoyed in years? Make aplan to rekindle some of your childhood loves in your daily life, today.
3. Create with your body. Take a break from the gym and work out at alocal playground. Playing hopscotch, pumping legs on the swings and climbingjungle gyms aren't just for kids! Or try gardening or hiking to cultivate akid-like connection with nature.
4. Draw your goal. Grab some crayons, markers or colored pencils.Imagine a goal that you'd like to meet, and draw a picture of what it willlook like when you've reached this goal. Make it detailed, vivid andkid-like! This isn't about drawing skills - it's about representing a visionin a fun and uninhibited way. When you're done, hold it up proudly and sayout loud, "I DID THIS!" Tape it to your refrigerator!
5. Make a set of "trading cards." Cut out images that you love fromcatalogs, magazines or greeting cards. Focus on images that make you feelfull, alive and truly happy. Glue these images, collage-style, to an olddeck of playing cards. This is a project you can work on a little bit at atime until you have a whole deck of cards that inspire you to dream big andlive your fullest life! Don't forget to collage the outside of the pack!
6. Redecorate, kid-style. Walk through your living space and find areas- even small ones - that could use some Wild Child whimsy. Maybe achildren's book belongs with the serious coffee table books. Maybepipe-cleaner flowers belong in a vase on a kitchen shelf. Find corners wherea little smile goes a long way.
7. Imagine new pictures. Find an image from a magazine and tear it out.Place it on a flat surface and turn it upside down. Try to find an image,activity or story in the lines and spaces of the upside-down image. Ifyou're having trouble seeing anything, ask, "If I were a child, what might Isee in this picture?" Doodle with markers and pens to expand on andilluminate your image. Add words, if you are drawn to do so.
8. Write your to-do list on poster boards taped to a wall. Write withmarkers, and with your non-dominant hand (or put the marker in your fist andmake broad, childlike strokes). On one poster, write a list of things youneed to DO. On the other, write a list of things you dream to BE. Movebetween the two, allowing a free-flowing relationship to develop betweenthem. What do you learn about yourself and your priorities?
9. Find a board or card game from your childhood and change the rules.What if CLUE became a game about decorating rooms in Fun House style? Whatif Twister was a massive canvas for art? What if chess pieces were purple,pink and polka-dotted and the game was about cooperation instead ofcompetition? If possible, alter the actual game board and pieces tocelebrate your rebellion against the rules. If that's not possible, writeabout your new rules in a journal.
10. Go on a nature walk with child's eyes. Challenge yourself to makeeach of your senses more open and aware, in the way that a child takes inthe world. Gather interesting leaves, rocks or little flowers. Bring themhome and arrange them to create your own little nature shrine.

20 yr project bites the dust

20 yr project
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

Not a huge project. Nor an elaborate one. BUT, it IS now complete!!! LOL!!! It only took twenty years, but is now awaiting its frame (specially made by hubby) the at long last to be hung with pleasure after so long in the dark depths of the UFO drawer! I'm just tickled a bit of progress has been made. Now to continue with that and get some others taken care of!

chocolate quilt

chocolate quilt
Originally uploaded by Pinyon Creek Stitchin'.

I posted a month or so ago about having to help one of my "buddies" over rainbow bridge. My heart has been so sad and there are soooo many ways that I have been seeing that he was such a part of our lives and now there is large void. I HAD to do something for his memory. He was such a special boy!! So, I decided to make a small wall hanging with pics that we had over the years. My....THAT was hard. Now, i've decided that I ought to probably add ALL of his friends that have been with him over the years and will probably have to "grow" this block. That's ok. He's worth it. This project of scanning the pics and sewing them down...and now embellishing the paches has soothed me and helped me heal a bit. More on this project as it moves along.

Summer Breeze rr block

Here we are!! I have completed my work on Jo's block for the Summer Breeze DYB rr!!! I cannot for the LIFE of me get it to load over at yahoo. Sigh... anywhoo, I'm hoping that she likes it! Got an eensy little BEE, some vintage buttons from grandma's button box, some sunflowers that are thread painted and beaded, Miscellaneous seam variations...and... of course, beads! Enjoy Jo!!!