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Archive for the ‘Making a Difference’ Category

Out Came the Sun…

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

…but it will take a while to dry up all the rain we have been having. My sis, Judy, e-mailed, wondering if we were ok because I hadn’t blogged since Saturday. No problems — just busy.

Sunday was the opening of our “Small Treasures” show. I didn’t take my camera so no photos. Terry sold 2 pieces as did several others. No sales for me and I don’t expect any as I priced mine higher than most. That is ok, I will put them on my website after the show is over.

Sunday was also the day the rain became torrential and didn’t stop until this morning. Sunday afternoon I went to the Paper Zone (I love paper stores!!) I found some blank paper and matching envelopes to print invitations to an open house that Mr C and I are having between Christmas and New Year’s. Lisa will be here and she is inviting her peep’s who live in Portland. Steph will invite her friends, too. It will be a multi-generational gathering.

I managed to get a photo of the front door on Saturday, before the rain started.

frontdoor2.jpg

I played with it in Photoshop and got rid of the reflection of my leg!!

frontdoor2poster.jpg

I selected paper in a bamboo color and printed the invite.

invite.jpg

I did a google search and found this charming verse which I used.

Let the warmth of friendship
take the chill from the air
and the spirit of the season
make winter easier to bear.

Yesterday morning, the weather was miserable and I had an appointment with my dermatologist so Mr C drove me through the wind and flooding streets. While we were out in Clackamas, we did a Costco run and picked up a new DVD player which plays nicely with our High Definition TV. We are watching a movie and it is fantastic. The player optimizes performance of DVD’s for HDTV.

I tried to take Maggie for walks for the last two days, and we have both gotten soaked and it has been difficult to get my exercise points. So, I turned to this.

getmovingvideo.jpg

I have always enjoyed doing aerobics and weights, but we do not have a gym close to our home so I have not been getting in those activities. Yesterday, I did the 20 minute aerobic work out and today I did the toning. I must say that I am feeling it in my thighs and abs.

Today was beautiful and sunny and quite warm so I got lots of walking in plus the toning. I also cleaned up my studio so that I can start some new projects.

I have previously mentioned the project that Caron is doing to remember those lost in the Iraq war. She is assembling small quilt blocks – one for each American lost — which will have 212 French knots to represent the Iraqis lost. Look at what she and her minions have accomplished so far. Click on her name to go to her site to see other photos and how to’s, if you want to contribute to the remembrance quilt.

100_0583.JPG

She was interviewed for Minnesota Public Radio. You can listen and see photos here. Caron, I am so proud of you. This project is beautiful in so many ways.

Blog Action Day

Monday, October 15th, 2007

Just a quick post for Blog Action Day. The premise: what difference would it make if thousands of bloggers blogged about the environmment.

We only have one mother earth. We must take care of her.

I have been wanting to congratulate Al Gore for his Nobel Peace Prize. We have him to thank for turning the tide of popular thought. Love you, Al. why don’t your run for President. We need you.

Now, tell me one thing you are doing to help save Mother Earth. I am going to give up bottled water.

Want To Help With A Project?

Wednesday, April 11th, 2007

I received this e-mail this morning:

So, I have to let you know how you have inspired me. The photos you posted from Reed College just stuck in my craw. The visual aspect was so inspiring, yet, I’m fairly certain it’s been taken down to mow the grass. Somewhere, I’m not sure from where, I came up with an idea that would be simple to produce and fairly easy to display. I wrote my first post on my new blog about it yesterday. Hopefully, I’ll get some pictures up tonight.

— Caron

 

Caron’s Blog is titled And Still Counting. Please go to her blog and check out the amazing quilt project that she has conceived. Stay tuned and see how you can get involved. I know that I am planning to help her.

On the home front, I have been a bit down today. I think I have had another bout of the lethargic/blah virus that seems to be infecting many bloggers of late. I do feel better tonight so hopefully I can get the laundry done and get packed for my trip to California.

When Art Quilt Tahoe is over, I am hitching a ride with my friend Judy Bianchi to Santa Rosa. I am going to stay with Janet and hang out with my good friends that I left behind. I am going to the guild meeting where they will draw the winning tickets for the opportunity quilts, one of which was conceived by me before I moved to Portland. You can see them here, and you only get one guess as to which one I want to win!!

I spent a lot of time today unsewing part of the Pathways quilt. Perhaps I will reveal what I have done before I leave on a jet plane.

Could You Survive on a Food Stamp Diet?

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

First, a postcard that I finished today. This is hand-dyed fabric with Angelina fibers and copper Tinsl with a tulle overlay.

coppertinslpostcards.jpg

Now, the question of the day. Mr C went to a volunteer training at the Oregon Food Bank. He came home and asked if I would be willing to take part in a program sponsored by the Food Bank, eating on the equivalent budget of those who receive Food Stamps. The program is designed to help people understand how difficult this is so that they can be more effective at fund raising for the Food Bank and lobbying the government for more help.

A very lofty goal – right? How much do we get to spend? $3 per person per day so double that for the two of us. You can’t use food you already have in the freezer and pantry. I suppose you can use some staples – like seasonings and such.

Could you do this? I have real doubts that I could do this and not turn in to a low blood sugar witch – maybe change the beginning letter to b. When I went to shop this afternoon, I started looking at the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables. A small head of cabbage was 2 pounds and cost $1.49. A can of black beans can range from 49 to 98 cents. Bananas were 49 cents a pound — I didn’t weigh them, but I suspect that would be about 1.5 bananas. Wholewheat bread was around $4.00 a loaf and would last the two of us about half a week for peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. I could cook up some brown rice. A whole chicken costs about $4.00. I could roast one and stretch it for 2 or 3 days. I would have to give up yogurt and pomegranate juice and have oatmeal and applesauce for breakfast. And coffee! What will I  have to use to make coffee?

If we do this, it will be at the end of April. Mr C says he wants to do it whether I do or not. I said, you know that means no vodka or wine! I thought we could adopt M & M for the week because that would double our funds and they don’t eat much!! So, let me know what you think. Share your ideas with me. I know I would want to clip coupons which I don’t normally do. But do most food stamp users have access to coupons and can you use them with food stamps? Come to think of it most coupons are for those fancy over-packaged and over-processed foods.

Here is the other post card I finished today. This one has hand dyed fabric with a turquoise screen print and Angelina fibers and tinsl captured under tulle. Beads have been collaged with Golden’s gel medium.

beadedcoppertinslpostcards.jpg