What if:

          Alzheimer's - a disease we have created as a means to avoid owning/acknowledging our apparant failure to fulfill our purpose - or,  to free ourselves from the torment of believing we have failed?  "We" are getting something out of it - and whatever it is, it is race (consciousness) related as well as individualized.  It is an indicator of something - some ‘stuckness', some false belief (beyond that of disease).  A denial, a refusal.  The energy required to suppress/forget/deny what we came here to do is so great - must be so great, that it takes with it not only what we ‘want' to forget, it takes everything away.  We give the ego so much power that it ultimately destroys/consumes/eats itself.  Being right at any cost is ultimate self annihilation.

Ego is the data base we call memory.  It is also that which allows for only ‘more of the same'.  We use "beliefs" as our barricades - no match, no entry = no growth, no development, no healing = no freedom.  Within that data bank also lives the ‘functional data' - that which allows us to "remember" how to tie our shoes and get food from plate to mouth on a fork - and ‘potty training', and how to find our way home etc etc.  Alzheimer's is not a result of any thing "out there".  It is the ultimate NO to who we are.  AND all of this is within our evolution as a race.  We are on the ‘path' to YES.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

ok, not really - i had intended to just type the date, but ya just never know. ^_^
mostly wanted to again say Happy New Year. 

we are still not 'out of the woods' here (or out IN the woods either), but won't be getting kicked out within a couple months, at least.  still, the danger has not completely passed - so the 'sale' remains on the webpage.  and even if the house were secure - my personal finances are in a shambles.  ahhh, the mystery of it all. 

i remain optimistic and trusting in TGW to guide me thru safely.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

these are the thoughts that came to me during and just after my morning journaling practice.

Maybe we are at a moment of Spiritual Evolution as a race - because, until now we have misinterpreted our Divine Urge for 'Expansion'.  As a race at it's level of development we turned the Divine Urge into a belief.  And beliefs operate at the level of doing and having, and are, by nature 'false'.  So, the urge for 'expansion' for Spirit became the 'need' for more at the level of doing and having - more stuff, more fame, more status, more, more, more.  At any cost.  That belief has now been driven to extinction and we must evolve. 
We are evolving into the Truth of Expansion which is about becoming "more".  Evolution by its nature requires transformation, which may look like the 'death' or disappearance of some 'things'.  And at the individual level, that disappearance/change can look a lot less than wonderful. 

Some of us seem to be caught in that part of this evolution - and are in 'real' danger of losing our homes, have already lost our jobs, etc etc etc.  So, I am trusting in TGW (The Great Whatever, as my writer friend call It). 
As I sat in my chair my eyes were drawn to these wonderful flowers I had brought in from the yard.  And I couldn't help but think - how DOES that happen?  How does that little brown bulb turn into these beautiful and complex flowers and leaves - every year at this time????  How DO we humans think we really know anything???  How could we ever believe WE are 'in contol' here? my my


love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

well, it seems nearly certain that we can get thru december.  however, the future remains very UNcertain.  i continue to pray, meditate and practice 'faith and trust' to the best of my ability.  i am continuing the 'sale' on the website.  and continuing to keep my ears and eyes open for 'outside' work.  and trusting that the loan modification will be approved/go thru - whatever all that is.  and even less certain about how to keep the rv.  there are a couple of shows i have scheduled for which it would be much much better to use it than the van.  that is - if i am even able to DO shows this coming year!???
despite all that doom and gloom - at some level i am optimistic.  and it is from there that i wish all a wonderfully happy and love filled holiday and new year.






love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

so, here's the deal.  we are about to lose our home.  and that would put this 70 year old woman, a 5 year old, a pregnant woman and my son - on the street.  and given i don't see how i can get this computer and all the inventory into that cart - i really need the folowing:

please, go to the webpage and order just one pattern.  in return, i will send you another one (your choice) for free.  in fact, i will send you one for every one you order, in case you'd like more.  use the comment section on the page to let me know which one you want for free.

also, if you are in the sac area and know of anyone looking for help - i am also looking for a 'real' job.

God Bless You
love and beauty     www.artfullyapplique.com

my work is now being offered at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles!!

it's the framed mini's - and i am lovin it!  have sent the first two and the response was "they are beautiful".  yea!!  have two more ready to frame.  plan to ship 4 at once next time to keep my shipping costs at minimum.  it's a consignment deal, so not getting quite as much as i do when i sell them in the booth.  still, hoping the volume makes up for that.  they don't exactly fly out of the booth.  i mean, most folks are looking for projects/patterns, etc to make - not a finished product.
so, here are the two i sent.

for the next two, i used the same design for both (not either of these) and just varied the fabrics.  i won't duplicate any, and am signing them as 1/1.  i don't like doing the same thing twice anyway. 
so, here's hoping they do well.  it has at least given me the idea that i can approach some galleries.  could be i won't have to do so many shows next year???  could stand a little less of that physical labor stuff. ^_^

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

just thought i'd post the finished product - and it's been awhile since that last post.  i had to redo that tulip block - which means it got done 3 times.  don't usually have that trouble, but just couldn't get that one 'right'.  looks ok now and i like the finished wallhanging - ok, not finished finished.  as in, not quilted.  not a step i often do, unless i plan to enter it in a show.  a lot of work/time that doesn't give me a return - sell patterns just as well with it not quilted!

doesn't look square in that picture, but it is.  trying all new stuff here.  just took the picture directly from my camera and into this laptop.  had trouble and wasn't able to download all the pictures using the utility that came with the camera.  driver is installed and the camera shows up when i go to where you check for that sort of thing.  but when i tried to use the utility it said the camera wasn't recognized.  what do i know!??  was able to download them one at a time using the windows media thing.  perhaps i should try using that where i usually am to choose the eos utility???  another day.  time to get back to work now.

love and beauty   www.artfullyapplique.com

been gone from here a long time, again.  i seem to find time only for the other blog.   thought i'd just do a little update here, in case anyone  comes to visit. ^_^
as usual, preparing for another show - this one in hollister, ca.   and in the middle of a new project.  it's a four part deal, actually.  i have completed the first 2 parts and the 3rd is essentially 'done' - will finish it today.  as for the 4th - giving me fits.   design is ok, it's the fabrics i can't get right.  plan to tweek the design, partly to help with the fabric choosing (some things in applique require very tightly woven fabric, which isn't always available in exactly the right one!).  i have already done the tulip blossom twice - ripped the first one off and about to do the same with the second one.  grrr  have chosen yet another 4th fabric and will give it another go once i have the daffodil complete and published.  you can see what i'm talking about in the picture below.  all four will be sewn together to create a wallhanging - once i g et that tulip sorted out!  they will still also be available as single block patterns and kits.  don't plan tp do a kit for the wallhanging itself.
the weather has warmed, tho still nice and cool for sleeping.  does make it tougher to stay inside and work, tho.  ^_^  however, work is what i must now get to.

love and beauty    www.artfullyapplique.com

have been home for about a week now.  family all gone to ohio, so am really 'alone'.  working on my conversation as much as my 'work' work!  vowed to stay awake and aware and stop my negative talk - about myself, about my finances, etc.  interesting.
the second show in oregon was not at all good for me.  still, the cash flow helped.  have nothing going for the next couple of weeks.  certainly could use some orders on the page!  quilting kind of slows to a crawl in the summer.  everyone too busy outside and out of town.  t'will soon pick up.
just before i left, that agressive deer brought her twins back to visit again and this time i got lots of pictures.  managed to keep the dogs quiet enough so had a lot of time to shoot.  so, i will add one of them here - along with one of the foggy morning pictures from waldport.
enjoy
they are actually very close to the house.  that funky limey shape lower left is the chair that still needs a second coat - right under the plum in my 'yard'.





















love and beauty

to vacate in oregon.  doing my best to enjoy this perfect day with no sadness about leaving tomorrow.  doing my best shot at be here now.  there was no fog or mist this morning, so it's just been sunny and lovely.  atarted with no breeze, but as the tide comes in, so does the wind.  was folding fabric outside for awhile - a bit of a challenge.  but i really wanted to enjoy the sunshine.  finally gave up.
also did some laundry, so now must climb up there and see if i can get that fitted sheet back onto that mattress without knocking myself out on the ceiling - or falling off the ladder. ^_^
class went well, everyone well pleased.  that's a good thing.  and between the fee and the notions i sold, have covered lodging and most of the gas - maybe all?  and leaves the show profits for covering inventory.  i never think about that part.  like all that paper, ink and fabric just floats thru the door from the quilting fairy. ^_^  some things are best not considered - at least until you run into a real problem paying the bills. ^_^  so far so good - most of the time.

i could definitely deal with a couple more days here doing nearly nothing.  and i just heard it is beastly hot at home again.  the locals here are wearing shorts - not me!  sun is warm, breeze is NOT.
ok, back to it.

love and beauty