Saying Goodbye to 2012

In 2012 I discovered the delightful world of Quilting Bloggers, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.
[I admit, I am slow to embrace the cyber world and all the wonders to behold.]
 
I had 12 paintings in a gallery showing, a quilt in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, reconnected with friends from college and childhood, discovered new friends, hosted a fabric swap, laughed 'till my belly hurt, designed & created dozens of original quilts, sent pillowcases to charities, supported overseas missions, saw miracles & healings manifest before my eyes. The Lord is good!

Like many, I've cried rivers of tears at the needless pain and suffering and loss of life.
I stood amazed at the power and destruction of storms, fire, war and the face of poverty.
And find that now more than ever I am determined to speak LIFE into every situation, to actively seek the positive, give encouragement, build and restore by covering each and every individual with LOVE.

LOVE is the greatest force on the planet!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!
May your year be filled with Ever  Increasing Lavish Abundant Over-flowing Rivers of Blessings and Love.
God Bless You!

LOVE

The theme / focus for 2013 at Sowing Stitches is LOVE.

After  much heartache, death, violence, wars and rumors of wars covering the media and world news, I chose LOVE as my focus for 2013. 

A year set apart of creative adventures filled to overflowing with LOVE. Loving my neighbors here and in the far corners of the world.

Starting in January projects, tutorials, quilts, paintings, topics all will be centered around LOVE.

2013...
"It's about Love, Love, Love that's what it's all about...LOVE." "Come on people...smile on your brother.....everybody get together....let us LOVE One Another..."
           

You may be interested in a new project or two

There are two delightful projects currently in progress with a rapidly approaching deadlines that you may wish to participate in bringing a ray of sunshine to the children of Sandy Hook.

1. Quilter's Corner
    312 Danbury Road
    New Milford, CT 06776
   
They are collecting handmade pillowcases [the goal is 600] to have on hand by December 27th.

2. CT PTSA
    60 Connolly Parkway
    Building 12 Suite 103
    Hamden, CT 06514
 
They are collecting original handmade snowflakes [ before January 12th] to be used to decorate and welcome the students when they return to school in January...Can't you just see their faces when thinking they are going to school but school is decorated like a winter wonderland?

Deadline dates: December 27th for pillowcases
                January 12th for snowflakes

Coming soon

Ready or not, 2013 is rapidly approaching!
And I have yet to do everything I had planned for 2012...Yikes!
[So why are there so many plans set in place for 2013?]
I better get busy, I wonder how much I can accomplish in the remaining 15 days?
Time to be 'real'...time to enjoy the season filled with all the wonder and delights....time to reflect on the many blessings 2012 unleashed....
Could it be possible that the unfinished plans of 2012 are to be completed at another time or not all? After all over half the fun of many adventures is the planning.
Anticipating 2013 to be a year to be filled with many creative adventures, discoveries, opportunities and the manifestation and restoration of all things lost, broken or missing.

Lord Bless these families beyond measure

"NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A shooting at a Connecticut elementary school Friday left 27 people dead, including 18 children, an official said."

My heart breaks for the children of this school, for their families, for the teachers, for the family of the gunman, for those responding to the 911 call.
Tears are flowing over the needless trauma they have endured, the pain, the fear, the confusion that has invaded their lives.
So many questions that may never be answered.

But God.

God can take the fears and blanket each one with Peace, with Hope, with Love & Joy.
But God.
God can bind up their wounds, their broken hearts restoring their bodies, souls and spirits.

Lord release your warring angels to stand beside these children, the teachers and their families.
Release your ministering angels to assist in the needs present in this horrible situation.
Lord grant wisdom to the medical teams treating the injured.
Lord uncover the hidden elements within the investigation may the truth be revealed, may answers come forth as this school and town heals from their great loss.
May Your Glory fall upon them and may every breath they breathe be filled with Your healing breath of Life.
Lord bless each of them beyond measure! amen

I've known Christmas was coming...

Today is December 12th!
As in Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!
Yikes!!
I've known Christmas was coming but it's been pushed to the back of my thoughts by deadlines, submissions, and designs have crowded, pushed shoving to the center of attention.
The trees are up and mostly decorated...late this year...they are usually up the last week in October.
The Nativity is out and on display as are the cookie cutters, snowmen and other seasonal decorations.
The weather is damp and cold...like December should be...

I woke in the wee hours of this morning thinking of Christmas, wondering about the very first Christmas these thoughts.

1. Would I have been like the Wisemen seeking, bringing gifts but not knowing what or who I was going to find following that beautiful star?

2. Would I have been like so many inn keepers casting away Mary & Joseph as someone else' 'problem'?

3. Would I have been like the shepherds working in the night...yet, leaving all to go to the manger?

4. Would I have been like the angels singing and announcing the birth of Jesus?

I'm headed to the mountain! Singing as I go. Join me?
 
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born....and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

I'm not sure about this

Here it is, my first post...nothing earthshaking, not overly dramatic, but words all the same.
I am not sure about all of this.
I love the feel of the pencil between my fingers as I write.
The sound of the lead leaving it's mark upon the paper.

I'm not sure how long this experiment will last only time will tell...