Time for a change

I posted about this earlier today, but was not yet ready to direct traffic to my new site.  I'm ready now!  You see, for a while I've been feeling a change coming.  Maybe its the remodel, a new sense of home... our changing world... maybe I've changed... whatever the case I'd like my blog to reflect these changes I've been feeling internally.  

I hope you will continue to find inspiration and kinship in my words as I change course.  

Simply put, I'm moving.  Please visit me at my new site simply robin.  

You all have been great!  

I'm so indebted to you for keeping up with me. 

It means a lot.  

Really.  

Thank you.  

Things I'm grateful for:

I just spent the last two days in a seminar on critical care.  I'll be honest with you, at times I had a hard time staying focused.  Sitting there for that long, I was filled with thoughts of where I'd rather be, and what I'd rather be doing.  "I should be creating something in the studio, cutting fabric, making something new for my etsy shop, working on a Christmas present"... on and on the list went in my head.  It took me a while, but at one point I realized my instructor had been spending hours talking about human diseases and conditions...terrible things...after all, this was a CRITICAL CARE course.   I realized how fortunate I was to be sitting there learning about these things and not actually experiencing them myself.   Not only that, I was being given the gift of knowledge... the ability to care for people who find themselves in these conditions.  As soon as I looked at things from this perspective, things shifted for me.  I drove home in a much happier mood. Gratitude... pure and simple.... rescued me.  Almost by magic, I read this on Zen Habits today.  Guess I'm not the only one!

New Links

I just visited Mai-Britt's blog and found this link.  It's called Multicolor Search Lab, and it's perhaps the coolest thing I've seen in a while!  I just love the blend of color and technology!

They also have a Visual Search Lab: 

And a BYO Search Lab:

Ahhh yes, three fine reasons to play on the computer!!

Test kitchen

Ahh, Cinnamon-Applesauce ornaments!  Today I'm testing out an old recipe, hoping to make something for our school's fundraiser.

I just love the look of these hand-molded hearts.  And the smell!  Simply delightful!!  When finished, I'll hang these with red ribbon.
My first little batch, all ready to go!  Such a perfect Mommy-&-Me craft... this is the kind of thing memories are made of.

It started with a mix...

It ended with two very happy dogs!

Renovation update

I know I've been quiet here on this blog lately.  Truth be told, I'm exploring other ways to be creative, and much of my time is spent on things other than quilts.  I've nothing to show yet, but I will show you a new blog I stared for our school's PTO.  We have a Holiday Sale coming up at the end of the year and I'm knee deep in planning!   The blog is called ...and another thing...

...and another thing... is a better title for our renovation which is entering the sixth month!  Just when I think we are almost done, I look around and find several more things that need my attention.  Of course these things have to happen in sequence so it goes something like this:  first we get this project done, than we can do this other one, then another... and on it goes.  Today was the end-day in a long string of days spent on the kitchen!  We now have all the tile installed, electricity turned on and lighting finished!

It's just so beautiful!  I never imagined I'd be one of those women who would fall in love with her kitchen!  Now cooking is not a chore and I'm actually excited about meal planning!

On the other side of our room is our living room.  As you can see we still have a bit to go.  The tile will go all the way to the ceiling, and of course it need to be grouted, the hearth installed and the doors on the fireplace replaced... oh yes, that space right in front needs a handle, which I have but for some reason I'm putting this task off... hmmm.

It's getting colder outside.  I'm reminded how I love the season change.  These shortened days and cooler temperatures make me think of cooking soups and bread... lighting candles... doing quiet things with the kids... and wearing socks inside.

Hilary Pecis is a collage artist that is currently being featured in a show at the Receiver Gallery in San Francisco.  I find her work to be unearthly and quilt like... like cosmic dude!  

I imagine she must have been a quilter in a past life.

It's ironic her name is Pecis... almost like pieces...perhaps in a different language.

Also another cool image found on fffound: