Herding Cats

I find I'm restless and unsettled these days.  Likely, it's due in part to the fact I'm paying far too much attention to what's happening (or not happening) Down South.

Then there have been a couple of recent deaths locally -- or connected locally -- young people in late teens and early twenties, one by her own hand.

Our priest is retiring at the end of this month and there's no one in sight to replace her -- at least, not that I know of.  Our Parish needs to update it's profile, discern changing needs, that sort of thing, before it will be ready to consider applicants for the post.

I continue to wait of news about the two exhibit entries I've put out...

And the weather is turning at last...longer days but very windy; snow is unpredictable, as is ice, on the roads.

Topping that is my online studying which is challenging my late-developing Artist's Brain to stretch and move in very different directions.

I feel like I've been hired to take charge of a 'herd' of cats!

There are some finishes and near-finishes to be pleased about.  The little dress I made for Baby Adina (who turns 1 year today) is in the mail.  Alas...I've discovered that while I thought about taking a photo of it -- I actually didn't.  :-(

The cowl I'm making for a shop sample is more than 1/2 done and will be finished tomorrow at The Shop.

Gina's Harry Potter House Socks are proceeding apace -- I'm well down the leg of the second sock of the pair...and

I've just sent off another $163 and change -- divided equally -- to the JDRF and Diabetes Canada (formerly the Canadian Diabetes Association) from sales of Mark on the Body (see the link in the side-bar for an online preview if you like.)  That brings the total so far to very close to $620 -- for which I am truly thankful!

And...there are some up-coming exhibit opportunities...such as the invitation from a quilt guild in Camrose to do a talk and trunk show at their meeting in mid-April, and a possibility of reprising that talk for the LQS in Stettler in June...

So this post is really about a follow up to my previous one!  (GRIN)

I got the "Windows" piece sewn together and tried it on with EB over at the Academy of Quilting -- with four different rotations.  Can you guess which one she liked best?  ;-)

Which one do you like best?

And...I've been working away in Lyric's "Abstract-a-licious" class, turning those thumbnails into colour and then into a motif I could translate to fabric.

First, my favourite motif (the one on the far left HERE), in colour -- two complimentary colours plus 'white', but done with differing values in coloured marker and crayon:

My favourite of these is the top left one -- here's a close-up:

Lyric liked the one on the very bottom, but it was too close to "Christmas colours" for me!

Today I began to work on this as a piece in fabric -- quite a good size, really...aiming for about 16" x 20" finished.  First, I pieced the background (with the sample on paper inset):

Then I took aim at the white, curvy overlay.  I decided that rather than fuse it, I would needle-turn it...but first I had to draw it out.  I cut a piece of white Kona cotton about the same size as the back ground fabric, and laid it over top of said background on the design wall.  Then...I literally took a mechanical pencil and drew the shape, matching the beginnings and endings of each curve with the stripes of the background, just as it was in the sample...but adding a bit extra fabric for turning under.

Then I tried it on in two different orientations...

First, like the sample

Next, in reverse

Believe it or not, I'm kinda favouring the second one...

Any thoughts?

While you ponder that, and get back to me, I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday on the Needle and Thread Network, and preparing to drive into town for the Ash Wednesday Service.  Maybe that will help me herd some of those cats!

Ash Wednesday 2013

Ash Wednesday 
ca. 1855- 1860
Spitzweg, Karl (1808 - 1885)
Courtesy Jean & Alexander Heard
Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University

Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sound the alarm on my holy hill.

Let all who live in the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming.

It is close at hand...

"Even now," declares the LORD,

"return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Rend your heart and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for He is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and He relents from sending calamity.

- Joel 2:1, 12-13 (NIV)

Ash Wednesday Service

Imposition of Ashes

Holy Eucharist

St. Cyprian's Anglican Church, Lacombe, Alberta, tonight - 7:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, O Lord,

And take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,

And renew a right spirit within me.

- Based on Psalm 51:11-13

Remember you are but dust, and to dust you shall return.

May you have a holy Lent.

Not All Pancakes and Parties

Today is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent.

Especially in North America, Shrove Tuesday is more commonly thought of as "Pancake Day" or "Mardi Gras" -- aka "Fat Tuesday" (the literal translation from the French).

Certainly, 'all-you-can-eat' pancake suppers has the potential not only for Fat Tuesday, but also Fat Wednesday, Thursday, Friday....but I digress!

I seem to have been more reflective than usual this year about ST, AW, and indeed, the entire Lenten Season.  What does 'shrove' mean, anyway?  Turns out it's from the verb 'to shrive'; that is, to make confession and obtain absolution of one's sins in this, 'Shrovetide' or the first week or so from ST and AW into Lent.  Lent itself is a period of penance, reflection and almsgiving for Christians -- sacrifice made for the sake of Jesus, commemorating his own desert time prior to the beginning of his years of active earthly ministry, and remembering his ultimate sacrifice, once-for-all, for the sins of the world -- yesterday, today and forever.

'Fat' Tuesday became the practice of cleaning one's larder of that which is considered indulgent -- like butter, cream, chocolate, sweets and pastry.  Pancakes became an efficient way of doing some of this.  Typically, we've expanded this concept -- created great festivals like Carnival celebrated each year at this time in New Orleans, and its northern equivalent, Carnaval in Quebec City.  "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow --  you fast!"

But...

Though I too will be making pancakes for my dinner tonight, I won't be out dancing in the streets or tying one on at the local bar.

Today and tomorrow I want to take time to pause, reflect, undertake an examen, and enter the season of Lent with at least some of my spiritual fat cleaned out of the larder of my heart.

May those of us who choose to observe Lent this year find blessing in the weeks ahead.  Amen!