My Kind of Market

For the past three days I have walked, talked and shopped almost non-stop.  I was able to attend the 2013 Spring International  Quilt Market in Portland OR. I even met one of my favorite art quilters (Gloria Loughman) and managed to wiggle my in to a sold out class of hers (thank you to the person who did not show up that morning!)

Gloria's work is beautiful and she is a joy as well.  Her new book Radiant Landscapes is selling like crazy at our shop (perhaps helped along by my crazed look as I hold the book out to customers saying "have you SEEN this?"

I'm looking forward to teaching a class from her book at the end of this month, and now I'll even have some further tips and tricks from Gloria herself to share.

I met a lot of wonderful people while wandering the aisles at market, and saw some new fun products that I've purchases and will be sure to write about as I explore with them.

My final picture is from Saturday night.  E.E. Schenk hosted a party at their wearhouse--complete with music, food, wine and the opportunity to wander (and shop of course) from their massive facility.  If you can, imagine placing a couple of Costco buildings together and filling it full of notions, books, patterns, fabric, thread, trimmings.....you get the idea.
What an experience!

What is coming up...

I know that winter isn't quite done with us yet...this is Montana afterall, but the last week has been amazing...temps in the 60s, plants popping their heads up all over checking to see if the coast is clear--willow trees glowing bright orange as they wake up from their winter naps and the water level in the river is beginning to rise.

I had hinted a while ago about other things that were in the 'cooker'.  Well, here is the scoop:  the lot next door to us, (which had been sold out of Bob's family) and then due to a death in the family of the purchaser--was put back on the market this Spring. 

The first time it was on the market we wanted to buy it, but needed to go in with others in order to make it work....that didn't pan out and so we resolved to be 'ok' with the fact that we would have neighbors and that our quiet life might change a little. 

This time the land became available, we looked at each other and decided that we needed to make this happen.  Neither of us really like the idea of going back in debt (we had both managed to pay off all of our owings last year), but for something like this, we both decided it was worth it. 

So the month of March has been full of paperwork and spreadsheets and waiting...but we signed on the land last week and as of Friday it became ours.

Bob has been busy clearing some of the massive areas of weeds and brush so that we can put in a whole HEAP of trees along the shore, and today I spent most my time clearing an area where I plan to put in a walking labyrinth and garden. 

 No matter which you way you look...it will be gorgeous....

I've always wanted to have one of these ever since I experienced walking one on New Year's Eve back in Seattle.  I'm very excited about seeing it come to being.





So we're tired and broke, but oh so happy knowing that our little slice of heaven will remain quiet and full of the wildlife, trees, and flowers we love so much.

Marching Forward

(Pardon the title pun...sometimes I can't help myself)

Today is Sunday, and thankfully also a day of rest.  Since last we spoke (or since I typed and you read) there has been quite a bit of traffic in my heart and head.  So many friends facing medical issues and illnesses, or legal battles and concerns, so many people dear to me who have suffered losses, or who are supporting loved ones who have dealt with letting go of family and friends.  My own Mother needing to have surgery to replace the battery/generator in her defibulator that had decided to put its last charge in the air in November (unbeknownst to us!)  I have been imagining myself to be a many faceted mirror desiring nothing else than to shine light and healing energy and thoughts and prayers in each and every direction--as I couldn't seem to keep up with which way needed them most.

Thankfully, with all the many hats I wear and the jobs that keep me out of (or is it in?) trouble, I am so very lucky to work with people who understand that first and foremost is being there for those you love.  So with the support and love of my fellow workerbees and bosses I was able to take the better part of a week off to go and be with my Mom during and after her surgery.  She was a rock star.  While we were both nervous, we kept each other entertained by laughing so hard at little things that the staff at the hospital all took turns to come over and see what was going on.  And, upon returning from the opperation room, the first thing my mother did when they got her back in the observation room was to tell a joke.  There are not enough ways for me to express how much I love this woman, or how happy that I am to be her daughter and to have inherited her good (and yes, some bad) habits.  Needless to say, I am also very thankful that in our world today the medical field can do some pretty astounding things....from heart surgery to home in 6 hours....incredible!

I'm still playing a little catch up though, but thankfully today felt expansive...the kind of Sunday I wish for when I only have a one day weekend...finished some pesky items on my 'to do' list that had deadlines approaching, and got started on a few projects that have been waiting patiently. 

Getting a quick update here, as well as listing a few more items on my etsy shop are just frosting from the day. 

We do have some other news that is building, but I'll not say too much about it yet...somethings want to come into full realizations before they are spoken...but stay tuned.  :)

I hope you are all well....and frankly, with as little as I tend to post---I hope you are are still out there listening.

Much love,
Monique

A little shameless self promotion

Hey all!  I'm participating in a small quilt contest at my local quilt store and would love it if you wanted to stop by their facebook page and show me a little "like" love.

(CLICK HERE)

Each "like" my quilt gets means another vote, so feel free to pass this link on to your friends as well!

Thanks!!!

(here is a close up of my quilt too)  It was done by thread painting based off of a photo that Bob took outside our house.  I can't wait to make a larger scale version!

Showing up

I spent 16 years of my youth dancing--mostly Ballet--and I was very serious about it, and yes, I was actually pretty good.  I loved the movement, the discipline, and structure and the sense of inner calm and confidence.  Even as the years have progressed (and the waistline expanding) my years of dance study has served me well..good balance, good flexibility, able to pick up things quickly and of course the ability to twirl when needed!

I've taken a few dance classes in my adult life but it has been over 6 years since my last go...and I've missed it.  Right along side of that want, there has resided the fear of showing up for class again...in my current shape (sort of the anti-ballerina)---what will the rest of the class think?  would the teacher cringe? would I even be able to do any of the exercises?   With these questions circling my hope of dancing again I have managed to avoid answering the question 'what if' if you just showed up?'

After going to see the winter concert however, (from the studio owned by my FIRST ever teacher--a woman I love and respect so much) my friend was so excited about the idea of learning Ballet that she said 'we should take the adult class!'.  Bolstered by the idea of having at least one friendly face in the room with me, I said "yes....let's do it". 

Fast forward to last night...sitting in the parking lot of the studio, doing my best to give myself a pep talk to walk inside....I was terrified, but knew that I had to go in.   Rooms full of young girls in leotards and tights, some working on point shoes, and then another room (where I couldn't quite see in) I heard the voice of my first dance teacher...she was there and teaching a beginning ballet class to some very young little girls.  And all my fear just melted away as I heard her encouraging, joking, inspiring these little girls just as she had done for me oh so many years ago.   I was home.

I gave her a huge hug as I went into my own class and found (not surprisingly) that the adult ballet teacher is fantastic and has the same open and generous heart as all the other students in the class.  My mind remembers the positions and movements better than my body does at this point...and today's mobility is brought to me by the makers of ADVIL, but my heart--having endured so many of the past years being circled by the ugly thought vultures from my cynical side feels lighter than a feather and able to leap with the best of them.

In the deep dark

I've mentioned here before, how I cherish the different seasons, and that I love being back in an area of the world that has four very distinct different times of the years.  I also know that for many Winter is difficult--the lack of light, the biting cold, bad road conditions...you name it.  And while I do not cherish my long drive to and from work when there is little light by which to see the deer waiting to play "frogger", Winter is a wonderful reminder that we all need to rest, to go deeper, to nourish your very roots that sustain us in this world.  And how ironic that in the very time that nature is showing us how to hibernate, we take it upon ourselves to get the most active, the most party-planned, social scheduled, kitchen productive, concert attending creatures around.  This isn't to say that I don't love me some holiday party, music, dance, cookie bake and so on....I do.  But I also think that we need to make sure that we don't try to fit more into the calendar boxes in December than can possibly fit without bringing down the nail in the wall that holds the whole year up!

This year I was gifted with a little extra reminder....a cold.  I have not been sick for a very long time (thankfully!)  and I had forgotten just how much I do NOT enjoy the feeling of lack of energy (including creative energy) along with the aches and pains of the body...if my body is going to ache I want it to be because I had a good workout...not because I sneezed too many time!  However, what this little 'gift' granted me was a number of days at home...almost an entire week actually....and for that I am grateful.  Thankful that I have a nice warm cozy home in which to recover, a loving partner who was very sweet and did what he could to make me feel better and an employer who not only appreciates when their employees don't come to work sick so that they don't pass on their germs, but who genuinely care about the people that work for them and want them to be as healthy and happy as possible.

So as I make my way out of this head could (thankfully!) It feels more like a reminder of my blessings than just an inconvenience and moment of being uncomfortable in a beautiful life.  And with all the shock and sadness of the past week, it feels even more so.  With no solutions I feel I can offer, no words of comfort that come even close to those suffering the most, I hold up my lit candle and let what light can shine from it, reach out as far into the darkness as it can.  May we all light our own candles with love and hold them up right now.  The world needs to be lit from within.

Thanks to Ellen!

As some of you know (from my blog posts of yester-year) my journey into thread art was started during a class I took with artist Ellen Anne Eddy.  I've taken a number of her classes through the years and love the techniques and inspiration that I get from them (not to mention the beautiful hand dyed fabrics and threads!!!

Well, as it so happens, Ellen asked to write about ME on her blog recently.  I was completely honored and really thrilled.  I hope you'll swing by and check up the post!  To be directed there CLICK HERE

or just type the following in your browser.

http://www.ellenanneeddy.com/weblog/?p=1728



I've got some new pieces almost done as well!  Here is a sneak peak: