Jan 1, 2014

What a Year!

 

My completed projects for 2013 included:

25 small format art quilts donated to The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
17 prayer flags
20 table mats or pot holders
7 pillow cases for donation to foster care program
6 Christmas stockings
3 sympathy art quilts
2 nursing aprons that fold into pouches..tutorial, soon!
1 baby blanket4 baby towels and 6 baby washcloths
1 toddler neck warmer
8 carry bags


www.with-heart-and-hands.com/2013/12/what-year.html

DIY Wedding for my youngest daughter: 

6 batches of home made paper (blender pulp, impressed with flowers and leaves-about 90 sheets)
75 home made wedding invitations using the paper plus cardstock, twine, brads, print offs etc.
14 burlap table runners
90 osnaburg cloth napkins
 9 large' thank you' burlap and homemade wooden buttoned carry bags

1 wedding dress for my daughter
my own pattern design and using 18 yards embossed silk and satin, 
with a 16 gore (double layer) handkerchief hem

1 wedding bolero jacket from embossed silk and satin


Photos of many projects not shown as I couldn't find them,  or the program couldn't fit them in. And if you count each item, that's 362 projects. Should I hurry up and make 3 more so it's one item a day for all of last year? I don't think so, thank you very much.I may almost never sleep and be more than a bit ditzy, but ....

It's keeping busy and being creative that got me through the hard, sad times of losing both of our mothers, an aunt, and an uncle and having two SIL's being diagnosed with terminal illnesses.


And yes, we (our family of 8) grew the flowers, created the floral arrangements, the bouquet and boutonnieres,  carved out the logs, and did all of the decorating, ourselves.

And no, I did not cook all the food, or make the wine and beer...but we wanted too ;-) And no, I did not play the cello, guitar, banjo, or drums. But the bride and groom made one of the three outdoor games!



 And yes, I'm tired, but there were so many moments of both light and clarity. So many glorious days of joy amidst all of the challenging days and hard times of sorrow.

I am also excited about projects in progress and the New Year ahead! Here's to 2014 and more creative fun! And...



January 1, 2014 presents the first of two supermoons to occur in a single calendar month. The second supermoon will come on January 30, 2014. We won’t have a single calendar month with two supermoons again until January 2018.

What, you say? Supermoon? But the moon isn’t anywhere near full! That’s right. These aren’t full supermoons. They are new supermoons; the moon is at the new phase for both the January 1 and January 30 supermoon. Follow the links below above (I am both numerically and spatially challenged, for real) to learn more about the supermoons of 2014.


Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska. Sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting, with small format art quilts, prayer flags, and comfort quilts for a variety of charitable programs. And best of all, sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join her and make and donate quilts to charitable causes.   Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!

11 comments:

Lynne said...

Wow! That's an amazing output. You've had a roller coaster of a year with great highs and terrible lows. I pray that 2014 goes more smoothly for you.

IHaveANotion ~ Kelly Jackson said...

Really Michele? Really? You are just way to much for me!!! LOL....love you to pieces...big ole pieces mind you :) Keeping our hands busy is a wonderful retreat for sure.

Hugs and Happy New Year!
Kelly

Maritza said...

Michele qué bonitos todos los trabajos que hiciste el año pasado!!!! Feliz 2014...

Michele Bilyeu said...

Gracias tan mucho! Te quiero tener a un amigo!
Michele Bilyeu
Salem, Oregon USA

Michele Bilyeu said...

I know, Kelly.
Really.
I'm way too much for most people in all ways!
(No wonder everyone looks at me out of the corners of their eyes)

Happy First Day of the New Year!!! hugs, hugs, hugs!

Michele Bilyeu said...

Dearest Lynne! It truly has been one. I am so glad I've survived it doing the best that I can and learning that I just keeping getting stronger! Bless you for your friendship and your prayers in all ways!

Patsy said...

Happy New Year!! What a creative year you have had. Hoping 2014 will bring you lots and lots of awesome blessings!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Well, Michele, you have been a slacker. You could have done 365 projects, but did you? Nooo. LOL
Seriously, I am amazed and impressed at your incredible dedication and talent.
Happy New Year, my dear friend.

Unknown said...

Happy New Year to a very creative and ambitious person! Enjoyed reading about your year and all your creative efforts .

Sue Niven said...

Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your wonderful creative year with us, Your daughter looks wonderful in her dress, loved all the wonderful things you did for her. I too had a big hand in my daughters wedding a few years ago, A wonderful experience that will stay with me forever. All the best for 2014.

Winifred said...

I feel worn out just looking at all that you've done in the past year. Amazing Michelle!