It's been fun to visit the other blogs in OWOH and to find all the new visitors who have flown by on their magic carpets to visit me.

I have made the Spring wreath for my door in time for February 2nd which is Imbolc/Candlemas/Groundhog's Day, (depending on where you live and your beliefs) the mid point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. The first stirrings of Spring with snowdrops appearing and the suggestion that the earth is awakening after it's long winter's sleep. I am loving boas at the moment and so I had to use one for my wreath and every time I see it it makes me smile and isn't that what it's all about?

No snow and mild temperatures here in Vancouver so it feels like Spring!

It is four days late but I am entering the One World One Heart giveaway.

My giveaway is my latest crazy quilt faerie pouch.

I am just learning crazy quilting, silk ribbon embroidery and embroidery and this is the fourth pouch I have made. I love the textures of all the fabrics and embellishments and all the colours there is to choose from.

If you would like to enter my draw, please leave a comment with a link back to you so I can contact you if you win the draw. I love the idea of meeting people from all over the world and sharing arts, crafts and other things that the giver loves or loves to do. I look forward to meeting you!

If you would like to do your own giveaway go to http://www.awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/ to enter.

My draw will be on February 15th, 2010.

I made three ATC's today - all the same.

I went back to the store where they sell the cut embroidery tablecloths on Monday and they were open so I bought a tablecloth and runner. They had, in fact, been closed since Christmas.

Tonight I am going to sort the rest of my fabric.

That is the extent of my creativity for now. I will pick out some fabrics for more bags in the next day or two and then get on with that. I really have an over-abundance of beige and brown tones - I am obviously attracted to those colours!

I just tidied my desk-top a couple of days ago and it is a disaster again! Does anyone else have that problem. It seems to attract paper and all sorts of things like a magnet.

Time to make some dinner.

I can't believe it's a week since I last posted, the time goes by so quickly. I only have one cupboard left to clear out and I have sorted through most of my fabrics and put them together by colour into drawers.

Today I finished another faerie pouch:

I have almost finished writing the February newsletter for the building I live in and I made one ATC:
Some time ago I painted several backgrounds and I decided to cut them into ATC sizes and make a picture from them and then I added some micro-beads. This is kind of a fun way to do a picture because the picture comes from the paint that was applied. The leaf in this was already there and so was most of the bird.

Tonight I am going to sew the boa onto my cushion. I went shopping for a cut embroidery tablecloth and runner but the store was closed, the lady in the store next to them said it had been closed for about a month. I hope they re-open soon. I bought some gathering tape for the top of the new curtains I have bought, I just have to adapt them to my window. Things are coming together slowly.

I went out today instead of finishing my walk-in closet. I was feeling a little of the January blahs! Vancouver can be so dreary in the winter, lots of cloudy days and many rainy days and also lots of sad news about neighbours. First I went to Chapters and bought my youngest daughter Simple Abundance: A Day Book of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I bought it for myself when it first came out in 1995 and a couple of years later for my eldest daughter. My YD wasn't really into that sort of thing but she is turning 40 on the 27th of January - my ED turns 46 on the same day - and she said she would like a copy. Unfortunately, they no longer put the pink ribbon book mark in it so I will have to figure out a way to put one it. Don't you think the ribbon markers make a book more luxurious. There is something about it that makes it more special. Yes, both my daughters were born on the same day six years and forty minutes apart. They are as different as chalk and cheese in many ways and so alike in others. They had a few years of not getting along so well but are great friends now.

Next I went to a costume shop and bought a pink boa to put on a cushion. I think I will buy another rosebud cushion and put it around the edge instead of covering the whole cushion. It actually will probably be cheaper that way rather than making a cushion myself. Something really feminine. After that, I went for a California roll and then on to Starbucks. It was a nice break and so I may do some sorting this evening but maybe not, it is Sunday - a day of rest - after all!

Almost finished clearing out a closet today and built a shelf in it. Getting rid of lots of stuff. I have got my Old Country Rose china out and given some to my DD, the rest I will use myself. I have had it for thirty years and it has hardly seen the light of day. It makes me nervous using a teapot that costs clost to $100 but what it the point of having it if it isn't used?

I made a couple of ATC's a couple of days ago:

The one on the write had a Haiku that says: seashells, oracles of the sea, whispering secrets of the deep.

I am itching to do more and wanting to do something creative but I feel the need to get this clearing out done. I feels important so that is my focus for now. By the time I get around to creating again, I will be good and ready. Maybe I'll fit some little things in here and there.

I finished my kitchen cupboards and drawers today and started on my closets. I also took the cover off my loveseat and washed it, so things are moving along nicely. I haven't painted or done anything creative but I feel like I am creating a clutter-free, space making room for the new to come in.

I spent quite a bit of time journaling this morning and I am listening to The Secret now just to get myself in the right mind-set to create a good year for myself. Out with the old negativity, in with the new postive thoughts and actions.

Time for bed now!

I finally got to my cupboards. I cleaned five kitchen cupboards, it feels great. Lots of empty space! The kitchen is the easy part with my other cupboards it will be a little more difficult to decide what to throw away

I bought a really pretty cushion today, it's white and covered in ribbon embroidery roses. Very girly, to go with the Victorian feel I want to create in my apartment.

I also did a lot of journaling this morning before I got up - something I used to do daily. I am using two books right now, Stand Up For Your Life by Cheryl Richardson and Simple Abundance by Sarah BanBreathnach. I have had Simple Abundance for several years and go through it in parts every year, it's a good way to keep in touch with yourself and your home.

My word for 2010 is self-nurturing, I am going to have massages and manicures and pedicures. Lots of pampering.

Went out today to buy a new journal for 2010 and ended up buying two and a small address/phone book. The one I have is about 20 years old and I don't even know who some of the people in it are any more. Anyway, if I bought two I got one free and they are the most beautiful journals. A bit over the top but who can resist a beautiful journal?

I bought the one on the right a couple of weeks ago.


The copper one on the right is the free one.

I also visited my favourite store, The Cross, I go there every so often to feed my soul. I can't afford much there - I've mentioned it before, $275 for a cushion - but today I found fabric samples for $5 a bundle. I bought seven, couldn't resist, they will be lovely for crazy quilting. I meant to clean cupboards today but I needed some groceries and I HAD to have a new journal so no cupboard cleaning - maybe tomorrow! lol
































These are the two necklaces I made for my daughters for Christmas:

This one is smokey topaz and clear swarovski crystal with marquisite 6mm beads and sterling silver.

This one is a real leaf coated in copper with green garnet, topaz and smokey topaz swarovski crystal.

So I had a very nice day shopping and I finished off with sushi and a Starbucks coffee with the Starbucks card I got for Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS

IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN

I started out writing about what I have been doing and decided to delete it all and just write about this being a New Year. I turned 70 two days ago and so it really is a new year for me. I put my Christmas decorations away today and tomorrow I will start going through my cupboards and getting rid of things I no longer use. Things I have been holding onto because they have sentimental value but I no longer have use for. I hope my daughters will take most of it. I feel like my life is cluttered up with what my life used to be. I have things that were my Mom's that I have held onto but there is no need to any more, she is, and always will be, in my heart. I live in such a small space that I really want to feel uncluttered. I don't need to carry STUFF around any more. I hold on to STUFF long after it has outlived its usefulness. A habit learned growing up during WWII.

I had a long conversation with my Granddaughter on my birthday and I thing we are well on the way to healing our relationship. I also had a phone call from a dear friend that I haven't spoken to for two or three years. It was a healing birthday!

Yesterday my youngest daughter took out for lunch for my birthday and we wandered up and down 4th Avenue buying little odds and ends. It was a fun day. I hope the rest of the year is as positive as the start.

I made a couple of ATC's, thought it would be a good way to get into the swing of things, after not creating for a while.

I hope to post more regularly now and reconnect with my creativity.