The first day of the new year. I never imagined being alive in 2023 when I was young! Never thought that far ahead. I pray that this is the best year yet! My wish for you is that you always walk in sunshine, no matter the weather. May your heart be filled with peace, love, joy, and serenity. May you be prosperous, healthy, happy and well. May we wise up and walk in dignity, so our Mother Earth recovers and continues to support human life. May we treat one another with kindness, compassion, and deep respect. May peace reign on earth, now and forever more. And so it is!

Here is what I made from this funny little tri-fold of cardboard with a circle cut from the center part; I think it was originally a support to go around a bottle of lotion or something, in an empty box someone gave me. Now it’s a little folio with blank pages inside to write or draw or add some photos to. EnJoy!

Mermaid Mini Folio

Mermaid Mini Folio 2

Mermaid Mini Folio 3

Farewell to 2022!!! Thank you for all the gifts and lessons you’ve brought, now it’s time to move on and make way for the new!

Here are some great practices for letting go of the old and making room for the new:

• Have a ritual bath or shower and wash away all disappointments, frustrations, unfulfilled dreams, pain, illness, suffering, grief, lonelines, isolation, loss of any kind. You can also write all of these out, then burn the paper in a ceremonial release

• Forgive yourself and others for all the things that did not go the way you wanted them to. When you’ve completed these rituals, if you wish to do them, treat yourself to a comforting cup of hot chocolate, snuggle up with a good book and a quilt and a cat if you live with one, and just relax and release.

I have written my long list and burned it in a can outdoors; tomorrow I shall write out my intentions for 2023. There is a tradition in some cultures that says the first thing you do on the first day of the New Year, is something you will do all year long, so make it something fabulous! I’m going to count my money, write out a list of blessings I’m grateful for, and practice laughing for no reason! What will be your first activity of 2023?

Here are another photo of my Christmas tree to brighten your day. I’ll be taking that down within the coming week, as it’s getting pretty dried out and saggy. EnJoy!

Christmas Tree and Shelf

Save the date! My Year of Wild Art ends on February 24th, and on February 25th I shall be holding an end-of-year recap party! You are invited to join. I’ll post details as the day gets closer.

I finally got to hear the replay of my interview on Wednesday, not quite as disappointing as I first thought. Go here to listen.

Today I lazed around some, had a nap, and drove to town in the pouring rain to get a couple of ingredients for my dinner tonight and tomorrow. I seem to be in a place of discontent and uncertainty, not sure what direction I want to take my life next, not  wanting to commit to doing things or making things or taking classes or whatever. So I’ve decided Not to hold my own Magical Vision Map playshop, as planned, though I shall do some of the exercises/rituals myself and see what evolves.

I pray that 2023 is a fantastic and wonder-full year for all of us, a time of healing from the past two years of chaos and pain and suffering, and a time to nurture ourselves, each other, and flourish our wildest dreams of creativity! Tread gently on the earth, lift one another up, and spread peace wherever you go. Walk in love and light.

Pink Christmas Envelope Pocket

Pink Christmas Envelope Pocket 2

Pink Christmas Envelope Pocket 3

Pink Christmas Envelope Pocket 4

Still feeling rather out of sorts when I got up today, though taking a walk late in the afternoon helped. Also had a good business call with a potential customer for the Debt Shredder; closing the sale is getting closer!

This evening I made this tiny container from a piece of juice carton cut out with the cap in place; I added a backing of tissue box card and covered top and bottom with scraps of an envelope. Added some flowers that I fussy cut from a calendar and some stickers. Now I have another place to store tiny beads, sequins and other bits. EnJoy!

Juice Cap Container

Juice Cap Container 2

Well, after all the lead-up, I did not have a very good interview today. I made the mistake of talking too much about the products I sell, thinking it would be good to give stories for each, and that ate up almost all the time! The host skipped over the next 3 questions and asked the final one, how people could contact me. Very disappointing.  😦 I’m going to call tomorrow and see if I can have a do-over!

I grumped my way through the rest of the day, and suddenly it’s nearly 11:00 pm and I’ve not made anything new. Nor am I in the mood to create. Two steps forward, one step (or more) back. Such is life at times.

Here is a pencil box I made some time ago, using an empty toothpaste box and pretty paper and ribbon. EnJoy!

Birds Pencil Box

Birds Pencil Box 2

Today my dear quilter friend came to lunch, and we had another Christmas feast! Turkey, baked butternut squash, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy, with mince-cherry pie for dessert. Sublime!

My friend brought me an amazing gift: this pack of fabric samples from a store rep that he no longer needed. Aren’t these colors gorgeous! Each sample is quite a good size; I can hardly wait to see what I’ll create with these!

Bali Batiks 1

Bali Batiks 2

Bali Batiks 3

I did make a tiny notebook with scraps of copier paper and a snippet from Graphic 45’s Nature’s Notebook Collection.

Now I’m winding down for sleep, and looking forward to my interview tomorrow on Meet the Elite Podcast! Be sure to tune in a few minutes before the start time of 1:39 pm PST, 4:39 pm EST, 9:39 pm London time. Click this link to listen live.
EnJoy!

Tiny Nature Notebook

Tiny Nature Notebook 2

I woke up this morning feeling worn out and not up for doing much, so I took it easy. A late afternoon walk around my neighborhood and a chat with one neighbor I passed did perk me up some. I enjoyed a call with another sister this afternoon, and posted all over about my upcoming interview on Wednesday. You can click on this link to listen live, at 1:39 pm PST, 4:39 pm EST.  I do urge you to log on at least 5 minutes in advance so as to hear my interview from the start; it willl be just 5 minutes long. Being live radio, the timing can be a bit variable.

Here is a little notebook I made this evening, using scraps from Classic Christmas collection by Stamperia. EnJoy!

Christmas Stocking Mini Journal

Christmas Stocking Mini Journal 2

Christmas Stocking Mini Journal 3

Good Christmas Day! I had a phone call from one lovely sister and a zoom call with another; everyone else was too busy to join. Ah, well.

Took a walk while my turkey was cooking, and visited a neighbor for a little while before eating. It was about 64º out!

Also talked with a couple of friends and opened gifts. I received a gorgeous marino wool sweater, a lovely wall calendar, a set of blue flannel sheets, 2 boxes of soy-wax candles in white and red, and a pair of lace-up boots from LL Bean. Delightful!

My turkey was accidentally overcooked! I’d estimated 4 hours but when I (luckily) stuck the meat thermometer in after 3 hours, it was already over done. I served it with browned mashed potatoes (cooked yesterday), a small piece of yam, cranberry sauce, broccoli and gravy. Also had mince and cherry pie for dessert with plenty of whipped cream, my holiday splurge. YUM!  Now it’s time to read for a bit before bed. Sweet Dreams!

Sweater from A. 2

Mince Cherry Pie Raw

Mince Cherry Pie Baked

Dessert

‘Twas the night before Christmas –and all through the house I’m surrounded by beautfiul art that I and others have created! Although I had planned to make something new to share, I simply don’t have it in me today. I’m not feeling especially cheery; being alone yet again for this favorite holiday just feels sad to me.I miss family, miss having someone special to celebrate with. I know there are others who also feel this way, so I send hugs and love.

I did make pie dough for my mince and cherry pie, cranberry sauce with apple, lemon and orange, and mashed potatoes, all in preparation for tomorrow. I also went to a local store for green beans, as I forgot to purchase any the last couple of times I went to town, but since the lines were all long and customers had full shopping carts, I gave up and left. Across the street at a natural foods store I got some broccoli, which while delicious, is not quite satisfactory when one wants green beans! Ah, well.

Here is a lovely envelope folio I made earlier this year, perfect for today. EnJoy!

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 2

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 3

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 4

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 5

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 6

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 7

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 8

Christmas Sparkle Envelope Folio 9

Today was very mild, temperature-wise, and even a bit of sun peeking out from cloud cover. I got to hang laundry out to semi-dry and pick up the fresh air, and took a good walk. Oh, and I got invited by someone with Meet the Elite Podcast to speak on a five-minute segment on Wednesday the 28th! I will post details for how to listen as soon as I get that information. Save the date! It will be at 1:39 pm PST, 4:39 EST.

I made two little ornaments this evening, weaving yarn around the ring from a pull tab for the smaller one, and creating a spide web around the ring that seals the lid to a bottle of juice. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing when I started the larger ornament, so the spokes of the web are not as evenly spaced as I’d like. It would have been better had I made the buttonhole sttch all the way around the ring, then gone back to create the spokes, rather than going back and forth and ending up with double yarn on a few of the spokes. Ah, well, play and learn!

Woven Ornament

Spider Web Ornament