Monday, January 20, 2014

Bee Blocks and The Word

Just a couple of bee blocks needed to be sewn this month. The month has turned out to be very busy - full of commitments - so I'm glad to start 2014 by keeping up.

This 12-1/2" String Star is a block for my BAM BOM begun at the beginning of 2013. The BOM has been hosted by the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild. Though they offered 12 blocks, I won't make the last one, a Pine Tree block that I don't care for. So, I'm done with this BOM and with a little finagling will get it put together. Now I have two BOMs that need to be assembled, the other being the 2011-2012 Blogger's BOM

This 12-1/2" house block is for Linda, one of the 13 quilters in our Mid-Century Modern Bee. Linda lives in Texas, and experienced the horrible tragedy, last October, of her house burning to the ground. Linda invited us to help her build a quilt with house blocks. Naturally, the one I made had to be all Florida-y citrus-y... and a little on the punk side.  

Another something I've recently been noodling is a word-of-the-year. It seems that instead of setting goals, a lots of friends have adopted a word as a reminder of a way they'd like to live, or a point of view to appreciate. Some of my friends have adopted these words: priorities, savour, courage, and relax.

With my Bible in hand, and after giving it lots of thought, I chose

I selected "perspective" because of the health challenges I faced in 2013. I found that my sometimes, out-of control feelings were compounded by anxiety over small commitments I'd made. I didn't give proper value to the things that were most important, and let go of those that were not.

So in 2014, no matter what unexpectedly lands in my lap, I'm determined to keep the proper perspective on all of it!
An ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance.


When life gets out of hand, I'll focus on what's most important. God. I'll let go of small things - overlook the details - that are insignificant when compared to the big picture - a life lived and appreciated in the fullness of God.

I'll find a way to include the word in a quilt finish this year. Let's see how that works out! Linda

17 comments:

  1. I like your word of the year - perspective! Mine would probably be "others" as I seem to be getting too comfortable with myself these days.

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  2. Wonderful choice. I think my word will be "today". I won't put off till tomorrow what I need to do today. And we'll see how THAT goes. Hope you're having fun.

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  3. I love your word! And that cartoon really explains how appropriate it is! And your funky beach huts are very "Florida"-ish!

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  4. Great word, Linda. I enjoyed reading about how you came up with it and the goals you have for 2014. Planning ahead is half the battle!

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  5. I love both blocks you've sewn this month. The colours just "talk" to me. You've chosen a great word for 2014; isn't it all about "perspective"? I haven never chosen word for a year, although I think it's a terrific idea, so I will put my thinking cap on and try to find one which could accompany me this year.

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  6. I like the blocks- good luck getting the BOM quilts together. Amen to perspective. It's so easy to get lost in the small stuff and forget the big picture.

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  7. What a wonderfully creative house!! I'm am the worst at keeping things in perspective. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  8. Love the colors for your star block. Perspective is such a good word and very similar to the one I ALWAYS keep at the forefront - balance.

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  9. Wonderful word. Great cartoon. Super cute house!

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  11. Lovely blocks. Your house is so cute. I need to make mine

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  12. Linda,
    Yes, perspective is important. (I would like to have had that cartoon when I was still teaching literature.) Now you have me thinking about what my word for 2014 should be.
    The blocks -from your choice of color/fabric to the design- are eye candy.
    Looking forward to seeing you and the others at Central Florida Modern. We head south soon.
    --Lynda

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  13. Good word selection, and even better, that you chose it with the Word to guide you. Blessings, Linda!
    :-}pokey

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  14. "Perspective" is an excellent word for the year and I can very much identify with it. Also "priorities", a word so closely related. In fact there are so many characteristics I need to learn from and develop that I'm a bit spoiled for choice :-( However I think I will still go with the one we discussed, Linda. Love your blocks! They just sing (jazz, I think).

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  15. What a great word to choose Linda - if we could only see things through God's eyes we would be right on target with our perspective with all things, wouldn't we? blessings, marlene

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  16. A wonderful word Linda. And I just love the comic . . . so right on. Your house for Linda is really fun. I just pulled my fabrics today and drew up something so I could sew this Sat at guild sew day..

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  17. I am so happy to have found your blog it is amazing and you are out of this world blessed with pure talent. Your quilts blow my mind. I'll even be anywhere close to this good, but you give me something to shoot for :) I am out looking for a few new quilting friends to share and bounce ideas around, with. I am a retired activity directory of an assisted living home, a wife, mother and grandma who is enjoying the extra time of retirement and filling it with fun sewing and crafting projects. I love quilting, but I am very new to it. Please come visit my blog. I would love to have you follow me back and even get in on my latest Give-A-Way of 2 mug rugs and a dish towel.
    Keep smiling . . . hope to hear from you.
    Your new blogging sister, Connie :)

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