The nicest thing: a little story of generosity (WOW)

I have a new subscription to  

Maggie Grey's
Workshop on the Web - 

the quarterly textile review

...... and am well-pleased with the opportunity to explore new techniques and projects every four months during 2010.  I have been interested in online classes in fiber and textiles and this is my virgin foray into that world.

Among the December (09) projects was one called the Net Bag Technique by artist and author Gina Ferrari of  Fan My Flame.  I read Gina's blog regularly; she is amazingly talented; has seemingly boundless energy; and, I learned is generous to boot!  

Well, Gina's project on WOW intrigued me and I thought to try it first but got stuck on one of the materials needed that Gina referred to as "Bond".  Unfamiliar with the name/product, I looked through my little stash to see if I had something similar by another name;  i searched and searched through various online suppliers (like Joggles and the Thread Studio). I "googled" the name 'Bond' but to no avail.

Then I emailed Gina to ask for information on the product.  She sent back an email quick as can be.  And offered to send me a sample to try.  How nice!

The package arrived on Monday this week and also included a note from Gina and the name of a supplier in the UK where I can purchase Bond.

And I am off to play!!!!

Walking through the rooms of our lives ....

We spend January 1 walking through our lives,
room by room,
drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. 
Maybe this year, to balance the list,
we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives  not looking for flaws,
but for potential. 

I really like this quote by  Ellen Goodman.  It fits the activity most of us for most of our lives have engaged in at this time of the year:  reflecting on how to be better people; healthier humans; trimmer, thinner and more fit.  Loving ourselves less than we ought.  Planning personal changes not from self-love but from self-loathing.

Sure, I could make another new year's resolution to lose those nasty ten pounds.  I could resolve to exercise every day.  Eat more salads.  I could.  But I won't.

This year I want to focus not on becoming the 'person I should be' but on nurturing my creative spirit.  Not because I should.  Not because it will make me a better, healthier person.  But because it brings me joy and fulfillment.  Makes me laugh.  Brings me happiness.

This year I will   
s.    t.    r.    e.    t.    c.    h.
my creative spirit

By learning new techniques through Workshop on the Web

By participating in challenges.
For example, a tantalizing one from  musings of a textile itinerant

.....  a challenge .... to follow the KISS- Keep it Simple Stupid principle .... make a 50 cm square quilt using only two coloured fabrics ( or white for that matter) and threads ( as many colours as you would like) but using only straight stitch by hand or machine- no fancy stitches- of course straight stitching can be done in any form- and absolutely no embellishing- just fabric and stitch and your imagination  --  with a march deadline.

And, from Fiber Arts/Mixed Media, this challenge for January:   Pick one of your ugly, or plain, or "why did I ever buy that" commercial fabrics, and enhance it with fabric paint so that you end up liking it! Paint over it completely, outline or color in the shapes, give it an all-over tint, etc. We want to see before and after pictures of the fabric (any size piece). This is a technique challenge— you don't have to use your painted fabric in a project to enter. But once you gussy it up with paint, you'll be inspired to make something fabulous!