Treasure Maps Coming Soon!

I'm sitting here looking at the loads of snow everywhere...finding it beautiful yet ready to see crocuses popping up marking the end of the cold for another year. I'm looking forward to April when we do our treasure maps for the next year. A treasure map is a visual reminder of your goals and desires; a tool to keep tuned in over the year to what you want in your life. New Year's resolutions never worked out for me...I typically forgot about them by the end of January:( Pic is of my map from last year.

This will be our 3rd year of treasure mapping. I've found that I manage to manifest the changes/sometimes minor tweaks I want in my life because of it. Whether it is the 'universe responding to my call' or simply that large brightly colored foam core board blasting off my quilt room wall triggering some response from my right brain, it works for me and I love the process. Each April, this year the 3-5, we take a day or two to make our maps. These days are the most powerful according to the astrologers. Aries is the sign associated with spring of course, but also sight. Completing your map during the Aries new moon is the most desirable time.

I am going through the preparation phase of this right now and purging, organizing, and cleaning my home (and my mind in the process! You all know how good it feels to get rid of things and have a clean space). I have a friend who recently lost her job who is helping me with this ... she is an amazing power cleaner and I feel like I have a wife!!! It's awesome. I work on a room ... truly cleaning it down to the corners and under the couch cushions and when I get done there are 2 rooms done as she's been working in another:) We have a match made in heaven...she needs work, and I need help. Hopefully she will find a job soon, but in the meantime I'm happy to have her around here:)

For anyone who wants more information I'm including last years' blogpost from Tracey's Cook's astrosalon. You can also find information if you Google Law of Attraction/Treasure Mapping. I'm sure that Tracey will post info this year as the time approaches. If you choose to do this, have a great time and enjoy!

At the risk of overstating something that I consider totally obvious---The Aries New Moon is THE most important lunar month in the entire year. Yeah, I guess that is quite a statement but I stand by my opinion. After all, it is this New Moon that launches the rest of the twelve signs. We can’t get to them ---without being here first. Aries is the gate keeper and it is the catapult. It is the sign associated with spring and it is sign associated with sight. We start here to get there. All of us have desires and goals but in order to manifest those dreams we have got to SEE them. And so on Aries New Moon we build our Treasure Maps. Like I said, Aries is an important New Moon.

I am guessing if you check in on my New Moons with any kind of regularity you are already familiar with Treasure Maps. God knows I have been talking about them for years. But if you don’t know anything then you can start HERE for background information.

In a nutshell, in order to make a Treasure Map, you need to clear your brain from fear and judgment and open it up to what you really want. Not “sort of want” but what you really want. A great way to get an idea what you want is to sit down with a bunch of magazines and start looking at photos and captions, look for sentences, words, anything that catches your attention. There will be some images that really beckon you and I would encourage you to cut them out and consider putting them on your map. Or maybe you go to a store and pick out greeting cards. Perhaps there is a “Congratulations on your Wedding” card that has THE MOST perfect image for exactly what you want this year. Or maybe you see a travel brochure with images of fabulous vacation spots. Or you decide to go online and look for images of exercise because you want a full year of better health. And of course you can draw and paint what you want and type up affirmations. “I am happy and grateful that I am abundant.” Whatever images and affirmations that you land upon and they call to you--- put it on a poster board. This is your Treasure Map. This is your life that you want. Please make your Map on the New Moon which is between April 14 8:28am EDT and April 18 1:40am EDT. If you cannot make your map in those 3.5 days then you do have the whole waxing moon (between April 14 and April 28) but be forewarned on the 18th Mercury is going retrograde and I do not feel that is the most optimal time for a Treasure Mapping. But perhaps some of you will need that cuckoo energy to find your map. Go with what works best for you.

My favorite things:)

This is a quilt I just completed for a man in Oklahoma...the top is one started by his mother I believe and the last of 3 he had me complete for his girls. These quilts come to me anything but laying flat; imperfect seams and rather randomly sewn together, but as you can see my motto stands: "It will quilt out!" It consistently amazes me what imperfections will disappear once a quilt is quilted into submission:)

Now on to our new family member Mocha! We finally added another kitten to our zoo. She's fitting in well as her personality is not one of confrontation but rather she goes with the flow and doesn't dive into another animal's space until it's okay. She met Bella early on and wanted to play as long as she had high ground:) Now she's actually playing with our 4 year old buttercup (as of today). Kittens are so much fun!

And finally (will I ever remember to put my pics in reverse order on here?) Meg and her friend had their american girls out playing in the snow...just had to share this one:)

Just wanted to share a few of my favorite things:)

Where is the time going?

Wow...time is flying by and I'm just getting carried along with it! I'm working ... really I am, but I don't seem to be keeping up by any stretch...heavy sigh. Anybody else still have their Christmas tree up?! Mine is becoming a fire hazard and it isn't coming down today either. We took a road trip this weekend to meet my husband on an overnight in Minneapolis. That entailed a trip to the American Girl store as well as Ikea. The trip to Ikea has created more work as I purchased a cabinet to contain my daughter's American Girl things and someone has to put it together! Of course she thinks that has to be today somewhere between working on a custom quilt and doing housework. And I'm dying to get the new Evo phone that just came out so that gets added to the list of things to do...like I have the time to learn to use it right now anyway!

I'm not really complaining...I just really need to clone myself to get everything done. I read about all those focused and organized Etsians getting new things made every single day and I keep thinking I'm doing something wrong in my life that I can't keep up...I imagine I'll figure it out and if not, well, I'll just keep on living and loving my life anyway:)

The photos above are of a custom quilt I recently shipped made from tshirts, baby blankets, and an old quilt that was falling apart. This was a challenge and quite fun to make. The woman was thrilled with the final result and wrote:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Theresa, the quilt totally exceeded my expectations. It is absolutely wonderful. Steve is thrilled!!!!!!!!!! And it feels like it will only get better with time. I am so appreciative. I can't even believe how each square is so uniquely quilted with a different stitch. Thank you so much. How do I give you a 5-star rating on your site? Once again -- thank you so much.

It's so gratifying to get feedback from people. I love being a part of preserving such precious memories:)

Well, I must get to making this other quilt...all from the Cherrywood fabrics I ordered. I had planned to get it done this weekend but the trip to MN delayed my progress. But then what is life if you can't take the occasional road trip on the spur of the moment? I can't always be responsible!

10 days and counting!

Just 10 days to Christmas and my world is still a mess! Give it up, right? I'm currently working on a custom quilt for a woman using kids tshirts, blankets, clothing, and an old tattered favorite quilt. This is a first using parts of an old quilt so it will be interesting how I manage to work that into the design. I have ideas...just hoping my quilting machine doesn't hate the thickness of those parts. It will be a wonderful gift. I started working on it last night and I'm headed back up here shortly. I will post pics as I approach completion.

Still have not chosen a color for my kitchen...don't know why I'm so worried about it...it's just paint and it can be redone fairly easily. Heavy sigh.

I bought a load of Cherrywood fabrics for another custom quilt...thankfully it does not have to be completed in time for Christmas. I'm making this one for a man who has always wanted a quilt of his own. I have met some really nice people doing custom work...it's fun to work this way and meet people I'd never run across otherwise.

Check out Cherrywood fabrics...just google them. Soooo pretty, suede appearance. Can't wait to hold them in my hands. Great company to work with. Good customer service and small enough to feel comfortable and welcome. It runs $14/yard so no mistakes allowed on this! I'm making 2 quilts...one for him and one for the site so look for it after the holidays on my Etsy:)

My Life and it's snowing in Iowa!

Well, the first snow is here...quite beautiful! Here's a shot from my sunporch door:) And of course the first wet dog pic of the year. Right after I took this pic she shook all the wet off all over my computer desk!

Chaos has resumed around here impeding my ability to sew...kitchen drywall repairs in progress...can't walk anywhere around my house though I've managed to get to the coffee pot!

And, cute kid pic:) My best friend was here from NC ...her daughter is my daughter's best friend also. Just had to share:)

I'll get back to the sewing room eventually!

Etsy shop to check out

Quick post just to share an Etsian that I LOVE!!! Check out www.etsy.com/shop/madart. I don't have time right now to figure out how to import photos from her site on here, but as soon as I do I'll add some. Brilliant colors...just plain beautiful!!! I want to order something but I can't choose ... there are so many I love. When life settles down around here I'll make a decision. I'm in the middle of numerous, unplanned home projects as well as custom work and various appointments...all good, no great, stuff...just all at once. I used to be better at this multitasking, million things going deal...not so much now but I'll make it as always:)

Quilts in the Closet

I've been digging through my closet and pulling out quilts that need to be quilted, finding backings for them and getting it all organized. I thought I'd post pics of my upcoming quilts (well, most of the 'quilts in the closet'...the wind picked a fight with me before I completed all my pics). So here is a little show of what is to come. If you are perusing this and see one that you love, you can always contact me and I can give you a cost, get it quilted asap, and list it for you:) I have a few more but I'll put up pics of those at a later date. I wouldn't want to overwhelm anyone:)