Carey Family

Sue

Ode to the 1930’s-blocks #2 & 3

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After our first block, we were a teensy bit aggravated at the pattern. It’s awesome, but the designer mostly cuts squares into triangles and sews them together. This causes stretching on the bias and wonky squares, and doesn’t utilize all the quick half-square triangle and flying geese methods available. So Terry decided to work through block #2 in scrap fabric in preparation for our sewing day and see if she could identify some easy piecing techniques. It requires some figuring but she did a great job and the block went together much faster and straighter.

We selected a focal print for the centers and fussy cut them so that the flower really showed up and then used the suggested color scheme of yellow, pink and green. This block is kind of a star in a star as the green center pieces form a star and then the whole thing is a star. [Read more…] about Ode to the 1930’s-blocks #2 & 3

Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt

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You may recall that my quilting partner, ShaRee, and I spent 2014 making barn blocks into quilt tops. We have embarked on some new adventures that I will write about later. We meet every other week to sew so we decided we could invite a friend to join us and do a project with all three of us on the other week. I mean, YOLO, right? So in January 2015 we embarked on our grand adventure. We decided on “Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt” by Lori Smith, www.frommyhearttoyourhands.com. It’s a challenging quilt with lots of piecing and (gasp) applique. But the purpose of working together is that two, or in this case, three heads are better than one and we all learn from each other. We each have different tricks to teach other and we can learn! [Read more…] about Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt

Sue’s Reading Stats for 2014

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istock-booksBooks read: 139
Pages read: 43,972

Of the books read:

  • Non-fiction: 7
  • New-to-me authors: 36
  • Continuing series books: 26
  • Re-reads: 20
  • Audio-books: 37
  • Various book club reads: 17
  • Challenges completed: 10 of 10
  • Ongoing tally of Newbery winners: 70 of 93
  • Books set in states: 25 of 50
  • 5 star ratings by me: 27

2013:
150 books; 47,936 pages; 7 non-fiction; 29 new-to-me authors; 25 series; 32 re-reads; 49 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 92 Newbery; books set in 25 of 50 states
2012:
196 books; 56,851 pages; 11 non-fiction; 55 new-to-me novelists; 95 series; 25 re-reads; 25 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 91 Newbery
2011:
132 books; 39,641 pages; 15 non-fiction; 42 new-to-me novelists; 54 series; 12 re-reads; 33 audio-books; 0 of 0 challenges completed; 59 of 90 Newbery
2010:
152 books; 46,899 pages; 3 non-fiction; 37 new-to-me novelists; 25 series; 19 re-reads; 28 audio-books; 5 of 5 challenges completed; 50 of 89 Newbery
2009:
73 books; 23,576 pages; 3 non-fiction; 31 new-to-me novelists; 36 series; 5 re-reads; 48 of 88 Newbery
2008:
79 books; 32,031 pages; 8 non-fiction; 15 new-to-me novelists; 31 series; 19 re-reads; 42 of 87 Newbery
2007:
44 books; 17,069 pages; 3 non-fiction; 8 new-to-me novelists; 15 series; 13 re-reads; 38 of 86 Newbery

One Little Word 2015

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It’s time again to choose my word for the year.  It’s an attempt to choose a word that influences my state of mind throughout the year and creates a structure and framework for my life.  Here are my past choices: 2009-SERENE, 2010-CREATE, 2011-BALANCE, 2012-VARIETY, 2013-MEMORY, 2014-MEMORY

This year I want to embrace all the facets of my life. One definition of embrace is to “include in one’s beliefs; take into account”. I have begun some lifestyle changes that may result in being healthier and losing some weight and plan to continue those. These changes may help with some new medical conditions that have developed. Instead of railing about what I can’t do and what I’m missing, I want to take into account the reality and enjoy what I can do. And also give myself permission to do more of what I can do. This will help me live more in the present. I also want to embrace whatever new adventures comes along and ride the wave. One of my favorite sayings is ” Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”. I am going to take into account what comes my way and do lots of intentional things to make me happy.

I began the One Little Word journey with Ali Edwards and this year I am going to take her workshop so I can be more focused on my word.

So my word for 2015 is….EMBRACE.  Happy New Year!