Finishing School!

I've decided that Judy at Patchwork Times is my "Finishing Governess."  Back in the mother country (that would be merry old England), and back in the day (regency era, when men were rakes and women sat in drawing rooms and embroidered....sigh), a finishing governess would be employed the year before a girl's "come out" to polish her for presentation.

So I've got several projects that need finishing! And Judy's UFO Challenge is just the schoolmaster I need (at least I HOPE! :-D).

In addition to the Quilt Tops I listed here, I also want to complete the quilting on some tops that have piled up for way too long.  I'd planned to learn to use my Hobby Quilter in 2010, but never got to it.  So I want to rectify that neglect this year.  I also want to get back into hand quilting, which I love.  Here's what I want to finish up:

Quilts to Finish Completely (quilted/bound) in 2011:

1. Mountain Laurel Sampler (hand quilted)
2. Somerset (Jo Morton - machine)
3. Baby Rose (Jo Morton - machine)
4. Pick Up Sticks (Jo Morton - machine)
5. Razzle Dazzle (machine)
6. Thimbleberries Take 5 (machine)
7. Ocean Waves (hand quilted)
8. Christmas Friendship Star (machine)
9. Batik Stars (machine)
10. Ribbons (machine)
11. 5-Stripe Thimbleberries (machine)
12. 4-Patch Strippy (Jo Morton - machine) 

All the challenges in Blogdom won't help me finish, though (notwithstanding Judy's valient efforts! :-), unless I am determined and persistent!

In Scripture, James had some thoughts about that...

He said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)  I like how the Amplified version expounds on verse 4:  "Let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work..."

I think I'm ready to let them have full play!! -- as long as they play nicely with the other projects waiting in the wings! :-D -- so that in the end, they may be "perfect and entire" (KJV).

Would that all areas of my life would be so surrended, that the trials that come and test my faith would find ME perfect and entire!  Let it be so, Lord Jesus.

Blessings!

P.S.  In keeping with my desire for accountability, I've added two pages above. One will document my UFO Challenge progress, the other my weight loss/fitness progress. :-) I'd also like to include one for my other 2011 Resolution for a daily quiet time, but I'm not sure how to chronicle that yet.  I'll think more on it and see what works! :-)  Pop over and take a look!  Blessings!

Why do we have to sleep!?

I read somewhere that the great Thomas Edison -- inventor of the light bulb and a million other things -- rarely slept, and when he did, it was in "power naps" of twenty minutes or so. WHO can live like that!

Well, I would LIKE to, of course. There are ONLY 24 hours in a day, and I could fill them all with the things I need, want and like to do! There are the books I want to read (not to mention actually being consistent with a quiet time to read scripture and pray!), the dozens of quilts I have in the process, the dozens more in my brain wanting to get out. AND I'm a homeschooling mom! -- so there are lesson plans and activities and actual teaching and learning I need to do with my boys (Sam, 16, and Will, almost 11). And, of course, I'm certainly not going to give up eating! :-)

Then there's the Mountain Laurel Quilt Club Sampler -- a quilt I had the privilege of designing and showing/teaching (with lots of help!) to my quilt guild. The top was completed, hmmm...January 2008? and I started hand quilting it. I've gotten 24 of the 48-8 inch blocks and their immediate sashing strips completed. But it's getting embarrassing! At our October 2009 quilt show, there were TWO of these quilts, one hand and the other machine quilted!! I designed the dern thing! Why wasn't mine in the show!? Why won't it be in Oct. 2010?

Because there aren't enough hours in the day, of course!

Scripture tells us there is a time and purpose for everything under heaven....The time of this quilt is ...? The purpose -- CLEARLY -- is to teach me patience, endurance, and persistence :-), one of which, Patience, is a fruit of the Spirit.

Hmmm...maybe that consistent prayer time would help! :-) Or maybe I just need a nap!
Blessings!
Mary Lou