Car Quilt

 I started this quilt in the summer.  I didn't have a pattern and just made it up as I went along...which turned out to be a problem.  Lots of unpicking.  Wishing I would have done a few things different.  But overall I'm happy with it!!  (Or just relieved it's done)

 I fussy cut the cars out of the fabric.  I'm sure my sons could tell you which cars are in this quilt...and so can I.  Red cars, orange cars, blue cars, and green cars.          Ha ha!!  

 I love this orange flame fabric for the back.  

I've been wondering this past week what I want to be when I grow up.  Too bad I'm already middle-aged and haven't figured it out yet.  I thought I knew, thought I had a good career in medical transcription.  That is until India entered this field too.  Found out this week that the hospital corporation I work for is doing away with our jobs and outsourcing the work.  I'm just sick about it.  I really love my boss, in fact followed her here to this job.  There are a lot of things I wish I could say, but can't. {At least not until my final check from them is in the bank.} Actually saying nothing at all is better.  Period.  Just time to get on with life.

Journals for the New Year

 I made some Journals for the New Year to give to some family/friends.  I got the idea here.  They weren't too hard to do.  I always have a stack of composition notebooks.  Love these notebooks!  I use them all the time for projects and writing notes.  I think the blog where I got the idea used the little notebooks, but I liked the big ones.

 What a fun place to write quotes, thoughts, goals, and life's happenings.

I put them in a bag with a horn and a popper.  Think this is going to be a yearly thing.

I really have been doing some quilting.  Hopefully I'll get my latest project on here in the next few days.  It's been a crazy week.  Some life changes going on that I'm still processing.  Ugg!!  I really hate change.  

One Word Goal for 2012

A week ago my friend from work challenged me to find a one-word goal for 2012.  One word?  That's quite a challenge to find just one word to sum up a year.  I searched the internet hoping to find some inspiration.  There are lots of words that would be a good goal for the year:

Balance, kindness, commitment, priorities, dream, succeed, focus, opportunity, grow, organization, joy, hope, love, nurture, comfort, fearless, acceptance.  

While all good goals...none of them really set off a spark in me.  I thought "dream" was too fluffy of a goal.  Really need something with some grit in it this year.  Balance?  Well not sure if I can find balance in life right now.  

Then I finally stumbled on the word.....it just felt right.  Determination.  

de-ter-mi-na-tion (noun):

• The act of deciding definitely and firmly; also the result of such a decision.
• Firm and fixed intention to achieve a desired end.

Synonyms of determination:  Firmess of mind, purpose, resoluteness, self-confidence, purposefulness, bravery, fearless, willpower, spunk, stamina, perseverance, steadfastness, fortitude, and tenacity.

Black and Red Baby Quilt

 I put this top together a while back.  My friend's daughter is having a baby boy this month and loves black and red.  So glad I had the top done and could quilt it up real fast in time for the baby shower.  

 I saw a post here and thought it was a good idea for Jaycee to make to give her friends for Christmas.  We had a hard time finding the clear glycerin.  We found ours at Michaels, but it wasn't as clear as I hoped.  Next time I would probably order some on line.  The fish are from 

Oriental Trading.  

 I think it would be a cute idea for a kids birthday party too.  Jaycee and I are pros at doing them now...haha!!  They worked better if you didn't fill the bag too full.  She made tags that said 

"Merry Fishmas"