Two Dozen Hearts

I got a bee in my bonnet to make some more quilted hearts to leave around town and give strangers a smile. Months and months ago I cut these 24 hearts from old placemats. Pre-quilted! Then they sat.

While looking through my kitted-up projects, these floated to the top of the pile. I had an ah-ha! moment when I remembered that "Done is better thang good," and instead of making each heart a unique piece of "art," I could make a big batch of very similar hearts. 

I started by finding red, pink and white heart-shaped buttons.

I gathered lace

cording

ribbons

I cut pieces to size and did a rough layout

Then I got to work. First using my sewing machine, I sewed a strip of lace along one of the pre-quilted lines. Then I sewed around the edge of the heart, trapping a piece of cording to the top as the ornament hanger.

I used this YouTube video to learn how to use a fork to tie tiny bows. Some of my ribbon pieces were quite short, so that proved to be a challenge.

Gradually, each heart had its components. Then was my favorite part, the hand stitching.

No two of the 24 hearts are exactly alike. I varied the size and color of the buttons along with the size and color of the cording and ribbon bows.

I sewed this label to the back of each heart.

Such a pile of potential happiness!

Finally, I packaged them up to send to my granddaughters in Idaho. I wrote them a letter to describe what the hearts are for -- to spread love and kindness. I gave them some ideas of where they can be placed. I told them it's OK to give one to a special person, too -- especially if that person is having a hard day.

I'm looking forward to hearing about their experience of doing these random acts of kindness.

Back to School

Well, sort of. 

Dale says that every new project deserves a new notebook. I'm starting a new project.

Today I played with school supplies and art supplies to gear up for it. Here's what I came up with:

I'd planned to purchase a fancy 3-ring binder as a reward for completing a task I really didn't want to do. But I went to three stores and couldn't find what I was looking for. The Back-to-School supplies are not all set out yet. I was sure a binder geared to a middle school girl was going to be ideal for me. But no such-a luck-a. I came home empty-handed.

Then I looked online. I found one with a great cover design, but $14 seemed like too much for a flimsy vinyl/plastic floppy binder.

So I slept on the decision.

This morning while putting something away in my Studio, I remembered that I have some used plain white binders stored away. I'm glad they weren't playing hide-n-seek. I was able to locate one right away.

Then I dug through (and reorganized) my bin of gift bags. I thought I might have one that could fill the bill of making good cover art. I picked one similar in size and shape to this red bag. But the one I used is covered in hearts, of course.

I pulled out a fresh pack of binder paper (because of course I have extra that I bought at a thrift store months ago). I also pulled out some writing implements. 

Then I got crafty ... cutting the bag apart ... trimming it to size ... adding stickers to cover up holes where the gift bag handles were connected ... adding many more heart stickers that had some shades of purple ... tucking the resulting "artwork" into the clear sleeves on the front, back, and spine of the binder.

Last, I pulled all the bits together. In the end, I was pretty proud of myself for using up more of my stash rather than buying something new. Plus ... you know I can barely resist an art project.

The project has to do with using this Live Your Values card deck to help reaffirm my values, then do a bit of journaling. This exercise goes along with a project I call Many Small Dreams. 

Moving to Oregon. Dale's stroke. Surviving the pandemic. Having a new grandchild. Trying to find ways to connect within my community. All these changes in the last four-and-a-half years rocked my world. I've never been one to chase one BIG DREAM. But I do have many small hopes and dreams. I'd like to move them from concept into something practical, then fulfill them in my retirement. 

My expectation is that this exercise of contemplation and journaling will bring these many small dreams into focus and have them align closely with the values I hold dear. I plan to keep moving forward through my life with intention.

Half Way Day

So ... we're half way through the year! I haven't talked a lot about this year's annual goals here on my blog, but I have been working on them. So let's do a check-in and see how things are going.

My Trifecta:

Word of the Year: Kindsight
Pay attention when my hurtful thoughts arrive. Talk to myself about them gently. Treat my younger self with kindness. 

Objective of the Year: Loving Kindness
Give special gifts to special people ... thoughtful, purposeful, deliberate. Gifts of action are given preference over material gifts.

Creative Goal: Fulfill Dreams of Yesteryear
Buy very few new crafty items. If I add to my stash, it's with thrifted/gifted/used materials. Primarily use stash on hand for new crafty ideas. Complete crafts projects bought years ago that are kitted up.

            Completed Goals:

1. Donated time and talent to Bags of Love  (over 150 bookmarks and 11 crocheted purses)
2. Made 24 crafts from pre-owned supplies (closer to 35 so far)
3. Painted some rocks
4. Found 24 geocaches (many more, actually)
5. Updated my Daily Dance to include additional exercises and activities to improve my health
6. Processed the jewelry I inherited from my mother-in-law
7. Installed the software for my digital microscope on my new computer
8. Planted pumpkins, strawberries, morning glories, sunflowers, and viola
9. Read a friend's story that he asked me to read quite a while ago
   
   
   Goals in Progress:
   
   
10. Sent cards and seasonal gifts to grandkids that live far away (2 holidays so far)
11. Gave special gifts to special people (8 so far)
12. Completed 15 out of 24 books (read or listened to audiobooks)
13. Started the Summer of Judy Blume  -- 29 children's and young adult books (finished 5-1/2 books so far
14. Visited 18 out of 24 parks
15. Drove to 9 out of 10 destinations (to help me get used to driving again post pandemic)
16. Completed 16 out of 24 jigsaw puzzles
    

I'd say I'm right on track. More than half way done with my personal goals by Half Way Day!

In addition:

            Completed Joint Goals with Dale:

1. Installed new air conditioner
2. Installed new water heater
3. Had my 10,000 mile car appointment
4. Drove to Moscow, Idaho for Annalee's birthday
5. Drove to Moscow again for Melody's birthday
6. Continuing #tuesdaytravels together
7. Continuing the Eugene Park Tour together
8. Continuing to find geocaches together

I suppose this appears excessive to some folks. But a gal like me enjoys challenging myself and winning gold stars. I find it fun and an encouragement, not a burden. Accomplishment is my thing.

Onward!