2014 Word of the Year: Hope

 I like the whole word of the year thing.

I picked a word for 2013 but didn't end up doing much with it.
I picked "open" and by the middle of the year it wasn't resonating with me much at all.

But I am not going to let that stop me from trying again for 2014.

For 2014 I knew what word I wanted a month ago. It wasn't like last year when I had to brainstorm for what felt like ages as the new year approached. No, this time I knew I wanted "hope" to be my word.

It didn't even make the list of possible contenders last year. It's something that I'm not comfortable with but I've been inspired by my new favorite TV show: Once Upon a Time.
One of the major themes of the show is hope and it is something I want to explore more. Something that I want to learn to do more. To hold on to more.

Which is why the imperfect hearts art quilts have had some sort of "hope" message on them. I've already started working with the word.



Another one of my imperfect hearts. This one was a gift for my mother so I couldn't post it earlier.

Imperfect Hearts

I've started making art quilts again.
I've also started a new series of art quilts called the "Imperfect Hearts Series".
I draw out hearts that aren't perfect and make them into applique designs.
A do a new one for each art quilt. No repeats.
At the moment I've been embroidering "hope" on them.
That may change as this series evolves or it may not.






The first one is a gift for someone who isn't online at all.
The second one I kept for myself.
I've made a third one but I won't be posting that until after the holidays because it is another gift.
I've also made a differently themed art quilt that I can't post quite yet.

It feels good to be back at this. 

Is This Winter?

I still don't have the tree up, but I did move the printer off the table where the tree will go, so there has been some progress.

I took this picture outside on the porch the other day.
Not sure when, I only got it off the camera tonight.



We got a tiny bit of snow mixed with rain the other night.
It's still not really looking or feeling much like winter in New England right now. Sure it's a bit on the cold side but not that cold. Not really.

I don't mind. Winter isn't exactly my favorite season.
Though I do like the excuse it gives me to stay in and make soup and bake cookies.
Not that I've been doing those things but I plan to. Soon.

I've been working on an art quilt and they take so much time and it's been a while since I've worked on one. It's a gift for the holidays so I can't say much about it.
I am enjoying the work. Which is nice since I haven't been inspired to do this sort of thing for a while. 

Thinking Ahead

I need to put up our little tree.
The holidays seem to be just sneaking right up on me.
Maybe it was because I was so busy with NaNoWriMo in November.

I'm working on an art quilt at the moment that will be a gift.
The first one that I've worked on in a while. I'm enjoying it but I forgot how long this takes. Writing is so much faster.

I've been thinking more of the year ahead than the winter holidays themselves.

Looking back on my early plans for 2013 is kind of sad and disappointing.
There was only one goal that I stuck with and that was writing.

So many other things got left behind. Not really out of apathy or neglect but out of a conscious decision to let those things go for a while and maybe that was okay. Maybe that was what I needed.

I don't feel that 2013 has been bad. It has been productive with the writing even if it wasn't with much else.

I have plans to get back to photography with the coming year as well as with art. I don't want to let go of the writing either though.
I need to find a way to bring it all in. To balance it all.
Or as much as I can anyways.