After a short detour through downtown...

Last Friday night I was dreading another depressing, deflating experience at my small town church that inevitably leaves me angry and frustrated. So, I looked around to see what else was going on and noticed a special event called GODencounters that was being held at UW. Of course, I caught the ferry and headed over. I was very proud of myself because, despite getting on the express lanes which have no exit to UW when they're heading south, I was nearly on time!

The speaker, Matthew Gamble, was great. I've heard him speak before and always appreciated his humor, but this time he said some pretty heavy things that really resonated with me. In the morning he talked about Romans 8, then in the afternoon the focus was "Be still and know that I am God." It was really refreshing, and even though I was "alone" among about 170 people I had a wonderful time. It was nice to be reminded that NO MATTER what I experience, Jesus has experienced it, too. He doesn't leave just because we're going through unpleasantness. He's the person you can call when you don't want to be too negative or depress anyone else by saying what you're really thinking.

The real surprise of the day was how much I liked the band, Garage Voice. These guys are talented, intelligent people and it shows in their lyrics and the way their fingers move. I'd also be willing to bet that they have a pretty good sense of humor. Something about the music made me smile, and want to laugh a little bit. I was blown away. Their second CD is coming out next month, and I'm totally buying it and the first. Also, they had the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen. I don't know anything about guitars - but this one was pretty. It's green and has the cut outs like a violin and was flatter and more circular than the guitars people play around the campfire. I think God has blessed them, and through them, He blessed me.

Now it's back to the day to day, but I've got new fabric to sew and a Martha Stewart recipe to test - so it's all good.

merryheathre, Seamstress Extraordinaire!

Well, I'm happy to report that my New Year's resolution of finishing one project per month is going really well. I've already finished two projects this month! The first one was actually twofold. I made baby quilts for my first ever roommate - well, really, for her twin babies. The fabric is s'mores by Me and My Sister for Moda, which is reminiscent of our days in the dorm, getting marshmallows as big as possible in the microwave.

I divided the fabric by color - so one quilt is pink and blue and the other is green and purple. I used a layer cake, a panel and yardage to make them. It's a snowball block (and big - so it's easy!).

Then, once I had packaged them up and mailed them away, I spent a little quality time with my sewing machine for myself. I made the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler using fabric and pattern that were given to me by my one blog follower (you know who you are!). It's Joel Dewberry fabric - Ginseng, I believe. The finished product is really quite big. I can practically carry a laptop or a binder. My favorite part (which of course I don't have a picture of) is the lining. I matched up the fabric perfectly across the bottom seam. That's where the extraordinaire comes from... :)

Next up, a slew of cooking. I made tiny black lentils last night and they're delicious! I put two chipotle peppers, a bay leaf, onion, and garlic in while they cooked (I had help - someone posted the recipe, I can't take credit) and they're smoky and tasty. I served them (to myself) over sticky rice with feta and cilantro. And, the best part is they're pretty.

Sunshine!

The sun is shining for the 3rd day in a row and I'm beginning to feel like a real person again, rather than a grey skinned underground dweller. :) This has not softened my resolve to get a sunrise alarm clock, though. I'm still cynical and don't believe the sunshine will last. This is the northwest, after all.

I have spent my long weekend doing really fun stuff. I'm a few seams away from a new purse. I went shopping with my friend Kim and got some great stuff for organizing, and I've even started organizing! Wow! I know. I'm working on revolutionizing the filing system that I started way back in college (there goes a tear... never thought I'd say "way back in college") and my recycling is getting off the kitchen floor and into bins under the kitchen sink! I'm using every chance I get to bring out the Brother P-Touch labeller that I recieved for "New Year's".

I promised to write about a couple books I recommended to Jennifer. I can't take credit though, because they were recommended to me. The first was Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge - it's sort of the woman's counterpart to Wild at Heart and talks about what essential things a woman longs for and how that affects basically everything. It was really interesting and I think I walked away understanding myself a little bit better. The other book is called Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and it's all about allowing people to question the Christian faith. Good stuff. Read, enjoy, let me know what you think!

Well, this has been a nice little break - I'll post some pictures of my finished projects soon!

Haircut! & Color!

So, last week I really needed a haircut as you can see. I was also really tired of being blonde (or at least blonder than usual). So, I went to my favorite hairstylist, Dawn, and here are the results:

While I look & feel less blonde now, I said something completely stupid at work yesterday, which goes to prove that haircolor does not predict intelligence. While I was snapping pics of my new hair, I grabbed one of my Christmas present - the beautiful sparkly necklace I wear almost daily.

So pretty! And shiny!

New Year

Okay, now I'm mad. I just wrote this introspective thing about New Year's Resolutions and it disappeared. Perhaps my New Year's Resolution should be to get a new computer.

I guess we'll see.

Merry Christmas!

Well, it's been a nice relaxing holiday. I'm happy to say that, true to form, I haven't mailed any Christmas cards or presents yet - although I did manage to get my family's gifts to them on time. I'll be mailing other things out next week. (My goal is: before the New Year!)

Tonight we're saying good-bye to Grandma Phillips. She passed away on the 8th of this month, and while there was no service, we're having an informal one tonight. I wrote a poem on December 9 that I think I'm going to share with my family tonight:

Grandma

It is interesting how
the End & the Beginning
(and vice versa)
can sometimes happen so
closely together.

It may seem that
at one End
time will stop
and you'll have time
to catch your breath.

But in reality another Beginning
comes so soon you're
left cross-legged on the bed
journalling, maybe crying,
and hoping you gave that End
the significance it deserved.

-MHA

So, Santa (via the parentals) was good to me this year - my main gift was a BEAUTIFUL gold chain necklace. It has little loops and is sparkly. I like it very much. In kitchen items, I received a rice cooker from P-Shiz (as he likes to be called) and an attachment for my KitchenAid (slicer/shredder) from my parents. Also, an assortment of OXO things including a can opener, because the one I had was no good. Oh! And a subscription to Cook's Illustrated so I can make even more delicious food - or so I like to think. Other fun things included the traditional bee & flower soap - love that stuff! - and a fantastic quilt block a day calendar.

I want to post pictures of the really swell Christmas presents and cards I've made this year, but I've got to mail them first, so as to not spoil the surprise. Check back for more next week! :)

Hello, world!

I have now created my very own blogspot, mainly so Jennifer will leave me comments. :) Also, I will post things I make and places I go. It'll be great. I may even share my thoughts, unsolicited. So, here goes!