Tah-dah - My first postcard: After many months and numerous challenges around this piece I think it is finally finished. I learned lots. I've still got questions. I think the most important things I've learned are that I CAN complete a project and I should persevere regardless of the difficulties. I decided all the valentine projects had to wait till this was done. Good choice. Now I can use what I've discovered for doing those projects. Of course there'll be more concerns, problems, but they will be just more obstacles along the path to achievement.

The fabrics on this piece were hand dyed other than the yellow. I used Caran D'ache Neo Color ll crayons for the green and yellow part. Sue B. told me they worked well on fabric. The larger star was dyed using the gel glue technique. I was very thankful to Terri for teaching it to me. Terri has provided me with great inspiration. I also found both of the ideas later in Quilting Arts magazines from 2005.

I have to do some writing today, e-mails, comments. Hopefully back to the sewing soon, or at the least, planning and preparing the pieces.

Time Management: I'm trying to make better use of my time. I've decided to try to do some simple tasks while Greg drives us to our destinations and back. This morning on our way to Church, half hour away, I was cutting apart images from a little book I'd gotten at Michael's. Unfortunately my scissors were not very sharp. The other day, I think Friday, I was trying to sew some beads onto this piece of felt. On our way back it was starting to get dark. Greg kept asking about the light. I didn't need it yet.

I'd seen the idea, done with real felt. I didn't have such a thing so got cheap felt. The buttons are from my Mom's old collection. I'm not sure how old they'd be. The scan does not do them justice. They are cracked and darkened around the edges. I might sew some more beads on if I can find the right ones. then it gets blanket stitched with another and stuffed. I guess it's supposed to be a Christmas decoration. Oh well. It can just be for anytime too. I need the practice mostly.

I got a little bit of sewing done on my journal quilt but will wait until more done before I show that. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to accomplish as our daughter is having continuing problems - no seizures, but social, behavioural. This time of year and next few months tend to be her difficult time. Hopefully we can make it through. We'll get as much help as able from school.She admitted to major self-esteem problems, in her own way, on Friday. I'm trying not to agonize. I'll communicate as best I can with the people I need to. Otherwise I try very much to just place it in God's hands.

Forgot to mention, Fran has a wonderful gift for someone chosen from comments left on her blog all this coming week. Good luck.