Maybe weekly-ish

So yeah, daily-ish got old real fast. So weekly-ish is my new motto ... ha!

Also in the news, I'm starting a new batch of peace pins with a goal of making fifty for a spiritual retreat in mid-March. Here's the first batch of ten ...

 

With thanks to Deb for the dyed floss ...

 

and to Tina for the gift of hand-dyed cloth ...

I especially like that my new pins will allow both sides to show ... because, who wouldn't want to see both?!

 

I was a lucky recipient of a Nancy E mail drop this week, and one piece in particular tickled me ...

 

If you look closely, you'll see that the eyes, nose, whiskers and mouth of the cat actually look like two little critters grinning at each other through a window. 

 

‘Tis the season

Tomato season doesn’t last long in Texas, where we’ve already weathered a week of triple digit heat. But oh how we love every precious day of it …

And yes, the Peace Pin Project continues on. These two pins, reading “Fenna” which is a Dutch name associated with “peace,” were made for the proud grandmother of newborn Fenna Elizabeth in The Netherlands …

Can you hear a pin drop?

I’m happy to say that I have completely lost to count of the peace pins … and realizing it really doesn’t matter …

I suppose I could comb back through the blog, but why? It is enough to know that they exist in the world, even if a few may have gone through the wash (no harm done … ironing usually puts them back to rights).

If you’re new here, to learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

peace

 

If you’re new here, to learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

I’ve lost count …

Making and giving peace pins has become so routine that I often forget to take pictures or note who they are went to. Then again, sometimes I do remember …

and I’m really liking the new pin backs …

If you’re new here, to learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

Meanwhile, our grandkids are doing their own creative things, which we love …

And I was ever so grateful to receive this stitched missive from Fiona Dempster …

Resist we will, starting tomorrow by not buying anything … and continuing with rolling economic “blackouts” that are planned in the coming weeks. After all, the Montgomery bus boycott lasted more than a year and was ultimately successful. We can do this!

Tiny pieces of everything

 I can’t help but think of James Taylor’s Yellow and Rose as I stitch these tiny 3/4" pieces of peace …

And fear not, I’m continuing to stitch regular-size peace pins as well … this one for a sewist at St Liz …

In the midst of chaos, I find joy in little things, like my new lunar thread nest and positive bits of "wisdom" on Instagram …

And always, all-ways, these guys make my days brighter (I did a double-take the first time I saw the second picture) …

As usual, to learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link. And to learn how to make one of your own peace pins, click here.

Annnd I’m back

I took a break from stitching because of a sore thumb (if you know, you know). But I did get a chance to make a little handout to go with the peace pins, seen here front and back …

Happily, I started stitching again today … a tiny 3/4" piece of peace (palanca, for those of you who are familiar with Cursillo) …

Then there’s this bit of silliness for you to enjoy: the Buda, Texas answer to Ground Hog Day (because dachshunds are the unofficial town mascots) …

 

The good news is Nacho saw his shadow and then picked the snowman toy, supposedly predicting 6 more weeks of winter. The not-so-good news is that central Texas "winter weather" includes week-long stretches of 80+ degree temperatures, so our AC actually kicked in yesterday. (I know, I know … cry me a river).

And yes, you remember rightly, this was our weather two weeks ago …

 

Gotta love Texas?

Blue Monday and a snow day in Texas

Yesterday was depressing, even as much as I tried to avoid the inauguration coverage. Then I read Karen’s post about Blue Monday and found myself smiling as I latched on to the notion … recalling that the blue field in the American flag stands for valor, which m-w.com defines as “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness" ...

 

And on a positive process note, I’ve gotten some new pin backs as the safety pins I was using were/are a bit fiddly …

Thankfully, we all survived the day and woke this morning to the rare (for central Texas) appearance of snow, which our grandkids are very much enjoying …

To a learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

The calm before the storm?

 It’s been a quiet week …

and so far I’m very much liking my new stitching box …

We were happy to learn that Jace and Jackson made the best of the twelve inches of snow that fell in St Louis (that’s sweetened condensed milk and snow) …

while we’ve been enjoying much milder temperatures here in central Texas …

Lastly, for those who follow Jude Hill and read about her nine-patch math vis-a-vis 2025, here’s another way of looking at it …

Okay, so just a few more days until Inauguration Day. I’m still debating whether or not to join the Women’s March given my wonky knees. We’ll see.

Note: To a learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

Batting .500

First and foremost, sending metta to those in the west coast facing the wildfires and to those in the midwest and east coast shoveling snow. This is one of those times when I’m especially grateful that we live in Texas.

I’m pleased to say that my New Year’s resolution to stitch one peace pin a day has held up so far …

However, I’ve been less successful at my other resolution to walk every day. Hence, the second one of the following screen shots seems particularly appropriate …

Last, but not least, we had a great day with Griffin recently, notable especially for making my favorite shortbread and a great new hot cocoa recipe from Sugar Spun Run …

And I almost forgot to show you a couple of the Christmas presents that have taken up residence by my stitching chair …

Such fun!!

To a learn more about the peace pin project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

And so/sew it begins

The first two sets of peace pins are ready to fly (and yes, of course you may ask for more than one).

Two are going to my one-time roommate and bridesmaid, Linda in Virginia …

And two are headed to Jude in New York, who only asked for one, but when I wasn’t happy with the first iteration (not enough contrast), I made a second …

Happily, I have quite a few requests pending, so there will be more posts to come.

To learn more about the project and request your own (free) peace pin, click on this link.

 

12 thoughts on “And so/sew it begins”

jude

October 1, 2024 at 12:48 pm

sweet!

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Nancy

October 1, 2024 at 1:02 pm

This is so wonderful Liz!! I feel like we are all joined together to head out on a – dare I say, peace-filled journey together. it will be fun to see where in the world the pins land! Nancy

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1. Liz A

   October 1, 2024 at 1:19 pm

   truly this is a gift to self … to imagine peace flying from my fingers …

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deemallon

October 1, 2024 at 1:07 pm

positive message made tangible in beautiful stitch— so Liz! So lovely!

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Jen

October 1, 2024 at 1:42 pm

LOVE these, Liz!

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RainSluice

October 1, 2024 at 2:58 pm

Liz,

I think these are inspirational. These are just perfect for a Quaker Meeting, like the one I belong to! We’d need about 50!! I’d never ask anyone make anything fore free, but perhaps we could pay you for a bunch and/or get your permission to use the concept to make them ourselves, crediting you in some really nice way?

With your permission, I’d like to suggest to our city council (where I live, in NJ), that we riff off your idea as a way to raise funds to restore our historic town’s Old City Hall. It is no longer used as a city hall, but developing into an arts venue. We’d use different messages of course, like “New Paint for OCH”, “Cleaning Our Old Clock Tower”.

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RainSluice

October 1, 2024 at 3:03 pm

Liz, these are wonderful!

The Quaker Meeting I belong to would love them. We’d need about 50…!!

I can find out if others would be interested, then maybe we could buy your concept, then form a pin-making Committee to make our own pins? What are your thoughts on that?

MR

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1. Liz A

   October 1, 2024 at 4:45 pm

   Maggie – I would love to gift this idea to your Friends Meeting and to anyone who wishes to make their own peace pins. I’ll put together a DIY and post it here for any and all who are interested

   And thank you for kindling the memory of the five or so years I attended the Williamsburg Friends Meeting before we moved to Texas

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   1. RainSluice

      October 2, 2024 at 7:29 am

      WOW!! Thank you SO much, Liz.

      I had forgotten that you had attended Meeting if you had mentioned that before.

      We have a “makers” group – mostly knitting and crocheting, but the leader is a quilter and we will do good – even better -peace work via your gift!!

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Beth from Still Life Pond

October 2, 2024 at 10:11 am

Liz, What a beautiful loving idea to revisit this project. Looks like you will be busy stitching. I hope you will gather much peace for yourself in the doing. I loved my imagine peace pin. I kept it pinned to my purse hoping that when I was out and about people might notice it and spread the imagining. Then poof, one day I noticed it was gone. I suspect it came unpinned and that I dropped it somewhere. I searched my car but it wasn’t there. I was sad, but also hopeful in the thought that the right person found it and also loved it. I’ve considered about a dozen companion words and am setting on ‘be peace’. I love that dark blue you’ve shown above. Thank you.

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Lisa White

December 12, 2024 at 10:05 am

Liz, thank you so much for my beautiful “create peace” pin. I love it! I appreciate you and the love and peace you are spreading. What an amazing ministry you’ve created.

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1. Liz A

   December 13, 2024 at 7:23 am

   I’m so glad you like it … I hope you’ll send other St Liz folks my way if they like it, too