Joy in Service - Day 4 Let's Make it BIG!

Sandy Snowden linked my blog to hers and asked her readers to come along on this ride and it gave me an idea. Lets all do it...  kind of a Pay It Forward thing.

Random acts of beauty, kindness, and service.

(It's certainly not an original idea, and certainly not mine - but it helps to be reminded.)

Ask your blog readers, your twitter followers, and even your facebook friends to do it too.

One kindness, one act of service a day.

It can be as small as a smile and a wave.

It can be as big as making a quilt for a charity.

Take this button and pass it on. Then come back here and tell me what you did.

Yesterday you did wonderful things like letting a friend cry on your shoulder, sending a note, walking through someone creative discovery, praying.
Yesterday I did something as small as gave my son a back rub when my first inclination was to give him a tongue lashing.

How did you make the world a better place?
(and didn't it make you feel great!?)

Joy in Service - Day 3 Thank a Teacher

Giving flowers to random people at the grocery store, volunteering at an English as a Second Language center, giving away plants, leaving your favorite magazines at the library or doctor's office. Making an auction quilt, donating toys, packing up a a friend's kitchen for a move.
So many ways to make the world a better place.

Here is an idea for today - say thank you to a teacher.

My parents were both public school teachers and so are some of my best friends.

Dad in his LavaLava

Mom, teaching in Samoa

Since my parents retired they've just kept on teaching. Locally in their rural community, in the prisons, in eastern Germany, and at a boarding school in Western Samoa.

My love of teaching probably comes from them but I've got to admit that I'm very spoiled. 

I honestly believe they have the hardest job in America.

But I don't have do deal with students who don't want to be there. I don't have parents telling me I'm doing my job wrong. I don't have politicians telling me how to do every second of every day of my job. I don't spend every evening grading papers and planning lessons and doing page after page after page of added forms of paperwork because every spare moment in during school is taken up by meetings. 

Look up that one teacher from way back when and send them a thank you note. In writing. Through the mail.

Instead of simply sending in a candy bar to your child's teacher - send them a note telling them exactly why you appreciate what they do.

You should also nominate your favorite quilt teacher for this. Then send them a note too.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

Do You Know A Great Teacher?

Help us find our 2012 Professional Quilt Teacher of the Year

For the 26th year, The Professional Quilter will honor an outstanding quilt teacher with its Teacher of the Year award. The winner will be chosen by her or his peers on the basis of written answers to a questionnaire. The winner will be judged on the following criteria:

• Commitment to development of fine workmanship and personal expression of students;
• Involvement in and contributions to the field of quiltmaking; and
• Professionalism, including personal code of ethics and serving as a role model.

I apologize - I don't usually talk politics here. But one thing that frustrates me to no end are people and politicians who disrespect public school teachers. I want to say to them, "Stand in their shoes for a month. You wouldn't last a week! And you certainly wouldn't ever consider doing the job for what they get paid." Teachers don't do it for the money or because they "can't perform in the real world!" They do it because they have want to make the world a better place.

So tell me what else you did today to make the world a better place.

(my first little random pile of thank you goodies will go out Monday to some of you.)

Joy in Service - Day 2

These are some of the things you did yesterday to make the world a better place.

Greeting the elderly with a smile and a hug, upgrading a buildings energy efficiency, donating clothing, shoes, and warm winter coats.

macrame snowflakes made by my mother,  Lynn Montgomery

Leaving $5 with the cashier at Starbucks as a surprise gift for a stranger in line, donating to a food bank, making quilts for a charity, dinner for a friend, using your skills and talents to help a school choir hem dresses, sending a surprise gift. Reaching out to difficult family members.

You are amazing people

"Some people choose not to donate their services because they believe that it somehow devalues them by 'giving them away.' In truth, there is nothing that demonstrates the value of your skills more than putting them to good use for a cause you believe in." ~Scott Allen

Yesterday I remembered to greet him at the door with a big smile and a hug and an "I love you" instead of launching straight into the "get out your homework and stop fighting me" speech. Then I managed to keep my patience with this recalcitrant child who is brilliant but hates homework.

Tell me what you are going to do today.

I think reading these comments is going to be the highlight of every day this month.

Finding Joy in Service

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with catcher's mitts on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

~Maya Angelou~

December is a favorite month of mine.

I love Christmas.

Knipplinger lace made my my talented mother, Lynn Montgomery

I've learned to ignore and mostly throw out the things that stress or bother me about the commercialization of the season and pare it down to the things I love.

I love the music

My daughter and I are playing in an orchestra for the Apex Christmas Nativity Celebration's Messiah Sing-In Saturday Dec. 10th at 7pm.

photo by kohunt on flickr

My Christmas playlist is the longest of any on my ipod. If I haven't played my dulcimer in six months I know at least I'll get it down to play Christmas music. I don't mind running out every other night to hear my kids school band concerts.

I love being with my family and friends

I love the neighborhood and church and family brunches and dinners and parties.

I'm surrounded by wonderful people and feel blessed to be in their presence.

And the food - yes. The food.

I love helping, in whatever small way, to make the world a better place

My kids get totally excited to leave presents on doorsteps. I've already had to take my oldest daughter to the store twice to fill stockings for service projects she's doing at school. 

Photo by weddingmusings at flickr

join me

You and I together have power to make the world a better place. Help me think of things do to, and you can do them too. I was cleaning out a few piles in the studio and realized I have a huge stack of duplicate Quilting Arts magazines. And stuff. Too much wonderful stuff. I want to share it.

So every day - tell me one thing you did to love and help and serve.

(and leave me a way to contact you.) I'll send you a magazine and maybe a goodie along with it.

Yesterday I took dinner to a dear friend who is sick. I called another friend I haven't heard from for a while. Just to say how much I miss and love her.

DO SOMETHING!

big or small it doesn't matter.

(and tell me about it.)

29 Ways to be Creative by Sei Ohmori

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Sei Ohmori is a japanese architect and graphic designer.

I do these things although I'd replace coffee with chocolate.

I want you to do at least ONE THING on this list TODAY!

Gratitude Gift Guide 2011: Cyber Monday

Find Joy, Create Beauty, Be Inspired... and support your favorite artists! 

Here are some deals for you from some of us. We are so grateful to be able to do what we are doing - and grateful to you for making it possible.

For today only, Bead It Like You Mean It is on sale for $15!!! It will go back up to $24.95 Tuesday morning. 

At my Etsy shop you can find notecards, fine art prints, original watercolors, and hand dyed and printed scarves. Follow the directions in the shop announcement for free shipping on domestic and international orders. (fine print - all orders will be shipped USPS first class mail.)

Lyric Art at Etsy

Jill K. Berry's book, "Personal Geographies: Explorations in Mixed-Media Mapmaking." One of the projects is a map of the heart. There is a fabulous blog-hop giveaway going for this book right now - head to Carla Sonheim's blog today for a chance to win her book.

The publisher is having a special for the next two weeks: Get FREE Shipping and 35% off retail price! Visit ShopMixedMedia.com and usepromo code SMM106. [Fine Print:  Offer applies to standing shipping in the US only ]

You will love Jane LaFazio's Etsy shop full of delightful original artwork.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/janeville?ref=pr_shop_more

or her fabulous DVD

“from art journaling to art”

Tracie Bunkers has a great tutorial on making Moldable Foam Stamps, 

and a fabulous kit to go with it.

Tracie Lyn Huskcamp has a few of her beautiful 2012 calendars left, but you will have to hurry!

Carla Sonheim teaches some of the most popular online drawing classes out there. 

Give the gift of Silly to someone you love! 

Gloria Hansen has a a book for quilters, Digital Essentials, the Quilt Makers Must Have Guide to Files, Images, and More. She's giving away a little giftie with each order - you're going to love it.

Gratitude Gift Guide 2011: On-line Courses

Find Joy, Be Inspired, Create Beauty

Because you ARE creative. But bringing out that creativity and forming into the vision in your mind takes some time and some messing around and some practice.

Cool thing is, that it's FUN practice.

Here's one that's fun.

Machine Quilting: Free Motion and More

On-Line video course with Wendy Butler Berns

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/WBMBlog2

and for you - a discount link for $29.99

Wendy is a friend of mine, and one of the best teachers I know. How cool is it that you can take classes with amazing people like her without leaving home. 

This class has over 4 hours of video broken up in easy to swallow bits that take you all the way through the process. She starts with preparing your quilt, helps you set up your machine - and off you go. She's with you every step of the way.

I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with the film quality. Good lighting, good close ups, and my favorite - she smiles and laughs a lot. I think you will like her course. You get to take it at your own pace, and Wendy is there on-line to answer your questions.

Playing with Paint student work by Cheryl

You could also treat yourself or your quilting friends to a Quilt University gift certificate

http://www.quiltuniversity.com/classlist2.htm#Other

I have two classes coming up in a few months:

Playing With Paint on January 20th

Artists Toolbox Feb 17




And a few fun opportunities for you:
don't forget to comment on Ann Fahl's book review for a chance to win "A Black and White Tale"


And a lot of chances to win Jill Berry's book,
Personal Geographies begin today with her blog hop.