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Bonnie McCaffery ' s June 2006 Newsletter
There is an audio version of this Newsletter at

http://www.bonniemccaffery.com/BLMc2006-06-15.mp3

Podcasts are soon to come........

BonnieMcCaffery.com

 ***Life Lessons - The Babble of the Brook***

            In my travels I like to experience the nature around me. I was staying in a home in Maryland . The dogwood blossoms and cherry blossoms were beautifully in bloom. Spring was certainly on it ' s way. As I looked out the sunroom window, I saw that there was a stream behind the house. I asked if I could go down there and off I went.

            There is just something about standing by a stream - well maybe it wasn't actually a stream - it was more like a brook (though I have no clue what the difference is between the two). You might imagine it to be a quiet place, but actually there are lots of sounds around. The birds, the chirp of the bugs, and then there is the voice of the brook itself.

            I stood there gazing at the water as it flowed. Do you know that when you look at the stream at any moment in time, it will never be the same again? That drop of water will never pass that way again. It is there only for an instant. I found the flow of the water fascinating. Sometimes it would flow off to the side and almost come to a halt - though it was still moving, even if only under the gentle current. It almost seemed like a rest period for the water.

            Then there was the place in the water where there were boulders popping up above the water. Do you know what the water does when it comes upon the obstruction?

It doesn't get upset. It doesn't panic about how it is going to continue down stream.

 It doesn ' t even stop to think "Now what am I going to do?" It just flows around the boulder. That ' s right - just flows around it. Maybe to the left or maybe to the right. It doesn ' t matter. Because no matter which path it takes, it gets to the other side and continues to flow downstream.

            I thought more about the water. What would happen if it got stuck at a dam and could not get past? Do you know what would happen? It would just wait there patiently - days, weeks, or months if necessary. It would wait until the rains came to raise the level of the waters - which would make it possible for the water to flow beyond the dam.

            As I stood there watching the water, I knew that the brook had babbled it's message to me - several messages in fact.

-Sometimes it is important to float slowly by the side of the river - just dawdling and experiencing all that is around you and not worrying about getting down the stream.

-Sometimes you will be briskly shuffled along without any control of the flow. Go with it and enjoy the rush of it.  

-You might come upon obstacles along the way. Don't waste time fretting or trying to figure it all out - just go. Go with the flow. You will end up where you're supposed to be anyway.  

-And if you come to the dam in the path, be patient - for as long as necessary. The day will come when the creativity will flow and you will not be able to hold back the flood of ideas.

            I know that I have experienced life and creativity much the same as the water in the stream. It was a great reminder to go with the flow because I truly believe that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing, in that moment in time.

            Where are you in life's stream?  

***What I'm Working On***

            I think I'm stuck at the dam. When I get home from my trips, all I seem to be able to do is repack, set up the next trips, and lounge on the deck.

I keep trying to remember that lounging is a good thing - Michael's great about reminding me. He came home after a trip to the grocery store to find me just laying in the sun. Know what he said? "That is just what you should be doing." He really is the best. We'll have to see what flows once the "rains" come and the "flood gates break". I'm trying to be patient.     

 ***New Items on the Website***

            12" Add-A-Quarter Rulers - that are great for cutting a perfect 1/4". If you have not seen these rulers before, they have a lip of plastic on the bottom measuring 1/4". If you slide this up against an pattern edge and cut, you ' ll get a perfect 1/4". I love using this ruler with my foundation kaleidoscope patterns: "Basic Kaleidoscope Pattern", "Kaleidoscope in Spring Pattern", "Nova pattern", and "Fiesta Kaleidoscope pattern". All of my kaleidoscopes are done using paper foundations and strips of fabric. I think you ' ll love using this ruler with them.

            Be sure to take a look at the beautiful color combinations of the YLI Candlelight Yarn.

            ***Feedback***

            I love getting emails to hear what you think of the newsletter. I've heard from several how Life Lessons has effected them. Drop me a quick line if you have time.  

***Travels***

            My travels are slowing a bit - which means I will be able to work on a new project shortly - it ' s not a quilt, but wait until you see.

June 2006

6/16-18 - Celebration of Quilts, Pittsburgh, PA
LECTURE Portrait Quilt Lecture
WORKSHOP Painted Face for Beginners Workshop the cost of this workshop at this location is a steal

6/29-30 - Bernina University , San Diego , CA
DEMO - Come find out what the "DigiBobbE" is all about

July 2006

7/10&11 - Crosby Quilt Guild, TX
LECTURE Inspiration and Development of a Quilt Artist Lecture
WORKSHOP Painted Face for Beginners Workshop

7/21-22 - Suze's Stitch'n Shop, Houghton Lake , MI
WORKSHOP Painted Face for Beginners Workshop
WORKSHOP Fantasy Fabric Sampler Workshop

August 2006

8/15-19 - Festival of Quilts, Birmingham , UK
WORKSHOP 2 day Portrait Quilt Workshop
WORKSHOP Freeform NON Applique  

It's going to be a busy Fall

http://bonniemccaffery.com/sched.htm

 That ' s all for now folks,

Bonnie

http://BonnieMcCaffery.com