I think 2008 is going to be quite a year.

• We will elect a new president and things will get better in the political arena.
• I will not have to start a diet — already been there and done that, but I will continue to lose.
• I will turn 70 in October and that seems almost impossible to me. Mia told me the other day that I don’t look old because I have no wrinkles!
• Mr C and I are taking a trip to the Holy Land in May which is bound to be an incredible journey for us.
• I am excited about creating some new art cloth that will become quilted art.

There is a commercial that has been running on HGTV with a song by Leann Womack. I love the lyrics and so I am posting them here as my wish for all my friends and family in the new year

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….I hope you dance……….

I am dancing in the studio. Yesterday, I started on a new creation. I am using this piece of discharged fabric. I used skinny masking tape and added turquoise to the discharge paste. This was done in the class I took last summer.

Here are some fabrics that I am auditioning for the piece.

I haven’t worked in these yummy colors for a while so I am quite excited. They will brighten up the dreary Portland winter days.

I had a nice New Year’s eve and day. Last night we attended the annual New Year’s eve concert at the cathedral. It is attended by throngs with SRO and people sitting in the altar area and on the floor. The music director invites people from the Portland music scene to come and perform. Donations are given to Our House (an outreach to aid’s patients) and Sister’s of the Road (a feeding program for the homeless). We got primo seats with our friends who get reserved front row seats because one of them is on the board of the music program at the cathedral. There are two dramatic moments in the evening for me — the singing of a Jewish blessing in Hebrew by the wife of the Rabbi of the Synagogue next door to Trinity. Her husband, the Rabbi translated. It was a beautiful moment. At the end of the service, a bag piper comes up the isle and then plays Auld Lang Syne. This year they had the added attraction of four beautiful young people who performed modern dance pieces to Brahm’s, sung by a tenor.

Today, our friends Reva and Jerry served Hoppin’ John for good luck in the New Year. It was delicious and we enjoyed chatting with many mutual friends.

Wishing you a joy filled and creative new year.