embracing

I found this quote a while okay, but it occured to me yesterday that it fits right in with my word for this year - embrace. And I've been trying to do this every day. (not just with my book reading bonanza!) So, my word helped me to brave my nervousness about meeting 15 other bloggers last weekend. It is quite overwhelming to meet so many new people at once, especially when they all seem such capable, confident women - suddenly it's like I'm 13 again and having to meet my peers. Justine did such a wonderful job bringing us all together, and she was such a warm, welcoming face. I took a few pics, which you can see here. Admire that lovely, yummy spread, including champagne bubbles of course.

We recieved a hoard of lovely gifts, and you can see them all on Justine's site. Of course, being held in a fabric shop meant there also had to be some purchasing.

Really, as Leisl said to me, it is just all a bit overwhelming there is so much choice. She made the beautiful purse that I'm in love with, but so far can't use because I just like staring at it! And here are the other girls I met, Suse, Nichola, Bianca of yummy relish fame, Di, Alison, Nicole, KittyB, Sooz, Susannah, Jo, Kylie, and of course Shannon. I feel very lucky to have been included, and keep looking at all my gifts in awe - much better than Christmas!

So, with the blog meet over it was time to find something else to do while watching desperate housewives, brothers & sisters and dancing with the stars! not that i'm a tv addict or anything.
I started these patchwork stips last night, part of my embracing new things this year, but I'm not going to share just what the project is just yet. Maybe you can guess?