Gearing Up...

A new year is almost upon us and I'm getting ready for it by just going with the flow today! Whatever I get done, I get done!

I finished up my very tall mountain of laundry yesterday...it had been piling up while I was sewing for Christmas. I haven't sewn anything all week...even the fact that on Monday we had to take my machine to the LQS for servicing doesn't mean a whole lot when they had it fixed on Tuesday! Chad went and picked it up for me that night. What I can't believe is that I haven't turned it on to see how it's running...YIKES! Hopefully a little later today :)

I have been working on my entry for the Blogger's Fat Quarter Bundle Contest over at Quokka Quilts...it just seemed like a fun project to 'veg-out' on just after the busy holiday season.

So here's my choices...

It took me a couple of days, but I really like it. I'm not sure why these colors...except maybe I've noticed that I lean more to the greens, burgandy, and tan colors -- time to branch out! (OK, OK, so it's not that much of a stretch...baby steps!)

Not only that, they are also similar to the colors I do have for making new curtains for the living room....which hasn't been done even though I bought the material this past Spring. The funny thing is, this morning I asked Liz what I should sew today and her very cute 3 year old answer..."Oh, maybe a curtain." I just laughed, it was just so cute, especially when I've never mentioned to her about sewing curtains :)
 

Today, I'm also working on The First 25 Days of 2012. The schedule is coming along and I may even start writing up a couple of the posts. It is still a little tough to comprehend writing a post for everyday...but I think it can be done :)

Sunday, January 1, 2012 will be a Welcome and intro schedule to get you excited for the things to come during the first 25 days of the New Year! There is a little bit of everything...at least that interests me... sewing/crafts, music, food, and ministry :)
Hope to see you there!


Getting back into the swing of things by joining some of the linky parties on my right side bar...don't forget to join the fun!

Blessed is the man that heareth me,

watching daily at my gates,

waiting at the posts of my doors.

For whoso findeth me findeth life,

and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Proverbs 8:34-35

As the New Year begins, I pray that the wisdom that comes from listening to the LORD will fill my life and be shown. At times I know I lack control of my emotions and I pray the LORD will help me. I've always loved the sentiment in the Serenity prayer...

God grant me the

Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

and the Wisdom to know the difference.



May we all ask God for the wisdom we need as we go through our lives...especially as we begin a new year!

Seeking God's wisdom...

Amanda

Merry Christmas!

May your day be joyful as we celebrate the birth of the Savior,
Jesus Christ the Lord!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;

 and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6



Amanda

Last Night's Accomplishments...

The productive evening I had envisioned was a dream...but my Friday Night Sew-In was still successful!

I did get the backing done for Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt yesterday, late afternoon. From there I took a break...for dinner and stuff...then worked on a mug rug. I was actually hoping to get all three that I need made, but only one was accomplished!

It's a really cute one...but I had a few issues that slowed me down.

The idea for this came from a google search for mug rugs. There was no directions...so I just did my own thing (which is nothing new) from looking at the picture here. This one is 8" x 8" on the straight sides.

My issue came when I wanted to add the solid aqua to the fanned printed material section. After finagling and cutting two different aqua pieces,  I finally improvised...and it turned out rather well.

I wanted to try some curved pieces to find out if I wanted/needed to take Rachel H.'s (Stitched in Color) Curves class come the new year. I think that I might be taking the class :)  Chad even asked if there was a ruler I needed to do this and if that's what I want for Christmas...so I think I'm getting a Retro Flowers/Drunkards Path Template!  He really is great about my sewing...

I also have another ruler on my list to my in-laws that can be used to make circles...I think the new year will be full of curves!
After the mug rug, I moved on to basting Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt.

I also decided on how to quilt it...I'm going to make a template from this flower, and put them on each square.

Today, I think I may work on the other mug rugs and start tracing flowers onto the quilt.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;

that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

2 Corinthians 9:8

God will make sure we have what we need...especially to do that things He wants us to do.

Amanda

Sewing Through The Week...

I have been sewing quite a bit this week...yet there is still so much to be done! My list seems to grow faster than I can get things made :)

I was able to get Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt top done. The back is mostly peiced. Tonight is FNSI...so I may get the back done, baste it, and start quilting. However, I'm also leaning towards starting on some of the other things on my list. If you come back tomorrow, you'll find out what I decided to do!

For now though, I'll give you a glimpes of Liz's quilt top...

 

and among my other finishes...

a quick journal for a birthday present

and 3 aprons for the Christmas play at church...but I think I'll show those later :)

So, a few finished to keep me going and to share on crazymomquilts' finish it up Friday linky party...along with a few of the other parties on my right side bar.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

When we love God, we are going to being willing to serve Him and follow His commandments...and with that we have no comprehention, in ourselves, the great things God has waiting for us. Even through the hard times and rough patches, God is faithful and has our best path laid out for us...we just have to follow it and trust the outcome to God. Remember, He sees the whole picture...we only see one pixal at a time :)

Keep trusting...

Amanda

The Lost Month...

That is probably what most of December will be here on the blog. However, I already have a plan to redeem myself...The First 25 Days of 2012!

So, as the last month of 2011 hurries by with crafting, shopping, decorating, and celebrating through the season...plans are formulating for the New Year!

The thoughts in my head include
   ~ a post everyday ;0...
   ~ a couple of tutorials...
   ~ and maybe a giveaway at the end...

But I have a month to get all my Christmas presents made and my ideas together before it starts...I think this will be a very busy December, but fun!

This actually started because of Chad...I told him that I thought about trying to write a post a day till Chirstmas, but I didn't know how well that would work. Also, I didn't know how to show the things I'm working on without showing Christmas presents to some of the reciepents. Chad suggested just showing them after Christmas...I told him that was an idea, I could start it on the 1st of January...and it could be a countdown to my birthday :)

Looking forward to an exciting New Year...but I'll try not to forget to post between now and then :)

I'm almost done with Liz's quilt top, so I'll definitely be showing that soon...

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are My ways higher than your ways,

and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

It is always good to have plans, goals, and ambitions...but we need to remember that the Lord has plans for us, better plans than we might have for ourselves. We need to seek Him in our plans to make sure we are doing what He wants us to do...and be able to change the plans we've made to do what God wants from us!

Looking ahead...
Amanda



Give Thanks...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, one of the major holidays celebrated here in the United States. So, today I decided that Liz and I should make one of the felt turkeys as shared at Sewing.org. It's one of those projects that I'd rather not do, but knew I should to have some crafting fun with Liz...however, once I got started reading the instructions, it didn't allow a whole lot of room for Liz to help.

Also, I didn't follow the directions exactly...I used the felt I had on hand...which wasn't enough to go directly with their instructions...

But he still turned out cute...

I machine sewed it also, trying to make it go a little faster. I did all sewing... no hot gluing :) I sewed all the embellishments on, then layered the pieces and sewed them together using a zig-zag stitch, leaving openings at the bottom to stuff (which Liz did get to help with). Doing it this way also meant only cutting one small feathers piece, one body, and two wings...compared to their two (four) of those pieces.

Here's a comparison photo, both cute!

(Sewing.org picture source)

Maybe he should have the bow tie? What do you think? I forgot about it until I posted it on here :) !



Adding this fun Thanksgiving project to some of the weekly linky parties...see the right side bar for the listing.

Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Though this verse does not have the word thanksgiving, thanks, thankful, etc. in it...I saw it there while I was starting to look for one of the typical thanksgiving verses. We need to remember to always have a word of thanks on our lips and thankfulness in our heart to God who has blessed all more than we deserve!

I am thankful for...
The salvation of my soul...
Having the Bible to guide...
A wonderful husband...
Never being able to lose my salvation...
Kids that are healthy...
Sewing time...
Going to a great church...
Inspiration and creativity...
Valor and sacrifice of the servicemembers of the US Armed Forces...
Initative of the forefathers to give us a free country...
New horizons to be crossed...
God's grace and mercy given daily!

My adorable girls this morning...

God is so good!
Amanda

OCC and an Award...

Earlier this week I showed you my finished Christmas cards for Operation Christmas Cards, which is the great Crafting for a Cause project at Ladybird Ln this month.

Remember these...

Today I looked through the ones the kids at school made...they did a GREAT job! Some of them even made more than one. Here is a small sample of what some of them created...

The age range of the school children the made these cards are from third through eleventh grade. Two of this group are done by young men...guess which two?! (Yes, the two with the woodsy cabin paper, go figure, right? :) )

A few more cards may come my way before I mail this package on Tuesday, so I'll later post here how many cards we accumulated for this project.

I did collect somemore cards on Tuesday... so the grand total of Christmas cards sent was 22! They were great cards. The children exceeded my expectations and I think they really enjoyed making them too!

On to some other fun stuff...

Last Sunday I received a great honor from my blogging friend Kristy over at Hopeful Threads...

she gave me the Liebster Blog Award!

It's a personal award that you pass on to blogs you enjoy reading that have less than 200 followers. The word Liebster translates from German to English as DEAREST. 

How lovely!

Here's the idea...

1. Link back to the blog of the person who passed on the award.
2. Choose 5 up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers to pass the award on to.
3. Post the award on your blog. No big deal if you don't want to play along, but it is fun!

I was excited to receive an award...and of course I want to pass it along.

I chose blogs from my following list which I peruse on a regular basis...some are even inspirations for a few projects I'm currently working on. So, go check out what these ladies are up to and say Hi!

Describe Happy

One of her current projects, a  NY NY quilt...she's doing a great job!

Life Under Quilts

She has a great video tutorial on doing 60 degree diamond EPP...that's how I found out how to start my table topper.

My Family Thinks I am Working...

This is so pretty!

Spontaneous Threads

Love this bag...I'd definitely carry this around!
I'm also in a Pay-it-Forward blog swap with her,
but I'll revisit that with you after the new year!

Stolen Moments

This is the cutest quiet book page...and she started up a very informal,
go at your own pace sew along for quiet books...
now for me to just get Liz's finished by Christmas :)

These ladies do some very nice projects, don't you think?

To the recipients...I hope you all enjoy your award moment and some outside recognition! Please remember this is a personal award from me to you, so if you do not want to pass it along, no problem! I had fun just sharing your links!

Hope everyone had a good weekend...and rest up tonight to start a 'short' work week...unless of course you have to work Black Friday :)

...but the LORD was not in the wind:

and after the wind an earthquake;

but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire;

but the LORD was not in the fire:

and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:11c-12

In Sunday School this morning, we talked about Elijah and this verse is highlighted in my Bible, so it caught my eye...and how appropriate. It is something we may need to remember this time of year as things get hectic...buying presents, visiting family, and Christmas parties to attend... In all the big things that need accomplished, the little things are important too. God used the small voice to speak to Elijah...so what small thing could speak to you this holiday season that you may normally overlook?

I know I will need to remind myself of this as the weeks progress through Thanksgiving and on to Christmas. Also, we need to Thank God for His many blessings and reflect continually on the reason we even celebrate Christmas...

Amanda

Sew-in Results...

It was a productive evening...even with not getting started till 6:30pm, an early interruption by Amber who wanted to go to bed, and a few distractions throughout the evening...

I was able to finish putting the rest of the 'jelly roll' strips together and then cutting them into the 4-squared strips to be put back together 'randomly' to make the blocks. After that was done, I was able to put together 12 more blocks!

Plus the 3 I already had done...I now have 15 out of the 35 needed done. But that shouldn't take too long, the blocks don't take to long to put together...especially with all the pieces laid out and ready to go...

I am really loving this quilt too...these are so my kind of colors. I love Amber's quilt, but it is a little more bright and cheery...which is nice, but I tend to like the warm, homey, slightly darker tones. I think that the joy of making these quilts is getting to work with the pretty fabrics and the enjoyment I'll get as they use these quilts while they grow-up. I tried to pick colors that will 'grow' with them...not to kiddish or faddish. Love the way it's working...Liz was even oohing and awing over the first few couple of blocks. LOVE that!

However, today I may not have a chance to sew...

Amber is turning 1 today...

Happy Birthday

Baby Girl!

This is her party hat for tonight...but we tried it on her early! This was a passed along hat from a lady at church...isn't it adorable! After tonight, we'll be passing it along back to her so her newest addition will have it to wear next year when she turns 1. So fun!

Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests

be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6

Good to look up the verses about being thankful as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in less than a week.

May you have a good weekend and I look forward to talking with you Monday or Tuesday.

Amanda

Christmas Decorating...

This morning I was able to get the house mostly decorated for Christmas.

 

The bottom picture is one of our 2 Christmas villages...Some 'snow' still needs to fall on the villages for them to be completely done. I'll probably show a picture of the other one (which is bigger) after it 'snows'.

This is our big Christmas tree in our living room...last year I bought a bag of pine cones, added a little ribbon, and used them as ornaments on the tree. Love the homey feel. The tree skirt was bought for 50 cents at a garage/yard/tag sale a year and a half ago. I think it might need a little face lift, but over all its alot prettier than the sheet I used to use.

 

I went to put the decorations on the kitchen window sill...but I didn't have a nice runner, doily, or towel for on it...enter...my stashed Christmas material from the big 'loot' from my in-laws earlier this year. It's been great having the 'loot' on hand :) Thanks again Dad & Mom Dickson.

 

These were 5 - 6x6 squares that I cut in half to make 10 rectangles...sewed them together somewhat randomly...and voila...an hour later my sill was ready for Christmas!

 

This sill runner was probably one of my fastest finishes! I simply sewed the pieces together, pillowcased with a solid green back, and did a quick echo quilting (without batting). Looks festive!

Joining this great finish on the linky parties on my right side bar along with a linky at Crazy Mom Quilts: Finish it up Friday linky party. I didn't think I'd be able to contribute this week (week 4), but we I did get this finished (even if it wasn't a loooong work in progress).

I can now go work on Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt tonight for FNSI...

Have a wonderful start to the weekend...and I'll show you tomorrow how much I get done :) Hopefully alot!!!!

There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

Amanda



WIP - Nothing New ...

It's time to review what has happened craft wise this past week...Works In Progress Wednesday is upon us again already!

When I looked back at what was on my WIP list from last week...I noticed that I didn't add anything new! However...progress was made on two of the just started projects :) !

Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt has all the fabric cut and two blocks pieced together...it's so exciting! I love seeing the pieces come together...kind of like a puzzle.

The embroidered Christmas cards for the soldiers are done...

 

 

I ended up making only two...but I really like how they turned out! I haven't seen what the kids at school are coming up with yet, but I'm sure they will be sweetly received by the soldiers.

Didn't touch the Table topper or Liz's Season's Quiet book. I did get a couple of quick projects done...Sara's Message board and Liz's slippers (shared in the last post).

It's almost boring posting about this kind of stuff :) but Lee at Freshly Pieced has set up this great progress report time for us to share what has been happening in our craft areas!

I did have a brilliant idea for a present for Chad...I haven't started it yet and I'll have to keep that one under wraps till Christmas. He reads my blog... :) Love you! I've finally thought of a craft project for you!

TO wrap it up...

Finished projects: 1 (Christmas cards)

New projects: 0

Continued projects: 3 (Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, EPP Diamonds, Season's quiet book)

Total WIP projects: 3

For whatsoever is born of God

overcometh the world:

and this is the victory

that overcometh the world,

even our faith.

1 John 5:4



Once we have received Christ as our Savior from our sins we can know that we have 'overcome' the world. We may still live here, but our hope and focus is to be on Heaven and our eternal home there. If  you do not have the assurance of a home in Heaven...please take time to read the left side bar of this blog for a clear way to know where you will spend eternity.

With hope...
Amanda

In the Mood...

This past Friday, I was finally in the mood to get a redo project done for my sister-in-law. For Christmas one year ('05 or '06) Chad and I made her a message board. Well, in August, she asked if I could recover it because the fabric had faded and she wanted to take it to school with her.

Procrastination and demotivation had set in...it got shuffled around the craft area...until Friday! I finally decided to just try and find some fabric, rip off the other stuff and get it done! Thanksgiving break was a good motivator too...I can give it back to her then!

This is the new message board...I forgot to take a before picture before I started ripping it apart.

This one has a pocket sewn on and the message board section at the bottom/side. The previous fabric was a dark blue with silver ribbon and silver buttons. She still prefers earthy tones...so I hope this works well for her. Dark brown corduroy and a brown/tan plaid pocket. Also, a few extra button embellishments.

I think I'll even add this to the Home Decor fun over at Celebrate Color hosted by Rachel at Stitched in Color.

This weekend also found productivity in the cutting up of the material for Liz's Postage Stamp quilt...I'm looking forward to starting to sew these pieces together...

I also threw together another pair of fleece slippers...these ones fit Liz, but they won't for long...

My enlargement of the pattern wasn't quite enough...but the sewing went better this time, they're not wavy! Amber will get her's at the end of the week :)

That's my crafting weekend in review...
I'll see about adding it to a few linky parties :)
Chef in Training and Quilt Story among them...all the linky party buttons are on the right side bar.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen thine heart:

wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 27:14

Things change as we progress through different stages of life...but amid the change we can find that God has a plan for us. If we wait for Him to show us, it will be the best for our lives and we can wait in this season...but still plan and pray about the future.

Amanda

Wednesday WIP Wrap-up...

I know I haven't done a WIP for quite a while...but today is the one year anniversary for Lee at Freshly Pieced's weekly Wednesday WIP party - so, I thought today would be a good day to evaluate my WIP's and join the party again.

This week I did have a BIG finish...my first quilt! Also, I did a couple of small projects that I showed yesterday...so, now it's almost like starting new!

Today, Liz, Chad, and I narrowed down a quilt pattern for Liz's quilt...I think we have finally decided on this one...

(source)

Liz actually said she liked this one better...but she's three...so, I'm going to make the executive decision and add the sashing! Now that we have a pattern, I can start cutting fabric...ooohh!

(Edited to add this picture of the fabric

picked out for the Postage Stamp quilt...)

The lower four fabric were picked out and purchased last week during a good sale at JoAnn's. The fabrics in the upper half of the photo are pulled from my stash to coordinate...I'm not sure if all of these will make the final cut or if I'll add some others, but this is our majority of fabrics.
I'm still stalled on Liz's Season's quiet book...haven't touched it in months, except to move it! Christmas is coming quickly...I'll have to get it out again soon!

There has been little progress on the 60 degree Diamond Fall Table Topper...but I think I did get another star section done since this last photo in August.

For the afternoon I'm going to sort through scrapbook paper for the kids to use for their Christmas cards for the Soldiers (see yesterday's post for more details or click the Operation Christmas card button on my right side bar). I'm also going to start working on a few cards to contribute.

TO wrap it up...

Finished projects: 1 (Amber's quilt)

New projects: 2 (Postage stamp quilt, Christmas cards)

Continued projects: 2 (EPP Diamonds, Season's quiet book)

Total WIP projects: 4

Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way, the truth, and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

Amanda