Keepin' the Car Clean...

can be really HARD! A while ago I saw a tutorial for some car organization items...one of those items was a trash 'can'...which is more a bag. I don't remember where I saw this, but the idea stuck. I didn't really read the tutorial...sometimes I'll just skim through something and then figure it out for myself. All I remembered was a basic shape and the use of a plastic container.

I just made my own...

I came up with a pattern using a 4" embroidery hoop and a plastic bag... I LOVE how they turned out. The fabric makes a nice holder and looks nice, while the plastic bag gets the trash and is replaceable. Just loosen the inside of the hoop, take out the bag, and replace with a new one...easy clean!

The first one I made had a slight issue where the hoop meets...but by the time I made the third one (the brown one) I had that area all figured out.

The third one is also different because it has a 6" hoop instead...I think I like the smaller one, but I broke the third 4" hoop I had and I'm not going to the store till Monday - I'll have to get a few more hoops :)!

The bags I used are Twist Tie Bags - Gallon size.

The Grayish-tan Can is for my SIL's birthday, the green one is for Chad's Birthday, and the Brown one is mine. Tonight we are celebrating the birthdays...Chad is seven years and one week older than his sister...so we sometimes combine the party! Today I made a Strawberry-Rhubarb pie for SIL...Chad always gets a DQ Ice Cream Cake.

I was excited because the pie crust actually turned out...well enough to even do a lattice top! I think this is probably only my 2nd or 3rd time doing a lattice top.

Celebrating with these fun linky parties...

It's a Party! @ A Creative Princess

Weekend Showoff Party @ Lady Bird Lane

Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense

(this is a new one...so I need to go grab a button)

And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good,

acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Currently I am reading Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. I am learning how to better meet Chad's needs... Last night I read a chapter about the three types of men...Mr. Command Man, Mr. Visionary, and Mr. Steady...

It was a way to see how the personality of your husband gives the wife different kinds of freedoms and abilities...I'm happily married to a Mr. Steady and as such am able to be craftily creative with his blessing.

Happy Birthday Chad...you are my rock!

Amanda

{WOW 'Wee'} Another WIP Wednesday...

So, with it being Wednesday, I'll round up my week of projects. I feel like it's been very productive! And this is my 50th post!

I did get a little bit of hand sewing done this past weekend...but not enough for a picture but I am looking forward to doing some more on it this coming weekend.

The FNSI helped me complete the Father's Day coasters! Yeah! A project completed!
Also, I picked out material to make about 5 fabric baskets... I have 2 done and a matching pocket for one of them. The other ones that are cut out are for our home, so they may get pushed aside a little bit...but I'm happy for these finishes because they are presents that need filled and give out this weekend!

I may have gotten more baskets done if I hadn't taken time to make a new pin cushion. The other one I made like this was sinking in and not working well...this new one has steel wool in it and so should keep it's shape better! I have this as a tutorial ...but I think I will need to edit it to include the steel wool. Also, this flower pot is the next size smaller. Still very cute! Included in this weeks {wow me} Wednesday at Ginger Snaps. Head over...it's a great party! I'm going to go find something to take for a snack to church tonight!

Week 2 of the Quiet Book Sew Along headed by Traci at Stolen Moments is a great motivator for me...I didn't get a whole page done, but I did get the background done for the one winter scene.

I think these pages will be fun to see evolve from material to 'games' that girls can do.
In conclusion...

Works Completed = 1 (Coasters)
Works in Progress = 3 (Hand sewing Diamonds, Season's Book, Fabric baskets)
New Projects = 1 (Fabric baskets)

WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced

Non-sewing :) = Science Lessons...School will start again before we know it!

Sing aloud unto God our strength:

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:1

Make a joyful noise and praise the Lord! Monday we had a great blessing...

We have a laptop computer that was given to us about four (?) years ago (it was hardly used, even though it already a year old...but the CD/DVD drive has never worked). We used it for the Internet for a few years, then about a year ago the computer died...it did NOTHING! We looked into getting it fixed, but it cost and we didn't want to put $ into it. On Monday, I got it out of it's year of 'storage' just to see what would happen. I turned it on and...

IT WORKED!!!!!!

It took about an hour, but it rebooted itself and we now have a usable laptop! What a great blessing because my plans include the use of one for Science class this year...I'm so excited! Praise God in all things!
Amanda

Friday 'Afternoon' Sew-in?...

Yesterday I accomplished some sewing during the afternoon hours...the bedroom was cooler (I retrieved the window fan from storage) and the girls played well...so, I finished the Belated Father's Day Coasters...

I made my first labels by printing them on my Ink Jet printer using a tutorial from LR Stitched.

These coasters were cut out a day before Father's Day, but then the summer busy season hit...so, they did not get finished until now. They were pretty quick to put together and finished to a really cute size of about 5" x 5 3/4". I hope the men like them!

And then I choose and ironed fabric for about 4 or 5 fabric baskets to get started on...

I was going to try to cut them into the pieces, but instead I cleaned off some shelves from the kitchen (with help from my husband) so he can put a new window (that opens) in the kitchen. The newly cleaned off shelves made their way to my sewing corner...

This is the motivation to get my new kitchen cabinet finished. It was started for my birthday (in January), but we've both been shoving it aside for other priorities!

Because of this new shelf space on my table, I spent the rest of my FNSI rearranging my craft table. So today I should be able to get some sewing done!

This weekend I'm contributing the coasters to these cute linky parties...

Weekend Showoff Party @ Ladybird Lane

(It's a Hodgepodge Friday @ It's a Hodgepodge Life)
*there is no post for this yet...if one comes available...I'll join-in!*

as well as my progress on Friday night for the

Friday Night Sew-in

and my sewing room for the
Where I Sew @ Pink Chalk Studio

I thank my God always on your behalf,

for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

1 Corinthians 1:4

These opening salutations always make me wonder...who should I be saying thank-yous for, and am I living in a way that others would be thankful for me?

Just my thoughts on these often overlooked verses.

Amanda

WIP Start Over...

Today is time for another WIP Wednesday with Lee over at Freshly Pieced. It has been quite a few weeks since I have been able to post about this...but today I'd like to START OVER!

The projects I had been working on are 'forgotten' and I'm ready to start new things in anticipation of our county fair (end of August) and my favorite season...Autumn! I even tried to have my youngest daughter named that (she was born in November)...but that was a no...but Amber is a nice fall color!

OK...so on to my projects!
The Patio Table reveal...

The whole project is NOT complete, but I am tired of working on it...so I'm marking it as done and moving on. The centerpiece turned out very cute and my cup toppers are done...but the napkins need trimmed (to prevent fraying), the pot holder is only a top, and I didn't even get started on the napkin ring holders.

I was also planning to write up a pattern to sell on my Etsy site, but my ambition to accomplish the writing of it is gone...maybe it will be something for another time!

Yesterday, I was able to do head surgery on a horse...he is back to happily galloping around my living room...I'm not sure what kind of accident he had while I was away, but he is all better!

I did very little sewing at camp...but a little is better than none! I'm so excited to have one star all done...only 6 more to go!

I think it was about a month ago when Traci at Stolen Moments decided to host a 'informal' Sew-along for quiet books. I loved the preview pictures and joined the fun...and on Friday we were to show our ideas...I realize I'm a little late, but hey, I was gone for almost a week!

I'm still in time to join the link for this post and so I can show you my ideas for Liz's quiet book. I'm planning a Season's Book with 8 pages...2 per season!

I sketched about half of them at camp and then the others when I choose to go with a theme...that was kind of easy since I already had each season!

I bought some buttons, now I need to pull some fabric and get started.

The little sewing I have done this week has been on some (very late) Father's Day coasters...I decided to make them the day before Father's Day, so they have been cut out, just need some sewing time. I hope to finish them by next weeks WIP!

OK...so to round it up ( all new :) ...to include the items 'on' my sewing table...not all the hope to get to soons!)

Works Completed = 1 (The Patio Table)
Works in Progress = 3 (Hand sewing Diamonds, Season's Book, Coasters)
New Projects = 1 (Season's Book)

Also, I've added my musings to these lovely linky parties for this post...

Quiet Book Sew-along 

at Stolen Moments

{wow me} Wednesday

at Ginger Snaps

WIP Wednesday

at Freshly Pieced

It's a Party

at A Creative Princess

Labour not for the meat which perisheth,

but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,

John 6:27a

Amanda

Catching up...

So before leaving for camp all the laundry was done...now there is a HUGE pile in the laundry room (and I've already done a bunch!)...

I was hoping to do a little sewing today but not much of anything is being accomplished. It's hot and we have no air conditioning... so some days are unproductive!

However, I hope to post a WIP update tomorrow...even though little has been done!

The picture video is not uploading and is causing some issues...so I'll try to get something put together that I can post later so you can see the great fun we had!

And last night for our anniversary, Chad and I went for a hike and ice cream!

So, a picture of us together!

and our ice cream...next time we only need to share the specialty boat...(and skip the extra sundae) just maybe have the peanut butter added to the chocolate explosion boat!

We couldn't finish it all!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness:

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

This verse was the main text for the last message at camp last week. Pastor Krohn spoke about making sure to put our priorities in order, then we will have all the fun things (not sinful) added to our lives and we will be living a joy filled life. I really liked his message and today I made mini replicas of the props he used to help the kids visualize what he was talking about.

 (The props used during the message.)

(My reminder 'mini' rocks.)

May we remember to put the right things first... Church, Bible reading, Prayer, Ministry, and School/Work...we will be blessed and we can really enjoy the fun things!

Amanda

Happy Anniversary...

Seven years ago, I married my husband. He is great and has become my very best friend. He is definitely my most favorite person! Happy Anniversary Chad!

Our wedding was planned in a couple of months and had a tropical theme. We got married during summer break while in college. I'd like to share a few pictures...

 A great picture of our rings...which happen to be the same size!

 The cake had the basket weave around it and was then decorated with flowers... Perfect!

A place setting at the reception.

I love this outside picture behind the church.

Our above wedding photos were taken

by Dennis Burchard.



And now we've been married for seven years and have two beautiful little girls...

and have very few recent pictures of us together...

so instead, pictures of us at camp last week. We took the Juniors (ages 8-12) from church.

I have a video of the weeks pictures that I put together for church.

(OK...so my video is not uploading...so I'll try uploading it again later on a new post! They are some great pictures!)

We go to Commonground Baptist Camp, which is ran by Southeast Bible Baptist Church. We just love this camp!

Being then made free from sin,

ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:18

Once we get saved, we are no longer under the weight of sin...but now we are to allow ourselves to be used of God. To be a servant to His will for our lives, in doing this we will find the greatest joy.

Amanda

A New Handsewing Travel Kit...

A few months back I started hand sewing 60 degree diamonds and made myself a travel kit...

It turned out cute and worked good...except it was a little small and not quite hard enough for keeping things from bending, oh, and the flap didn't always stay closed.

My solution came at the Fundraising Garage Sale we had a few weekends ago...

I got this sturdy little box for $1.00. It just needed a face lift...

I quilted a top, made a sleeve for it to go over the lid, and made the box lining by using a pattern for a fabric basket...just changing some dimensions!

I used some sticky loop and hook tape (Velcro) to keep the lining in place. I also made a matching pin cushion that is also Velcroed to the lining...now my box is ready to travel!

This one has hard sides, is bigger but still not to big, and has a latch to close the lid...I think it will be really nice!

I'm happy to link to a few blog linky parties...

It's a Hodgepodge Friday @ It's a Hodgepodge Life

Weekend Showoff Party @ Ladybird Lane

It's a Party @ A Creative Princess

I decided to show my box transformation instead of the skirt...trust me this is cuter!

Have a Great Weekend!



For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

Talk with you again late next week...

Amanda

Happy 4th of July...

It's been a fun weekend...Friday was the last day of VBS and we decided to camp out in the backyard...Saturday was a very fun church picnic...Sunday was church, a relaxing afternoon and neighborhood fireworks night...Today, we hung around the house getting things done!

I worked on a portion of the Patio Table project...

They turned out really cute and I can't wait to get the whole project completed, put together, the pattern written and posted to Etsy...but my personal end of June deadline was not met...oh well! And I don't think it will happen for a few more weeks, they are going to busy ones!

When I first started painting this morning, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the white...but in the end I think Amber's turned out the best...followed closely by Daddy's!

So, I hope you enjoyed your holiday...by the way what do you think these are?
I'll show you when I reveal the whole project! I'll be blogging sporadically for a few weeks but I do have a skirt I made quickly this weekend I may show later this week, but I won't be checking in for WIP Wednesday's until probably the 20th!

However, today I'm linking up to Make Something Monday at Sarahndipities...so head on over for some cool projects!

And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,

and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

May your week be peaceful...walking in the truth of God's Word!

Amanda