Week in Review...

So, it's been almost a week since I last posted...and what a busy week! I've been cleaning, sewing, and canning...now I need to focus on some Science class lessons -- school starts for us on the 31st.

So on Saturday, I decided to move Amber into Liz's room and down grade the amount of toys they had out and made a toy corner for them in the "multi-purpose room" (aka. our bedroom)...

This disaster...

Became a clean girl's room (without toys)...

I still have some decorating to do in there...the Farmland Bunting from VBS and some new curtains to go up, but it so nice to have them together. The once toy bins are now Amber's clothes and Amber's dresser (that's still in our room) has blankets/sheets in it.

The toys we kept out moved to the 'multi-purpose room," which also affected my sewing area, but it seems to be working good. The other toys went into storage...so later we can switch-out toys...it will be like getting new toys all the time :)

I love the set up and the new twin sized design wall is just calling for my HST that I sewed together for Amber's quilt...I hope to have time to lay it out soon. Also, to keep the girls from (literally) getting under foot, I put the board across there...but we can still easily get to each other :)

On Monday, I canned pickles and salsa. That morning I was looking for a dill pickle recipe and came across this cookbook in my collection...I got it when my grandmother moved out of her house a couple of years ago...

Now that I'm quilting, I'm so excited that I got it!

At the beginning of each section is a quilt pattern and the pieces need to make templates...also, there are tips, Bible verses, and cute quotes among the recipes. It was compiled in the 70's.

The rest of the week I have been working on some donation articles for Ladies in need in Africa...this is part of the Hopeful Threads/Ladybird Ln's August project.

An excerpt from the project info page...

"I feel SO BLESSED to live in a land where I have received a free quality education.  I was stunned to find out that in many parts of the world, girls are unable to attend school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of regular feminine products, can you imagine?

So, although you might not think of feminine pads as a back to school item, they are NEEDED in parts of the world.  The option of disposable products just isn't realistic or available for many, so these girls are often found trying to use whatever possible.  I have even heard of girls using trash or mud, or missing out  on school entirely. 

That's where our plan of sewing this unusual "Back To School" necessity comes in!"

These are the ones I'm donating...

Ladybird Ln has all the information about this project...I felt like participating because this was something I never thought of and have never had to worry about...but these ladies do.

(source)

So, I made 12 reusable cloth pads...5 adjustable absorbency and 7 simple pads...both from the examples shown on Hopeful Threads. At first I only had the five cut out and ready to sew...but I wanted to do more, so I made the simple ones and once I had them cut out things started working out...

I had twelve...a nice number, and not only that it coincides with the number of girls/ladies (including my 2 girls) that are at our church school at least twice a week...by first initial...4A's, E, H, 2 K's, 2 L's, M, & P.

Now, I'm just looking for the right people to donate these through...I may just end up sending them to Kristy @ Hopeful Threads and she said she'd get them to the right people. (If you want to see more pictures of the pads I made, just go to my flickr photostream...the link is on the right side bar.)

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For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat:

I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me:

I was sick, and ye visited me:

I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

And the King shall answer and say unto them,

Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto

one of the least of these my brethern,

ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:35-36 & 40

The donation items were finished yesterday...and though it took longer than I felt I had time for, God reassures us when we are doing right...

This passage was in my morning reading and goes right along with helping other when we can!

Who can you help today?

Amanda

College Bound...

Soon one of the young ladies from our church is heading to college, and so tonight we are having a College Shower for her. I decided to make her a pillow...

I went with the Log Cabin pattern because her Grandmother gave her a quilt for college that was the Log cabin pattern...so  I thought how nice to 'corrdinate'...only the quilt is all pink! I added in green for a little variety :)

The label for the back was a quick handmade one, because the one I printed off on my printer didn't work out...see the wall hanging post.

It's a little wonky and slightly hard to read...but I think it's alright for the most part...I was running short on time - the story of my life!

The front is made with flannels and the back is a small corduroy...even with the wonky label, I like how the pillow turned out!

Also, for this young lady from her sister...a Message board! She came over to learn how to make one. We put it together in an afternoon...and it turned out very cute!

Some sewing, alot of staples, and a little hot glue = a great off to school gift. We hope she likes her homemade goodies to decorate the dorm room!

See my right side bar for more inspirational fun at the weekly linky parties!

Now therefore fear the LORD,

and serve him in sincerity and in truth:

put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Joshua 24:14

(Reading this along with the verses in front of it...) We realize we have all received blessings that we don't deserve...shouldn't we thank the Lord with sincere service and worship? We should!
Sunday is the day set aside for worshipping the Lord...why not attend church this weekend?
Amanda

Mini Boho Sweatshirt Dress...

This dress was inspired by a tutorial at Sweet Verbena for a Boho Maxi Dress...mine has some variation! Since it is different, I named it the Mini Boho Sweatshirt Dress...

Why? Because it is shorter, made of sweatshirt material instead of jersey, and has simple embroidery on it.

I also tailored it in so it didn't look so much like a sack and so it didn't need a belt like the original...but I got it a smigine tighter than I feel comfortable wearing...so hope I can lose a few more pounds or I'll have to sell it on Etsy...and make another one for me!

I did go ahead and put it on for a picture...

but now off to the Fair for this dress! I need to get everything ready to go...tomorrow night is the beginning of entering exhibits!

On another crafty note...I went to JoAnn's this week because they were having a good sale, and I got a 20% off entire purchase coupon email...here's the loot:

I was having major fall fabric attraction...and needed to buy some! The charm squares and FQ's were on clearance and the yardage was on sale for 50% off! It was a good shopping day...the rotary blades were $25.99...on sale for 40% off = $15.59...plus the extra 20% coupon, so, I saved another $3.12 for a final price of $12.47!!! That's still a $3.50 savings from the $15.97 I'd normally pay at Wal-mart...I love saving! (And it was so great using a new blade...like a hot knife through butter!)

Everything was either on sale or had a 40% coupon to go with...plus the extra 20%...and the material is a great weight...not the thin stuff! Ok...so enough of my ramblings about sales!

This weekend I'll be showing off a couple of gift projects...but I'm waiting for the recipient to open them :) Stop back to see what a young college girl is going to receive for the first "Going to college shower" I've ever heard of... it's great to have a party! And speaking of parties...checkout my right side bar for some fun linky ones!

But whoso hearkeneth unto me

shall dwell safely,

and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 1:33

God gives peace beyond our understanding...we just have to trust Him!

Amanda

Quick Cover...

Things are gearing up for school and I wanted a smaller binder to carry back and forth... I had a nice 1/2 inch cranberry one...except it has print stains, making it look bad!

So, I decided to remedy the situation with some fabric (after I decide not to just buy a new one)...This was a fast project that took about an hour this morning and is ready to get filled with science lessons!

Now onto a crayon holder for Liz... well, at least before school starts!

Remember to check out the crafty linky party buttons on the right side bar...pass the fun along!

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1

Sometimes I can be a grump... I need to remember that the girls see me more than anyone and I need to have a good name with them as well as others.

I love when just flipping through the Bible leads to the verse you need!

Amanda 

Work'S' in Progress...

Another WIP Wednesday is upon us...and I'm excited to have finished a project this week! The Patriotic Wall hanging is done! (Full post here...)

I have had some progress on the 60 degree Diamond Fall Table Topper...

Last week I worked on the Quiet book for Liz a little bit, but did not post for WIP...so I'll show you what I did. I did the backgrounds for almost all the pages. Seven are finished...three backgrounds to go! (Quiet Book Sew-along @ Stolen Moments)

I'm excited to have this much done. On Saturday, I stopped at the craft store and got a felt pumpkin for the harvest page...for 25 cents! The only thing is that it might look more like the Great Pumpkin from Charlie Brown compared to the size of the page!



I haven't touched the fabric baskets, but it would be great to get them done so I can keep my laundry room/bathroom organized!

I did make a dress on Monday...it was so quick to make...it's a sweatshirt material, so no hems needed around the bottom, sleeves, and neckline. I want to add some hand sewing embellishments...so I'll reveal it when I get those done!

To sum it all up:

Works Completed = 1 (Wall hanging)
Works in Progress = 4 (Dress, Hand sewing Diamonds, Season's Quiet Book, Fabric baskets)
New Projects = 2 (Dress, Wall hanging...other than the top)

WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced

Not by works of righteousness which we have done,

but according to his mercy he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:5

Amanda

Americana Patriotic Star Wall Hanging...

Finally, a finish of something needing attention for months! The Star wall hanging that was put together in March is now quilted...yeah!

It looks good...but there are a few bad spots in my quilting. I need to work on consistency of stitch size and pattern (with the FMQing). Also, there are a couple of wrinkles in my binding that I think I'll need to fix. I wanted to enter this in the county fair at the end of the month, but I'm not sure its going to get to go...we'll see what else I get done :) !

I pieced the back (sorry I forgot to take a picture...) with a label included. I used the print your own labels again...however, after washing the wall hanging, the label is a MESS! The background coloring is almost all gone and discolored and the words are a little hard to read in spots. I was very disappointed...but at least it didn't affect the rest of the wall hanging. I think I might have to design and order some labels from Spoonflower and get a fabric pen...live and learn!

Tonight was beautiful here...we took a lovely walk, then stopped in our backyard for...

Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! Check out the linky parties on my right side bar for more crafty fun!

And he answered and said unto them,

I tell you that, if these should hold their peace,

the stones would immediately cry out.

Luke 19:40

We need to remember to rejoice in the Lord and give the praise due to Him...because if we don't, the rocks will have to! I think the Lord would rather hear from us than rocks.

Talk with you Wednesday!

Amanda

Berry Blueberry...

Last night we picked blueberries at my in-laws. They have a great blueberry bush in their front yard. While we were picking, Liz decided to garnish the bowl...a real chef, isn't she?!

I had a particular purpose for about a cup or so of the blueberries we were picking...

Cream Cheese Dessert

I ended up using two and half cups...but there are still a lot of berries left. Liz will be happy!

I don't like blueberries, so I made a half with strawberries for Sunday School hour. This is one of my favorite desserts, so I'll share so maybe it can become one of yours!

(here's the original recipe...but I'll share how I make it!)

Cream Cheese Dessert (13x9 pan)

Graham cracker crust:
      3 cups graham cracker crumbs
      1/3 cup sugar
      2/3 cup butter/margarine - melted

Mix together and pat into bottom of pan.

Cream cheese filling:
      12 ounces cream cheese/Neufchatel cheese - softened
      1 cup powdered sugar
cream together
      1 tub cool whip
fold into cream cheese, mix well
spread onto crust

Topping:
fresh fruit of choice...or pie filling...or (drained) frozen fruit

Enjoy!
Great summer recipe...no baking!

Check out the right side bar for some of the fun linky parties I try to attend regularly!



Thus saith the Lord,

which giveth the sun for a light by day,

and the ordinances of the moon

and of the stars for night,

which divideth the sea

when the waves thereof roar;

The Lord of hosts is his name:

Jeremiah 31:35

God is the Creator of the universe...He set the times and seasons into place. Glorify Him for the beauty of creation!

Worship the Creator today in church!

Amanda