A Win...

On Wednesday, I opened an email that said I was the winner of  the kit for the Fork-n-Spoon Tutorial...

My first thought was "won what, is this real?" ...but I'm blaming my temporary lapse of coherence to the cold I was fighting, which was making me quite fatigue earlier this week... A second read through the email and had an "Oh yeah, that giveaway...Cool!" moment and got exited :)

Then today...

A beautiful package came in the mail for me! The giveaway win from Cherry over at Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio... Thank you, Cherry!!!!

It was packaged so nice and a sweet card to go with it!

I'm oohing and awing over the contents... an adorable charm pack of Chrysalis, a yard of beautiful cream fabric (I think it might be linen) and a matching 1/4 yard of the orange Chrysalis fabric. 

Again, BEAUTIFUL! :)

Jesus answered and said unto him,

Because I said unto thee,

I saw thee under the fig tree, 

believest thou?

thou shalt see greater things than these.

John 1:50

I read this in my Bible reading on Thursday and this made me think about faith. Just a small amount of 'beginning' faith in Jesus can produce great things. If we have faith, even just a little, God can work through us and show us many more wonders. I believe that this also will help to grow our faith...and then in turn shows us even greater thing that God can do.

Faith as a mustard seed...

Amanda

Mini Friendship Quilts...

Liz and I are reading through an American Girl book, Happy Birthday, Kirsten (which is difficult on me...my sister's name is Kristen...so that's what I want to say) and they were starting to make a Friendship Quilt. I decided Liz and I would make a tiny quilt for in her lap-book that goes with the story...however, this turned into an even bigger project :)

6 - 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 Mini 9-Patch Friendship Quilts for the girls in our Glow Kids class at church (and Liz)...

We'll still have to make a tiny quilt for in the lap-book :)
But these have been my working project since Saturday morning...Friday night the sleepiness overtook me!

Oh and here is our late April snow that came on Monday and melted on Tuesday...

It has been a while since I gave a WIP Update...
so here goes!

Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt is finally complete (see here for the complete post) and she has been happily sleeping under it since it's been finished.

I have fabric and a plan for a new quilt that I hope to start cutting out later today. Here are the fabrics (except one I couldn't find online)...

I also am at the beginning stages of picking out a pattern and colors for another quilt that I'll need to start soon! Let the fun continue...

Now for a Little Catch-up Review...
New Projects: 2

[Two quilts...one cutting later today and one to decide on a pattern ]

Completed Projects: 3 

[Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, Mini Friendship Quilts, 2 Bible Bags]

Continuing Projects: 4

[Log Cabin Block Chairs Quilt (on hold), Scallop Quilt (just needs quilted and bound), the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

 with so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, 

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

 and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

Hebrews 12:1

There is a lot in this verse that could be explained or expounded upon... which is obvious when I heard two different message preached from this passage this weekend! Both were good messages btw! :)

However, today I just want to share mostly about the running of the race set before us. I especially need to remember that God has a perfect race map for me and that I need to be continually looking to Him for the directions for reading the map correctly. Although for now things seem on a steady path, I know at anytime there could be a curve ahead that He knows about and how to make it the best way through the curve...

As we see curves approach, some may be exciting to see a good blessing ahead...however, some curves bring along not-so-pleasant situation...in them all God is willing to guide and wants us to lean to Him to see us through. I am so glad that He knows the path and I don't have to worry about it!

Look to Jesus for strength!

Amanda 

A Couple of Bags...

So, it's Friday again :) and I only have one project worked on for the week... a couple of small bags for Bibles.

I made them on Tuesday. I used my Simple bag pattern/tutorial just adjusted the measurements down for a standard Bible and pamphlet sized devotional book fit in them. They were so easy and fast...wonderful to feel like something crafty was accomplished!

Yesterday, I had some time I could have used for sewing but ended up rearranging furniture which provided me with a wider sewing area :) Definitely going to enjoy that!

After linking to some great linky parties, including Finish it up Friday at Amanda Jean's, I'm going to go be crafty :) ...if sleepiness doesn't overtake me!

A friend loveth at all times...

Proverbs 17:17a

Amanda

Flashback...

To my first quilt, for Amber, to enter in the Festival of Half Square Triangles over at Canoe Ridge Creations.

We'll remember that I finish this in early November...so it makes it in under the 6 month cut-off for being able to submit :) yeah!

Quilt Stats:
Size - 52" x 68"
Design - altered Warm/Cool Quilt Along Design
Fabric - 2 Fresh Flowers charm packs by Deb Strain for Moda
             color coordinated fabrics from Jo Ann's
             white from stash material
Binding - 1933 Poinsettia by Jackie Robinson and Maywood Studio
Quilting - machine quilted by me

Thank you so much for sharing the joy of my first finished quilt...

 and I'm getting ready to start a quilt full of half-square triangles...but it definitely won't be done to enter in this festival :) The fabrics for the new quilt are great, I can't wait to get started...

If any man speak, let him speak
as the oracles of God;

if any man minister, let him do it

as of the ability which God giveth:

that God in all things may be glorified

through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise

and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:11 

I know I've shared this before...once being the post about my first quilt... but I really like that it acknowledges that God gives us our abilities and that we need to glorify Him when we are using our gifts. We can never thank God enough for what He has done for us and we also need to remember to praise Him!

Amanda

Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt...

Finally DONE!!! I took my sewing time this week and quilted Liz's quilt.

I finished it this evening and we went out to take pictures...

Her Christmas gift is now complete, 4 months later... but she was still very excited!

The quilting is echoing diamonds in each 16-block square. The center diamond moves around in the blocks per color of thread used for the quilting. 

The evening air was chilly, so, Liz is shivering...I was too!

The back.

Great colors!

{Edit to add the quilt stats...forgot those, opps!}

Quilt Stats:

Size - 53" x 72"

Design - Sashed Postage Stamp

Fabric - yardage from JoAnn's

             some scraps from a Moda jelly roll

             some scraps from the 1933 Poinsettia by Jackie Robinson

                          and Maywood Studio used in Amber's quilt

             other miscellaneous scraps from my stash...

Binding - yardage from JoAnn's

Quilting - machine quilted by me

She LOVES it!!!!!!!

I love this picture with Liz wrapped in the quilt...it was the last one we took --> back into the warm house {except that a few hours later and my hands are still freezing :)}

I was pushing myself to get this quilting done...and it's the only thing I sewed all week {but we also had revival services at church this week too!}... 

So now I can add it to the weekend linky parties on the right side bar, as well as Amanda Jean's Finish it up Friday party at Crazy Mom Quilts.

I spent a little bit time editing the pictures over at PicMonkey to see what it was like... I really like some things about it. Especially the ability to rotate my 'label' in the pictures. It's got some other neat photo editing features too! However, I did miss the easier way of changing the colors of the text in my other program.  

On to quilting the scallop quilt from Curves class, starting a couple of new quilts soon, and throwing around ideas for others :)

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 127:3

Today a couple of friends -both have more children than me :)- shared the link to this song with me this afternoon...it's a wonderful reminder to realize there is more to life than having a toy-less floor and not finding stale Cheerios laying around (from our Cheerios Princess). It is a good one to listen to daily!

Amanda

Laptop Case...

This project has been a couple weeks in the making...and is happily, finally done!

My wonderful husband decided to get himself a small laptop (his splurge from our ITRs...). Although he has a nice satchel briefcase to put it in when he needs to take it with him, the laptop needed something to be housed in while at home. I decided I could make it a case...

Chad helped pick materials from my stash...which doesn't include extreamely masculine fabric, but we did find some. And with the all over stippling, it looks kind of like camouflage material :)

He wanted it to be a zipper pouch...makes it smaller than if it was a fold over flap. I sacrificed my fear of zippers to try and accomplish this for him. I think this only the second zipper I've ever put in... probably why it took a week to design and start working on :)

But it all came together well! The divider was the easiest part to make...and fun with the stitching, however, it is in the pouch slightly crooked - oh well!

He likes it and it turned out pretty well! The zipper needs a pull put on it to make it easier to open...but for now it has a paper clip ;)

I'm glad it turned out well...I was afraid of a couple of parts, especially the bulk of the sides to put the binding on...but my machine did wonderfully! It still had a little hesitation, but got past that and was fine!

I really need to get a review of my machine posted soon...'cause so far it seems great!

Happy to be able to add this project to the Finish It Up Friday party at Crazy Mom Quilts with Amanda Jean today! I'll probably go added it to a few other parties, too!

And the angel answered and said unto the women,

Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,

which was crucified.

He is not here: 

for He is risen,

as He said.

Come see the place where the Lord lay.

Matthew 28:5-6

Jesus fulfilled the prophesies of the coming Messiah and finished by gloriously rising from death...a terrible death...to show that He was the only way of salvation.

He is not still in the grave. He conquered death...

HE IS RISEN!

Have a wonderful Resurrection Sunday... remember to celebrate our risen Saviour!

Amanda

Eventually...

Time to sew...and post about it...does present itself!

On Saturday, I was able to finally feel like I got some sewing done. I made Liz a bath robe. I loosely followed a tutorial about making a robe from a bath/beach towel. I used a yard of fleece instead!

Liz had picked this fleece out at JoAnn's sometime last year...and I grab the yellow out of the remnants bin to match! The first time I tried photos, she didn't really cooperate... These are the second time around, and she had more fun with it!

 I put the ties into the side seams and after it was all made, it wouldn't stay on her shoulders because I got it a little to big, so I added a snap at the top to help it stay on.

Just the monkey material made the robe seem a little short, so I added on a bottom yellow trim... now the robe is to her ankles :) It is a little big for her, but this way she'll be in it a long time and its almost like wearing a blanket - which is what the material was suppose to be! It turned out to be very similar to a Snuggie.

Also on Saturday I was able to make myself a new circle...very twirly...skirt! I love the fullness! I used this tutorial...however, I again did my own thing :) I didn't have the large Elastic for the waist, so I made a casing and added a drawstring. I had hemming issues and so, ended up putting bias tape around the bottom...

And I LOVE how it turned out....and oh so comfy!!!!

I've been working on a project this week that I hope to have done for tomorrow's Finish it up Friday...so I need to go sew!

However, I did get slightly side tracked by this fun word art 'thing' just before writing this post. Miss Snoodles from Lily Pad Quilting shared the link on her post today...and I went to have some fun with it. I tried to make it quick fun while the little one was having her afternoon bottle. This is the cute flower I decided on for now...

tagxedo.com - go make your own :)

and eventually I may make a few more of these...I just haven't decided exactly what to do with them yet :)

Hope you are having a great week! If you are in need of some crafty inspiration, check out the linky parties listed on the right side bar!

When Jesus therefore 

had received the vinegar, he said,

It is finished:

and he bowed his head, 

and gave up the ghost.

John 19:30

This week that leads up to Resurrection Sunday (Easter) could be considered a bitter sweet one when we look at the event that happened to lead us to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday (Easter). 

Jesus was hailed and praised on Palm Sunday...

betrayed-accused-beaten-and-crucified on Wednesday... 

He was hung on a cross to die. 

He willingly sacrificed himself to pay the sin debt for us. 

He finished the need for sacrificing animals...

He was the ultimate Lamb...

then He spent 3 days in a tomb...

If you want to know more about why Christ died for us, please read the left side bar of my blog or feel free to write me...I'll be happy to talk to you about it!

Amanda