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

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

Our Strawberry Patch...

A few years ago we planted some strawberry bushes behind our garage. The first two years we got a total of maybe 1 quart...however, the past few years we have been enjoying some great strawberry harvests during the month of June.

Today we got the firsts of this years harvest, which looks to be a pretty good one again...

It doesn't have as much weeding done in it as it should...but it still produces for us!

 

Yummy! Chad and Liz love them...they at all of them this evening except the two Chad gave me. I guess I'll have to fight them for more tomorrow ;) !

On Saturday, I was able to get a good portion of my diamonds sewn around their templates, so soon I hope I can get some stars made and together! It was nice working on something in the car (and only feeling slightly ill once...it was kind of hilly and curvy then!).

Found this picture of me on my camera tonight...
one of the young ladies with us had my camera for part of the day.

This is so fun...and today, Mary over at Molly Flanders showed her most recently completed Grandmother's Flower Garden block and it made me want to try some hexagons soon...so much inspiration, so little time!

Not only did I get alot done on Saturday, I also got a few ideas for some quilts. If only we didn't have to sleep!

For I rejoiced greatly,

when the brethern came

and testified of the truth that is in thee,

even as thou walkest in the truth.

3 John 3

A few weeks ago in Sunday School we cover the New Testament Character of Gais. This verse stuck out to me...that I want it to be said that I walk in the truth.

Great day crafting...God to be praised for the talent given!

Amanda


NOTE: The three opprotunities to join me in Pay-It Forward are still available. Check out the Will You Participate post and join the fun!

Seems like its been a while...

Almost a week has gone by without a new post! I have been getting some sewing done...mostly on the hand sewing travel table topper (EPP 60 degree diamonds). But even that doesn't get as much attention as I would like it to!

So, I have three of my seven stars done for the table topper. I really enjoy seeing it come together. I can't wait to start adding the 'joining' diamonds. I was able to work on it in the car on the way to the birthday open house yesterday...but on the way home I started getting car sick while trying...so the ride home wasn't as productive.

On Friday night, I went to my in-laws and raided there trunk of material...

It was like being a kid in a candy store. My father-in-law used to do alot of sewing, so he had a huge trunk full stuff. Alot of it is still in large cuts...I see some great quilts in my future!

This is some that still needs washed (1. It needs it after being in storage for so long...and 2. I always pre-wash!)

This is some of the solids and larger cuts that are already washed & folded.

I also found the inspiration for my NEXT hand quilting project...I can't believe I'm already thinking that far ahead!

It is these vintage flour sacks that once belonged to Chad's great-grandmother.

I'm leaning towards a piano runner...

 Here's some more of the already washed finds...some of it is already pre-cut squares for a Christmas quilt. I think that will be fun to decide what I want to do with them. 

 So here is my fabric shelves awaiting it's newest additions...it should be filled up soon with all the great stuff I found...Thanks Dad & Mom Dickson!

Yesterday was the Open House (Birthday Party) for Chad's grandma. She turned 90 years old. Here she is with her 4 great-grand daughters...however, none of her great-grand sons made the trip. But the girls played together and had a sleepover at "Big" Mama's (minus Amber :)). 

Amber, Mama, Liz, Sydney, and Brylee

 And then here she is with four of her five grandchildren.

Dylan, Chad, Mama, Sara, and Bernie

Mama enjoyed herself, at least she seemed to!

I received some wonderful complements on the invitations...and has made me seriously consider selling some on Esty...does anyone have incite on starting to sell stuff there? I'm still working on patterns to also sell there, but they are a little slow going right now.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. It went fast, but was mostly enjoyable...sunny and very warm here in NW PA.

This weekend I heard this repeatedly...on a kids radio program on Saturday, during Pastor's message on Sunday, and again on Monday in the car on a recorded conference we listened to on our travels...so, I thought I should share it with everyone today!

There hath no temptation taken you

 but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you

to be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

God doesn't allow things to come into your life without Him being there to help you get through it. We can't bear the temptation and trials of our lives alone, we need to let go and let God bear them for us.

May your week go great...leaning on God along the way!

Amanda

Beautiful Star...

It began to develop today at school...
(You can see a picture on Flickr...my server is not allowing me to post it here...???)

It's the first half of my first English Paper Piecing star for my first hand sewen quilt project of a table topper. I found that the basting of the material around the diamond is not very fun to me...but I love the sewing of the diamonds together and the development of the star!

Today I placed an order for material to make new valances for my living room.

Lakeside Resort Small Leaves Brown 6343-15

Lakeside Resort Large Leaves Beige 6342-19

Lakeside Resort Small Leaves Blue 6343-17

It was great priced Moda fabric over at The Fabric Quarter.  I think I'm going to enjoy the blue...since I've had a home to decorate, I've tended towards Burgundy with my greens and tans. So, it will be a great change...I hope!

Today I was practicing a song by Ron Hamilton, Bow the Knee, and it really made me think about majesty of God.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,

every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.

So then everyone of us

shall give account of himself to God.

Romans 14:11-12

Playing the piano can be one of the most rewarding times of reflection on God...just need to push myself to practice more!

Happy Wednesday!

Amanda

Summer Travel Project...

As I browse through other blogs, I see some great things! One of them is the 60 degree Diamond English Paper Piecing quilts. I've decide to start this hand sewn quilt process for something to carry along with me to summer picnics and parties...I even made a new little bag for this endeavour!

I still have to do some whip stitching to finish off the raw edges on the inside...when I get it done, I'll show pictures of my finished Hand Sewing Travel Box.
But now on to what's going into the box...

This week I decided I wanted to try some hand sewing, so I looked into getting the EPP templates...

However, it was cheaper to print off the diamonds and make my own templates. I found free diamond/triangle graph paper here and did some copy & pasting, arranging and shifting to get my diamonds 2" on each side. This made it possible for me to get 12 on one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 piece of card stock.

I printed them off, cut them out, scored them in the middle, and am working on hole punching them.

Today I wanted to cut out my material diamonds...so I started digging through my scraps. These are some of the piles I had going...

(This green leaf material was 'lost' in my pile... it didn't make it into this project, but I can't wait to use it in something!)

In the end, I decided on a fallish coloring and cut enough diamonds for a table topper quilt. I thought this would be a good size to start with...to see if I like it before diving into a whole quilt. Here are my diamonds...

Now, I just need to get stitching!

Jessica over at Life Under Quilts has a good video to show you the basics of 60 degree diamond EPP...check it out and join the fun...there's also a Flickr group!

This pile of fabric will soon be on the cutting table...

I designed my own full size quilt that I hope to use this material for. I'm going to start with one block to make sure I like these materials together...

If I do like it, they'll become a quilt. It will be a flannel top with a fleece backing...and no batting. I think it will make a very cozy and warm, yet light, quilt.

Also, if all works out well, I am hoping to write it up, open an Esty site and sell it...I'm excited to try my first pattern to sell. Any tips on starting to sell things?

On Thursday, my baby turned 6 months old...she cried all day, but I was able to get a couple of happy pictures.

 This one is from today...she was alot happier all day!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

 but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord,...

2 Timothy 1:7 & 8a

I'm so glad that the Lord is working in us...even when our 'sound mind' seems like its not there anymore! Also, I want to continually be a witness for the Lord...and realize always that...

Being confident in this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work in you

will preform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 1:6

May your weekend be full of happy moments...

and church attendance!

Loving the chance to 'talk' with you...

Amanda