FNSI Recap...

So, last night was Friday Night Sew-In...and I was able to participate :)

I was able to get started just after 6 pm... I was going to start sooner in the afternoon, but it was such a beautiful day that the girls and I went for a walk instead!

I was planning to start quilting on my Scallop Peel Quilt and had hopes of getting it done... however, I remembered I had some garment repair projects that needed done for some relatives, so I proceeded to get those done first!

I also added a small improvement in my sewing area... I hung up a thread rack that has been in the storage area for years. Still not sure why it took me so long to get it out :)

So during the first couple of hours, I did that and the garment repairs...then took a break to help get the girls ready for bed [or in Amber case, put her back to bed...she took her nap very late :) I really thought she'd just sleep all night the first time I put her to bed... ]

I was back to sewing around 9:45 and did some quilting around the Orange Peel section of the quilt.

I didn't get much farther than that, but I hope to finish up this quilt today!

How was your Friday evening?

O praise the LORD, all ye nations:

praise Him, asll ye people.

For His merciful kindness is great toward us:

and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 117

Amanda

FNSI Tree...

So, last nights Friday Night Sew-In was rather sporadic. I did get the table runner done earlier in the day and post yesterday afternoon...but from there, my sewing time seem to escape me, but not because of me :)

The plan was to have a quick dinner then sew up my O Christmas Tree mini quilt for Curves Class. The quick dinner did happen and we played two quick hands of No Thanks! A new card game we got during our trip last weekend. We were done and cleaned up by 6 pm....yeah, I thought, I can sew all evening - DIDN'T happen!

I did start pulling out green scraps for the tree, then Chad had problems with the printer, so I had to find out what was wrong there...needed new ink, then the new cartridge didn't work, so now I have to call Clickinks and get a replacement! I did have another new one that worked, so Chad got what he needed, but it still an annoyance when we have a defunct cartridge in our order!

Moving along in the evening, I did a little more fabric choosing...then a cranky baby wanted to eat, but didn't want to go to bed at bed time! Eventually, she did settle down, I put her in her crib and played the piano to get her to sleep...it worked and I got my practicing in! Ahhh, but I was suppose to be sewing!

Finally, by 10-something I started sewing my tree together...

About 11:30 pm I was done with my tree. I don't know that it was suppose to take that long, but I did have a few problem areas when making my tree...just worked through them and finished with this. I'll be adding the background to my tree, probably today.

Hope everyone else had a more 'sew'ficient FNSI! I still did have a lot of sewing time in yesterday, but typically I do tend to be more productive in the afternoon and late evening than during late afternoon/early evening.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,

and whose hope the Lord is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

This is another favorite passage, and it also speaks of the tree being rooted by the water. It gives me a picture of how we are to be rooted to God and He will sustain us, even in the rough and uncertain times. I'm so thankful to have faith that He will accomplish all thing for good and to His will, if we just seek Him.

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

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

FNSI Results...

Last night was Friday Night Sew-in hosted by Heidi and Bobbi...

And this is what I accomplished...

Two fabric boxes for the missions conference in October...so, now I have 3 more big ones to make and 2 smaller ones (I have one smaller one already done).

The original boxes were lined with cardboard, but I had an idea that I went with and like it alot better! Each section is layered with two pieces of felt-by-the-yard and the piece of lining material, then quilted. It makes for a sturdy piece of material. Then the construction is the same.

Each box takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours...

Today however...I want to take this beautiful combination of material and make it into a bag!

I hope everyone had a productive FNSI!

Not slothful in business,

fervent in spirit,

serving the Lord;

Romans 12:11

The other verses with this one are talking about how we need to deal with fellow Christians...but this one made me think a little more on the personal level. That as I work on different things, I need to do them all to the best of my ability while I'm working on that project. This is definitely what I'm struggling with right now! :)

Off to schedule my day of activities...

Amanda

Don't forget to check out the linky parties on the right side bar...full of fun, fun, fun!

Once a week...

It seems like I've only been able to post about once a week...that is not my intentions! I want to be able to post a least a few times a week. But I think that I'm still a little scattered about what needs done and when. Since the start of school and the things that accompany it...like science lessons... and then the laundry and house work always piling up...things that are not as obvious, are not getting done as well as they should. I'm going to work on this and hopefully be able to post more regularly again.

Tonight is Friday Night Sew-in...so I hope to be able to get a lot accomplished and show it all to you tomorrow! If you have the evening free, why not join in?



Today, I'll leave you with a recent picture of the girls!

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee,

I have called thee by thy name;

thou art mine.

Isaiah 43:1b

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

What Wild Days...

yesterday and today have been! Yesterday was the Friday Night Sew-in with Heidi and Bobbi...so I got housework done in the morning - Yeah! (that's really good for me because it was laundry, and I hate laundry!)

But I digress... I so wanted to post my Friday night work sooner...but today has been very busy, but more on that later!

Yesterday afternoon, I began sewing together this adorable fabric basket for a birthday present. The original pattern from Pink Penguin has two cute handles, but they didn't seem functional...and Chad thought it needed one handle. So that's what it got...I think this is so adorable. When I first saw these baskets, I was wondering just how big it was. It turned out they are very cute 4 inches high, 5 inches across the front and 3 inches deep/wide. I can't wait to make more... it went together quickly! I'm linking this cutie over at It's a Hodgepodge Friday linky party...join the fun!

However, towards the end of the fabric basket project, the baby began to get fussy and cried alot of the evening...so the pillowcase that was on my agenda to finish last night only got partially done. I end up finishing it early afternoon today.

It also turned out very cute and is ready to be sent out to Carlee at Ladybird Lane for the Pillow Fight for a Cause going on over at her blog. I'm also linking this pillow case over at her Weekend Show Off Party...it's a fun party, check it out!

This was my very first pillowcase and I hope it brings comfort to the child that receives it.

Today's wildness also included strawberry picking, jam making, and hot air balloons...but I'll share more on that tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Sunday...

Be ye therefore followers of God,

as dear children;

Ephesians 5:1

We need to follow God's plan for our lives just as children follow others...trusting them to show them the right things to do. We can trust that God will show us His will for our lives if we follow Him...wholeheartedly!

Hope to 'see' you in church tomorrow...
Amanda

The Results...

Last nights Friday Night Sew-in didn't feel very productive at first, but once the baby went to bed more was accomplished. First I wanted to finish piecing the pillow tops, because this is how they've looked for almost a week...

First mission accomplished!

Next I decided to work on my oversize mug rug. I had the pattern picked out and some of the material I wanted to use. However, once I laid out the material to get started, I added some from my scrap basket... so my choices were from these...

Earlier I was going to go with blue, green, and yellow...However, the yellow & red material won out...so I went with yellow, red, and green...

So I cut the pieces...

And sewed the squares together and then cut where needed...

Now, I just have to press the triangles open to squares and then piece them all together and quilt.

I made a mistake - I didn't add an extra 1/2 inch to my small squares...I should have done this because the pattern was to cut triangles, and I thought it easier to make squares and then sew 1/4 inch both ways from the center diagonal line, then cut then apart there, but I forgot to do that the material should have been a little bigger because of the way the pattern was first laid out. (I should probably try this way on something small to make sure I thinking about this accurately!)

Oh well - so they are smaller than I first expected...but I had enough material for the size I did make :) All it means is that the finished block will be a little small...which for a mug rug exact measurements aren't as necessary as if I was making something more important. It's great practice...a trial and error kind of thing!

It's windy, rainy, and cool here - so I've changed my plans for the day...I'm going to stay home and sew. I think I'll work on the mug rug and Easter pillows for the girls.

This morning I read Psalm 48 and liked the confidence that God will always guide...

For this God is our God for ever and ever:

he will be our guide even into death.

Psalm 48:14

Have a great day...hope to 'see' you in church tomorrow!

Amanda

Friday Night Sew-in...

My busy week is slowing down. I even have my lesson prepared for Monday's Science class...but I do still have to make the assignment sheet.

Sewing, however, is on my agenda for the rest of the day, - well after I return home from my piano lesson! So, since I want to sew and I saw a fun link at Thread Head for a Friday night Sew-in... my thought...join the fun! Now I just need the girls to cooperate!

The Friday Night Sew-in is actually from Handmade by Heidi. Check it out if you want to spend an evening sewing...

The progress I make will be posted on Saturday.

Last night was our church's ladies meeting. Chad had the girls, and I found some pictures on the camera this morning.

We had a wonderful time and a great devotional on being what God wants us to be rather than trying to impress others... the comparison was between a 'Super Mom (Christian)' to an 'Abiding Mom (Christian)'.  As a christian, the Abiding Mom is that which to be strived for...to allow God to use us to His glory. I'll post a page today or tomorrow with the handout we were given comparing the two.

Be still and know that I am God:

I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

Happy sewing...be constantly abiding!

Amanda