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

A busy week...

This is a busy week, but I did make it a point to sew a little last night. I got a small section of a star quilt block sewed together - and one section ripped back off because it sewed over to far at the end. So most of my projects are still waiting...


Future pillows...

Future desk mat (oversized mug rug)...



I hope that Friday night is more productive, that's probably my next opprotunity to sew.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen thine heart:

wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week... It's half over!

Amanda

A Baby Shower...

Today I went to a baby shower for a lady that used to go to our church (she moved to NY when she got married). This week I packed her a box of baby things...which I had plenty of since she is also going to be having a little girl too. However, the packed box was a little plain. So, to remedy the situation I decided to make her a 'scrapbooked' picture, which I started yesterday and finished this morning not very long before needing to leave. Someday I think I'd like to make this into a quilted/appliqued fabric piece.

Then, when at the shower I found that the plates, the cake and the cookies were baby buggies...I thought how appropriate, don't you think? God even works in the small decorative things we do.

 

Yesterday also brought 'down' a big event...the tree beside our house. It has been dieing as of late and Chad had already delimbed a small portion of it, but the whole thing need to be removed. It was a sad day, very gloomy and rainy. Typical Northwestern PA.

This tree was a very nice tree. It was just outside the kitchen window. It was wonderful to me in the fall because it made the falling of the leaves begin in late August...and then with the other trees beside our house, I had leaves falling into November. I loved it! Fall is my favorite season. (Spring is probably my second, although I do enjoy a warm cozy house and big snowflakes falling outside in the winter.)

But the tree had to come down...as some of the limbs hit the ground, they shattered because they were so rotten. It assured me that, although I'll miss it, it's better it came down this way rather than onto the house during a storm.

 

Good Bye Tree...

You'll keep the house warm in the near future!

As I near the end of this post, I wanted to show an adorable picture of the girls.

Next week is going to be busy...extra days at school, a dentist appointment, and a ladies meeting...but I'm still hoping to get some sewing done and post what I get done.

But today I'll leave you with Psalm 127:1 & 3:

Except the Lord build the house,

they labor in vain that build it:

except the Lord keep the city,

the watchmen waketh in vain...

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward,



Build your house right...attend church on Sunday!

Amanda

Liz's Fat Quarter Skirt...

Yesterday found me making Liz her fat quarter skirt (because she was to tall for the pillowcase dress). It was finished in about 3 hours...however, that would have been less but everyone wanted to eat and Amber is still sometimes kind of slow at finishing her bottles.

This is my first try at showing the step by step process of a project. So let me know if there is anything I need to do to make it better!

I begin by washing my fabric...that's personal preference...some prefer not to.

This skirt uses 2 fat quarters (21" x 18") pieces of fabric, elastic for waist (I used 1/2 inch wide because it's what I had) and thread.

I ironed the fat quarters then placed them right sides together. Then I turned in both side seams in 3/8 inch, ironed, then turned them in again 1/2 inch, ironed, and sewed at 3/8 on my machines plate.

Then I ironed out the seams. Next I hemmed the bottom using the same measurements as the sides. 3/8 inch folded in, then 1/2 inch again, then sewed at 3/8 inch. I do the doubling to keep raw edging out of my skirts.

 The second half of the project is the waist. First, I turned down a 3/8 inch section, ironed, then based it down. (Makes the feeding of the elastic through the casing easier.)

After basing, I turned down a 3/4 inch hem to make the casing for the elastic. I sewed it at down at a 6/8 measurement on the plate on my machine, leaving a 3 inch section unsewen.

I measured the elastic to Liz's waist and added an extra inch - as per the instructions on the package (although I read those afterward - this was not my first use of elastic:)) I then fed my elastic through the casing then sized it to Liz, then sewed the elastic together.

I closed up the casing, then to help prevent the elastic rolling in the casing, I secured it in four places around the waist. One on each of the side seams, one in the front and one in the back.

Then it was ready for Liz to wear...which she did to school today.

Tomorrow I hope to do some quilting. I want to practice on a mug rug, which I have fabric picked out for it...

 But I also have more Star patterned quilt squares to make for gifts. The previous ones were put into a wall hanging for me...since they were the first ones I've made. So, now I need to make about 4 more for the gifts I want to make. Here's a (bad) picture of the wall hanging, which I still have to quilt then bind. All a new learning process for me, but I'm enjoying it!

I'll show a better picture when it is all done.

Lastly, like usual, I want to leave you with a Bible verse.

Therefore, my beloved brethern,

be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Amanda

Your Help...

This month on the Moda Bake Shop blog they are hosting a challenge to reproduce a previous recipie from a particular catagory. I have made a couple of Bible Covers using the idea of the Journal Covers. But now I'm not sure which one to enter.

This one is Liz's.

Then there is mine.

 

I need your help to decide which one to enter.
Liz's or mine (Amanda's)?
Leave me a comment to let me know which one you like better. I'll make my final decision in the middle of the month. Thanks for your help!!

The girls are adorable, but they just don't look at the camera at the same...so I picked the one where neither one was looking, yet they are still cute.

This morning I was going through my Bible and came across this passage...

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord,

and whose hope the Lord is.

For he shall be as a tree planed 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.

The heart is deceitful above all things,

 and desperately wicked; who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins,

 even to give every man according to his ways,

 and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:7-10

I always enjoy reading about trees and water and the way God has created it all.

Enjoy Life...Be a Blessing...Attend Church on Sunday!

Amanda

Just One Star...

Yesterday was a project completed day. I started...and finished my quilt block for the Just One Star Challenge.

Making this was so much fun -- and the baby was sleeping so well -- that I made a couple more to make into gifts. These two will probably be placemats or pot holders for my sister, and then I want to make a couple more for my Secret Sister at church...only those will be pillows.

These are the first quilt blocks I've ever made. They were rather easy. I followed the directions from the Moda site. (If you want to participate, there is still time. The deadline is May 1st. A link to the Moda site is in an earlier post.)

I have a lot of projects in my head to do, and now I want to add quilting to them. However, I don't think any crafts will get done today. School, Printing invitations (more about this later), Dinner, and a Couples meeting tonight...that's my day.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:

but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 13:20

Happy first day of April!

Don't forget to go to church on Sunday! 

Amanda