Finished by Friday...

So today's Finish it up Friday was a real push for me to get a project done that I first spotted and decided to make on Monday. It took all week to make these :)

On Monday I saw this pin...

and I decided that they would be really nice to make for the girls. However, I chose to make a fewer number of squares and made the squares slightly bigger...yet they still took all week :) even though once worked on, they weren't hard and didn't take a long time...it was just a thing of finding the time!

Tonight, I finally finished this puzzle game thing...still not exactly sure what it is, but I figure that I should make something fun for the girls, they can make up their own games, and I can always use the squares to help in teaching them to count :)

So, I made 20. They were cut at 5" (4.75") from the material...then once finished, they are 3 3/4" square. (Also, different from the tutorial, I sewed up the opening on my machine with a small zigzag stitch...not much for sewing things shut by hand!)

I like the size they turned out and I think that 20 will be plenty to have to try and find throughout the house! The back of five received fun animals...

I think the girls will enjoy :) 

Thanks Amanda Jean for pushing me to get these done! I should be able to link up with a few minutes to spare... I'll also be adding these to some of the other linky parties listed on the right side bar.

Today's fun picture...

She's adorable and getting over her cold, yeah! She loves helping with the laundry and dished...and she's only one! Now, for her to just keep liking to help :)

And let us not be weary in well doing: 

for in due season we shall reap, 

if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9

Some days it doesn't take much for me to get weary and tired, but these are those kind of words that need to be said and repeated. I have known this, probably all my life, but it still need to be refreshed in me that the things we do have a consequence, either good or bad...and even the small things... so sometime we just need to take time to consider the things we do and what we may reap from them.

Amanda

Scallop Quilt Top...

Last week in Curves Class with Rachel from Stitched in Color we began working on precise curves. The projects included the DP blocks, a Scallop Quilt, and an Orange Peel Pillow. We are not required to do every project each week, but I did all three of these...they were just so great!

I did the DP blocks to get comfortable with precise curves and because my wonderful husband got me the template from here for Christmas...which I love :) I showed my DP blocks on last Wednesday's post if you want to see them.

Wednesday's class was a greatly anticipated class...the Scallop Quilt! I bought my fabric for this quilt in mid-January with Christmas money, and couldn't wait to get started on it!

Here is a close-up of the main fabrics in the scallops...

The original pattern was for a baby sized quilt. Well, around here, we like larger blankets...so I added two extra scallops, some inches to the width, and then some borders.

 So now it's about the size of a twin quilt.

It's been quite windy around here this winter...today was no exception!

Thursday's project for class was an Orange Peel block for a pillow. I didn't really think I needed a pillow and thought it would look nice in the quilt...so I added it to the quilt!

Close-up of the Orange peel block before adding it to the quilt...

I'm loving this combination of material, colors, and shapes so much that I decide this is going to be my quilt! I love how the top turned out... 

and I did get the material with my Christmas money...

and I'm making it for the class I got for my birthday...

and I need a quilt for on my office chair :)

However, now I want to 'decorate' my sewing/office space with this combination of fabrics...so I have some of the scrap pieces cut for mini granny squares to make a chair pillow.

I'm going to wait to quilt this on my new sewing machine...once I get it, I'll tell you all about it... :) So EXCITED!!!

Also, once I get this and Liz's quilt quilted, I'll show them off!

So, I finished this top today,

and I also received some great fabric in the mail... :)

I finally WON a giveaway! Randi, at Fresh-Squeezed Fabrics and writer of I have to say... blog, hosts a weekly fat 1/8ths giveaway...and I won last week! I was so excited when I found out I won... I probably would have started jumping up and down, but I was holding a sick baby.

So, keep commenting, you never know when you'll actually win...  :)

Be still, and know that I am God:

Psalm 46:10a

Sometimes we need to remember in all the chaos of life, that we need to stop and regain our focus. Even in the midst of knowing that God is in control, we need to be still and listen for His will and regain a vision for following Him.

Focus on God and follow His will...
Amanda



Sharing at the great linky parties with wonderful hostess's listed on the right side bar... Check'm out :)

Another Singing Sunday...

because music speaks to us... and I just LOVE this song!

The Gossett Trio singing at Ripley Baptist Temple did a wonderful job on the song, but it does take the video a few stops during playing to load, ...but so worth it!

I Have Been Blessed

Verse 1:
When He moves among us all that He does
all of His mercy and all of His love
if the pen of the writer could write everyday
even this world could never contain
how I've been blessed

The warmth in winter the flowers in spring
the laughter of summer and the changing of leaves
the food on my table a good place to sleep
clothes on my back shoes on my feet
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 2:
Arms that will raise a voice that can talk
hands that can touch and legs that can walk
ears that can listen eyes that can see
oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

A father and mother who nurtured and raised
sisters and brother memories made
our pastor to lead us the altar to pray
stripes that can heal the blood that can save
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 3:
We live in a country the greatest on earth
our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
she stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls
all gave some but some gave all
for me to be blessed

He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down
the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed
the place where He hides me under His wings
He's not just a song He's the reason I sing
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed


I first heard this song at church for Thanksgiving, really liked it...so I went and found a good YouTube video so I could hear it more.  Then, two weeks ago, I was able to get Lois and India Rasquinha's new CD, Stand Still, and it has this song on it. (It is also available for single MP3 track download here or you can order their whole CD.)

O taste and see that the LORD is good:

blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 34:8

Amanda

An Early WIP...

Wow! a Tuesday night early Wednesday morning Work.in.Progress Wednesday update...probably one of the very few :) I usually do mine on Wednesday afternoon! Will link up with Lee from Freshly Pieced later today.

It's been a busy sewing week. I think the Curves class has added to that, but enjoyably so, well mostly enjoyable!

Thursday, and part of Friday, I worked on the Clamshell Table Runner. That was fun!

Then for the next three days, I worked on the Improv curves project that involved a tree - not a great success, but Chad didn't mind it. I told him I might just finish it for him to hang in his office :)

I like the tree...not so sure about the hills :)

Since that project was done, I decided on Monday I wanted something more...um...personal, easy, less pressured...I'm not sure what to call the feeling, but it made me start a quilt that I had the idea for and designed on the computer in MAY 2011! I've even had the fabric since then...it was easier to not use it in other projects because it's flannel and was already labeled for this quilt!

I named it 'Log Cabin Block Chairs'. The idea came while I was in the nursery at church and playing blocks with one of the little girls. We had them set up in the configuration that the Log Cabin blocks make and they looked like big, boxy chairs. I decide that flannel with a fleece backing would just seem to fit this pattern.

So, I FINALLY cut into it... and now this pile of flannel is at the end of my work table and I have one block done.

However, there are a couple of design fixes, so this one block will be slightly off from the rest that I make...it'll probably end up on the back or as a doll quilt for the girls...or maybe even for the little one that help develop the idea...hmmm...she'll be turning 3 in June :)

Cutting and sewing Monday was a great relaxation. No time pressure. A great feeling of personal design...even if it is using a basic and classic base as the main design element :) ...and it's really nice to be able to sit down and make the changes on paper the computer before going and mass cutting the rest of the pieces!

It was great to get started working on a good sized quilt rather than just all small stuff...but tomorrow I also get to start a lap quilt for Curves Class - this is really exciting!!!

Tuesday, I worked on some DP practice pieces for Curves Class. I made three blocks, but only finished one completely.

My first and third practice (unfinished) blocks...

 

My second is also the one I decided to finish because while sewing it together I had an idea for FMQing it and wanted to give it to Chad as a new mug rug for his office desk... so, now he can take it to work tomorrow :) It finished at 7.5" x 7.5".

Really enjoying that my FMQing is going so much nicer... maybe I should have had my machine looked at a long time ago ;0) ...however, my 'a' still didn't get closed in 'praise' - so, I still have something that needs worked on. LOL!

Weekly Review...
New Projects: 4

[Improv Tree, DP Blocks, Log Cabin Block Chairs Quilt, Scallop Quilt {will start on it later today :) }]

Completed Projects: 3 ...well, at least the tops of the first two...

[Improv Tree, DP Blocks, Clamshell Table Runner]

Continuing Projects: 5

[Log Cabin Block Chairs Quilt, Scallop Quilt, Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe

in Macedonia and Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord

not only in Macedonia and Achaia,

but also in every place your faith

 to God-ward is spread abroad;

so that we need not to speak any thing.

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

The Thessalonians had a REAL faith in Jesus and they did not hide it. It was known everywhere that they were believers of God and trust Him.

If we are Christians, true Christians, bought by the blood of Jesus and His victory over death in the Resurrection, then shouldn't we be living lives that reflect the virtues of Jesus...and that they'd be so evident that we wouldn't even need to say anything?

Preach the gospel, and when necessary, add words.

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

Clamshell Runner...

Today's finish is actually one of last weeks projects for Curves Class with Rachel from Stitched in Color. I'm really enjoying the class...but am slightly behind on doing all the projects - but the beauty of the class is that we don't have to do all the projects! However, all the projects are so cute...so I think I'm going to work on the ones I don't get done during class after the class is over.

Back to this weeks finish of last weeks project...

The project was a Clamshell pillow. Well, at this stage in my families life, decorative pillows are not really a priority :) So, I was going to make this pattern into a book clutch to give as a gift. However, once the FMQing that I chose was done, I decide the receipient would like it flat...like a table runner!

The Quilting in the cream material is sections of Psalm 1. I haven't FMQed in a while, but this turned out nice...I think the tension being fixed just after Christmas helped it turn out nicer!

I practiced on a small scrap with the words written out with the washable pencil, but it was better when I just freely did it without the pencil.

Here's the beautiful clamshells.

And a picture of it on my little table at the end of my big sewing table.

The binding is pieced with the matching fabrics of the clamshells. It took me a bunch of time today, but I really like how it turned out :)

Hope to have a productive evening for Friday Night Sew-in with Heidi. (See the right side bar for the link.)

Adding this spectacular finish to the Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts with Amanda Jean.

Blessed is the man that walketh not

in the counsel of the ungodly...

And shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water...

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous...

Psalm 1

The above scripture is what is writen on the table runner. One of my favorite passages.

Amanda

A Full Wednesday Report...

It's that time in the week to gauge our progress in our sewing...WIP Wednesday with Lee from Freshly Pieced. Although I haven't been blogging this past week, I have been sewing...and we were also away for the weekend :)

Last week was the first sewing week for our Curves Class with Rachel from Stitched in Color. I chose the bib project so Amber would have a few new bibs for the weekend...they turned out cute!

 

The other project from last week that I wanted to work on did not get very far...due to our going away and having a major migraine on Thursday...
So, this is all the farther my clamshell project is...

Planning on working on this some today.

Yesterday, Valentine's Day, Liz and I worked on a few yarn hearts.

And I did yesterday's class work, Improv Notecards...

 

For most Valentine's days, Chad and I go to our church's Valentine's Banquet. Well, this year before going to the restaurant, we stopped at the LQS so I could pick out a free FQ I received for participating in the contest they had on FB. Well, Chad also purchased one for me...

So, I got these two beautiful pieces of material for Valentine's Day :) [I told Chad when we first got married to never buy me flowers...they are a waste of money because they just die in a week - he has bought me a few plants, but I tend to kill those!] Fabric with flowers on it much more useful to me :) !!!!

Last week I also decide Amber need a new diaper bag to take on our weekend trip.

I like the way it looks, but I made it a little to long and narrow...but it serves it's purpose. I'd probably just LOVE it if I had made it have a bigger bottom area and shorter side...now I know :)

Week Review...

New Projects: 1 [Scallop project]
Completed Projects: a bunch of little ones covered in this post

Continuing Projects: 4 [Scallop project, Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

We had a wonderful weekend trip from NW PA to Rochester, NY. It took about 3 hours to get there, the roads were bare (rare for this time of year in this part of the country...but this whole winter has been rare!) and we stayed at a lovely hotel - Holiday Inn Express in Webster, NY. It was close to the church we were visiting for the weekend. However, the trip home on Saturday was about 2 hours longer due to snow [mostly in PA :)].

It wasn't a site-seeing type trip... We went to Family School! It's a conference held by Southeast Bible Baptist Church. (this is also Commonground Baptist Ministries - see this post for more info)

We had a wonderful time and even received a free family portrait from a photographer at the church. She is the photographer at Cobblestone Photography and gave us a small free print while we were there...and we can order more (professionally printed copies) from her site if we want.

This is a scan of the copy we received...so the quality is a little grainy [and I added the writing for various reasons ;0)], but the picture is great!

Hope you and your family had a great weekend...and beginning of this week!

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you

some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.

Romans 1:11

Paul wrote Romans to impart some great truths to us, to learn and grow in our Christian lives. I enjoy being able to share some of the things I get when I read the Bible. My prayer is that they in some part help you, encourage you!

Amanda