Maxi Skirt...

I can't believe how quickly time goes by... mid-June ALREADY???

This past weekend we had a youth rally that we attended with our church teens. It was a fun weekend and I wore two new skirts I made for the occasion.

I really like how the Maxi skirt turned out...

Long, slightly flowy, and oh so comfy! The light weight jersey makes it a great skirt for summer!

Here's the back...

Followed no pattern. Made from three panels of fabric. The waist is just hemmed then I roll it down some.
It was very quick and easy to make!

Love those kind of projects :)

On Monday, I rearranged my sewing and office area...more open and more desk space. Now I hope to go do some sewing in my clean space :)

The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 19:1

Change of Mind...

Last year about this time I came up with a quilt design that I drew out on the computer and had the material all picked out for it...

But it kept getting pushed aside... and pushed aside... and pushed aside... well, you get the idea!

However, about two months ago (I think) I made one of the blocks.

In this modified Log Cabin block, I had a few problem areas. The one block helped me see where my errors were and I reconfigured a couple of small things....and then it got pushed aside, AGAIN!

Well, Saturday night I pulled the pattern out again and decided that the problem area I have to work with is just to much for me right now!

So, I think that this beautiful pile of flannel needs to become a quilt soon...just in a different pattern!

Changing your mind is a woman's prerogative, right? :)

So, on to picking out a different pattern...
which I think I found this morning sketched out on graph paper under the Log Cabin pattern papers.

It has stars and diamonds :)

I was thinking about making the diamonds as 9-patch...what do you think?

UPDATE: Here it is with some colors added...

Still thinking about what to do with the Diamond sections.

...I could get some HST's going...
I think there could be a bunch of possibilities with this one. Any suggestions?
Also, I have to make sure that this pattern is alright with the recipient...my husband!

I'll probably include this post on the WIP Wednesday, with Lee at Freshly Pieced, when the link becomes available!

So they sat down with him upon the ground 

seven days and seven nights,

 and none spake a word unto him: 

for they saw that his grief was great.

Job 2:13

Sometimes there are occasions when our friends go through a particular rough spot in life and we may not know what exactly to say to them. Here in Job, just after he lost everything, his friends came and comforted with just their presence. Are we willing to just be there for our friends, even we we don't know what to say?

Sometimes not saying anything is better, 'cause as we follow the rest of Job's story we find that once the friends started talking, they weren't much help! Be there for your friends and ask God for guidance in what to say!

Amanda

The Finale...

The Scallop Peel Quilt is finally completely done and in use! I was able to finish getting it quilted the day after this months Friday Night Sew-In. The next day was a beautiful one, so we went on a picnic after church and took some pictures of the quilt.

Looks nice draped over the bridge, but I wanted to get a few more :)

So we took these...

I really like that guy in the sunglasses ;)

 The back...

And a beautiful picture of the family...

So the class has been done for months...and now my quilt is finally done! It's a great size large lap size...small twin bed size.

Quilt Stats:

Name – Scallop Peel Quilt

Size – 52 x 70

Material – Keepsake Calicos from JoAnne Fabrics

Quilted - by me :)

It's been washed a couple times already and is so comfy feeling already!

Added this post to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story...see the right side bar for the link to the party!

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 

an holy nation, a peculiar people; 

that ye should shew forth the praises of him 

who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:

1 Peter 2:9

If you are a Christian - a believer saved by the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ's death on the cross and  His Resurrection - you are the child of God. And as such, God has set His children apart to be special...a light to the world to show His holiness. Although we will not be perfect till we get to Heaven, we should strive to be an accurate example of Christ in this sin-filled world we live in. Are you doing your best to represent Christ to others?

Amanda

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

Window Boxes...

On Monday I was able to complete a small lap quilt for a neighbor lady that headed to the hospital this week for surgery and a week long stay.

I had to do this one in a hurry, mostly cause I had Mother's day presents to complete as well :)

So, when I decided to make this quilt to brighten what could be a dreary hospital stay, I needed something in my stash, something fast, and something cheery!

Well, I had some 6.5"x6.5" material pre-cut and waiting...for years...to be sewn into a rag quilt. This was a much more worthy project and turned out so cute.

I made a quick design and named it Window Boxes...

With the bigger boxes being pre-cut, this really did go together quickly!

I did have to buy the sashing...got that at the local Amish/Mennonite (not sure which one they are...) store that sells bulk food, fabric/sewing goods, and has a great selection of deli meat and cheese.

I should have looked at some backing when I got the sashing, however, I didn't... so I used a yard piece that was meant for another quilt... but the yellow with daisies just looked so RIGHT! Added a little piecing and  a label to the last quarter of the back and had a quick back ready to go!

Also, just did a quick quilting - straight lines about a 1/4 of an inch in on the sashing... goes with the Window Box thing :) The quilting was really nice on the white with a slightly shiny Bright white thread by Sulky. I think I'm going to use the same white thread in the white sections of my Orange Peel Scallop Quilt...which I hope to quilt tonight during FNSI - still time to sign-up if you want to join the fun!

I finished up with a yellow binding.

It turned out so nice...and I think I have enough pre-cuts to make another one :) !!!!!!!!

Quilt turned out to be about 36" x 60" - a small lap size. Great for really highlighting a fabric pattern.

Adding this one to the weekend linky parties...check 'em out!

UPDATE: Also, choose this one to add to the Summer Sewing Contest for Ellison Lane. It has great Summer colors and I hope it is a great comfort to the recipient this Summer!

Verily, verily, I say unto you, 

He that believeth on me,

 the works that I do shall he do also; 

and greater works than these shall he do; 

because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12

On Tuesday night we went to a Revival service and this was the text. It was a great message to Christians about the GREAT works that can be done through us if we are willing to be used by God. The concept shared was that we can do GREATER works than Jesus was able to do while He was here on earth. God has used willing men of God to bring multitudes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. These great revivals began in Acts with Peter and many more have since followed, some beginning with the earnest prayer of faithful ladies.........are you willing to be used? perhaps YOU could be the start of the next great revival!

Amanda

Mother's Day Review...

It's been more than a week since my last post...what a slacker, right? Well, I could give you my list of excuses, but I don't think that you'd really care to hear about them...instead you'd rather see what I was working on!

I've been busy with Mother's day things...
I used the Retro Kitchen tutorial along with the material I won from Cherry at Cheery Blossoms Quilting Studio to make Mother day presents. I shrunk the templates and made trivets.

They are about 8 x 12 inches and have a removable rice pack so the covers can be washed if needed.

I think the (more) green-blue one turned out to be my favorite :)

The backs have an over lapping back pouch where I used my sewing machine lettering to add a label to them...

Liz had a Birthday party to go to on Saturday, so we made her friend a pillow...

and a necklace. Liz did the beading...she really liked that!

At the party, we went for a walk... it was a beautiful spring day!

At church on Sunday morning the Mother's were treated well and got some gifts...

and I received these beautiful pansies from my in-laws.

Now, so that I don't kill the flowers, Chad and Liz are taking care of them......I do better with Cactus/Desert plants, they survive without being watered regularly!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's day!

Commit thy works unto the Lord,

and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:3

Amanda

The Sewing Machine Review...

I've been busy...just not taken the time yet to write up posts.

But today I'll give you a quick review...
-- a sewing machine review...
letting you know what I think of my now 2 month old Singer Quantum Stylist 9960.

I quilted Liz's quilt...which is a generous lap/small single bed quilt...and it went very well.
It doesn't have a huge throat space, but I noticed a difference between it and my old machine....it's bigger to me :)

The selection of stitches is amazing and fun to play with... I used some on bibs made not long after I got the machine.

I still have tension issues...but I'm thinking that its the user :) I need to learn the best settings per stitch -- like when using elastic thread in the bobbin and silky material...use 18!

I'm still loving the thread cutter...so much less thread waste!
It does better with thick sections.
Love the stitch-in-the-ditch foot that came with the quilting package I got with the machine! [PS...this is on sale for even less than I got it for :)]
The bias tape binding foot is pretty neat too!

Over all I like the machine...a good machine at a good value!

A more expensive machine may still be better, but when money still hasn't begun to grow on trees...we all have to make the money we do have count :)

It is the LORD:

let Him do what seemeth Him good.

1 Samuel 3:18b

Amanda