FNSI

By the time I realized it was time again for FNSI, the day had arrived. I haven't been on Facebook as much this week and that seems to be where most of the info is these days.

So apologies for not spreading the word.

Here's what I got up to on my day and evening of sewing and handwork:

Worked on my UFO project for this month.

Did some stitching and cut out applique pieces for a future project.

I also cut out some doll hospital gowns and quilts that are part of my charitable donations endeavor for this year.

I didn't get as much done on Friday as I would have liked, so I rolled over into Saturday.

I wanted to do some reorganizing and cleaning up. I sew in my dining room. Unfortunately things accumulate and before you know it, it's out of control. I'm trying really hard to just keep the current project available, maybe one more.

This piece was from my grandfather that Mom didn't need or want. I kept my finches on it until the last one died a few months ago. It too, was just collecting things with no organization. Now it holds the on-going projects that I want front and center. It takes a lot of little projects off the table so I have room to cut and layout on the current project.

When I wasn't doing that, I was in the kitchen either cooking or cleaning up. As I was doing so, I was thinking about the book study I'm participating in with Jenny of Elefantz.

Part of being domestic is cooking, but as I was doing so I realized that the best part is the sharing.

I made lasagne for us for dinner. 

While I did so, I made a small pan to share with Mom later this week.

It feels really good to do that on a fairly regular basis, not just lasagne, but other things I make for my family. I also feels really good when she calls me and raves (yes, raves) about how good things are that come out of my kitchen. I appreciate hearing the compliments, but I get to validate myself and know that I did good and that what I've shared is appreciated. 

I don't think we do that enough for each other. We really should do it more often. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with things that make and keep you happy.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 NIVUK

Let Us Become Weary in Doing Good, February 11, 2019

Update for February 11, 2019

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no-one to help them up.

Eccles. 4:9-10 NIVUK


I'm adding a new charity that I found this week while reading a blog:

1000 Hearts - This charity makes and distributes "pocket hearts" made from wool felt. They are about an inch big, so they are small enough to carry in a pocket, but big enough to know it's there to serve as a reminder. 

Here's what the home page says:

"1000 Hearts is a kindness project based in Hobart, Tasmania - offering people a symbol of compassion and care through handmade pocket hearts."

A simple little project. It's great for a take along when you are sitting and waiting for an appointment, or in line at school, or a couple of idle minutes.

Project Linus - This one is for baby quilts. They can be knit, crochet, quilted, or fleece. I'm jumping on this band wagon. I'd like my goal to be at least one per month. There are patterns and resources on their web page. Just follow the link.

A Doll Like Me  You are linked to find out more about this organization and what they do, but let me just tell you it's incredible and Amy is a hero in my eyes. She makes these amazing dolls that have the same physical differences as the children who receive them. How cool is that !!! What we are being asked to do is make tiny hospital gowns and doll size quilts so the children can dress their dolls so they are having the same hospital experiences the children. The gowns only use a fat quarter and some bias binding. Easy enough. I'm jumping on this band wagon as well. You can also follow Amy

on Facebook.

From My Carolina Home  Quilts are being collected for victims of last year's double-whammy hurricanes.

American Hero and Quilts of Valor This is an on going, never ending need for quilts for military veterans and their families.

Little Dresses for Africa 

2019 Hands to Help

This effort is hostessed by Sarah. The link will take you to her blog where you can read about five amazing charities and you can sign up if you are ready to participate.

Local quilt shops - are always doing something charitable. Collecting pillow cases, quilts to be bound, quilts to be quilted, etc.

There are other things we can do. Donations of all kinds are need in various places:

- donate money to your favorite charity

- donate food to a food pantry

- donate fabric

- donate time

I have chosen the charities that I will be supporting this year. I sincerely hope that you are able to join us. If not, please do what you can because the need is great. And if not us, then who?

Going forward I will update this post to include what I've done and to whom I shared my efforts. Please know, that I'm not doing this to brag or guilt anyone in participating. I am doing this strictly to help a cause and to encourage us to help where and when and how we can. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with things that make and keep you happy.

Let us become weary in doing good.

Galatians 6:9

HQAL

It's time for another three week report. I can tell you, that time goes very quickly. I don't always have as much progress to report as I would like, but this time I feel like I'm at least making some progress.

I agreed to join a block of the month with BF. It's Crabapple Hill's Girls Getaway. It's just a fun, girly quilt. We'll get a new block every other month, so I have two months to stitch each block. This months' is really small, 8x10.

I have the top half of the block completely stitched after I drew it off and did some coloring.

I'm stitching with a great group of other friends. Please follow the links and check out what they have been up to.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette,  Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK

Goals update

The first week of the month is always more busy than the rest of the month. Even so, I managed to make some progress on my goals:

UFO Challenge

# 10 - Sheep quilt

- assemble the  blocks into a top DONE

I need to add sashing and borders.

Scraps from all the trimming of the blocks :)

 Decide on fabric for both of those.

- sandwich

- quilt

- binding

Sewing Class

-  background block prep DONE

I also finished the block from this month's class. I'm getting down to the wire on finishing this quilt. At least all the blocks :)

15 minute stitch challenge

- continue stitching daily YES

The first half of this block is finished.

The Art of Gentle Domesticity

- read next section(s)

- post thoughts on discussion questions

DONE

The next discussion has been delayed a week due to the horrible inclement weather that Australia has been experiencing.

Download BOM patterns DONE

12 Things Challenge

#3 - Sunflower Doll (January) in progress. I found a doll pattern I'm going to use, all the supplies have been gathered.

- cut out everything needed

- begin to assemble

and 

#10 - cross stitch to be framed (February)

- choose frame in progress, I think I have the frame I want to use. Still trying to make the final decision on it.

- frame stitchery

- find place to hang

All in all a pretty good week, considering I was out and about the first four days.

Goals for the week of February 11:

UFO Challenge

# 10 - Sheep quilt

- assemble the  blocks into a top DONE

- sashing, borders;choose fabrics from what I have.

- sandwich

- quilt

- binding

15 minute stitch challenge

- continue stitching daily Girls Getaway

The Art of Gentle Domesticity

- read next section(s)

- post thoughts on discussion questions

Crabapple Hill - Stitch Along (Facebook)

This is a free download. It's linked if you are interested.

- draw off design

- begin stitching one block per day

12 Things Challenge

#3 - Sunflower Doll (January)

- cut out everything needed

- begin to assemble

and 

#10 - cross stitch to be framed (February)

- choose frame

- frame stitchery

- find place to hang

Thanks for stopping by.

Wishing you a day filled with things that keep and make you happy.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 NIVUK

New week, busy week

This is how the week began !! We were in an arctic freeze last Wednesday and Thursday. Monday we were in the 60s !!! It has been a very interesting winter.

And the busy-ness began on Monday. I spent the morning with seven pre-schoolers. We had a great morning of playing and crafting.

I didn't get pictures, but they made 4 or 5 inch hearts decorated with ribbon and scraps of fabric. I don't know who was more excited, the kids or the moms :)

Tuesday morning I spent at Bible Study. We are studying David at the moment as part of our study on the People of the Old Testament.

When I got home there was a box :)

One of my favorite on-line vendors is Missouri Star Quilt Company. I love their daily deals. I ordered something the other day and found a scrap bag. So I ordered it. This is what I got:

 

These are a fairly decent size :)

A good variety :)

 

Not sure what I'm going to do with this, but I'll figure something out :)

I'm pretty pleased with all of it and felt like I got a pretty good deal.

I love squishy mail :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with things that make and keep you happy.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19 NIVUK

The Art of Gentle Domesticity

This week's topic and discussion is on books. I love books.

Cook Books

Books on Crafting

Biographies

Novels

Romances

Crime Drama

Fantasy

I'll be honest, I typically read just for pleasure. I will hold a book and read it, I will read a book on my kindle and I rarely go without one in my car. I love audio books and found they are a quick way to read lots of books.

I never used to, but these days I have several books in progress and I know what's going on in each of them. These days, I rarely just sit down to read although I should probably change that because I do enjoy it.

What book have you read in the past which still holds an emotional connection for you? In what way?

Mr. Popper's Penguins

This is the only book I remember reading in elementary school and all these many years later it still brings me joy. It's happy, it's funny. And why shouldn't a book be those things? 

 

This series of books revolves around four women who have been friends since childhood and grow up to run a full service wedding planning service and each one brings a different specialty to the business. But mostly the books are about friendship and a sisterhood. They are close, supportive, hold each other accountable and have a special bond. They are definitely feel good reads.

Another feel good read. This series, Chesepeake Shores,of books encompasses the O'Brien Family. It covers several generations beginning with the family matriarch, the grandmother who immigrated from Ireland. Strong family values is the overall theme.

Can you suggest any novels which nurture a 'domestic' culture?

Of my favorites, I would choose the Chesepeake Shores series. The grandmother is throughout the entire series. She's strong, loving and domestic. She cooks, bakes and gardens well into her 80s. She nurtures and encourages an extended family down to great grandchildren. She takes time and spends time with all of them and holds family time sacred and no excuse is good enough to miss Sunday dinner. She teaches each of them a family recipe that becomes their specialty as she hands the recipes down to just them.

Has today's study inspired you to read any of the titles Jane has listed as her read and re-read favourites?

Honestly, I hadn't read any of the books Jane listed. So I'm curious about all of them and have taken steps to get them and read them. One was only available on Kindle and was free of charge. Only a couple were still available at the library and the rest I could purchase on Amazon. I'm waiting for the first one to arrive at the end of the week.

The one that has me the most intrigued is Mrs. Miniver.

I did not know the movie was based on a book!! I was disappointed by Jane's opinion of the movie because it was one of my all time favorite movies. I know from my own experiences, that books are always better than the movie. Most of the time though, I think the movies are ok, better than ok.

Why Mrs. Miniver, the movie is so special to me is because it is a movie that I watched as a girl with my mom. We would sit Sunday afternoons, after our mid-day meal and clean up, and watch movies. All kinds of movies but usually older swashbucklers, or romances or Mrs. Miniver.

I don't expect reading the book will change my mind about how much I love the movie, but maybe it will give me a new appreciation for it.

NEXT WEEK we’ll be studying pages 34-43, hope you can join us.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with all the things that make and keep you happy.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:1 NIVUK

Let us become weary in doing good

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no-one to help them up.

Eccles. 4:9-10 NIVUK

Project Linus - This one is for baby quilts. They can be knit, crochet, quilted, or fleece. I'm jumping on this band wagon. I'd like my goal to be at least one per month. There are patterns and resources on their web page. Just follow the link.

A Doll Like Me  You are linked to find out more about this organization and what they do, but let me just tell you it's incredible and Amy is a hero in my eyes. She makes these amazing dolls that have the same physical differences as the children who receive them. How cool is that !!! What we are being asked to do is make tiny hospital gowns and doll size quilts so the children can dress their dolls so they are having the same hospital experiences the children. The gowns only use a fat quarter and some bias binding. Easy enough. I'm jumping on this band wagon as well. You can also follow Amy

on Facebook.

From My Carolina Home  Quilts are being collected for victims of last year's double-whammy hurricanes.

American Hero and Quilts of Valor This is an on going, never ending need for quilts for military veterans and their families.

Little Dresses for Africa - 

2019 Hands to Help

This effort is hostessed by Sarah. The link will take you to her blog where you can read about five amazing charities and you can sign up if you are ready to participate.

Local quilt shops - are always doing something charitable. Collecting pillow cases, quilts to be bound, quilts to be quilted, etc.

There are other things we can do. Donations of all kinds are need in various places:

- donate money to your favorite charity

- donate food to a food pantry

- donate fabric

- donate time

I have chosen the charities that I will be supporting this year. I sincerely hope that you are able to join us. If not, please do what you can because the need is great. And if not us, then who?

Going forward I will update this post to include what I've done and to whom I shared my efforts. Please know, that I'm not doing this to brag or guilt anyone in participating. I am doing this strictly to help a cause and to encourage us to help where and when and how we can. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with things that make and keep you happy.

Let us become weary in doing good.

Galatians 6:9