Slow Stitching: Wild Olive's Around the House Stitching Club

Slow Stitching: Wild Olive's 

Around the House Stitching Club

I'm almost finished with the top of this part of Wild Olive's Around the House Stitching Club!

After I finish it, I'll iron on some light interfacing, make a quilt sandwich and begin hand quilting!  So exciting!

I'm linking up to

Oh Scrap! @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

@ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sharing Sundays @The Creative Side

Philippians 3:7. I Like! Studio Tour Pt. 3 - Embroidery Floss Anyone?

Philippians 3:7.
Scripture
Observation

Paul is referring to the "gains" he received as a Pharisee.  After he met Christ, he considered these gains a loss.  
Application
How this verse resonates within my own heart!  So many objects, thoughts, books, and my own lifestyle seemed so inconsequential after I received Christ as my Savior!  As I go through my walk with Him, growing and maturing in Him, more "gains" seem a loss compared to the blessings He's poured into my life!  

Our entire thought process and value system changes to become richer and deeper.  The wonderful aspect of this growth is that our loving Savior works in is gently.  He is a perfect gentleman.  

Prayer
Oh Father!  How I thank You for taking me down Memory Lane with this verse as well.  Since I accepted You into my heart, You have been gently molding me, healing me and taking me to the next level.  I'm so eager to see what lies next!

Thank You, Abba, thank You for all the work You've done in my life and for the coming work You will do!  

via GIPHY


Studio Tour Pt. 3 - Embroidery Floss Anyone?
(Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here!)
Guess what?  I bought some embroidery floss....well a lot of embroidery floss.

My daughter convinced me to buy it.  Though she says differently.  Since she's not here to defend herself, we'll stick with my version of the story!😉

My LQS was selling their entire stock of Presencia embroidery floss complete with the store display at a fabulous price.  

Yup.  I bought it!

 All of it.

It makes us happy 

just to flip through the drawers.

There's more, but you get the idea.

We want to fill in the empty slots,

but we won't...

I think.

I Like!
I really like Lee Ann's "I Like" linky party because it helps me to focus on gratitude.  I've been hesitating to post because so many things I like on right in my own home - and lately I've been home a lot.  But, I decided what the heck?  So, here goes!

 I love having various locations to stitch!  Here is one of them!  We picked up this chair and ottoman at an Estate Sale and it works perfectly in my bedroom!  I get great sunshine, a breeze and view of our honeysuckle from the window.  The French doors to the right give me a nice view of our backyard gardens.  Right now I'm enjoying "AnnE with an E" on Netflix as well!

 I thoroughly enjoyed playing Monopoly with my kids - 

and now I'm playing it 

with my grandkids 

on the SAME board!  

How fun!

I love Tinkerbell!

This is the mug I usually use 

for my Mason Jar soups.

Did you notice it in the first picture?

I'm linking up to

Needle and Thread Thursday 

@ My Quilt Infatuation

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color

Faith on Fire @

Fuel For A Wildfire Faith

Crystal Twaddell’s Fresh Market Friday

Heart Encouragement Thursday @

Crystal Storms

Philippians 3:6 To Do Tuesday

Philippians 3:6
Scripture
Observation
Verse 6 continues Paul's litany of why he certainly has reason to base his faith in the flesh - though he clearly does not.  














Here, Paul lists his amazing zeal for persecuting the church and extreme following of the law.  








Application
How broken Paul's heart must have been as he went down his own personal Memory Lane of persecuting the church!  How many of us are trapped by our own Memory Lane?  Dear Ones, we don't have to be!  Remember Paul's point:  our faith is based on Christ alone!

Paul was definitely repentant of his sins -

and he knew that 

whatever he accomplished 

was by the grace of God!

Prayer

Oh God!  How I love You!  You are so merciful and forgiving!  Our faith is based on You, our Abba Father, and our big brother, Jesus Christ.  

Thank You that we don't have to 

earn our salvation!  

All we have to do is 

learn to accept Your unconditional love and forgiveness.  

Perhaps that is why we want to work for it - that's easier to accept.

You are so precious and dear to me, Abba Father.  These days, I've been so tired.  There is so much going on, but I'm learning to take care of me and depend on You - and it's lovely.  

Thank You for Your patience, Your love and Your Word!  Thank You for giving Paul the words that still encourage us today.  

I love You, Abba!

Amen.

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's To Do Tuesday List:
1) Keep up with my Quilty 365.  Oops!

2) Pick the fabric for Covered in Love as well as Dolls of Hope.  I initially picked the wrong fabric for this project.  So, it's back to the drawing board and pick some new fabric.  Done! I even cut out the fabric and drew on the faces for the Dolls of Hope!  

3) Continue work on my Fabri-Flair project.   Done!

4) Crochet some more hexies for my hexagon afghan.  Done!

This Week's To Do Tuesday List:
I did finish a quilt top which I'll soon be sharing, though.  My daughter helped me with the final touches and the backing.  

I'm still pretty much in a hand stitching and crocheting mood - and loving it.  

1) Catch up with my Quilty 365.  

2) Cut the fabric for Covered in Love.

3)  Embroider the eyes and mouth of the Dolls of Hope dolls.  

4) Continue work on my Embroidery Around the House project. It's been months since I worked on this one!  I picked up this project yesterday and have made so much progress!

Just a few more pieces
to add at the bottom!
Then hand quilt and bind it!
Yea!

 5) Work on my my daughter's Christmas scarf and boot cuffs.  I've made her a scarf every years for at least the last  5 years and the set for the last 3 years.  Here's the beginning of my daughter's scarf!

Here's a close up of the stitches.  The pattern is The Kimberly Scarf by Esther Thomson.  I've used 2 skeins of Elysian by Cascade Yarns in Crimson.  


I also want to make my son a beanie every year.  He's not a scarf type of guy, but I plan to make him a set....maybe he'll wear them?  :)

I'm linking up to

Fiber Tuesday at

The Quilting Room with Mel

and

Oui Crochet Community

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things.

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Becoming Press

Philippians 3:5 Part 2 To Do Tuesday - RSC 2017 Green!

Philippians 3:5 Part 2
Part One is here
Application
This is so simple, yet we make it so hard.  Many times, our own
lack of trust, 
history,
and misunderstood doctrine
can keep us from the 
life-giving,
liberating,
loving
hand of our Abba Father!

Prayer
Father, please loose the chains that bind us from simply trusting You.  Be it illness, pain, hurt, abuse, distrust, disappointment - whatever it is, loose those things in Jesus' name - that we may learn to lean on Your precious arms!  Help us to not get tangled up in the words of the "mutilators of the flesh", but to give You our hearts.  

Even tonight, as I struggled with fatigue, I know You have a purpose for that.  I can trust You because I've proved You o'er and o'er!

My trust is not in my flesh, but in You.
Amen.  

To Do Tuesday -  RSC 2017 Green!
Last week's To Do Tuesday List:
1) Keep up with my Quilty 365 Done!
2) Make my BOM's (Drunkard's Path and RSC), Done!
3) Charity Sewing - Dolls of Hope, (If you go to the beginning of her feed, there's contact info.)  Oh, Oh!  
4) Continue work on my Fabri-Flair project.   Done!

This week's To Do Tuesday List:
Lately crocheting and Slow Stitching seems to be more my style.  I'm going to go with it and my To Do Tuesday List reflects that!
1) Keep up with my Quilty 365

2) Pick the fabric for Covered in Love as well as Dolls of Hope.  I initially picked the wrong fabric for this project.  So, it's back to the drawing board and pick some new fabric.  

3) Continue work on my Fabri-Flair project.   

4) Crochet some more hexie for my hexagon afghan.  

RSC 2017 - Green!

Here are my May blocks - the color was green.  I learned something:  I don't like green!  However, I was pleasantly surprised at how much it calmed me to work with it.....interesting......

Here are all my bonus mini squares!
Can you see Baby C's chalk artwork
in the background?

Here are my four
RSC 2017 squares for May!

I'm linking up to

MidweekMakers @ Quilt Fabrication

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

ScrapHappy Saturday - Green with Envy @ Soscrappy

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Philippians 3:5 Part 1. A Happy Surprise! Hexagon Afghan.

Philippians 3:5 Part 1.
Scripture
Observation
Naturally, this verse needs to be read in context - especially with Paul's list of Jewish privileges.  
Remember, his reason for listing them is twofold:  
1) to serve as a warning against believing that circumcision and keeping of the Law was required to show we are "perfect" Christians, (Philippians 3:2)
2) that we don't need physical marks on our body as prove of our faith, (Philippians 3:3)
2) to remember that he, especially, has reason to have confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:4).  





As he previously stated, our confidence should be in God!  His message is clear:
A simple faith in Jesus Christ is all it takes to serve Him.

To Be Continued

 Happy Surprise!

Remember the Granny Square Cardigan I made?  
It was featured by Susie at Oui Crochet's Fiber Tuesday Link Up!  I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that!  Thank you again, Susie!  I'm still flying in the clouds!  :)

Hexagon Afghan.

Lately it seems I am returning to 

my comfort craft - crocheting.  

I ran out of hexies for 

my Hexagon Afghan, 

but a quick trip to Jo Ann's 

solved the problem!  

Though I couldn't find the exact matches, these are pretty close!  

I made a bunch of gold hexies 

and am now working on green ones!

 For now, 

the hexies live in this beautiful basket!

 

Eureka!  I found these flowers in the basket!  

I'm linking up to

Fiber Tuesday 

@ The Quilting Room with Mel

and

Oui Crochet Community

Hookin’ On Hump Day at

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Becoming Press

Philippians 3:4. Studio Tour Pt. 2 - Miscellaneous Fabric Storage Magic!

Philippians 3:4
Scripture
Observation
As we discussed during Philippians 3:3, we don't need physical marks on our body to serve Christ.  Our confidence should not be placed in such things.  However, for those who believe they have reasons to put their confidence in the flesh, Paul is preparing to strengthen his argument, as we shall see in verse 5.
Application

Our confidence should be placed in Christ, in our Abba Father, 

not in our flesh!  

I would be utterly lost if I forgot this lesson!
Furthermore, we should listen to our fellow brothers and sisters who have travailed much in the LORD!  Their faith is has been proved over and over!

In now way am I saying that those who have not suffered have a weaker faith! NO!!!  

I am saying, that when 
He has been proved o'er and o'er, 
faith can grow.  
I truly believed my faith was strong 
in 2014 - until November 2014.  
From then until today, 
my faith has grown beyond measure.  
Yes, my dear, 
breast cancer was one of the biggest blessings - and trials - of my life.  
Now I can sing the above song 
with my whole heart - 
and know the cost.

Prayer
Father, I trusted You before, but now...
whew!  I really trust You!
I'm grateful for the opprotunity 
to grow in You!
Let us listen with rapt hearts and praise 
to those who have gone through so much, 
such as Paul, 
and come out stronger on the other side!

I'm also grateful for those who have not known great pain - though they may be few.  I truly believe we all have a story to tell and how I love listening to how You have worked in the lives of others!  

Life is good, Father.
You amaze me with Your ways and wisdom.  

I pray that I learn to listen to others
with deeper understanding
rejoicing with those who rejoice
and
praying with those who mourn.

I pray victory in the lives of all who read this!  

You're so awesome, Abba!  
You certainly are!
Amen!

Studio Tour Pt. 2 -

Miscellaneous Fabric Storage Magic!

I haven't been sewing a lot these days, instead I've gone back to my "comfort activites" - crocheting and organizing. Indeed they have brought me great comfort!

I'll share more about crocheting later, but for now, here's how I store part of my fabric.  I shared how I store my yardage and some strips for RSC 2017 here.  





This 10 drawer system is fabulous - lots of storage space that takes up minimal square footage!

Here's where I store my "One day I'll make a black and white quilt" fabric!

Here's my Christmas hand sewing projects.  Do you see that gingerbread man ornament?  Those were on last year's gifts.  

This drawer is my
"Charms" drawer filled with fabric
to be cut into charms -
perfect for hexagons - 

as well as pre-cut charms!  

I love me some "candy"
or mini charms!
My daughter uses them to plan her quilts
and I just admire them!
How do you use your 2 1/2" squares?

My yo-yo maker drawer!  

I love making yo-yos!

I hope you enjoyed this peek into 5 of the ten drawers!  More to come later!

Linking up to

Sharing Sundays @The Creative Side

Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Main Crush Mondays

At Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

Faith on Fire @

Fuel For A Wildfire Faith

Crystal Twaddell’s

Fresh Market Friday 

Philippians 3:3. Studio Tour Part 1: Fabric Storage

Philippians 3:3.
Scripture






Observation
What a powerful Scripture with such clarification in the Amplified version!  Paul is saying we don't need physical marks on our body to serve God.  We serve Him spiritually with joy and praise to Him, not putting confidence on any part of our flesh!  
Application
This Scripture has ministered deeply to me today!  In spite of the fatigue and pain of fibromyalgia (the physical), I can still praise God and serve Him in my Spirit via His Holy Spirit!  I was up to the wee hours of this morning Netflix binging and crocheting.  But, in reality, I was spending time with my Abba Father trying to understand and truly make peace with my situation.  

I've been offered and accepted a nearly full-time position with our local university and am moving forward with the Spanish speaking Cancer Care Support Group - in spite of my physical challenges.  

God has confirmed that both of these opportunities are ministerial opportunities. I am relearning to 
focus on Him and not the challenges, serve Him in and via His Spirit, not in the physical,
have faith in my God dream situation.

http://dotz-art.deviantart.com/
http://www.alexetmarine.fr/

He will 
provide the physical strength I need 
or 
teach me to ask for help.   
A lesson in itself.
Either way, 
my spirit has been comforted and strengthened by His Holy Spirit today!


Prayer
Abba Father, how I love and appreciate You and Your everlasting presence in my life.  I realize that my physical body is what reaches out to minister, but my spiritual body is stengethened by Your Holy Spirit.  

I guess sometimes I have to rest.
Perhaps during these times of resting 
beside the still waters, 
You are strengthening by spirit
that my physical body may go forth
and serve Your people.

Thank you for helping me to see this.
Help me to maintain a positive attitude (Philippians 4:8)!

I love You and I trust You, Abba Father!
Amen!

Studio Tour Part 1:

Fabric Storage

We all have various ways 

to store our fabric and 

I've tried many of them.

For now, this works for me!

I have a rather large cutting table 

that measures roughly 

5 1/2 feet X 4 feet with 

adjustable storage shelves underneath.

It faces my west window,

so it gets a lot of natural light.

Not to worry though, 

I share a solution below.

On right side I store my 

30's, 

Drunkard's Path, 

upcoming projects, 

children's

and other miscellaneous fabric.

Batiks, flannels and

 other miscellaneus fabrics

 are stored on the left side.

There is more "fabric-in-waiting" 

behind the stacks on both sides!

My Accuquilt, dies and

 scrapbooking punches

 are all on the bottom shelf.

Oh, and the Brown Bag?

It's filled with scraps too large to toss!

These scraps are becoming 

part of the Crazy Quilt

I'm making for my son.

He's amazing!

He took care of me 

for almost 2 years - 

when I was 

going through and recovering 

from chemotherapy.  

I posted about this solution before, however, these mini design boards

now serve a different purpose.

Remember when I said that in preparation for the 

RSC 2017, 

I cut strips of fabric 

from each bolt?

This is how I store them!

It really helps me to keep up with the monthly blocks!

I've always wanted to make a Strip Quilt

as well as to participate 

in the RSC Challenge.

I know it's a bit of a cheat......

but I'm having so much fun 

with this project

that I can't feel too guilty!

I place them in front of my fabric shelves.

So that my fabric strips don't fade, 

I simply turn them around when 

not in use!

Win, Win!

I'm linking up to

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Becoming Press

Wow! WIPs On Wednesdays 

@ Esther's Blog