Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
This week I have been so stressed out!  My cyclical oncology follow up appointment was supposed to be this month.  With  all the new diagnosis, metastasis and recurrences around me,  I postponed all my tests and labs because I was afraid.

And then I heard this song.

Is there something


that has you frozen with fear
as well?

I hope this song blesses you!

Slow Stitching
I have enjoyed hand sewing the binding on this baby quilt.  I'm also reminded as to why I hire my daughter to bind my quilts....hurting hands!  But, oh!  How I love hand sewing bindings!  

I've made progress on this Donation Prayer Shawl #2.  I've decided to number the shawls I donate to the Prayer Shawl Ministry so that I can keep track of what I'm talking about!  :)  The pattern is my own.  I was just messing around and here it is.  It's a combination of very common stitches, chain, double crochet....

UPDATE:  By the way, I saw this pattern on Fiber Flux.  Her directions are fabulous! It's really interesting to see how different it looks with a bulkier yarn!  

Stash Report

Fiber Stash Report:  July 30, 2017 (started 6/11/17)
Fabric used this week	5 yds
Fabric used to date	11 7/8 yds
Fabric Added this week	2 yds
Fabric Added this year	13 1/8yds
Net Fabric	1 ¼ yds
Yarn used this week	14 oz
Yarn used to date	71 oz
Yarn Added this week	7 oz
Yarn Added to date	41 oz
Net Yarn	30 oz

Here's the fabric I bought!

It's called "Cartas Marcadas" by De Leon Degn Group from the Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection.  

I'm finally in the black, though just barely!  

Linking up to

Sunday Stash at Quilt Paint Create

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sunday Stash at Mollie Sparkles 

Philippians 4:5. . Prayer Shawl. Orange Peel Quilting. To Do Tuesday.

Philippians 4:5
Scripture

Observation

So, Paul is saying, be free from harshness, sternness or violence toward all.  I wonder if he is thinking of the two women who were quarreling?  

Application
Oh my!  In a past life I was so harsh and stern!  All that ugliness in me was simply a survival tool to hide the hurt and pain.  My attitude was, "I will hurt you before you hurt me."  
I can still fall back into that state, but not very often indeed!  It's a miracle of God that my spirit is now more gentle.  Praise Him for the slow, gentle work He achieves in our lives!

I wonder if our gentleness increases as we become increasingly aware that "the LORD is near?"  I believe so!  That is the only way I could be so drastically different!

Prayer
Oh LORD, thank You for this verse!  I truly believe that Your faithful presence in my life has slowly and gently peeled away my layers of harshness and sternness.  You have wrought in me a new Spirit!  Thank You!




Prayer Shawls
I attend a cancer support group it's called Cancer Care that meets in a church.  At the same time we are meeting, a wonderful group of ladies meet to crochet/knit prayer shawls.  Every first time attender of our group get to choose a prayer shawl for themselves!  I have decided to support this wonderful cause and here's the first shawl!  
It went from this:

to this in less than a week!

My pattern is from The Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion.  This book offers many different shawl patterns for all skill levels.  I used about 8 oz. of a Red Heart yarn from my stash and a "K" hook.  

I decided to use this yarn to make another one for my recently diagnosed friend. 

 It's a good beginning, don't you think?

Here's a close up:

The pattern is quite simple, yet so elegant!

Last Week's To Do Tuesday
- Keep up with Quilty 365 Done!
- Finish Scrappy Squares Baby Quilt Done and off to my daughter to quilt and bind!
Isn't she doing a fantastic job!!!

- RSC 2017 - yellow squares  Done!
- Finish hand quilting two more blocks of Panel Baby Quilt Done!
- Continue working on prayer shawl Done!
- Continue working on donation prayer shawl Done!

This Week's To Do Tuesday
- Keep up with Quilty 365

- Prayer Shawl

- Covered in Love/Crafty Cop Quilt Blocks

- Drunkard’s Path:  Pick layout, do the math, begin cutting fabric

- Around the House finish quilting (if not done already) and binding

I'm linking up to:

Fiber Tuesday at

The Quilting Room with Mel

and

Oui CrochetCommunity

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things.

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Sew Some Love @ Kat and Cat Quilts  

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Phliippians 4:4 Part 2. Patrick's Strength. Glue Basting Tutorial. Book Date.

Philippians 4:4 Part 2
Part 1
Scripture

















Application con't.
Yesterday we defined rejoice, joy and noted the section in red. Joy - and the ability to rejoice always - comes from God!  

I certainly could not have rejoiced through many of my challenges without Him!  I remember when we discussed 
joy and Philippians 2:11.  His joy is our strength.

To the best of our abilities,
let us not grieve
past hurts,
present challenges
or
future fears.  

Let us draw on God's joy 
so that we may be 
healed from past hurts,
strengthened to face present challenges
and 
have courage to face our future with faith-filled hearts and minds.

Prayers
LORD, so much is happening in our world.  Sometimes I feel bombarded with all I see around me.  It becomes hard to rejoice.  It becomes hard to praise You.

You are so faithful and patient.  You remind me to turn on praise and worship music.  Sooner rather than later, my faith is rejuvenated.  Your precious Word is filled with reassurances and hope.  Thank You, Abba for these gifts of encouragement and hope!
Amen!

Patrick's Strength

Patrick received his afghan!  How exciting is that!  His mom sent me this picture of it laying on his bed.  I purposely made the afghan a bit narrower than most so it could be used on a hospital bed without interfering with the controls.  I am moved beyond words.......
She gave me permission to share it!  Wasn't that sweet of her!  Please continue your prayers as his situation is extremely serious.  



Glue Basting 

UPDATED 7/24/17:
Glue Basting or Spray Basting
Yes!  I used the wrong term!  It's spray basting!  Sorry - newbie mistake!
I don't often quilt my own quilts.  They usually go to my dear Stephanie.  My daughter quilts my baby quilts.  On the very rare occasion that I quilt my own quilts, I glue baste them - a process my daughter taught me.  She uses a 505 Spray Adhesive.  I picked up a can of Spray 'n Bond Adhesive with a coupon.  

I love it because it is so much friendlier to my hands than pinning.  I haven't used this process enough to say it's perfect - but it works for me!  

Here's how I do it!

1) Lay out a twin sized top sheet (for a baby quilt) or some other covering to protect your surface.  I spread it out on my cutting table to protect the surface and my yarn  stash(it hangs on the side of the table). Spread out your backing, right side down on the sheet smoothing away any wrinkles/bumps.  

2) I roll up the batting.  Then spray a coat of adhesive to about the first 9" of the backing.  Carefully lay out your batting over the sprayed section.

3) Spray another 9" or so.  Spread out your batting.  Repeat this process until  your batting is completely laid out!

Now, I forgot to take pictures of the next steps, but it's basically the same.  

Roll up your quilt top.

Spray about 9" of your batting.

Carefully lay out your quilt top on the sprayed batting, smoothing it down.  

Repeat the process until you have basted the entire quilt top.  UPDATED 7/24/17

TO INCLUDE THIS PIC!

You are now ready to quilt!

As always I'm interested in your comments and suggestions! Please share your thoughts and experiences with glue basting in the comments! 

Book Date:  Younger Next Year Part 2

Part 1

Currently I'm reading Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, M.D. I'm on chapter 7 and thus far the authors have made a convincing argument for daily exercise - exercise that makes us sweat.  Albeit, it was a bit detailed for my tastes but I was convinced!  I'll keep you appraised of my progress with this read.  Granted I may be doing some skimming rather than reading......  :)

  

I'm linking up to

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

MondayMaking @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Main Crush Mondays

@ Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

Saturday's Song: Slow Stitching. Stash Report

Saturday's Song

My dear, you are not alone......

Slow Stitching
The weekend's slow stitching started on Friday for me!  I've made quite a bit of progress hand quilting this panel baby quilt.  Maybe 10 more minutes and I'm done!  Afterwards, I'll be machine stitching the borders, binding and off to it's new baby!













This quilt has been glue basted and is ready to be tie quilted.  Hopefully both quilts will be ready for binding by Monday!  

Stash Report
How exciting to finally be in the "black" for my yarn usage!  I finished and delivered Patrick's Strength to the drop off person!  Hopefully, he's received it this weekend!  I also used up some stash yarn to finish a donation prayer shawl!  I'll be sharing pics of that later this week!

Both the Panel Baby Quilt and Scrappy Squares Baby Quilt are well on their way to being finished this week so I should be in the black for fabric next week as well!

Fiber Stash Report:  July 22, 2017 (started 6/11/17)
Fabric used this week	0 yds
Fabric used to date	6  7/8 yds
Fabric Added this week	0 yds
Fabric Added this year	11 1/8yds
Net Fabric	-4 ¼  yds
Yarn used this week	43 oz
Yarn used to date	64 oz
Yarn Added this week	0 oz
Yarn Added to date	27 oz
Net Yarn	43 oz

I'm linking up to

Finished or Not Friday @ BusyHands Quilts

Sew Can She Show Off Saturday

Sunday Stash at Quilt Paint Create

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Philippians 4:4. Part 1. I Like! RSC 2017

Philippians 4:4 Part 1
Scripture
Observation
Rejoice.
Always.
A message Paul deems worth repeating:
Rejoice!





Application

Really Paul?  Always?  Really?

Even in the midst 

of conflict?

of pain?

of bad news?

Yup.

Paul did.

So what is joy?

I was impressed by the part in red:

"the prospect of possessing what one desires."

We know 

that in all things 

God works for the good 

of those who love Him, 

who have been called 

according to His purpose 

(Romans 8:28). 

So, 
Friends, 

joy is a faith thing.

Therefore, 

it is God who gives us joy - 
His joy.

In the midst of our 
pain,
conflict,
bad  news,
illness,
all things,
the joy of the LORD 
will see us through.
I promise.
I've been there.

And His joy is our strength.

A lot to think about....

To be continued

RSC 2017 - Catching up!
How could I have missed the yellow month?  Yellow is my favorite color!  

So fun and cheerful!

Here's some 4" squares and a stack ready to be pressed!

I Like!
Today's I Like is dedicated the the wonderful puppy who saved my son's life - literally.  The details are not my story to tell, but the love this little baby has in his heart is obvious in these pictures.

Marley supervises my son as they work on landscapes.  I made him a couple of work blankets and a quilt to relax on at home.  

The pictures speak for themselves......

How I love this little baby!

Linking up to

Needleand Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color