June 1: Psalm 8, Fiber Fun, Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

I hope you all had a fabulous week and are looking forward to the coming week.  Our Memorial Day was a quiet affair.  Many of the veterans we know, both family and friends, have passed away.  As we remember those who fought and died for our freedom, I can’t help but reflect on what members of my Cancer Support Group said to me after I shared I had survivor's guilt. . 

April 20: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Fiber Fun, Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!  The LORD is risen!  

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit!  Let me tell you, the last two weeks have been so active!  We prepared for and enjoyed a trip to San Diego to see my parents.  Halfway through the trip, our son joined us.  Mama is doing well and enjoyed joking around with him.  Daddy is in a good place right now, thank God.  

The blog has been sorely neglected.  This week I'll be catching up on comments and link ups.  I keep trying to write posts ahead of time like some of you super organized ladies...alas...one day.  

For now, let's enjoy a cuppa and read about this week's happenings!  

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stash Report.

Saturday's Song

Today I was joyful and tearful as I rejoiced in our Lord's victory and missed my family.  Bottom line is this:  during this time we will have good days and hard days.  I embrace both as they are natural and real.  But, at the end of the day, I can still praise God and sing this song, even if it's through my tears.  Because He lives.  

This song also blessed me today.  

Yes, these are trying times, but it's only for a blink of the eye.  Let's come out stronger, better people.  Let's work toward that, yes?

Slow Stitching

After setting up my Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt in the living room, it's much easier to make progress during the week. I hoping to attach those last three hexagons tonight!

During a fun conversation with @twotinymakes on Instagram, a new hashtag has been made:  #sloweveningsew!  I hope you check out her posts of her incredible quilts!

Stash Report

Fabric in

This week: 0 yards

This year: (since April 1) 1.5 yards

Fabric out

This week: 6.66

This year: (since April 1) 6.66

6.66-1.50= +5.16 yards

I made these cute little Easter bags!  The grandbabies loved them - and the treats inside!

I used this beginner friendly tutorial from Ashley Johnston at Bernina's We All Sew.

I also made face masks for various people: a hospital in my home town, some have been sent out to family members and a couple went to a nurse's child.  

Ready to be shipped.  

I found this tutorial for making my own bias tape - again - it's beginner friendly.  The only difference is I don't use the bias tape maker.  I just use my fingers to fold the fabric.

  I really like this beginner friendly tutorial from Dana at Made Everyday.  She has a great video on Instagram as well.  

No changes in yarn usage/incoming.

Yarn in

This week:

This year (since April 1)

Yarn out

This week:

This year (since April 1)

Blessings to all!

Linking up!  

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create
Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad
A Spirit of Simpicity

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stash Report.

Saturday's Song

  At the end of our fabulous virtual service, my church, Heart for the World, sang this song and wow!  What a blessing it was for me!  They encouraged us to share a #hopewins testimony, so here's mine!

Great service, HFTW Team. “One Thing Remains “ was my cancer fighting mantra. In fact, right after I was diagnosed, we were on our way to HFTW for the first time. I set a fleece before God to show me if this was our new home church: I asked Him for this very song to be sung during praise and worship. It was sung and we’re still at HFTW. Blessings to you, my church family and the HFTW team! Love you!!!!

Pastor said that during this time, or actually, any time of trial, we have an opportunity to come out stronger in Christ.  Let's take it through extra time with God!
I encourage you to listen/watch this service as you slow stitch today!  If you would like to share your church's online service, please add it in the comments section!  Let your hearts be encouraged and encourage others!

Slow Stitching
This Sunday, I'm working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden.

I've been struggling to get this last row sewn in and the LORD kept whispering to me, "Use a Clover clip."  I kept wanting to do this on my own....

Then, as I was watching the service today, and yes, full disclosure, I was stitching during service, I finally got frustrated enough to use a Clover clip.  Wow!  My experience went smoother and was more pleasant.  

How often do we struggle on our own instead of using the anchor of Jesus Christ to hold us together? 

  

Stash Report

I didn't have a finish this week, but I should next week.  So, fabric out this week?  Zero!  Fabric in? Also, zero!  

Take good care and perhaps take a moment to 1) share your church's online service in the comments, 2) visit the parties below and 3) spend a few extra minutes with God!  Blessings to all!

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create
Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad
A Spirit of Simpicity

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Hello There! Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching.

Hello There!
It's been so long since I've blogged and I apologize for the sudden disappearance.  My main focus and energy has been caring for my parents.  However,  as Daddy has steadily become more stable I have been slowly getting back on social media beginning with my Instagram account.  

What a different world we live in since I last blogged!  I trust in our Lord Jesus Christ that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.  Your blogs have been a mainstay for me, an anchor in my sea.  Thank you for your wonderful sharing!

Now, onto Saturday's Song, Slow Stitching and Sunday's Stash!

Saturday's Song


It may look like we're surrounded, by we're surrounded by the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the great Almighty God!  We're surrounded by Him!  I hope you join me in dancing and losing yourself in praise to Him as you hear this song! Amen?

Slow Stitching
Today's Slow Stitching project is a very much neglected oldie but goodie: My Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  It's been rolled up in my closet, hence the folds.  I do believe it's high time to at least finish this quilt top!    

I've also been enjoying some hand embroidery using Aunt Martha's Iron On Transfers.  These tea towels are so fun and pretty!  I just finished "Tuesday" last night and linked up on Instagram with @teaandbrie, @barefootcrater and @charmaboutyou 's #saturdaynightcraftalong!  

"Sunday" and "Monday were finished some time ago and have been well used and loved.  

All in all, a productive weekend!

Stash Report

I have dropped all fabric/fiber usage goals largely in part that when Daddy needs me, I'm there.  However, starting tomorrow, I will try to at least track my usage while on New Mexico's Stay-At-Home orders.  

For now, I'll join the party at Quilt, Paint and Create to see how my friends over there are doing!  

These parties have great participants and hostesses!  You would definitely enjoy them!  

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create
Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Stash Report

Saturday's Song


Have you heard of the movie, "Yesterday"?  We saw it this past Friday and, though I enjoyed it, I was touched anew by the song "Hey Jude" that played during the credits.  These lyrics touched me deeply.  

"Take a sad song and make it better".

"And anytime you feel the pain

Hey Jude, refrain

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

For well you know that it's a fool

Who plays it cool

By making his world a little colder"

As I listened to these lyrics as if for the first time, I realized that my "sad song" as an adult survivor of child abuse, can be made better.  I need not carry the world upon my shoulders, instead I can be real, be open to healing and be free.  

Philippians 3: 13-14 comes to mind.

Dear Reader, do you have old hurts that haunt you?  Try reading Philippians 3:13-14 several times a day.  Post it throughout your environment.  Take a chance and live it.  You might be pleasantly surprised at the results.  

Slow Stitching
I finished hand piecing Block 7 (Eula) of the Elm Street Quilts & Simple. Handmade. Everyday. hand pieced QAL!  These ladies have cleverly named the blocks after the characters in the novel Friendship Album ,1933 by Frances O’Roark Dowell.  I listened to this amazing work via Podcast while stitching.  Talk about inspiring!

I also finished these dishcloths.

Today I'll be working on some more dishcloths and my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  Here's where I'm hoping to spend several hours.  Mia, my poodle, will join me after I settle in.  

 Here's a bird's eye view of my little table/table.  

I'm so enjoying crocheting dishcloths with this newly discovered yarn at Hobby Lobby.  I have always enjoyed making dishcloths, but got hooked with the dishcloth challenge from 2018.  These dishcloths eventually become much appreciated Christmas gifts to my various friends in the various groups I attend.  

Stash Report

Because I used scraps, I'm guesstimating I used about .75 yards of fabric for both my pink and yellow sewing kits and the pink needle book.

Fabric Usage

last week - 14.00/100 yards  

this week -  14.75/100 yards

Yarn Usage 

I used roughly 10.5 ounces of yarn on those 7 dishcloths.  

last week - 93/300 ounces
this week - 103.5/300 ounces

I'm linking up to:

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stats.

Saturday's Song.
This video of God Only Knows by King and Country is shocking, but so true.  I just read that a suicide attempt is made every 28 seconds!  Dear one, God knows you, He never leaves you.  People will let us down, but not God.  Try Him.

Let us all look around us and who kindness.  A smile, a prayer, a gentle touch of encouragement to a stranger/friend/loved one could change their lives.  
Take good care!

Slow Stitching.
My slow stitching project continues to be my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  I'll also be choosing color placement for my Stitchers' Garden BOM.  

I mentioned that I reorganized the kids' toy room - and have realized that I have a huge blank wall.  I've made a simple - definitely not beautiful - design wall for my GFG and called it my Slow Stitching Design Wall.  LOL!  

 Here's how I hung up the pieces!  For those of you who might not have a sewing room or a wall you can dedicate to a design wall, this one works for me.  The pins make tiny holes and your project can easily be taken down at a moment's notice.  

Here's some other ways to make a temporary/portable design wall.  I bet some of you have other ideas as well!  Please share them in the comments section!

Sunday Stats
I finished two dishcloths for my daughter and was so eager to give them to her, I forgot to take pictures of them!  LOL!  My BOMs are going well, yet I only count fabric usage for finished quilt tops and backings, so no changes there either.  
Donna, who hosts the Sunday Stash link up at Quilt, Paint, Create gave me an idea on how to track my fabric usage for BOMs, so I'll see how that works.  I'm eager to learn how you all track your fabric usage for these projects!

fabric usage - 3.45/100 yards  (same as last week)
yarn usage - 6/100 ounces 

I'm linking up to:
A Spirit of Simplicity

Spiritual Sundays

Sunday Scripture Blessings 

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching Sunday. Sunday Stats

Saturday's Song
Here is a love letter from the Savior who loves you.  


Promise Me

Aaron Jeoffrey

It's hard to imagine that
I've been there too
I've felt the passion burning in you
Every temptation, oh, I understand
Your Savior knows what it is to be a man

Promise me... promise me...
Before the passion turns to flame
Promise me you'll call my name
Promise me... promise me...
You'll remember these scars of grace
And remember I took your place
Promise me

I know what it's like when the
Nightmare comes true
Someone left a cross for me
Like they left for you
Trust me when I say... I've been
Where you are
The strength to live again my child is
Hidden in the scars

Promise me... promise me...
Before the passion turns to flame
Promise me you'll call my name
Promise me... promise me...
You'll remember these scars of grace
And remember…

"Before the Passion turns to flame, promise me you'll call my name."

At first I thought this song would be perfect for our children and grandchildren.  However, I know that God is using this blog to speak to me and to share what He is saying with you, His reader.  When we are tempted, all we need to is call on Him.  He is greater than any temptation.  

Lord, thank You for bringing this song to mind this morning.  I praise you for Your timing and gentle reminders - You know I need them!  Father, let me call on You before the passion of anger, sarcasm, hopelessness and any other hurtful behavior (to myself or others) comes out of me.  "Lord! Help Me!" takes only a second to say!  Help me to pause, breath and call on You before the passions of this world make me an instrument of pain instead of healing.  I bless Your precious name.  Amen.

Update:  I love how Peabea at Peabea's Scribbles post spoke to my heart and seemed to tie in with this post.  Also, she has a heartfelt prayer request.  Please pop in and share your love with her.   

Slow Stitching Sunday
My Grandmother's Flower Garden is always on my Pressing On  List.  (This is my new name for the To Do Tuesday list.)  Here is some progress.  I've sewn 6 rows of flowers together and will now focus on joining them into rows over the next few Sundays. 

Here's a couple of different views.  

I'll be making a couple more dishcloth/scrubbies for my daughter.  She loves when I combine tulle with the cotton yarn.  I prefer combining the I Love This Cotton sold at Hobby Lobby with the tulle on a tube vs. by the yard as it is  too hard on my hands.  
My goal is still to make at least one a week so that I can have small gifts ready for Christmas.  

Sunday Stats

fabric usage - 3.45/100 yards 96.55 yards to go!  
yarn usage - 3.5/100 ounces

Linking up to:

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad

Spiritual Sundays 

A Spirit of Simplicity

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching Sunday.

Saturday's Song.

Life Happens.  Believe me, I get it.  Been there.  Done that more times than I can count.  

Keep walking in your faith!

Slow Stitching Sunday

I spent all morning downloading my patterns and materials lists and instructions from Craftsy.  Now, I'll be onto sewing after I post this and visit a few party guests as well as my hostesses!  

My sewing plan for today is to connect these final flowers to finish the next row of my GFG.  

Here is the progress I've made on my "Prayer Afghan).  The recipient lost her husband to brain cancer three years ago.  She is now fighting breast cancer.  She has a lot to live for:  three daughters under the age of 12 and a loving supportive family.  

Sunday Stats

It's time for linking up to the Stash Report at Quilt, Paint, Create!  My goal is to clean out 100 yards of fabric and 300 ounces of yarn.  I believe this is achievable as I have several afghans which are almost finished.  
fabric usage - 3.45/100 yards 96.55 yards to go!  
yarn usage - 0/100 ounces

Linking up to:

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy’s Quilts

Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea's Scribble Pad

Spiritual Sundays

Hookin’ On Hump Day @ Petals to Picot And Moogly (Wednesdays)

Late Happy Labor Day! To Do Tuesday. Book Date.

Happy Labor Day!
Today's post will be short as I have enjoyed the last few days relaxing with my husband.  Last night my daughter and 8-year-old grandson came over to play with our new puppy, Chico, and Kitty.  
My grandson and I practiced lassoing each other's arm and playing chase in the yard.  I tackled and tickled him a few times as Chico licked his face!

I thought there may be some pain in this grandma's body this morning, but my pain levels are normal - no increased pain!  Praise God!  

Instead of a full Bible Study, I'll share this promise that has randomly popped up in my Bible Study two days in a row.  I wonder if He wants someone to read this as well?  

To Do Tuesday
Last Week's List
1) Continue joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan. ✔ 

2)    Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt    ✔ 
3) Continue work on Prayer Shawl #10.  ✔ 

4) Limit myself to these three projects so that I can rest and get better.  ✔ I rather like having a shorter list!  
This Week's List

1) Continue joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan. 

2)    Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt    
3) Continue work on Prayer Shawl #10. This will be easy to accomplish as I will be sitting in a couple of doctors' ofices today!   
4) Fix my mistake on my backpack.  Rip!  Rip!
Grandmother's Flower Garden Progress

I'm 95% finished connecting Rows 1-3 and here are rows 4-5! 

Chico decided to participate by helping me prematurely remove some of the papers....

 Luckily, he doesn't like fabric- 

and I've learned

to store my projects in a safer place!  :)

Book Date
Currently Reading

 

You can see the list of books I've read over at Goodreads!  My user name is, of course, Miaismine!

Linking up to

Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

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

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

I so appreciate your comments!

Thoughtful Tuesday. To Do Tuesday. OMG! & 1 Xmas a Month Done!

Thoughtful Tuesday
"The Call" comes in.  We all know "the call"; the one that breaks our heart, sends on a tailspin.  What if we could remember all of God's promises in those first moments?  What if we had at the ready a tool to use to pray and fight the enemy.  
Kim Sorgious @ Not Consumed found an answer:  a Promise Box and an altar.  The altar is in the works, but I found an easy way not only to make the Promise Box, but also to maintain it as well.  

I used these supplies:

To make make this:

And store everything, 

including supplies, like this:

Pretty, purpose-filled and a powerful tool!

Thank you, Kim, for sharing such a powerful tool that reminds us of God's promises!  

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1) Backpack:  Hopefully get through at least 1/2 of section 3's instructions. X

2) Oreo Orca by Funkcy Friends is a finished project which was also my OMG @ Elm Street Quilts!  I missed the link up to post him, but that's ok!  I'll develop that habit!  He also counts for my 1 Xmas a Month!  He came out really cute and is ready to go swimming!  I'm linking up to share this finish!  ✔

 3) If I'm able, I would like to finish the green flowers for my Spring Granny Square Afghan! ✔

4) Finish the flimsy for Comfort Quilt 3.  X

5) Trim my four patches.  ✔

My granddaughter made this gorgeous bird house for me in her Art Class.

This Week's List

1) Backpack #2:  Finish 1/2 of section 3. 
2) Finish the flimsy for Comfort Quilt #3.  
3) Cut out the fabric for my next OMG as well as my 1 Xmas a Month - meet Patch the Pussy Cat!

4) Begin joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan using the join-go-as-you method.  Here's the instructional video by Maria at Maria's Blue Crayon Tube Channel. 

5) Ongoing projects on which I simply want to make progress on:
     a.  Sew together more four patches.  
     b.  Connect another yo-yo flower.  
     c.  Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt
     d.  Prayer shawl #9

Hope you will visit and link up to these great parties!

 To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Mid-Week Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Trekking Thru The Week @ Trekking Thru