Hello thank you all for stopping in today! Happy Father's Day to all who celebrate this day!
Your time is precious, so I appreciate your visit so much! A lot is going on this week, so please accept my apologies in advance if this post seems a bit "rambly". :)
Next week I will be having cataract surgery, my next post will be July 2. I'm hoping to be able to at least link up and comment on your various interesting blogs! I wonder if cataract surgery rates extra ice cream? :)
In the To Do Tuesday section I am sharing a very cool slow stitching idea from Emma at the Vintage Sewing Box - a very beautiful and useful wall organizer! I love it!
Elisa, my friend needed one more brain surgery, Thursday morning. She is such a strong lady of 70 years old and such faith. I'm humbled by her faith and strength. Just to be in her presence is a blessing.
UPDATE ON ELISA::
6/18 3:50 pm
UPDATE ON ELISA:
Hi! I wanted to give you update. So mom was in pain this morning and they gave her morphine. She’s been sleeping and a lot less alert. They ended up doing another CT scan to see what’s going on. I talk to the ICU doctor, and he said there is still some bleeding in the brain. They have called Dr. Henderson, so hopefully he’ll be in later. They did move her back down to ICU. I’ll keep you posted with anything
Thank you so much for visiting! I hope you enjoy this week's post filled with God's Word, books, fiber projects, a fiber stash report and a bit of likes and gratitude from this week!
Speaking of this week, let us pray for everyone affected by the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. I have to move on from this topic. Emotions run deep.
My recently retired hubby and I are adjusting to our new non-schedules by enjoying slow mornings and relaxing evenings on the patio filled with good conversation, our favorite music and some slow stitching. Thus far, this transition into a new era of our lives has been kind of wonderful.
However we all know life can throw curve balls as well.
I have exciting news! If the LORD wills it, I will be taking off to San Diego to visit my parents! FINALLY! Thank God for dog/house sitters! My heart sings with joy!
Consequently, I'll be taking a blogging break for the rest of January. However, I'm hoping to be posting our trip on Instagram (user name: miaismine22). Please just request to follow me as it's a private account.
Onto today's post filled with encouragement, books I've read/reading, some finishes and a whole lot of gratitude!
This past week has had a few more challenges than usual. I know I'm not the only blogger who faces challenges in life, but wow! I sure admire those of you who can blog consistently despite life's curve balls! My hat is off to all you!
However, I must make changes to meet these unpredictable challenges. After much thought, I've decided to write one post a week and continue linking up to all my usual parties.
Another change is I will be posting daily on my Instagram account (user name: miaismine22). This account is private, but please just request to follow me and you're in! (As this account is private, it will also have a bit more personal posts with "behind the scenes" details!)
So, please, pull up a chair, serve your favorite drink and enjoy the journey with me!
When we ask ourselves, "Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is God's will for my life?
Here it is:
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we're living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We'll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
To Do Tuesday Checklist
Last Week's List
* Cut out the 10 Qube Crush blocks. 👎 I did, however, do the fabric pull which, as you may know, is the most time consuming part!
* Learn to use the Sprocket, print out the pictures and complete the March section of my daughter's Memory Book! 👎 I'm about halfway there!
* Depending on how my hand holds out, I hoping to finish the Comfort/Wine afghan! 👍 It is finished, washed and delivered! It turned out to be almost a queen size afghan!
* I want to start binding my $7.50 quilt from so long ago. 👍
* Complete the March section of my daughter's Memory Book.
* Make progress on my Hexagon Afghan.
* Continue binding my $7.50 quilt.
I Like
Quilty Projects
My daughter and I have had many conversations about the various productivity levels in each of our lives. She accomplishes so much more than I!
The biggest differences are that I have multiple hobbies: sewing, gardening, hand sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, reading and journaling in various Happy Planners. On top of sewing, she has four children. Enough said, right?
Another difference is that she usually works on one project at a time while I work on multiple projects.
Consequently, I'm trying to work on one project (quilting, crocheting, reading) at a time and liking it! I finishing up more UFO's as well as new projects. Plus, I'm feeling less fragmented.
I'm also rotating UFOs/WIPs and new projects. That way, when that squirrel saunters in, I add her to my rotation. It's taking so much discipline to stick to this! So far, so good! :)
That being said, my next quilty project will be my Qube Crush. It's basically a sampler quilt using the Accuquilt Qube. I believe there's 72 blocks and I've made 35.
Because of the unpredictability of various health issues with family, I've stayed away from QALs. However, this one from Melva Loves Scraps seems manageable. The way she has them scheduled, even if we have a health crisis I should be able to keep up! Yea!
Here's my first block!
On the Hook
As you saw above, I'll be working on my Hexagon Afghan for the near future. Of course, my carry along crochet project are my dishcloths!
These are usually Christmas gifts for all the wonderful staff in my various doctor's offices and small gifts during the year.
Playing with Paper
A new tool has joined the mix! Say hello to my new HP Sprocket printer. Did I mention that I love it? Here's a video of how it works!
And yes, that is actually me with hubby's assistance video taping. UPDATE 4/28/21: Aw, Nancy, thank you for your sweet comment! We'll be taping the video tonight! I forgot to do that part! :)
UPDATE: 5/2/21: There have been several challenges this week. This video is coming, just not sure when.
UPDATE: 5/9/21 I made the video, but cannot post it on Blogger. So, it's on Instagram! I'm so sorry, I just didn't realize I couldn't post videos directly to blogger. 😔
These lyrics describe my heart so completely. Till I found Him, I was lost, angry, resentful, bitter.......now I find peace in the midst of the storm, more self-acceptance than I dreamed was possible, hope instead of despair.......I bet you could turn your life around if you trusted Him. Here is a wonderful turnaround story!
Perhaps you relate to this song! Perhaps you could share your story in the comments?
He is the God who turns around the lost and hurting that they may be found and healed. Slow Stitching
Today I'm hoping to continue stitching on this embroidery project. You know, our hearts can sometimes mislead us, so I've decided to stitch "Jesus" in the middle of the heart....maybe in gold thread.
Naturally, I'm hoping to make some more...you guessed it! Dishcloths! Stash Report
Yea! I finished my Morning Glory Quilt by Kate Spain! I'll be sharing it later this week. This finish doubles my fabric usage!
Fabric Usage
last week - 14.75/100 yards
this week - 29.05/100yards
Yarn Usage
Some more dishcloths were made up - and I just love them! This seems to be the year of the dishcloths!
last week - 103.5/300 ounces this week - 107/300 ounces I hope you check out these parties!
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 - 14.75/100yards
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:
Yes, you read correctly: Thank God for my cancer diagnosis. There's a verse that I remember when I am confused about my journey: Isaiah 55:8-9. When life hits, this is my go-to verse, my anchor. Life has hit. Dad has been diagnosed with METS (metastatic cancer). He has advanced stage prostate cancer that metastasized to his bones. In November 2018 his CT scan was clear, now it's not. We are very close - his role throughout my life has been both mother and father. I thank God that I have been down this road, because I "get it" and understand him. He also has tons of support from the rest of the family. This week I've leaned on my faith and family like never before. A line from Praying Through Cancer: Set Your Heart Free from Fear: A 90-Day Devotional for Women bySusan Sorensen blessed me during my journey:
The Big "C" is bigger than the Little "c".
I'm indeed "gracefully broken", but not destroyed. Amen? Amen!
Saturday's Song Slow Stitching As I'm spending time with Daddy (Yes, at the age of 56, he's still "Daddy" to me!), my Grandmother's Flower Garden has been put on hold as I work on portable hand stitching projects. One is a Hand Pieced QAL dual hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts and Kristin at Simple. Handmade. Everyday. Here's my blocks thus far.
Practice Blocks 1 and 2
Block 1
Block 2
I found this older QAL at hosted by Erin at Why Not Sew? I've prepped a few of Erin's blocks. This is my "Year of the QALs and BOMs". I needed a way to organize my fabrics and patterns. Enter the 3-ring binder and page protectors!
A few hours dedicated to prepping blocks - choosing, pressing and cutting the fabrics - yields to optimized sewing time.
When I'm home, I pull the sleeves and sew away on my machine. I use this same system to have my machine embroidery projects ready. That way, as I'm sewing one one machine, my machine embroidery sewing machine is hard at work as well. It's the perfect 2 for 1!
If I'm going portable, I take the prepped fabrics in my hand sewing kit. A screen shot of tutorials guarantees I'll have access to the pattern regardless of WiFi connect-ability. (Is that a real word?)
Being that I'll probably be spending time away from home, these hand piecing QALs are a special blessing to me. God always prepares our path. I'll be forever grateful to these hard-working hostesses of the hand piecing blogs.
Sunday Stats I want to thank those wonderful ladies have sent in ideas on how to figure out my fabric usage for BOMs. I've fallen behind in commenting and fully reading comments, but am trying to catch up. Therefore, fabric usage is the same. fabric usage - 3.45/100 yards (same as last week)
yarn usage - 12/100 ounces I've made several dishcloths, so those numbers have gone up! Yea!
This year I've decided to use the same basic pattern. Thus far, my favorite yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Cotton!
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.
