Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching. Sunday Stats.

Saturday's Song
Have you ever been at a crossroads where you can either trust God and move forward or stand where you are and perhaps never know what could have been?
Maybe this song is for you - and me.

LORD, give us courage to trust You more and more every day, I pray.

Slow Stitching 
I finished up my second "accidental block pillow" and got the binding sewn on.  My living room is brightening up with these 30's fabrics!  

Today I'll be fixing up Block 5, Dorothy, of the Hand Pieced Quilt Along and maybe work on Block 6, Florence.  

Daddy is doing so well, we've a trip planned to San Diego with my sister and brother-in-law!  I'll be spending some time cutting fabric from Blocks 7 - 9 from the Hand Pieced Quilt Along at Elm Street Quilts and Simple, Handmade, Everyday.  

Then I need to cut fabric to finish up the blocks from the Hand Pieced Quilt Along at Why Not Sew?  Lot's of cutting to prepare for this trip!  :)

Stash Report

My "accidental block pillow" took roughly .75 yards of fabric. 

Fabric Usage

last week - 12.90/100 yards  

this week -  13.65/100 yards

Yarn Usage 

No change here!  

last week - 86/300 ounces
this week - 86/300 ounces

I'm linking up to:

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Scripture Blessings @ Peabea Scribbles
Sunday Stash@ Quilt, Paint, Create

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

Thoughtful Tuesdays: Whose Voice?

Thoughtful Tuesdays:  Whose Voice?
During our walk with Christ, we have so many distractions, or voices as Lesley from Life in the Spacious Place stated.  Technology, doubts, opinions of others can bombard us, but I like what Lesley said:  we "have to be intentional about which voice we listen to."  

She shares a beautiful song called Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns.  Go on over there and be encouraged!  I bet you'll be raising your hands in praise to the God Almighty - the true voice of truth!  

Last Times List

Wow!  It's been ages since I've even looked at a list for sewing.  Between work, the stress of waiting and playing with grandbabies (such an awesome stress reliever), my sewing machine has been on a bit of a hiatus.  Slow stitching is my therapy.  Hmmmm....that would be a great sign!

1) Finish the Covered in Love squares.  Done!

2) Finish a pillow I started last year.  Done!

The fabric makes this pillow so pretty!  I love it!  Here is the piped edging (is that what it's called?)

3) Contact the organizations to give out the drainage bags.  Not yet.

4) Make progress on my afghan - the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet. Done!

5) Do a fabric pull for the new Y-seams Tumbling  Blocks prototype with my new Accuquilt Die.  Not yet.

After look at the list, I guess I've done pretty good!

This week's list will be more attainable.  I'm going to go with slow stitching projects as that's where my heart is right now.

This week's list

1.  Make at least 6 yo-yo flowers to add to my quilt.

2.  Finish up the yellow and blue flowers for my afghan - the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet.  
4.  Sew a few more of these fun four patches inspired by Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.  

3.  Contact the organizations to give out the drainage bags.



I hope you consider visiting and linking up to:

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Women Helping Women@ Teaching What is Good

Thoughtful Tuesday. To Do Tuesday.

Thoughtful Tuesday
As some of you may have noticed, I link up to several inspirational link-ups from which I discover deeply encouraging posts.  Soon I had a collection of these posts and Thoughtful Tuesday was born.  

I was surprised to see this next post in line for today - the timing is perfect.  


It's Inspired by the Abandoned Nest by June of Inspired by June.  June addresses the age old question:  Why don't we do what is good for us?  Why do we do what we know is bad for us?  It reminds me of this:

June's post inspired me to try and choose the good and healthy habit over the opposite.  Truth be told, I'm not always successful, but progress not perfection is the goal.  

June ends her post with an amazing exhortation:  Be gentle with ourselves as we begin to make better choices.  

Progress not perfection.

To Do Tuesday

1) Do a fabric pull for the new Y-seams Tumbling  Blocks prototype with my new Accuquilt Die.  Fingers crossed! Not Yet!

2)  Finish joining Row 3 of my afghan - the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet. Not Yet!

3) Finish a pillow I started last year.  Not Yet!

4) Complete 13 Comfort Dolls.  I've made some progress on them!  Done!

There were actually more dolls, but I was blessed to be able to some to the ladies in my Cancer Care Group.  I think I even saw a man take one as well!  

No discrimination here - I'll be making some male dolls as well.  One question though - what would he wear?  How would I make easy pants for this dolls?  What would you do?  
What was truly a blessing was that my son-in-law (who hands hands the size of Texas) and three of my grandchildren helped stuff and make the dolls!

5) Contact the organizations to give out the drainage bags.  Not Yet!

This Week's List

1) Finish the Covered in Love squares.  

2) Finish a pillow I started last year.  

3) Contact the organizations to give out the drainage bags.  

4) Make progress on my afghan - the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet. 

5) Do a fabric pull for the new Y-seams Tumbling  Blocks prototype with my new Accuquilt Die.  

 Onward and upward!

I hope you check out 

these fun link ups!  

To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Here'a a new to me link-up:

Women Helping Women@ Teaching What is Good

Still Stitching #5. Stitching With Love. Book Date.

Still Stitching #5

Still Stitching #4 Still Stitching #6

Hello There,

So, what does our last point look like?  Remember, it was

 

For me, it evolved.  I had to realize how true Step 1 is:

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

In the rooms of Al-Anon, I learned that I could replace the word “alcohol” with anything – the actions of others, a horrible diagnosis, my boss, my peers – anything.  I only have control over my responses.  So, I turned to the One who has control.  In the beginning of each crisis (and they can be continuous), I allow myself to feel my emotions:  fear, anger, hurt, betrayal, disappointment, despair. 

Then I cry – a lot.

Then I pray – even more.

Eventually I praise – even through my tears – I praise God. 

That is so empowering:  letting the defeated one know he is defeated.

I also highly recommend reading the Bible.  Perhaps the Psalms are for you?  Maybe Philippians? Inspirational books help as well.  The ones that recently changed my life were Why the Sky is Blue by Susan Meissner and Hidden Places by Lynn Austin.  You will see how powerfully God can work in your life.

Music helps so much!

Songs like Grace Wins by Matthew West,

Dare to Believe by Ray Boltz,

Fight Song by Rachel Patten, and

Stronger by Mandisa.

As you listen to the lyrics,

think of yourself,

not your loved one. 

I learned to focus on me and becoming stronger.

My dear reader, music

encourages,

strengthens,

speaks,

heals,

and is always there. 

You know what else is there?

Well, it’s Who is always there?

God.

Yup.

He is there, waiting for me,

waiting for you.

Give Him

your tears, joy will come in the morning,

your anger, He can take it – and give you peace.

You’ve tried everything else, why not give Him a shot?

Until next time.

Stitching With Love
Kat from Kat and Cat Quilts has a new block drive:  the Hunter's Star.   One of the reasons I so enjoy participating in her block drives are the opportunity to learn about new blocks!  Here are my first two blocks!

This one is correct.

 After a meeting 

with the seam ripper, 

this one will be correct as well!

Aren't the 30's fabrics so wonderfully pretty?

Book Date

https://www.amazon.com/
NIV-Story-Audio-CD-Continuing/
dp/0310421772

We are moving onto 2nd Samuel in The Story and I'm still keeping up!  Yea!  I like the mini sermons that are published after the Sunday sermon. Coupled with our Life Group, they give me a whole new perspective!    

https://www.goodreads.com/book/
show/835448.Why_the_Sky_Is_Blue

I finished Why the Sky is Blue by Susan Meissner.  This book is a keeper for me.  I added many notes to my "Lessons Learned From Books" journal.  I highly encourage you to check it out.  

http://anntatlock.com/books/
place-called-morning/

I also finished listening to A Placed Called Morning by Ann Tatlock.  Oh my gosh!  Such a good book and to think it's Ms. Tatlock's debut novel!  I'm looking forward to listening to/reading more of her books!

https://www.goodreads.com/
book/show/
17851885-i-am-malala

I also started reading I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb.  Another excellent read!

Check out these fun link ups!

Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

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

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

Main Crush Mondays @Cooking Up Quilts

You make my day with your comments!  

I love reading and responding to them!