Slow Stitching Surprise. Progress On My Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Slow Stitching Surprise.
Do you remember this project?  It was a quilt along from Carole at From My Carolina Home.  She called it Autumn Jubilee.  

In this post I said there was a surprise twist to it and then I never showed you "the twist" that I added at Christmas!

Tada!  Here it is!

Here's the "Fall Side".

I made a few changes.

I added beads instead of buttons.

(Didn't have any buttons to match.)

I didn't add the bottom layer of wool.

And I made it reversible!

This was my daughter's idea.

I like it.  :)

We all know wool is expensive.

But I am hooked.

I may make  more candle mats as gifts.

Progress On Our 

Grandmother's Flower Garden

Many of you have seen this picture of the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. The reason I call it "ours" is simple. 

When I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, my daughter jumped in and started helping me to make it.  So, it is ours.  

The top row should be all connected by tonight, tomorrow at the latest.  

My daughter and I...

well...this quilt is so special.  

I'm so glad God healed me 

so that we can continue to work together on this beautiful expression of 

love, tenacity and beauty.

I love it.

I really do.

I'm linking up to

Kathleen's SharingSundays

Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt

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!

Oh Baby! Follow up Test Results. Lovely Morning Chat. Cleaning House. Slow Stitching.

Oh Baby!

I know it’s been quite on my little corner of the internet…..Guess what!  Bright and early on the Fourth of July, my daughter gave birth to our fourth grandchild – a healthy little boy!

https://thecraftyladyincombatboots.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/happy-fourth-of-july/

Follow Up Test Results

Great news!  All my follow up test results are wonderful!  

http://askadifferentquestion.com/prayer/prayers-parched-worship-father/

My diagnostic mammogram is cancer free, bone density shows no ill effects from chemo, bone scan is clear and the nerve conduction test showed only mild neurapathy.  

So, why am I having so much pain in my feet and fatigue?  My rheumatoidologist believes the severe pain is a combination of the neuropathy and fibromyalgia.  All of my doctors recommend exercise.  

So, my daughter and son-in-law generously offered to loan us their elliptical.  Despite the pain, I’m going to try and work out everyday.  I am overweight, so I’m thinking if I lose weight, naturally that will reduce the stress on my feet.  Makes sense theoretically….I hope I can put it into practice! 

As I begin this journey, I wanted you to know what fibromyalgia feels like:

http://quotesgram.com/fibro-positive-quotes/

Gotta love Calvin!  

Lovely Morning Chat. 

Oh my!  Isn’t it wonderful when God gives us a gift?  This morning, my husband and I simply sat on our porch swing, drinking coffee, enjoying our yard, the sound of our waterfall and reminiscing while I worked on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  Oh!  It was so delightful!

When it got warm, we came inside and began our day.  And that’s where the weirdness started…..

Cleaning House. 

I just HAD to clean my house.  I definitely wanted to clean my living room because that is where the elliptical is going to be.  But, somehow my one room cleaning plan morphed into a whole house cleaning project!  Which is uber strange because my cleaning lady is coming this week!

And yesterday, I rearranged my grandbabies' toy room - moved furniture and everything!  

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/530510031076384555/

My husband thinks I’m nesting…Do grandma’s nest?

Slow Stitching. 

I absolutely love Kathy’s Slow Stitching Sundays!  Last night as I put away my machine sewing project, I cleaned my machine and organized a bit.  It felt peaceful knowing I would be slow stitching.  I felt eager and…..less rushed. 

I worked on my Grandmother’s Flower Garden.  That will be my Slow Stitching Sundays project for the foreseeable future.  I was able to finish stitching on a flower, some single hexagons and begin stitching on another flower! 

My hope is to finish the first row by the end of August.

My Dear Reader, after two days of heavy cleaning, tonight was a wheelchair evening, so much pain in my feet.  But, life is good, isn’t it? 

Despite

triple negative breast cancer,

fibromyalgia,

weight gain after cancer,

pain,

there’s

new babies,

a loving husband,

lovely morning chats,

beautiful gardens,

generous children,

a clean house,

Slow Stitching Sundays,

and more importantly,

God, my strength.

Life is good!

http://quotesideas.com/life-is-good-quote-motivational-wallpaper/

 Dear Reader, this is my truth!

                                Linking up to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts!

Thoughtful Tuesday. To Do Tuesday.

Thoughtful Tuesday
Wow.  Joanne Viola @ Days and Thoughts has this great post that has life changing potential.  Following God is not complicated, though many times I make it so.  It's a few basic steps, 
follow Him,
cling to Him and
spend time with Him.
  
Her prayer at the end is simple - yet deep.
I hope you stop by and read her post.  It will take you the three minutes to read her short, but so deep post!  Let me know what you thing in the comments, if you like!  :)

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List
1) Backpack #2:  Finish 1/2 of section 3. X

2) Finish the flimsy for Comfort Quilt #3 4.  ✔  
I love how this one came out!

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. X

5) Ongoing projects on which I simply want to make progress on:
     a.  Sew together more four patches.  ✔
     b.  Connect another yo-yo flower.  X
     c.  Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt ✔
     d.  Prayer shawl #9 ✔
Overall, not a bad week!

This Week's List

1) Backpack #2:  Finish 1/2 of section 3. 

2) Finish my August 1 Xmas a Month - meet Patch the Pussy Cat! 

3) 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. 

4) Ongoing projects:  
     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

Trekking Thru The Week @ Trekking Thru

Wednesday
Mid-Week Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Thoughtful Tuesday. To Do Tuesday

Thoughtful Tuesday
Betsy de Cruz @ Faith Spilling Over wrote this fabulous post titled "When You Need to Invite Jesus In" that reminds us that regardless of the storm we found ourselves in, we need not fear.  At the end of her post, she has an  journal prompt that I'm sure will minister to many of us.  Why not give it a try?  

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1) Backpack #2:  Finish 1/2 of section 3 ✔
2) Finish my August 1 Xmas Item a Month - Patch the Pussy Cat ✔

3) Begin joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan using the join-go-as-you method.  ✔

4) Ongoing projects:  
     a.  Sew together more four patches.  X
     b.  Connect another yo-yo flower.  X
     c.  Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt ✔
     d.  Prayer shawl #9 is completed!  ✔  It can be worn two ways!  

This Week's List

1) Backpack #2:  Finish Section 4 of instructions
2) Begin my September 1 Xmas Item a Month - A crocheted Winnie the Pooh

3) Continue joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan using the join-go-as-you method.  
4) Sew together Blocks 1 & 2 of the Fall Into A QAL. Have you checked out this fun QAL?  

5) Ongoing projects:  
     a.  Sew together more four patches.
     b.  Connect another yo-yo flower.  
     c.  Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt 
     d.  Make progress on Prayer Shawl #10

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

 To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Trekking Thru The Week @ Trekking Thru

Fiber Tuesday at

TheQuilting Room with Mel

and

Oui Crochet Community

Hookin’ On Hump Day @

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

Your comments are always a 

special treat for me!

Thoughtful Tuesday. To Do Tuesday.

Thoughtful Tuesday
Silence.  A rare commodity 
that can make us uncomfortable, but as Crystal Twaddle stated, it can be a door in which God can move.  Lately, I've noticed that I've been seeking silence.  After re-reading her post, I've come to realize that I need to more intentional in this goal.  Thank you, Crystal, for such a meaningful message that can leave space in our hearts for God to move.  

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1) Backpack #2:  Finish Section 4 of instructions.  X  
I worked on my backpack, but made a mistake.  My seam ripper and I will become better acquainted this week!
2) Begin my September 1 Xmas Item a Month - ✔ 

I changed this to a cute little dinosaur ball published in these pattern book by Annie's Crochet! 

3) Continue joining my Spring Granny Square Afghan using the join-go-as-you method.  ✔ 
4) Sew together Blocks 1 & 2 of the Fall Into A QAL.   ✔ 

5) Ongoing projects:  
     a.  Sew together more four patches.✔ 
     b.  Connect another yo-yo flower.  ✔ 
     c.  Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt  ✔ 

     d.  Make progress on Prayer Shawl #10 ✔ 

Overall, a very productive week!  That's another reason I love To Do Tuesdays at Stitch All Things - it helps me realize how much I am actually accomplishing!

This Week's List and Kitty

For the 6 weeks I've been working with a feral kitten whom I've named "Kitty".  We are at the point where I know longer consider her feral, she was spayed and allows me to pet and even pick her up.  

Kitty on July 31, 2018

Kitty cautiously approaches me.
July 31, 2018

But, did I mention I'm allergic to cats?  

Just the same, she's just a baby and needs attention, so I've been spending about an hour or so a day playing with her.  Either my allergies are acting up, I developed a sinus infection or I've caught a cold. Additionally, for the last week and a half, I've been experiencing fatigue and weakness.  ( I was so much more healthy before chemo - but at least I'm alive!) 

It's time to rest.  

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. 

Linking up to:

 To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River

Trekking Thru The Week @ Trekking Thru

Philippians 1:12 (Part 1). Big Stitch, Slow Stitch

Philippians 1:12 (Part 1) 

Scripture:

Observation:
Paul wants them to know something.  When someone tells me, “I want you to know…” my ears perk up.  What does he want them to know? 

That his imprisonment,

his suffering has served to advance the gospel!

But how has his trial served to advance the gospel?

It has to be his attitude. 

His manner of being.

And God did provide an encourager in the form of Timothy.

Now, all along I thought he was in prison – in a dungeon.

But my NIV Study Bible notes tell me that this time he was under house arrest in his own rental home when he wrote Philippians.  At first this homebody thought, “That’s not so bad.” 

But wait!  This is Paul we’re talking about.  I don’t imagine him enjoying being home all the time.  He could only share the gospel if people came to him!  He was completely out of control of his ability to minister!  He was placed in a position where he couldn’t go to those he knew need Christ more than ever. 

He had to wait for them to come to him.

Application:
Sound familiar?

Yup.

Is God not in the same position?

He will not force His way into our lives.

He waits, standing at the door knocking

Waiting

For

You

For

Me

To

Open

The

Door.

Are you ready to admit your need? 

Am I ready to admit my need?

Prayer:
Oh yes!  Come in My LORD, do please come in!

http://www.sheryllmonique.com/2012/07/the-visual-verse-revelation-320.html

Big Stitch, Slow Stitch
I've finally realized something.
I forgot that Sundays, my Slow Stitching days, were going to be dedicated to working on my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  I started other slow stitching projects and they replaced my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  

So, my other slow stitching projects will be worked on during the week!  Also, I have so many hand stitching projects that a few will now become machine stitched.  

Like my dot your i's quilt and my Quilty 365.

Dot Your i's 

Quilty 365

Around the House Stitching Club

My Around the House Stitching Club also seems to have fallen off the radar and I know why.  It's all hand stitched so it only make sense to want to hand quilt it.  But I've never hand quilted before.  In comes Big Stitch Coasters from Carolyn Friedlander at Sew Mama Sew!  

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2014/08/big-stitch-coasters-from-carolyn-friedlander-why-sew-slow/

It seems like a quick little project to practice hand quilting.  Mine will be square and I've decided to use these Christmas fabrics.  The green prints will be the front and the red will be the back!  

  
Being that I have another cold, these will be a perfect project to work on today and tomorrow - along with sewing the label on the baby quilt and crocheting the circles for the border of Baby M2's afghan! Pics of these projects coming soon!

I'm linking up to 
Oh Scraps!
Needle and Thread Thursdays.  

Dear Friend,
This is my truth!