Friday, February 24, 2012

Can you blame me?

3 grand daughters/3 aproms
 My sewing machine is humming again and although the projects are organized in large plastic bags, my sewing room is piled high with dreams to be finished.

Fabric with snaps to match
My first tackled project was completed with some pride.

I used my new binding foot for the Janome machine sewing. It took patience to learn the trick, but I gained confidence seeing both sides of the binding folded professionally over the edges of the aprons! I made covering "aprons" for my three grand daughters.
Can you blame my dreams?
You see, this grandmother tried to get stains out of adorable dresses and now hopes for cute cover-ups to encourage less stains!
I am using the new BABY fabric from BABYVILLE. It is soft, but waterproof. I love the adorable choices for designs and colors. They even make little snaps, velcro, and bindings to totally match the fabrics! One kit, containing 3 fabrics, ($14.99 @JoAnn's) makes 6 bibs!
It's so fun!
These little bibs and aprons are turning out so cute!
I love making them! Can you blame me?

Conquering my dreams


As I entered my sewing room for Friday night SEW-IN, and looked around, the time allotted begged for organization!
And because experience told me to begin with a list, I spent the evening, doing just that and then, rolling up my sleeves for what demanded my attention!

You see, for several weeks, especially as I packed away the holidays, I noticed the mountain creeping taller and taller in my sewing room.  Undone dreams, awesome cottons, quilting magazines, threads, and on and on, it climbed. I could hardly see my sweet Janome behind all the clutter.
Tears of frustration spilled from my eyes often as I browsed through the piles taunting my usual neat surroundings. Quilters often talk about building a "stash", but this was a mess! I realized my only success had been forgetting it by just backing out of my dear room and closing the door behind me.
But oh, how I love to sew!
So with determination, I set to work. First thing I decided to create a page for a project list and try to divide this horrible mountain. I needed to conquer one thing at a time. My PROJECT PAGE shows the 3 chosen categories and a list of dreams already mentally formed with the items already purchased. I vowed that these projects must be completed before I was lured away by any more shopping.
One per project
With my 3 categories and list in hand, I ventured toward my sewing table now, Dreaming hopes began to form knowing I would accomplish more than just looking for items the next time I entered my sewing room!
Including all needed items
I placed each project pattern in a giant sized plastic bag, and labeled it. Then, I gathered and included everything needed for each specific project and placed them in the individual bags. Finally, I placed each bag in a clear plastic crate. This crate was dragged to the closet with the goal of pulling one bag out at a time.
Bins to hold projects
With satisfaction, I glanced around my sewing room. I was proud at how neat and organized it finally looked!  My organization has encouraged me to really sew, rather than spend treasured time hunting for things needed. I no longer have to look for the thread, or shift a pile from one corner to another to make space, or even buy more things and find I didn't need it when I returned home. Now, I can accomplish something when I enter the room and sit at the sewing machine.
A Friday night SEW-IN was well spent. Yesterday, I gladly entered my sewing room and within a couple hours, I was able to make a new pile labeled COMPLETED.
Thanks for the encouragement you gave me through the plans of FRIDAY NIGHT SEW-IN! 

An Assignment of Love

Around my house, a "normal" day has trekked down a new path. 
House calls from Doctors, Nurses, Aides, a Chaplain, and couple of Social Workers coming by to visit my Dad and checking on my care, fill my day. Medicine bottles line the top of the file cabinet, an oxygen machine stands ready near a bedside, and bottles of BOOST cool in the tiny fridge.
Those descriptions should drop the hint that Dad has not improved since the last time I wrote! Every drop-in visit reminds me that he doesn't have much time left of this life, and time spent with him is valuable. There are days when lows hit really low, yet there are also days where energy triumphs over the aging bones.  
Thank all of you for your prayers for us.   

New wall decor on stairway just as we enter Dad's room
My sewing room has a bucket of projects waiting for me. I longingly walk by on my way to my Dad's room, but find I don't have enough energy left to sew when I find my quiet moments. 
I usually shrug and mumble, "Maybe tomorrow!"

But wow, I have to show you this Bible verse! It was so awesome to find this much needed perspective! What incredible comfort is found in God's Word, making me realize that every moment I serve Dad is just an assignment from my Heavenly Father's hand! I found Psalm 16:5 during one of my study times and know that the Lord God was sending me comfort for my fatigue. 
I love teacups and my special times with my Lord and His Word over a cup of tea have been some of my favorite moments in this stage of my life. This verse made me picture my life at God's Tea Time, where He gives me the assignment for each day, never more than can be handled through his grace!

"O Lord, you assigned my portion (a piece of toast) and my cup (of unsweetened tea), my lot (comfy chair) is secure ( which is my position in HIM because of Jesus Christ!)." 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Liebster Award

                                              
                                 thank you, Lana... for this blog connect!  
It was an awesome thrill to open my email, click on my friend's name, and find this sweet message from you!  
 As a newbie, I stand in awe of all of the blogs I read, and cannot believe you chose my blog to be recognized for the 
Liebster Award !!!
Thank you Lana for your friendship and encouragement!  
This award is for blogs with less than 200 followers, 
and the recipient should pass the award on to 5 more bloggers.  
Choosing 5 more bloggers was a difficult task for me, because I'm so brand new at all this "blogging stuff"! In my leisure moments, with teacup in hand, I read the adventures in quilting and card makers. I become so inspired by these creative people! 
Most of all, I love receiving the tender notes from new friends and I soak up their encouragement as I plunge into the world of quilting.
Hopefully, through my feeble efforts at blogging, I pass on to others some of the encouragement I've received!

 So now, I pass this award on to those I enjoy following, hoping each of you realize how much I love reading of your adventures and creativity.   
This list is absolutely in no particular order...

Liebster Conventions:
*Thank your award presenter on your blog 
*Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award
*Copy and paste the award to your blog -
*Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that have fewer then 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized 
*Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog