:: Square One quilt blocks

Have you ever felt like you have so many projects in the works (or in your mind) that you don't know which to work on first?  That's how I feel, with past projects unfinished, and Christmas projects looming... And I want them all done.  Now!

 

 

2 years ago I stumbled upon a book at the library.  I give it full credit for re-sparking my love for quilting in a whole new way.  Not to mention, I adore Camlle's blog, as well as the many fabric lines she's designed...

 



So back then I started making these quilt blocks from a pattern in her book, Square One.  A week or 2 ago I pulled out all the blocks I had made, and am now finishing them into a lap quilt for all those chilly early mornings when the fire hasn't heated the living room yet! 

 

Fabric: Arcadia by Moda

I'm not gonna let myself start this advent calendar till all the blocks on this quilt top are pieced together!  What's on your to-get-done list?

 

:: Something for Girl #2

 

Slowly...in progress...a sweet little cardi forming on my knitting needles.

 This In Threes cardigan for my 4-year-old Audrey is taking form.  Every evening I get about 4-6 rows done, and then my eyes just won't stay open any longer.  Drat needing sleep!  =)

 

Every morning she asks, "Did you sew the buttons on yet?!"

Soon, girl.  Soon.



:: Harvest Party

This year we hosted a Harvest Party out at our place, the weekend before Halloween.  Every single person, regardless of age, showed up in a costume.

 

Audrey and Me



Josh & Jack

Each family brought a game for everyone to do, so there were relay races... scavenger hunts... pumpkin painting... a photo booth... pinatas... cookie decorating...

 

Ellie



Hannah and Grandad

Jordan, Marshall (Axel) & Jenni

...Scooby Doo action going on...

 



cookie decorating

 

Audrey & Mumum

...much to the delight of the boys there, Batman and the Joker even made an appearance!

Justin & Jordan

We also had "da boyz from da hood"...

 



Keith, Jonny (Whitney) & Josh

 

as well as the fairies who were their wives...

(lets just say they need fairies for wives, with getup's

like those!)

Joanna, Me & Cara

...and LOTS of delicious food.

 



It was a blast, and I think we may have to do it again next year!

 

{this moment}

. . . . . . . .

{this moment} - Every Friday.
A single photo - no words - capturing a simple, special moment from the week.
A moment I want to savor and remember forever.  Inspired by SouleMama

. . . . . . . .

 

 If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

:: Conviction and endurance

This week I was convicted on the luke-warmness of my heart toward putting emotional effort into my relationship with the Lord.  It's not the first time it's happened.  Slowly,  other things and the business of life distract me from what is really important: loving Jesus and living a life that is completely sold out for him.  Being willing to sacrifice all, if necessary.  It's always a gradual fading, so slow that it's not noticable at first.  Then I see someone else's life, and I realize the state of my own heart. 

 

This week I've been motivated in many areas of my spritual relationship.   One of them being verse memory: storing God's word in my heart, where it can grow my love for Christ, for the lost, and where God can use it to change my responses to what they would not naturally be.

 

 

In the same way, I've let it slip with my children. A few years ago I filled notebook pages with some verses for them to memorize, but we didn't get very far.  Yesterday we picked it back up again - inserting it into our breakfast routine, and trying to remember to review them at dinner for Dad.  

 

These notebook pages are the way my Mom helped us kids memorize growing up, and is quite effective - especially for little children that can't read yet.  Plus, kids think it's really fun. 

 

Many of the pictures are ones from my own childhood (if you can't tell).  The favorite for them so far, is this one: 

 

 

I love it when my 2-year-old looks at the picture on the page, draws her own conclusion, and says, "God wants you to be happy when you have to go to bed!"

 

 

I just find pictures out of magazines, books, and old birthday/christmas cards, then type up verses on paper, glue the picture down, slip the whole thing into a clear page protector, and store them all in a

3-ring binder.  Nothin fancy. 

 

We learn the verse first.  Then as we flip from page to page, I cover the verse up, and whoever raises their hand first gets to say it.  Sometimes... I even step out of my I-get-all-my-creative-ideas-from-others nature, and attempt to think of a simple tune to put to the verse.  Promise you won't laugh.  =)

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning is the first step.  But endurance (and God's grace) is what will complete the work He has begun in all of us.  I'm praying for that.  =)

:: Signage

It's always good to have events that push us to getting unfinished projects done. 

My man got this sign hung right before the baby shower.

 

Glad to have it finished, and beginning to make it's mark.

:: Shower time

Last weekend I hosted a baby shower for one of my little sisters.  She is having her first baby,

which made it extra-special.

 

 

I was so excited to make tissue paper pom-poms from these directions from Martha Stewart.  I've always loved that woman. =)

And the paper garlands were easy.    I saw this picture, and knew I had to make some.  I used a hole-punch, then sewed them all together, using a long stitch on my sewing machine.  Acctually, my 5-year-old daughter really enjoyed sewing them...and many more.  Now her room is adorned with brightly colored construction-paper garlands.  It's like confetti-on-a-string.  I love it.

 

Blaize & Axel.  Cousins are the best kind of friends.  =)

 

 

The food was scrumptious.  Mini pumpkin muffins, salted nuts, mini cheesecakes, chexmix, and my sister Cara's absolutely best chocolate cake (not pictured here) heaped with berries of all kinds, drizzled with more chocolate.  Did I ever mention I LOVE chocolate?  It makes me happy.  True thing.

 



 

 

These mini-cheesecakes were divine!  And so easy. I found the recipe here.

(Thank you, Mimi, for the wonderful lanterns!)

 

 

 

Us ladies enjoyed having a night with each other, our babies and daughters.  She got some thoughtful gifts.  All-in-all, it was a wonderful night.

:: On the needles again

I love knitting.  But there are times when my needles sit silent, especially during hot months.  When the air begins to cool and the evenings get dark earlier, I begin searching for a portable hand-project I can carry from room to room in the evenings as I listen to my man read bedtime stories to our little ones, or as we watch seasons of unbeatable Andy Griffith, borrowed from the library.

I love the feel of the smooth needles, the tug of the yarn through my hand, and watching something shape from nothing.

I especially love casting off.  The excitement (and anxiety) of trying it on for the first time.  Hoping it fits, and that it will be loved.

My boy has been waiting a year for this cap to start, and finish.  He is so patient.  I used a chunky yarn, so it knit up quick, once I begun, that is!

You can see more info (and pattern) here on Ravelry.

Now it's on to the next idea.  Can't wait to show you!

{this moment}

. . . . . . . .

{this moment} Every Friday.
A single photo - no words - capturing a simple, special moment from the week.
A moment I want to savor and remember forever.

. . . . . . . .

 

{this moment}

. . . . . . . .

{this moment}  Every Friday. 
A single photo - no words - capturing a simple, special moment from the week.  
A moment I want to savor and remember forever.

. . . . . . . .

:: Pallet Art

We don't own one piece of expensive art in our house.  Not that I wouldn't love some - it just never makes the cut, budget-wise.  Inspired by my bare walls and the many ideas on Pinterest, I decided to try making some (being the artist that I am not).  I told Josh I was using "reclaimed lumber", and when I saw the blank look, I explaind:  pallet boards.  But it sounds so much more hip and trendy saying it the other way.

So, not knowing exactly how to dissasemble the pallets, I used a small sledge hammer to whack them apart.  It worked. =)  I then removed (some of) the rusty nails, and let my man take over from there. =)

Once he had the boards assembled, I used this method to paint my lettering.  I'm not gonna lie.  It wasn't easy.  I had to press so hard to make even a faint outline of the letters; but it probably didn't help that I was using old, hardend boards. 

Once the paint dried, I used a rough piece of sandpaper and rubbed over the lettering, giving it a weathered look, suitable for the aged wood.

It's going in my boys' bathroom, and I can't wait to get 'er hung.  Here's hoping that if they have enough years to read it, the message will brainwash them sink in and help them hold fast through the teen years. 

For me: I would absolutely love to know if there is an easier way to do lettering!