Rag Quilt ~ Baby Blanket

Well, I've been meaning to get this finished for quite a while...and figured that as the baby will soon be here, I'd better get on the move! I've always admired rag quilts...I love them. I decided to try to make my own as a gift for a couple in our church expecting a girl. I had the most lovely coordinating fabrics and only had to purchase some flannel to go with it. I did a layer of solid yellow in the middle and a polka dot pink and white for the back.

First order of business was to cut all the fabric into squares. I didn't want them too large or too small, so I ended up going with a 6" square...which worked out nicely, since my rulers are 6" wide. =) So I cut strips and then cut the strips into squares...49 of each fabric was what I figured after laying out the coordinating cotton prints in a pattern.

Next I put each square with the two pieces of flannel, which had to be done systematically, so as not to ruin my pattern. You also have to know which way the grainline on each cotton fabric square is, so that all the fabrics match and will pull and give when you're trying to line up seams.

Then I had to sew an "X" on each of the 49 square piles to hold them together, once again being careful to keep my pattern in order. After that, each row of squares was sewn together and then the rows added to each other. The quilt is 7x7 square.

Then your quilt looks like this.


Next was the tedious, and I might also add, PAINFUL, snipping of every seam allowance to create the "rag" affect. This might not be so bad for a normal individual, but I have arthritis in my hands and especially my thumbs, but after rotary cutting every square, my hands were literally on fire. Needless to say, I took a few breaks off and on. I even thought about taking my time snipping...but I have a problem putting off until tomorrow what I want to finish today...so I just decided I was going to finish it no matter what! (In fact, it was during the snipping process, that I decided to document my rag journey on my blog...so taking some photos was a nice break.)

At last the blanket was finished. The next step was to machine wash it.

That was exciting! Let's just say there were threads everywhere...in the washer, on the blanket...on the floor after I shook the blanket...even the lint trap was covered. Worst of all, the entire back of the blanket had pilling all over it! =( Okay, that did not make me happy. I spent another 15+ minutes with a lint roller getting all the excess fuzzies off!

But finally, the little quilt is finished...and I LOVE it! I can now understand why people sell them for what I thought to be such rediculously high prices...because they require a rediculous amount of time and actual labor. =) I won't tell you how much time I spent working on this today...but it was a while! =) The finished product measures 33" square. I can only hope that the recipient will love it as much as I do.

Here's a close up of the lovely poofy seams. =) I just think it's amazing.

Thanks for looking.

Meditation~ Who We Are....

I was just meditating on the thought of the awesomeness of our Creator! I'm sure we all realize that we are each one UNIQUE! It's so wonderful that we don't have to be like each other...we don't have to copy one another, have the same gifts and talents as another, or covet after each other in any way, because we can just be who we are!

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." There is a specific work that God has chosen just for me to do. I do not have to look across church at someone else doing their special something and think, "I wanna be like her...I wanna do what she does...let me keep my eye on her and try to be like her, because then I'll be important and then God will be pleased with me!" NO! quite the opposite is true...I'm not to fix my eyes on anyone or anything around me...I'm to look up.

The only person that I should ever want to be more like, in any way, shape, or form, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Do you realize how freeing that is...how we are released as we come to accept that we have been created for a specific work?

Look at the parable of the talents. Three different individuals were given three different amounts of money, or gifts, to work with. They had to take what they were given and work with it. You don't read anything in that story about them looking at each other and saying...hey, I need some of what you've been given to succeed! In the end, the Lord rewarded or judged them according to what they had done with the gifts He had bestowed upon them.

So what are we doing with our gifts? Are we using them for His glory...are we hiding them? or are we sitting back and looking at all the gifts He has given to someone else...thinking that we need to possess that gift in order to be fruitful? Take what He has ordained for YOU from before the foundation of the world and begin to put it to good use, whatever it might be. Realize the value that He places upon YOUR life and YOUR gifts. YOU are important to Him and that work which He has ordained for YOU to do with the Gifts and Talents He has given YOU, is just as vital and important as the work He chose for Jane Doe. Don't worry about what they're doing, focus on what you're doing for His kingdom and look forward to hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

New Ava Totes ~ Think Spring!

So I was asked to begin focusing on Spring totes again...and here are the first two that I've worked on. I saw this cute birdie fabric this past weekend and decided to buy it. I'll be working on some other colors in the near future...as time allows...because my weeks fill up quickly with family, church, friends, work and then sewing. Let me know what you think. =)

They feature cotton fabrics, lined in fusible fleece. I've added a large front pocket on the exterior, a flap over closure with fabric covered button. The inside is the pre-quilted fabric...I decided on that as opposed to just cotton, because I like the added stability. There are also two interior lined pockets on the back inside of the bag. The one would nicely fit glasses...the other accessories.

Meditation ~ The Heart of Man

There is so much spoken in Scripture about the heart of man and I've been meditating upon that thought more and more recently. As I blog, it helps me to cement my thoughts together and maybe someone else might be blessed by things the Lord is teaching me. I think that as we study God's Word it becomes like a candle...it searches within our being and illuminates areas that might otherwise have been hidden in the shadows. We know that we can be washed by the "Water of the Word" (Eph. 5:26) and that we must all cry like David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God." (Ps. 51:10).

If the heart were not an area that we needed to take heed to and guard, I doubt much scripture would have been written in that regard. However, we know that quite the opposite is true. The word heart is mentioned 763 times in the Word of God. There are numerous scriptures speaking of the heart, and even instances recorded when words were not even spoken, but the thoughts of a particular person's heart were recorded. Why then would we ever imagine that we are okay and that we need not constantly be on guard, lest at any point, the enemy sneak in and infiltrate the garden of our hearts?

Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" I think this is a key verse...I believe that we do not even always know what is in our hearts. Proverbs 23:7 also says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Our hearts and the thoughts of our hearts reveal who we are. It's scary to think that we do not always even know what is in our hearts, but they show forth our true nature and character, and our hearts will be revealed.

How, you might ask? In both Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 we are told that "out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak." That's right, your heart is revealed by your words. That's something to meditate upon, how we speak. We might think, well, I'm a good person, I don't swear or gossip...but those aren't the only things we can allow out of our mouths that reveal our hearts. Let's look at these two lists which are similar spoken by Jesus in the Gospel's...
Matthew 15:18-20, "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man."
Mark 7:20-23, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

The Scribes and Pharisees were so concerned with everything you had to do externally...wash your hands, do this or that, but the truth of the matter was that they neglected to care for their inner man and they were totally deceived. Jesus likened them to burial placed, beautifully white washed on the outside, but inside full of deadness and uncleanness. (Matt.23:27, 28). They were so deceived, thinking that they were so wonderful, but God was looking on their hearts.

Proverbs 28:26 says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." There is a danger in thinking that we are okay. We cannot know are own hearts, so how can we trust in them? We can't. There is only one thing that we can trust in, that is the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5, 6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." We are not a people left without hope. It's not all gloom and despair. It's recognizing that in and of ourselves we are nothing. Even Jesus said, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (Mark 10:18) If the Son of God said this, why would we ever think upon ourselves as good.

Many times I've heard a person make the statement, "I'm a good person." Then they proceed down a list of their accomplishments. They think that they're safe for eternity because of the works that they have done externally. It's a sad state of mind and also a delusion, as we've already seen by the example of the Scribes and Pharisees above. We can't be pointing fingers at ourselves saying, "Look at me! See how wonderful I am!" Not only is that pride, but it's an attitude of heart that will hinder us from growing closer to the Lord. Here is what scripture says about those who are "Proud in Heart."

Psalm 101:5, "A proud heart will I not suffer."
Proverbs 16:5, "Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord."
Proverbs 21:4, "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."
Proverbs 28:25, "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife."

We must adopt the attitude of Christ in Matthew 11:29, where He said of Himself, "I am meek and lowly in heart." What is meekness? 1. Enduring injury with patience and without resentment; Mild. 2. Deficient in spirit or courage; Submissive. 3. Not violent or strong; Moderate. I think that often our hearts rise up in defensiveness, wanting to fight and protect us, and be in control. To be truly meek and lowly in heart is only possible as we learn to accept everything that happens in our lives and trust that the Lord is in full control and will work it for His good. It comes as we abandon our rights, when we are willing to lay aside our lives, plans, dreams, hopes, and surrender total control. It is acknowledging that we have expectations that we place on others and that when they don't fulfill them or act in a given way, it's not up to us to make it better...especially when we shouldn't have expected them to act how we wanted in the first place. It's so much more....and possibly another study for me in the future.

Today let's meditate upon our own hearts. I didn't write this blog to think of people I should send it too or of people who it refers too. =) It's a study that the Lord is impressing upon me, a Word to cause me to pray for the Light to shine more brightly into the inner recesses of my own heart. That the Lord would bring to light those things that offend Him, things that might turn me 1 degree off course, ultimately causing me to forfeit my crown and lose the race. 1 Degree...think about it. If there is one thing in my heart, that I do not know, it could deflect me. I want every area revealed.

I want Him to search me, as the Psalmist said in Psalm 139:23, 24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." We do not always know what is in our own hearts, but it can be revealed by the Spirit of the Lord, if we desire for it. If we ask for it, if we seek for it, if we cry out to be more like Christ...then I believe He is faithful to come and work in us...creating in us that clean heart. However, if we want to think that we are just fine how we are, then we err. Pride goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18) and better it is to be of a humble spirit (Prov. 16:19) now, than to find out in eternity that we missed the mark by 1 degree. God bless.

New Piano Bag ~

Rebekah started piano lessons in October of 2005...I can hardly believe it's been that long. She works very diligently and is faithful to practice. It's amazing how she reads music and can play songs. She has a wonderful teacher, Andrea, and we thank God for bringing her into our lives. We also thank God for the provision He has made through two very beloved Grandparents for this endeavor to continue.

Anyway...she received this piano bag the first Christmas of the year she began lessons. It's not falling apart...though a seam is coming undone...but it's just gotten quite a bit of useage and I have been wanting to make her a new bag for quite a while.

I am part of a Christian team on Etsy where I've been blessed with many friendships as well as finding many talented Christian artists. A member joined the team this year with a lovely shop. She has the cutest bags. I had thought about buying one from her, but decided to ask about purchasing a screen print instead, so that I could make Rebekah's bag myself. She willingly obliged. You can see her shop here... http://www.helenscorner.etsy.com/ ...she has lovely items.

The screenprint arrived last week and after an emergency trip for fabric, that I thought I had on hand, I was able to make the bag today in about 1/2 an hour. Here's the finished product.

I hope it holds up as long as the old one.

Something New ~

Wow, everything is literally changing every day...life sometimes seems to constantly change. I'm thankful that Jesus Christ is the same! Yesterday, today, and forever!

However, things in our lives will constantly be changing. Take for instance the fact that my baby is now a big girl! We've gone from diapers, to independance, to big sister, to glasses, to school, to piano lessons, to field trips, to swimming lessons, to homework, and now.....

..... we've progressed to braces! Wow! She's growing up really fast! She's still my little treasure, a gift from God. We can still snuggle and giggle and have great times together, it just takes a little more space to do it. Now we do homework together and she asks me how to crochet and wants to learn to sew. Soon, it will be who knows what, maybe how to drive?!?! =)

She's so excited about her braces...and the journey has just begun there, so lots of prayer would be appreciated. They are only on her top front teeth at present, because two of her molars have to be pulled before they can progress...and one is fused to her jaw. Please be praying with us as that time will be approaching very soon. She also has a mammoth canker sore now, because one of the wires was poking into her lip. =( It's really big and Mommy feels so bad. God is good...He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. We are trusting this to get her well on the way to allowing the rest of her teeth to come in properly and to correct her cross bite, so her teeth can actually meet in the back. It may help her to eat food more easily.

Anyway, she wanted the family to be able to see her "New" teeth...so I told her I would blog...here you go! =)

Awww...thanks! =)

I received a blog award!



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Seven things about me:
1. I was Valedictorian of my class.
2. I have played a tenor sax and clarinet in my youth.
3. I've never been on a plane.
4. I wear size 10 shoes.
5. I love classical novels made into movies....period pieces.
6. I was married right after I turned 21.
7. My ancestry contains American Indian, Russian, Polish, English and who knows what else!

PIF to:
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2. http://knit2getherinlovebycathy.blogspot.com/
3. http://mirandasplace09.blogspot.com/
4. http://mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com/
5. http://jocelynfriisart.blogspot.com/
6. http://serenitysacs.blogspot.com/
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