Picnic

I continue to make progress on my list of quilts.

There are things I wish to show you but can't yet.

A dutiful eye keeps watch over my progress,

looking ever so lovely in her wicker chair.

This quilt is called, "Picnic".

It's from "Scrap-Basket Sensations"

by Kim Brackett

Enjoy this Saturday doing something you love!

Hugs,

Friday Pretties

I want to share with you a new blog and blogger.  The blog is Soul Delights and Wendi is the wonderfully creative person behind it. 

Wendi is a third generation quilter, raises sheep, loves vintage and takes the most breathtaking photos!  Be sure to stop by and visit her blog and extend some new blogger love.  I believe we can expect great things from Soul Delights.

When I began blogging in 2009 I was so touched by all the well wishes and offers of help with blogging questions.  It's because of the generosity of bloggers that all of us thrive and get creatively refueled each day.  A very warm welcome to you, Wendi!

With joy,

Pretty It Up~

I've been trying to come up with an idea to corral all the business cards I pick up at wedding shows.  I found a simple black case and purchased two so I could give one to Nancy, my boss and good friend.  It was my daughter who said I needed to make a cover.  She was so right.  I used scraps from an old quilt and found some fun fabric to go with it.  Yo-yo's always make for a festive touch.

This holds plenty of cards and will come in handy.  I love making ordinary objects pretty.  I gave it to Nancy last night and she loved it!  Now I have to make mine.

It was easy to make.  The hardest part was trying to figure out which button to put on!  I encourage you to take a look at the things you use everyday.  It might be fun to pretty it up!

Joyfully,

Cupcake Love

Hugs,

photo found here
quote found here

Oh, So Pretty!

My house is very quiet this morning.  My daughter is home sick from school and snuggled so deeply into my bed that you can barely find her.  My husband is sleeping in the family room, where it is the darkest, because he worked all night.  The rain is coming down and it's grey and still outside.  I had to show you the package I received yesterday from Renee at My Vintage Mending.  OH MY WORD...the wrapping alone was a gift.  Look at that darling milk tag!  It's wrapped in a piece of a sewing pattern, how creative is that?!  The inside card was so sweet and held a vintage playing card.  I was swooning. 

Oh but the treasure inside was this pretty Ipod case.  Look at all that vintage finery!  My family doesn't know yet that they are getting me a new Ipod for Mother's Day, in the meantime I will tuck my Nano in there with my headphones.  I love it, thank you Renee!  Make sure to check out her fabulous blog~

I'm still running my quilting marathon.  Too many projects going on but I love them all.  Stay dry in your corner of the world.  Blessings!

Smiles,

Good Morning!

My Favorite China - Lady Carlyle

It's raining outside this morning.  Lots and lots of green leaves are coming out to drink it in.  Spring seems within our grasp.  I'm so thankful that winter has past.  I hope everyone had a good Easter.  After a wonderful service at church we had family for Easter dinner, it was very nice.

My New Book

I picked up this book over the weekend.  The cover, of course, caught my eye.  Such a beautiful photograph.  In this non-fiction book, the author shares the stories behind the mementos she keeps in her "forever box" and the lessons she learned from the significant women in her life.  She helps the reader to discover the meaningful tidbits of her own life and possibly develop her own "forever box" that can be passed on to future generations.  There is much food for thought and I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far.  Showers of blessings today!

With joy,

Sunday Scripture

"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone,

which was very large, had been rolled away.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man

dressed in a white robe sitting on the right 

side, and they were alarmed.  "Don't be alarmed,"

he said.  "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,

who was crucified.  HE HAS RISEN!  He is not here.

See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his 

disciples and Peter.  He is going ahead of you into 

Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you."

Mark 16:4-7

Rejoicing,

Friday Pretties

Smiling Green Mom

Squidoo

Country Living

Purl Bee

eHow Family

"The curtain of the temple was torn in two

from top to bottom.  And when the centurion,

who stood there in front of Jesus,

heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, 

"Surely this man was the son of God!"

Mark 15:38-39

Wishing you and your family

a blessed Good Friday~

for more friday pretties visit Joyce at

I Love Pretty Little Things

Joyfully,

Stone Mountain

While visiting my brother in Georgia, a couple of weeks ago, we took a trip to Stone Mountain.  It is the largest bas relief sculpture in the world, measuring 3 acres and in it's entirety is about the size of three football fields.  The Confederate Memorial Carving depicts three Confederate leaders of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson as well as their favorite horses, Blackjack, Traveller and Little Sorrel.  An interesting fact is that the deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet to the mountain's surface.  Work on the carving began in 1915 and was completed in 1972.

Stone Mountain is a quartz monsonite dome.  It's elevation is 1,686 feet and it extends underground 9 miles.  It is known as the largest exposed piece of granite in the world.

We took a skyride to the top of the mountain.  There are a few rock pools and some plant life at the top.  It was a bit eerie to stand up there and I was happy to find out that it has a fence around it, it slopes in places and would be easy to lose your footing.

I want to share this image with you which I find fitting for Easter.  A group of people were telling the Easter story and giving communion.  My brother told me that there is a sunrise Easter service each year.  I can't imagine what it would be like to be on the top of the mountain, with the sun coming up, worshiping the Lord on Resurrection Sunday!  I also just read in Country Living magazine that the Country Living Fair will be held at Stone Mountain this October as well as in Columbus, Ohio.  Have a wonderful Thursday!

Joyfully,

For Tuesday

I was hoping to share with you today some pictures from the photo shoot at the Farm, but it was cancelled due to weather.  It didn't seem appropriate to have the bride stand in frigid temps pretending not to have goosebumps.  Click here to see some fabulous photos that photographer, Carrie Miles has taken.

Today my "spring" is coming from our local grocery store.  I can read about what "spring" is in the food magazine I treated myself to as well as gazing at the lovely tulips!

I was pleasantly surprised to find edible flowers at our store so my ideas are spinning for Easter dinner.  I'm keeping it simple this year, good tried-and-true dishes that my children always ask for like cheesy potatoes, grilled flank steak, sauteed green beans and spinach-strawberry salad with these flowers!

I am working on spending more time reading the Easter story from God's Word this week.  Of course, it is much more than a story.  If you've never really understood the Easter Story, and have questions about Easter and Jesus, feel free to email me at sewnwithgrace@yahoo.com.  Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,

Sewing Christmas

If anyone ever questioned whether spring in Michigan is unpredictable, they can stop now.  We awoke to snow covering the ground today, much different that the 84 degrees we had a couple of Saturdays ago.

I am stuck taking indoor photos, on my cutting table, of this months "Sewing Christmas" project.  For it I made an 8 foot bunting.  If there was an ounce of sunshine to photograph this on my fence, I would have loved it, but today this is the best I can do.  When the weather is nicer I will put it up for you.

This is one of the most fun projects to date for me.  I got out one bag of left over quilt binding and my large box of vintage this-and-that.

It incorporates old quilt blocks, hankies, doilies, vintage sheets, yo-yo's purchased at an auction and bits of quilts that are completely worn out but needed some love.

The uses for this are endless, and I think it might be the project that I "gift" to myself!  If you have something you would like to share with us, please see the link below.  

With joy,

Sunday Scripture

Our friend, Mike, releasing balloons

in celebration of his last radiation and

chemo treatment on Friday ~ Hurray!!!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills~

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip~

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you~

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not hurt you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm~

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming 

and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121

With joy,

sewnwithgrace.com

Photo of Friendship Farm ~ Last Summer

Two very fun things have happened, one is that Sewn With Grace has become a .com replacing my blogspot.com account.  I'm working on some fun things and this just seemed like the next step in my journey.  It was a simple process, but being technically challenged, I managed to delete my blogroll in the process.  I am slowly rebuilding that list and if you don't see your blog there as usual, it's just because I'm still recovering the names.  To become a .com yourself, check out this post.  While your're at Clover and Violet take a look around, it's a great blog!  Please take a moment to rename my blog on your bloglists.  Over the next three days blogger should redirect you to the new name, but you can make the change on your own beforehand.

The other fun news is that tomorrow there is a wedding photo shoot out at the farm.   It's suppose to be cold here but I'm praying for sunshine.  After church I will be heading out, with stacks of vintage dishes, for some fun.  I will let you know how that goes on Tuesday after we have our fourth "Sewing Christmas" on Monday.  Have a great day today!

Blessings,