Sewing Pretty

Being trapped in my sewing room for nine and half hours made me very, very productive.  I took a break from the normally scheduled sewing program to work on a quilt for my bed.  I have been collecting fabric for this for a long time.  Most of the fabric is Old, New Collection by Atsuko Matsuyama with the rest a combination of Lecien and some Lakehouse fabrics.  There is just something about this fabric that makes my heart sing.  You know how much I love Flower Sugar by Lecien, but it is very bright and not what a wanted for my bedroom.  These fabrics are rich but more subtle in color and are so, so pretty. I am making a quilt from the book, Large-Block Quilts by Victoria Eapen.  The pattern is called "Three Steps Forward" and it uses the Jacob's Ladder block.  These blocks are 18"x18". I will need 25 for a king-size quilt (if I did my math correctly).  I am enjoying this quilt so much.  On the house front, the floors are coming along quite nicely.  The gentlemen are already here today, pounding away.  We are also getting some work done on the outside of the house, replacing a sidewalk and putting in some flower beds.  As you may recall from earlier pictures, we didn't have any. My kids keep saying that its like an episode of extreme home make-over here.  I wish it was, then I wouldn't have to pay for it.  It sure is helping me adjust to moving to get these projects done.  It's starting to feel like my home and that is quite a nice shift in perspective for me.  Have a good day, friends!

Xoxo,

It's The Little Things...

Have you ever noticed that the little things can bring such joy to an ordinary day, can comfort and sustain, can bring a smile where maybe there wasn't one before?  That little glass creamer bottle with a sprinkling of flowers calms me whenever I walk by it.  The strawberry handmade by Heather brings me a smile whenever I walk in the kitchen.  I ordered some beautiful items from Heather and she took the time to add all these lovely touches…it's the little things.

Moving has been hard.  What I've noticed in the 2 1/2 months that we've been here is how much I miss the little things.  I walk into the grocery store as an invisible shopper.  No one smiles, no hello.  I pulled up some day lilies over the weekend and set them by the road thinking that I'd meet some neighbors.  All the plants disappeared but not one hello.  We come and go to various churches as we search for a new church home and I am surprised to know that we are invisible there as well.  I didn't realize how much this was affecting me until we ran into some acquaintances we know through college baseball.  I was asked how I was and this person kindly touched my arm and it almost brought me to tears...it's the little things.

I'm not telling you this to have you feel sorry for me.  This has caused me to open my eyes to my own behavior and I thought perhaps we could learn together.  I walked by plenty of people at church hurrying to get to my pew and my friends.  I breezed through the grocery store intent on my list and not the lady next to me.  How many people needed a hand on their shoulder or someone to look them in the eye and ask how they were and then stayed long enough to hear their response?  Why do we always have to be in such a hurry?

God has taken me right out of my comfort zone and placed in me in the wilderness.  I know he's here with me and that his plans will be revealed.  I know this is going to hurt for a while.  I also know that God wastes nothing so today I'm going to be looking around me with a set of brand new eyes and looking for ways to bring joy to others through the little things.

Hugs, 

Thank You!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the kind, loving and supportive comments you showered on me.  I have read and reread each one.  I know I need to give myself time to settle and grow accustomed to my new surroundings.  I also need to be thankful and stay positive.   We visited another church yesterday and it felt so good to worship and be taught from God's Word.  Today I started off the morning in Ephesians 5.  One of the passages that have settled on my heart today is "…and find out what pleases the Lord." (Eph 5:10 )  I needed to be reminded that my kids are watching how I am handling the move and though we are sad, my husband is so happy to have us all here with him again after six long months.  I love how God's Word changes your perspective for the better.

I ordered some fabric from Kerri and it arrived on Saturday.  Opening a package of fabric is like getting flowers or finding the perfect vintage treasure for me.  Since my sewing room will not be set up for at least another two weeks I found my box of scrap fabric and starting cutting them into 2 1/2" strips and blocks and 4 1/2" blocks.  I was inspired by Allison's quilt.  Over the weekend I found two stools at World Market that look good in the kitchen and scored a wonderful vintage rose tablecloth at a local shop.  I also found some beautiful hanging baskets on sale not too far from my house.  All in all, it was a good weekend to recharge and refocus.

Be blessed today!

Joyfully,

Oh how I've missed you!

OH MY WORD!!!  I have missed blogging and connecting with you dear friends!  The internet was activated at our house today and all your familiar blogs and faces were seen and suddenly I felt like I might be ok after all.  We have been in our new house for four days.  My family is all back together after six months of being apart.  I can't tell you how good that feels.  We are sitting in a sea of boxes not knowing where anything is and where it should go.  I could not have done this without my dear son, Taylor.  He has been working non-stop doing all kinds of installing and putting together furniture and all sorts of things.  The beautiful roses came from the previous owner.  I could do a whole post alone on the wonderful family we purchased the house from.  I couldn't leave out pictures of the house but it is in total disarray.  Lots and lots of painting needs to be done and hard wood floors will be replacing the carpet and vinyl flooring.  The current colors don't go with my pastel shades of furniture.  I love the openness of the family room to kitchen eating area to kitchen and then to dining.  I haven't had this before and it's so nice to sit in the family room and still converse with people in the kitchen.  My soon-to-be sewing room is currently the overflow of boxes room and a former child's room so the polka dots will be removed and I'm hoping to unpack my fabric soon.  I had to leave you with a picture of Maddie on graduation day.  This fall I will be an empty nester so there is more change coming.  Sweet blessings to all!

Joyfully,