Crazy Quilting Progress and Nature’s Pretties

Unbelievable!  If something major doesn’t stop me in my typing tracks I will have posted two times in June with days to go…not a lot of days, but since my last post in May I have unshared  crazy quilting just begging for equal time.  That’s what this post is all about…

Here is my work on Angie’s TAT (Turquoise, Aqua, Teal) RR block…

I could not resist stitching a spider web and a harmless little fantasy spider…I also stitched a feather stitch vine as a seam treatment and embellished it with seed beads.   The seam treatment on the right is made up of a base herringbone stitch with straight stitches, colonial knots and sequins secured with seed beads.  The little dragonflies are made with detached chain stitches (aka lazy daisy)and beads.

 Just a little spider close-up…he doesn’t bite.

I also worked on Sue’s block.  On this block I used an embellishing technique I had never tried.  All in all I think I did ok. (I hope Sue does.)  The mermaid on Sue’s block was cut from a printed fabric and secured to the block with Heat n Bond.

I worked on the final rotation block in the All Things Pretty RR and sent Molly’s blocks on the way home…full circle.  I love the fabrics she used!

I also did some angel work for a round robin at World Wide Crazy Quilting.  It’s an encrusted RR and has been a pleasure to take part in.

Janie’s block…

Close up view of my work…I added the fan and embellished it, added the straight and colonial stitches to the lace in the middle, stitched the parasol and vine in the green patch and the purple stitching on the lace in the right corner.  I could have kept stitching, but I would have been a stitching piggy if I had.  I needed to leave a place to stitch for the other ladies in this round robin.  Janie’s block was a delight to work on.

Susan’s block…

Close up of my work…keeping with the color scheme…I added the bullion roses and silk ribbon roses.  I also added the blue lace butterfly and the blue lace flower and green lace leaves.  Because there were several people left to stitch after me, I stopped there, but I could have kept going.

Finally, I stitched on Debbie’s very elegant block.  Again there was not a lot of space left for stitching so I added a couple of small touches and sent it on to the next lady in line.  I added the feather stitch, bead and colonial stitch seam treatment.  It carried over into the adjoining patch.  I also added the straight and colonial stitches to the lace on the right side.  Just as with the other two blocks, I really enjoyed working on Debbie’s block.

Final addition…I added the bow lace and embellished it with pearl beads.

I think that’s a wrap.  If there is anything else “crazy” I have not shared, it’s forgotten.  I leave you with some beauties from our yard…

allium….I love the soft lavender color.

Yellow iris…I love them almost as much as purple iris.

wasteland surprises…love, love, love the color…

O, so happy petunias…

A reminder of how much God loves us…

Pretty peach colored daylilies…

Moss growing under oak trees…

Beautiful mushrooms…

More really cool fungi…these have gotten larger and more beautiful.  I’ll have to share new pictures when I upload them to my computer.

And I close with a really sweet gift from a special young lady…Rhyan…my grandson Eli’s girlfriend.  After knowing me for just a short time, she was thoughtful enough to remember me while she was in London and brought back this precious proof of that.  Tea and a tea bag holder from Harrod’s of London…I sure do appreciate the gift…but most of all her thoughtfulness.  She made me feel very special.  The strawberry tea is luscious.

Until next time…

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  John 14:13

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18 Years Ago…

Eighteen years ago God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl…our firstborn grandchild.  Today she is a beautiful young woman.  She has been a source of great joy.  She is my granddaughter and my friend.  It has been my great pleasure to spend this day with her…spoiling each other in the very best of ways.

Our beautiful birthday girl…

Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A…we brought our own Starbucks with us. 

We went birthday shopping and picked up Taco Bell and brought it home for lunch.  Kirsten (said birthday girl) made cupcakes that are cooling, and we will frost them in a little while with her new Wilton cake decorating tools.  That was part of our gift to her.  The rest of the day will be spent chilling and enjoying time together. 

I surely thank God for her.

Until next time…

Children’s children are the crown of old men (and women); and the glory of children are their fathers.  Proverbs 17:6

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Attitude Of Gratitude…November 10, 2011

It’s hard to believe Thursday has rolled around one more time…so quickly.  When I was a girl many people greater in years and wiser than me, told me to “enjoy the present”, because “time flies when  you get older”.  I was often admonished not to “wish my life away” when I expressed my desire to be older and on my own, liberated from my parents’ control.  Back in those days I thought such wise counsel was baseless and unlikely…even foolish.  Afterall…how could time fly?

Today I am thankful for wise counsel.  I’m thankful for those who gave me wise counsel  when I was a girl even though I rejected much of it at the time and considered it silly back in those days.  I still remember their words clearly and recognize them for the true wisdom they were.  I am thankful for my godly friends, past and present, who are not afraid to give godly counsel and for God’s word so full of truth and guidance to live by.  I’m thankful for my pastor who shares biblical wisdom that helps me in my daily walk with Christ.

This past Sunday as I parked my car before going into church, I noticed the sign my pastor shares bits of wisdom with passersby.  This week the saying fits the Attitude of Gratitude theme perfectly and has helped me remember to pause and think of all I have to be thankful for throughout the week.

Have you paused to think of the many things you have to be thankful for, or does your attitude of gratitude need an adjustment?  Feel free to join in on Thursday and share what you are thankful for.  Click on the Attitude of Gratitude button at the top of this post or on the sidebar to visit the Christian Homekeeper blog.

Until next time…

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5:20

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Attitude of Gratitude…November 3, 2011

As I reflect on having an “attitude of gratitude” and all that I have to be thankful, I cannot help but wonder about the meaning of the words.  Like so many things in this life  attitude is a choice.  One dictionary says attitude is “a settled way of thinking or feeling, typically reflected in a person’s behavior”.  Of Gratitude it says “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”.  Notice there are two parts…two actions…in the definition of gratitude.  When I think an attitude of gratitude I cannot not help but think of the words of Jesus in Acts 20:35.  “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Today I am thankful God has given me a dear husband with a giving heart…that we might be a blessing to others by sharing what God has given us by showing random acts of kindness to others.  What better way to show our gratitude (and Jesus in us) than by being kind to the people we encounter in our daily lives?  Gratitude is an attitude of choice.  Choice is made on purpose.  May I always have an attitude of gratitude to the fullest extent of the definition so others see Jesus in me.

What are you thankful for on this Attitude of Gratitude Thursday?  If you would like to take part in this weekly expression of gratitude click on the button at the top of this post.

Until next time…Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:  Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.  Psalm 147:7,8

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An Attitude of Gratitude

I recently joined a lovely online community for Christian homekeepers. The founder of the community started an opportunity to post weekly on Thursday, focusing on having an “Attitude of Gratitude”. She expressed her observation that, in general, people have become less thankful for what we have. I’m very inclined to agree. Even among God’s children I hear the expression of dissatisfaction about what they have…or don’t have.  (woe is me)   I’ve been guilty myself. So often we forget to count our blessings instead of counting our wants. As Christians, we know our heavenly Father loves a thankful heart…for this reason I am accepting the challenge of focusing on an attitude of gratitude and will take part in this weekly blog event.

When I replied to the initial “Attitude of Gratitude” post on the Christian Homekeeper blog I was asked if I would post my reply on my blog. That reply reads as follows…

“In all things give thanks” comes to mind when I think of an attitude of gratitude. I’m so blessed. It’s easy to express gratitude for the good things…for the blessings God bestows on His children daily if we just take the time to open our spiritual eyes and think about what those blessings are. In hindsight I can look back and see how God uses the tough times and hard things we go through to bring blessings into our lives…blessings that outweigh those tough times and hard things. I am thankful to have a heavenly Father who ALWAYS knows what is best for me.

Are you feeling thankful for the abundant good things in your life, or does your attitude of gratitude need an adjustment?  Feel free to join in on Thursday and share what you are thankful for.  Click on the Attitude of Gratitude button at the top of this post or on the sidebar to visit the Christian Homekeeper blog.

Until next time…

In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

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