A Stitching Post

I should know by now to never ever type a commitment of when I am gong to do something. I said in my last post that I was going to try and do a weekly post. This one would NOT be happening today had Katie and Paul Allen not taken off from work. The past 7 days have been insanely busy, so the break was much needed. Katie had her big appointment where they do the sugar test and they have been enclosing their garage in order to give some much needed space for a new baby. They are down to putting a closet rod up, painting baseboards, and putting blinds up so Paul Allen just decided to take off and get it done for Katie. I think she is ready to get the baby's room done and can't start that until they get their third bedroom emptied. The new room will be a room like a den. Bookcase, toy room, a sort of catch all. It is all shaping up nicely. Katie's dad is a contractor and has done the major construction, but Paul Allen is doing all the finishing touches. 

I will share some pics later of that room. I also took the time today to finish up some stuff that was on my to do list that was kinda driving me nuts. I also decided I needed to finish up the Advent calendar for Paul Allen and Katie's family so I buckled down and got the binding on it. Now all I have left to do is hand stitch the binding to the back and paint a dowel for it to hang on. That feels really good to have it to this stage. I also can clean my sewing counter off of this project.

My lighthouse stitch is coming along too. I am hoping to finish it before the end of the year because I have new baby's name to stitch up. I do not know what that will be yet. I am anxiously awaiting that:)

The weather for October has been glorious. I know some would think it too warm, but it is truly been spectacular to me. A little cooler in the morning and then warming up in the day with amazing blue skies and low humidity. Can't ask for more than that.

The days have just been very busy with family. Can't complain there either, but they have been busy.

Blessed,

Sandy

Quiet

It's been 2 weeks since my last post. 

The amount of things that have happened are mind boggling. When things get nuts I often have to stop and just get quiet. Quiet I have been...The first of the list happened about an hour after I wrote my last post. I was on a high from my family weekend when the first bad news hit the scene. I honestly had no plan of sharing it but I think I need to record it and another along with the natural disasters.

Paul Allen texted the family about an hour after I hit send on that post and said that a friend from his larger friend group was missing from a diving accident in the Gulf. My heart sank along with my family's. When you pull away the military from the Fort Walton Beach / Destin area what is left actually a small very close knit community. This was gut wrenching. He was 32 years old, the same age as Paul Allen and Katie; the same age as my dad when he died. For some time, the entire fishing charter fleet and anyone who had a boat that could go that far out was patrolling along with the Coast Guard looking for Jeremy. Our community was invested in prayer for finding him. Many thought he could survive because he was Air Force Special Ops. His family is just such an amazing family. These kinds of things are just so hard to understand. His mom is the most precious human I know...the director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the Emerald Coast. Thankfully, he was found on the last day before it would have been too rough to go out due to the incoming Helene. It was not how our community wanted, but the reason I share this story....

Is the human spirit.

Let me explain...

Watching Helene hit an area that had already been hit hard last summer by a hurricane would have been enough for all of us. I could not stand watching the scenes from the Sag Harbor Marina in Steinhatchee, Florida. Helene was worse than the year before. Putting things up on the second floor wasn't enough because there was a record 20 feet storm surge. Who can imagine such a surge? One story of so many...

One scene was watching the water flow under all the houses on Cape San Blas where we spent the most glorious family vacation in July. But, they were on the west side like us so they fared well comparatively.

None of us in our wildest imaginations could have conceived the images that would be so hard to look at up the southeastern states. At some point, you have to stop looking because it is too much to see, but some people are in the middle of it and can't stop looking. Things such as this will grip you to your core.

In my quiet, I had to rely heavily on prayer, doing specific things to calm my soul which included long walks with Gus, sitting on the decks and listening to the water, going in my sewing room and looking out the window for birds to visit me on the fence, and going downstairs to listen to my old records on my brother-in-law's old stereo. 

The world seems to be firewood with kerosene poured out all over and just waiting for the match. It is a lot to take in. I know for me...I have to turn it off and concentrate on the blessings right in front of me.

The memorial for  Jeremy was yesterday and I know many would have expected old normal Sandy to have come home to watch college football, but I had zero interest. As if I have not shared enough, a student from my high school alma mater was hit on the first play of the game on 2 Fridays ago and had a broken neck. If there is a silver lining to this, the game was being played in Mobile rather than the very very small town of Brewton. The boy was able to receive excellent care at the top rated hospitals in the south. His spinal cord has not been severed, just injured so my little hometown has been heavily invested in praying for healing for this young man.

Football just wasn't on my mind yesterday.

What I did think about though was the hope of the human spirit. There is so much bad, but if we lean in to our Heavenly Father, He can help us shine a light to those that are hurting. It will be so many people who will do good deeds, so many churches that reach out to those that are so broken and hurting. While there is another hurricane on its way to the peninsula, I have faith that God will get us through it all. It will be a reminder to put our thoughts on Him rather than the chaos everywhere.

I keep coming back to Hebrews 4:16 which has become a favorite verse of mine...

"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

The therefore is from the verse before that we don't have a God that doesn't sympathize.

Let me turn this post to a more positive tone. The above is where not just myself has been, but my family as well. Most of our family's texts were on those thoughts as well.

However, 

I have filled my two weeks with the usual:  chores, grandsons, Hubby, Mama, reading, stitching, and sewing. It is good to keep our hands busy so to keep the mind from resting on the troubles.

My stitch has been a joyful reprieve from the news. I am still working on the Pensacola Lighthouse. It is coming along beautifully and a reminder to let His light in us to  shine on those that are hurting.

I am really enjoying this stitch. I have not even minded the lots of one color stitching. It is going to look great with my Florida sampler and the other coastal things I have lined up to work on in the coming days.

I have been sewing on the Advent calendar for Paul Allen's little family.

I have the pockets made and all stitched together. Next up is to put some trim around the front, then back it and quilt it, then finish it with a binding.

I read a really good book. I didn't mention that several weeks ago we went to see the movie about Ronald Reagan. It was excellent. We had listened to the interviews from the actors beforehand and really enjoyed it. At the end of the movie, a book was show on screen that one of the secret service members had written. The gentleman had been with the Reagens longer than the normal run for a secret service member on the request of the Reagens. He was in charge of riding horses with President Reagan. It was a fantastic book. Riding with Reagan: From the White House to the Ranch by John R. Barletta. It was written in 2005 so if you are interested you might find it at your local library. All of it was written from Barletta's perspective of course. The first half followed the events in history, but the second half was more personal accounts of his time riding and being with the President.

What are Paul Allen and Miles looking at? A bald eagle. I decided he was flying too close so I put Gus inside. I think the eagle had certainly spied Gus. He has been hanging out in the bayou a good bit lately. Miles and I witnessed it eating a fish outside the kitchen window while sitting in the pine tree. I have to say that was even cooler than the osprey or the heron which we have seen doing the same.

Jeff and I are off to Pensacola in the morning for his second visit with the "mean" doctor. The movement disorder specialist has my ear now because the way she dosed his medicine has had a very positive effect. He did kind of make me sad this week when he said he would be going to North Carolina with a group going from our church. I understood and he would if he could. Hopefully he has much to offer yet. 

Perseverance and prayer. Prayers for those who are awaiting Milton on the west coast of the peninsula of Florida. 

Lots of praying,

Sandy

A Stitching Post

 We are almost halfway into April and I haven't talked about stitching any, mainly because I don't have tons to share. I have been skipping around which is not my usual but nevertheless what has happened.

I did finish all the pages across the bottom of my heron. It is now time to stitch a bird.

The creator for Crossed Wing Collection does a beautiful job of making things look so lifelike. The lily pads are just beautiful.

I finished my first flower on Thirsty Hart, but didn't take a picture before I put it up. I am going to change up some colors on this pattern for certain. I piddled around with it one evening instead of stitching and didn't make a decision. 

I then pulled out one I have had in the bag for quite a while. I didn't have a small just calling my name so I pulled out Cats on Parade and stitched two nights on it.

This can be stitched in a frame. I covered that picture up. I do want to do a drum with it and of course I chose a different color than the one from the pattern.

I am going to pull out Let Freedom Ring this evening and stitch on it this week or at least until I finish the pages I have started all the way across.

I have been enjoying the outdoors and walking but I have also been going through some stuff in my sewing room, so since that is sewing related I will put it here.

I have already admitted many times that I should be in a HELP group for people who buy fabrics because they are pretty but never uses them. One load has already gone to donation and I have really really been trying to use what I have to do my little pillow backings.

I still have a good bit of fabric and no real plan for some of it. I have whittled it down to one shelf and then my plastic bins with small small pieces that are not in this cabinet.

I then went through all my sewing patterns. I am donating a big box of them.

The top blue bin has apparel patterns and the diaper box has kids or craft patterns. I probably won't be using any of them any time soon, but I decided to hold onto a few for now. I really shouldn't!

The navy bin has an extra iron and some batting and the clear bin has some ribbon from Mother's smocking days. I am going to be on the hunt for someone to give some of that too, maybe.

I also am donating a bunch of old sewing paperback books, Classing Sewing and Sew Beautiful magazines. Some of these were mine and some were Mama's. I have a hard time throwing away any old books, but I stuck these oldies in there. 

Mama and I took a class way back in the day and each made a macrame purse.

I am also going to try and sell her smocking pleater. We discussed it and I am never going to use it. I dreamed of doing it at one point, but my time to do has passed. I have other things I enjoy more. It is funny how our mind and even passions change with time.

She and I talked about it and of course, she doesn't want it back at her house taking up space. We determined that if we didn't get it in the hands of someone who use it that it would end up on a shelf at Goodwill with it time being passed as well. 

I haven't decided where to list it though. I dread listing things. I am a procrastinator and a half on those kinds of things. 

eBay? Facebook Marketplace?

Where have you had success selling?

That is what I have been up to in the crafting world. 

Cleaning so I get my groove back to actually do something,

Sandy

Managing Concerns

Like many of you, my mind is all over the place. I thought I would share just a few of them with you. I am not calling it worry, but concern about the future. However, if I am being downright honest - it is plain and simply -worry.

Yes, I have a strong faith and I know that my Heavenly Father will walk through this with us all, but I don't believe in the prosperity gospel. There are hard times and I have been through some...namely losing my dad at a young age. This isn't a Bible lesson, but some thoughts that have been rolling around in the old noggin this week.

As I have prepared each and every meal this week, I have been mindful to not waste anything. I have laughed at Mother many times when she would try to get someone to eat the last bit of something to keep from throwing it away. To be honest, Jeff, me, and the kids have all made fun of her for it...lovingly, of course. Jeff's mother never threw away a Ziplock bag. She once used the bottom drawer that I store endless table linens in to keep the old ones that she had washed and dried and then kept them until they were simply worn out.

I have cleared out the home we currently live in after Jeff's parents died and it was quite full as they just didn't throw things away.
I have helped my own mother clean out their home in Brewton when my step dad passed to downsize and move to be near me. I will say it again ---I am beyond grateful that she is near me!!!!!
We worked countless hours going through his garage with me wanting to put lots in the garbage and her wanting to know if it could be sold in a garage sale or at least given to someone to be used.

When she wasn't looking I might have thrown things away. My step dad threw NOTHING away. Mr. Fix It he was and quite innovative as evidenced by this post.

You see our parents knew what hard times were. My dad and Jeff's dad were the typical southern farmer boys who joined the Army for a better life. And while they both fought in wars, mine Korean and Jeff's World War II, they did achieve better lives.

I can't help but know that we will feel some repercussions of this staying at home. I know it is necessary, but I have a hard time not thinking about the future. I want dwell on here with y'all, but my daughter and son-in-law already know they will feel it. Tyler works for a small construction firm so I know he will feel the effects first of my children.

Something else that has rolled around in the noggin along with the don't waste is how I have been on a mission to declutter. It has taken up a good bit of time the last 5 years. Now, I haven't throw away anything that really didn't need to go, but thinking about our parents I have to cut them a ton of slack for keeping things. They knew what it was like to not have things.

The old adage, "waste not, want not" was something they lived by.

I think the only thing I have gotten rid of that would one day maybe useful again is a box of fabric. I was a complete fabric hoarder and it clogged up my sewing room to the point it made me completely stressed. I finally boxed it all up and donated it.

Believe it or not, I rounded a corner today in my thoughts. The protective mama came out today. I will do as Nehemiah did...the next step. I don't know what the future holds, but I know WHO holds the future and I am plan to put one foot in front of the other and do the next thing.

On the note of fabric, I still have plenty left in my stash to use so I am sure I will be ok in that department for awhile. In fact, my next step today was to start making the family masks. I saw Barbara at Sweet Tea and Sandals and her cute ones that are also useful. I used the link she found to make some. Here is the link ....

https://buttoncounter.com/2018/01/14/facemask-a-picture-tutorial/

This one is for Lindsay, my leopard loving girl.

As you can see, it stretches out to give good coverage.

Doing the next thing felt better than stewing in the thoughts of all this. I honestly have paid attention all these years to my mother's resourcefulness and it was never lost on me. I have a bad feeling it will prove useful that I was attentive.

I didn't plan for this to be a downer post, but I just simply can't write about anything else today. Maybe another day.

Stay safe and well Blogland. I will be found doing the next thing.
Sandy

A Crafty Post

I am popping in for a stitching update.

Here is my progress on Tucker's name.

I think this is going to be so adorable. I apologize for the poor quality photograph. I was just lazy.

Now, for my framing job of the family register. I mentioned that my framing shop which was a chain store went out of business. I really loved the job they were doing, so I am very sad and will be shopping around for a new framer.
Framing can be quite expensive, so for this piece I tried something new.

I ordered a frame on Amazon. It came in the size I needed which was 11x12 with glass and piece of board on the back. The board was perfectly cut but white and I wasn't sure of the quality.  I went to the craft store and got a piece of black which I like to use for stitching anyway. It covers up those loose threads that might otherwise show through on a loose weave linen. Hubby cut me a piece to match the existing piece.

I decide to pin it using this tutorial from With Thy Needle and Thread.

Now when the frame came it was very pretty, but I didn't like the color with the stitched piece. It was just too much of the same color, so Hubby sanded it down for me and used some stain we had to make it darker giving it a much needed contrast.

It took two or more tries to get it pinned like I wanted it. I finally got smart and drew a light pencil line to use a guide.

ALL that to say I will share it next week, because I have to wait for the stain to dry and all.


Real quilters-----STOP HERE----

Go no further!!!!! There is nothing worth seeing and I will be back later for a new more interesting post, but I don't want to ruin your eyes or your opinion of me!

I am not a quilter --- never will be.

***If you have some sentimental items that you have been on the fence about getting rid here is how to lose the sentimental feelings...
You attempt to do a craft project that you are not good at and then choose not to plan it out OR SPEND A DIME on it and you will lose all the sentimental feelings for said item. 

Without further adieu, here is the quilt which may become Gus, the Springer's new blanket:)

I cut some of these shirts out over 4 years ago and they have been in a project box since. For some reason, it has been like a weight on me. It was time to do something with them or throw them away.
I had not cut them uniformly which meant a hodgepodge of sizes and shapes. After starting the project I realized I didn't have enough to do a decent size throw, so I went scouring the sentimental items downstairs and found three more. Perfect!

I pieced them all together.

Then it was time to think about batting. I wasn't in love  and had failed to think about that. This was to be a NO SPENDING project.
Genius here...I remembered a lightweight flannel throw in the bottom of the throws basket that I didn't even like. I pulled it out and seriously it was a perfect fit!!!
IT was MEANT to be!

So the quilt has no in between layer. I just laid that top on the flannel throw and used a decorative stitch to piece it together. It is the perfect weight!

I then used fabric I already had to sew a binding on. We WILL NOT look at corners close up. Nope --- not so pretty.

I honestly can't believe I am even sharing it, but I mentioned I was doing it. All done in a week. All sewn on a sewing machine and no money spent!
Gus  and I have a new blanket which the truth is he has become very fond of my chair so it will be used to keep him from messing up said chair and I will think of my high school play, "The King and I," student teaching, Hawaii vacation, shuttle launch, etc., etc., etc.

There you have it  from the crafty girl who has decided to stick to her favorite hobbies; cross stitching and baking.

Resourceful,
Sandy

Sewing Project Finished

I started making more project bags. I don't need more project bags, but I had some pieces of material that were just the right size and calling for them.

I did the bags assembly line style. I cut out each piece according to size and then the interfacing. I began sewing all the zippers, etc. They actually went very fast that way and I finally have the directions down so that I don't have to look at the video each time. I got up Saturday morning like someone obsessed and finished them while Jeff was busy with a garage project that someone was over helping him. I finished just as he finished.

Now I have some adorable bags from some fabrics that I have loved and collected and let sit in my stash with no purpose for a long time.

With my previous ones I now have 9 project bags to fill or not fill and let decorate my sewing room:)

Here are some smalls of each one.

Another birdie one and a space one to hold my upcoming planets stitch.

A pea pod and retro Christmas piece.

My Dick and Jane one. This is the last piece of this cloth. I may have enough to do a small pillow around a stitch. I used this one time for curtains in my classroom. LOVE IT! You can see those curtains here on my old blog for the last couple of years I worked.

And then some good old Florida oranges.

I have one more sewing project for the spring and then that is going to satisfy all my sewing desires for all of 2019.

A Little Bit of Sewing

I went a little bit project bag crazy. Here's how the story went down and the results.

Upon retiring I thought I would be a sewing fool. That didn't happen as I have learned even though I know all the book knowledge I need to be great (home ec major) I don't have the patience or desire to be a great seamstress that my mother was. 

That said, I have wanted to do a project bag for a long time. When I finished my last cross stitch I thought it might be cute in a project bag. I had saved this tutorial which is good, but something was amiss for me. 

https://averyclaire.org/tutorial-for-project-bag/

Along came Kindred Stitcher with a Flosstube video using the same tutorial, so now I had written directions and a video to guide me. 

https://youtu.be/lSgX0hboxKg

IT took BOTH.

I will share a bit more in between the pictures.

My first attempt. Not bad but not perfect. Don't look too close.

I had this fabric in my stash as well as the zipper which had no hole to add a pretty pull ornament.

You may recognize the fabric from my spring monochromatic stitch pillow. I love this fabric and bought a good bit of it for something such as this.

I also felt I might need to practice before I attempted the bag for the first time using my cross stitch project.

Bag #2

The stitch was slightly crooked, but I am pleased.

This fabric came from Joann's.

Oh and I was able to add a cute little pair of scissors to the pull.

Bag #3. Again fabric in my stash. It called my name one day while I was at the quilting fabric store. I bought a half yard which is perfect for the bag.

What is not to love about blue, birds, and dogwood blooms.

The pull has a spool of thread and a needle.

Happy insides too.

I should have stopped because the machine ran out of bobbin thread which you know has to happen and I made two bad mistakes.

Before I tell you what they are...

Let me tell you why I needed the video. 

I had to look at it E-V-E-R-Y SINGLE TIME I went to do that zipper placement. 

On the FOURTH time, I thought...I have got this. 

Big mistake. The zipper pull is on the left. I am not left handed so I guess I should have looked at that video one more time.

Cute thimble pull though. I ordered these off of Etsy a long time ago.

I had this fabric too. The one above and this one coordinated with this most perfect bee fabric.

Onto my second mistake.

I got in to big of a hurry and rumpled the zipper part of this one.

ARGGGHHH...

Oh well, here is my loot and should suffice any sewing urges I have for quite a while!!!

One other thing that is not mentioned in the written tutorial that Kindred Stitcher mentions is the kind of interfacing to use. IT is Pellon 911FF which is found on a bolt and is an apparel interfacing. It is fusible but a bit thicker. The kind you would use on a waistband or sleeve cuffs maybe. It makes the bag a bit sturdier. I would definitely recommend that interfacing.

I will leave the sewing to my mother and continue on with my passion - cross stitching.

Sandy

A Little Easter Planning and a Final Cross Stitch Finish

I have had a little head cold the past few days. I am feeling a tad bit better today, so I thought I would take it easy and do some fun things this morning.

I am planning for my Easter dinner whatever day my kids can do it. You can read about my thoughts from last year on holiday dinner times here.

One thing that is tradition for me and that I have held on tight to is using the good dishes for holidays. I was toying with the real china for Easter this year, but I have so fallen in love with my linens that I put out for Valentine's Day.  I love them so so so much, I simply can't put them away. The linens are from Jenny's Everyday Occasions online shop. I think she has sold out of the pink linens, but she has new stuff with every season.

I first put out the good china.

Slightly boring.

Then I put out my not necessarily good china, but one I only use on special days. I fell in love with this blue pattern from Southern Living at Dillards a couple of years ago. I just had to have it. It is so versatile. The bunny plates are from Pottery Barn.

Anyway, I think the blue will win out for Easter this year. I will share the final look closer to Easter.

Then, I decided to finish up my spring pillow that I stitched a couple of weeks ago. I want to get it out for spring which is not quite here, but my mind is definitely on it.

I used the thread that came with the pattern. It was Classic Color Works Weathered Vine.  It is definitely a muted green with an olive undertone. I simply had n-o-t-h-i-n-g in my very l-a-r-g-e stash that matched it. I decided it wouldn't have to be something that contrasted rather than matched, but I still had nothing in my stash. 

I headed down the road to the expensive quilting store and found the perfect piece by Moda. I just love the little bees. The leaves are a perfect match and the muted and soft blue is perfect. 

Such a perfect match that I plan to finish the "Summer" pillow in the same fabric.

See it will be perfect for it too.

This is also a great match for foyer which houses my new church pew.

I am in love with it.

It all pairs well with my foyer decor that stays out from January to late September and fall arrives.

The table is opposite the pew.

A better opposite view.

In search for the perfect rug...until then this small one will have to do.

I would so add a small book ...Bible or prayer book to the pew, but sweet Gus, the puppy Springer, likes books as much as me!!! Just not to read, but to chew on.

Putting the Hobby to Bed

I shared this month that I had decided to give sewing a wholehearted effort. The hobby would either come to the forefront or be put to bed.

You see I have fond memories of all the things my very talented mother made for me. She was quite gifted in her day. She laid it down many years ago.
Then couple it with the fact that I am home economics major who went another path for the career. A God given path though -I believe.

It just seemed it was always on the list of things I would do when I retired.

Retirement is now a way of life and yet sewing is not.

This year I decided to determine if it was really something I really enjoyed.

I can honestly say as January closes it is not something I really desire as much as the idea.

I am putting it to bed. I have a stash of fabric that will be used for crafts or passed onto someone else, because I actually have used this month to give it a real whirl.

I will still sew simple projects, like a curtain or two or a project bag, but sewing for me is a goner!!!

I may even pick it up when and if I ever have grandchildren, but I don't think it is ever going to be on a large scale.

This shirt was just plain unenjoyable. No need to do the planned third project.

Notice that most of my pictures had nothing to do with sewing. I have been busy in the house just enjoying tidying things and resting inside while January has proved to be cold cold cold.

I have another week to do those inside tasks in January. One of which may be lightening the load in the fabric stash cabinet.

I will be back soon with other stuff to talk about. I am sure y'all will be tired of me talking about sewing.

You know I always like to share things like that because there may be just one person who needs to hear a similar message. If that is the case, it is always worth the sharing.

Did you notice I needed a little pink in my life? Life is short...I love pink and am following a good friend's advice to do more of What I Enjoy!
Sandy