Sewing

It is common knowledge (how common? whoever reads this blog can answer) that this blog has long been neglected. So today I am making a small attempt in changing that. You say you are interested in what I have been up to recently? Alright, well this post should satisfy a bit of your curiosity. 

Disclaimer: the contents of this blog post is not all that has been occupying my time. =)

My oldest and very special sister, Rebecca, has a very sweet little girl named Abigail. It goes without saying, that my niece is very cute and precious and we all love her very much. I love the time I am able to spend with Abigail. Taking her outside for walks, making cookies with her, vacuuming floors, pushing her on a swing, reading books together and the list goes on. Every opportunity to be with Abigail is precious and priceless, and I have grown to appreciate these times more and more. Each moment is a gift, and we never know when the opportunity to spend time with someone will be gone forever. To get to the point of this blog post, I have the great privilege of sewing adorable dresses, nightgowns, jumpers, hats and other garments for Abigail. The following photos will show a few of these pieces. =)

Jumper #1 also has a matching hat of which are no pictures yet!

Yes, I know the bow is crooked! =)

You're viewing the back of this jumper, which was sewn in the fall sometime. Before I made it, I have to admit that was a wee bit apprehensive about the fabrics - bold floral and pink. But as it came together, I was pleasantly surprised with how pretty it turned out! Oh, and I love the covered buttons. =)

Dress#2 This is a very old pattern that my mom used for many of us children. I really liked the fabric Rebecca chose for this dress. The color is beautiful and it feels like it will be quite cool during the summer. 

 Yes, I like details! Sweet little collar, ruffle and little tucks on bodice! 

Buttons are one of my favorite things! Really, sometimes they just make an outfit!

 And that's me inspecting this adorable dress and pinafore! And yes, that is a bowl of compost, that I didn't take the time to crop out of the picture. =) Sadly, I didn't take any detail pictures of the cuffs on the sleeves, or the piping on the collar, etc, etc. Oh and by the way, it looks gorgeous on Abigail!

 The watermelon dress! 

 Finger-pleating! Anybody else ever undertaken learning finger-pleating? No? Well, it's pretty easy to learn. It's really satisfying to turn the dress out after pinning all those little pleats! So the confessions of this seamstress come to light....in the beginning, I did not like finger-pleating. But now, I'm really enjoying it and look forward to incorporating them in all my sewing! Addicted perhaps? =)

On this dress, I had some fun embellishing a little with the ribbon. Adds an extra bit of pretty, I think! And don't you love the ruffle and the pink skirt peeking out from underneath?

Last but not least, is my niece modeling a new nightgown. It's undeniable; she's a precious little girl. And as I said before it's a great privilege to sew for her!

So there you have it! A blog post. We'll see how long this lasts! =) Don't be expecting continuing updates - it's practically impossible with me!

I hope you've enjoyed getting a sneak peek into some of the things that have been keeping me busy! 

"The prayer of faith is not to make myself believe that just the very thing I ask will be done and done in just my way...but a trust in God's power to do what I ask and a trust in His love that if He does not do it, it is because it is better not to have it done and to leave the decision with Him."

~ D. L. Moody ~

This evening as it was just beginning to get dark outside I took a walk through our woods and around our property. 

It was just as though I had taken a stroll down memory lane. As I climbed over fallen trees and stumbled over roots, I remembered the many times that I had taken similar walks with my siblings. I could almost hear our laughter and conversations echoing through the woods as we walked and played together. 

During the winter, we had a sledding path through our woods that ended at a stream or creek. Standing there in the middle of that "path", I watched a mental video of my siblings and I whizzing down that path and excitedly yelling to each other.

Our woods hold many memories for me. Whether it was heart-to-heart talks with Christianna or scheming with my sisters and brother on how to conquer our next stronghold, we always (excepting the time when one of my sisters fell off a log bridge in to the freezing cold stream and we were "sure she had drowned") had a grand time. Those were always special times.

So as I watched star after star brighten the night sky, I realized once again how incredibly blessed I've been with the family the Lord has placed me in. Each moment, the good and the not-so-good, has been a precious gift from God. His love towards me in giving me such an opportunity to cherish, learn, and grow together with my siblings is so amazing. Though times have changed, the memories are still there and I still have an opportunity to make the most of each and every moment. 

I've been blessed considerably - what will I do with such an amazing gift?

Introductions.....

My newest little nephew, Kamran Scott, was born on Friday, January 6, 2012

9lbs 3oz and 20 inches long!!

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Psalms 127:3

Lilla Rose

My sister, Christianna, has recently become a consultant with Lilla Rose. These Flexi8 clips are amazing!! I haven't been able to find a hair clip that would actually hold my hair without pulling out my hair or pinching. Until, that is, Christianna introduced me to the wonderful Flexi8 clips from Lilla Rose. These hair clips will hold my hair all day without hurting at all! Besides the comfort issue, the Flexi8's are very beautiful - a great contrast to boring old barrettes from Walmart. So, I'll quit advertising here and you should seriously head over to Christianna's blog where she explains all the wonderful details of the Flexi8's!!

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For

many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's

showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told

him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited

signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the

morning of his graduation his father called him into his private

study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine

son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son

a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man

opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily,

he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you

give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy

book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in

business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his

father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He

had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make

arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had

passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He

needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and

regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father's important papers and

saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With

tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he

read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope

taped behind the Bible.

It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the

sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,

and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not

packaged as we expected?

Darkness may indeed throw a shadow over the outer vision; but there is no cloud, however dark, that can keep the sunlight of hope from the trustful soul.

~ Fanny Crosby ~

The measure of life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.

~ Corrie ten Boom

Fame

“Fame which does not result from good actions and achievements for the good of the whole people is not to be desired. Nero had fame…Who envies him?”

Robert E. Lee

"The Touch of the Master's Hand"

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidding, good folks," he cried. "Who'll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar, then two!  Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three..." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow. Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low said: "What am I for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. "A thousand dollars, who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "we do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "the touch of the master's hand." 

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin. A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine, a game - and he travels on. He is going once, and going twice, he is going and almost gone. But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd can never quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by the Master's hand. 

by Myra Brooks Welch 

Exclusive: Young mother with cancer sacrifices life for unborn child

If you have not read this story, I would strongly urge you to do so. 

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything."

Alexander Hamilton