Updates du jour

FNSI

 (**oops, thought I had already sent this through earlier**)

two prizes awarded  for this month's virtual sew-in provided by Anthea. Thank you for these tempting little lovlies.

And the winners of these prizes were selected by random generator.

1. Christina M, and
2. Cathy

A big thank you to Wendy for hosting this months FNSI!

Pilgrim's Progress RAL

While I was whizzing along in the first few chapters, they certainly became meatier as I continued reading. I read only for as long as I was able to concentrate and really digest as I read. I developed early on in life the bad habit of reading fast and skimming fluff...suffice to say there is none of that in this book.

Chapter 1-4

"I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second."

It is difficult to believe that no matter the wonderful promises of God and everlasting life, we still hold on to this one. With the ridicule and harsh words against us by those who do not believe. Coming to judgment is a scary affair. No matter how good I may be, there are many things for which I will be judged...shamefully, yet rightfully so.

There are many out there in our life who would like to persuade us not to follow the Christian path. Not out of malice, but out of misunderstanding or ignorance...friends, family, strangers. It is difficult to leave friends, family, and familiar ways behind. We really stick out when we do these things.

Like me, have you ever found yourself in the Slough of Despond? It is a very nasty place, and so easy to get yourself turned around in...like a white out during a blizzard where you cannot see your hand in front of your face and you dare not move in any direction, and yet you dare not remain still.

I like when Christian was told by Goodwill in Chapter 2: "Thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow." This suggests a serious focus.

Christian asks the Man in the Iron Cage: "For what did you bring yourself into this condition?"

The Man in the Iron Cage responds: "For the desires, pleasures, and gains of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me, like a burning worm." 

I like in chapter 3 where Christian says to Mistrust: "To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward." I have had thoughts like this. To stop living the Christian life is to go back to death. To continue living the Christian life is fear of death...fear of all the sorrows, the roaring lions, the wolves in sheep's clothing, but perseverance achieves life everlasting and so I continue on the straight and narrow path.

On more than one occasion I have fallen asleep, and had to retrace my steps. It is a worrisome affair!

Did you like the part where Porter talks to Christian about the lions. About how the lions are chained and are placed there for the trial of faith where it is, and for the finding out of those that have none. This is a really beautiful example of how God is in control of everything, and how he will let nothing harm us. It also shows how he tests us to help us learn about ourselves and to grow in our walk with Him.

"Jael slew Sisera", I am not familiar with this story. I had to search it out and found it in Judges 5:20 or with Shamgar, also in Judges. Guess I need to familarize myself with this particular chapter. Hmmm.

If I had to choose one thing that most spoke to me as I read, it was the following words found in Chapter 4 from the Valley of Shadow of Death: "...one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many wicked words to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything he had met with before, even to think that he should now speak evil of Him that he had so much loved before." "...but he had not the wisdom either to stop his ears, or to know from whence those wicked words came."

Sometimes it is hard to know whether the voice or thoughts in your head are actually your own. Those little tempting thoughts, encouraging you to do what you know is wrong. Read that book, watch that immoral program, don't come to a full stop at the stop sign because there is no one there....

This book is so meaty, that I am going to stop my comments here. My thoughts on the remaining chapter contents of Part 1, are very unformulated. I'm not sure that I will blog any further comments on my reading done to date, but I will continue with my reading into Part 2 in an effort to complete my RAL on time or not too far off my designated end date of August 9, but I will be reading this again. Perhaps this Fall once my routine returns more to normal with the start of school for my son and for us when the sun sets earlier. I think I will purchase a copy with notes, but I'm undecided if I want a paper copy or ebook copy. I still prefer a paper copy...guess that shows my age :)

Project 119

Whoo boy, I am incredibly behind. I have memorized the first verse only.

Psalm 119: 1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

I have not kept up with using Scripture Typer, and really just not had the focus to memorize. I will get back to this.

- Clematis - in my garden

FNSI July 19 (Part 2)

Well, the weather held out, and I settle in for some sewing. The plan was to use PUL (my first time ever) to make a pail liner for wet clothes. I read the instructions...closely I might add...and proceeded to sew two rectangles together using a French seam. This fabric is quite slippery - strike one for fabrics I enjoy working with, but it did have a love swishy type sound when being sewn. That was enjoyable. Slowly but surely I sewed down for the first half of the seam, and poked and prodded and finger pressed open the seam and resewed to encase the first seam. Nice swishy sound sewing the second seam.

Now, I have done French seams a few times before...but never on fabric that I am not supposed to iron. Um, I decided to try it anyway you know (a bit OCD perhaps but I like a nice flat seam), and here is my result.

Notice how Mr. Froggie has lost his head. Head shaking in shame and burning face of frustration I put this aside not knowing which way to go next. I figure I tackle it later today when I've had more time to think...maybe just cut this seam off, and resew using other end of rectangle...I've got about 3" left to spare of this fabric so...

But, last night I was determined to sew. I also wanted to get started on making some bibs for a friends new baby (idea to use PUL nixed due to previous oops) so I moved back to cotton. My absolute favourite fabric for ease of use and soooo forgiving.

This past week, I bought a book called "Baby Essentials Made Easy" by Babyville Boutique. And yesterday I picked up some adorable novelty print cotton fabric, a big roll of tracing paper, and several other sewing items. So I got busy tracing the bib pattern from the book, then proceeded to cut out my front and back pieces and a flannel piece to be sandwiched in between. This must be a night of bloopers because when cutting the backing fabric, I forgot to reverse both the fabric and the pattern piece so my pretty pea novelty print will end up on the wrong side or I may just put the snap on anyway and let it be attached on the left side instead of the right side. And this is the result.

Perfect it is not, but this is the first ever bib I have made and I am pleased enough with the results. So this is the extent of my FNSI. By this point it was almost 10 p.m. and I just couldn't take the heat in my sewing room anymore. Even with the door open and the fan going directly on me enough was enough, it was time to call it a night.

Had a great time though regardless of my bloopers.

FNSI July 19 (Part 1)

I'm feeling a bit nervy. We are experiencing stronger than everyday winds and excessive heat and this has been joined by stormy weather. I've been hearing the thunder for the last hour, and the grey clouds accompanied by rain have moved in. The lights are beginning to flicker and I am worried I may not be able to sew tonight if we lose power. Ugh!

I picked up the last few things I needed to play around with my diaper wet clothing pail cover, bibs for two friends newborns, and clear vinyl to work on some see thru zipper purse pouches.

So just in case I am putting out this little note, because if I cannot sew, then I will cut in preparation to sew over the weekend.

Happy sewing, and if I can be there, I will.

FNSI

Woo hoo, FNSI is up and running again and I have time to sew this Friday.  Sugarlane Quilts is hosting for the next three months while Handmade by Heidi takes a needed (and well deserved) blogging break.

I need to work on the John Deere apron for a Christmas present, I'm making a lapquilt for my sister-in-law who is coming down next month to visit for two weeks, so I will aim to have it completed by the time she leaves. I'm just beginning to cut out my squares for this project. I have a bag liner in the works and some baby bibs for a gift. Guess we'll see what's what as Friday evening progresses.

See you Saturday with my photos...

A renewed passion

I have begun cross stitching again. I am gratefully back into a season of life that allows me to craft again. I have been sewing, cross stitching, knitting, crocheting, and dreaming of future projects. It has been almost two years with no crafting. I think I may have been in a real low spot, because creating little things is such an encouraging endeavor.

Anyway, I am baaaccckk. Thank you Lord!Here are a few photos for you.

This was a gift for my granddaughter's 4th birthday in April. A crayon roll...

 for twistable crayola crayons

 and an apron (front)

 (back)

 for crayola twistable "pencil crayons". This project was a lot of fun to make, because I learned to make my own bias binding from an online tutorial, as well as this apron. Oh, and of course the crayon roll was a free online tutorial as well.

 I belong to a Yahoo group called "Monthly Dishcloths" where we receive 2 free patterns per month. They are KALs; one on the first of the month, and the second begins the fifteen of the month. We receive emails over about 5 days with approximately 10 rows per day. The cloth design is a mystery until completed. We have made some very pretty cloths.

 I love knitting these up and either using them myself or giving them away as gifts. I had stitched some simple crochet ones, with edging, but it seems I never took any photos. I donated them all last month to a fund raiser at the Day Centre my father attends. They raise funds for various activities for those seniors who attend the sessions weekly. I also crocheted a wheelchair wrap which I donated to them early this year as a prize for the resident's bingo session.

 I also love to garden. My irises came up beautifully this year. God sure gave us beautiful things to look at!

 Finally, I have resumed cross stitching. This is a bookmark I made last week...back view first :)

 And here is the front. Personally, I prefer the King James version of the fruits of the spirit, but this was a free design. I'm thinking of giving this one to my mother-in-law.

And I am currently working on the following free design...As Ye Sew So Shall Ye Rip

I'm onto the backstitching now so hoping to complete over the weekend, but there is a lot of stitching to do.

And we're off...

Today is the beginning of the Pilgrim's Progress read along. I have opted for the free kindle version...

 

My kindle for pc has no consecutive page numbers, and may be even more confusing as I switch back and forth between reading on my pc and reading on my Kobo e-reader so I'm setting my tentative reading schedule by chapter.

Part 1:

     Week 1: chapters 1 - 4

     Week 2: chapters 5 - 8

     Week 3: chapters 9 - conclusion

Part 2:

     Week 4: chapters 1 - 4

     Week 5: chapters 5 - 8

     Week 6  chapters 9 - the little pilgrim

I am also listening to free podcasts from Still Waters Revival Books as found on iTunes. There are many different free versions available.

I'm really excited to be reading this book; finally :0)

I will try to maintain some discussion over at Unscripted as I am able.

Also begun today

Began memorizing Psalm 119:1 and 2 today. Progress so far is encouraging. Love that the verses in this Psalm are, I believe, all one liners (giggle) and therefore provide me with a quicker retention than some other verses.