Windy Days-- Done!! and I Won Something!!

Here is the Windy Days Wall Hanging-- all done!

The pattern is called Windy Days because of the Pinwheel and Windmill blocks.

I fell in love with this pattern the second I saw it in a book (sorry, can't remember which one) from our local library. I immediately copied off the pattern and instructions, knowing that some day I would make this one!!

Well, I had the perfect opportunity lately. My bestest girl, Marla, had a birthday coming up. She had given me some great fabric for my birthday back in October so I chose to use some of it for this quilt to give to her.

I left the hanging rings off just in case she would want to use it as a lap quilt, sofa throw, or table topper.

I just wish I was better at points and matching up seams. Practice makes perfect, right? I sure hope so, because I am far from perfect!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARLA!!! I love you!!

Here is the back:

And I recently won a giveaway at Sandi Andersen's blog!

Here are my goodies:

3 fat quarters in beautiful, starry print...

an adorable packet of buttons... snowmen, trees, snowflakes...

and a little gift bag decorated by Sandi!!

Thanks Sandi, it was so sweet of you to send these my way!!

Keep CHRIST in Christmas!

• I will not say "Happy Holiday"or "Seasons Greetings" .... It's "Merry Christmas"
  
  
• I will not shorten it to "X-mas"... It will always be "Christmas"
  
• I will not have a Holiday Tree... It's a Christmas Tree
  
  



• I will not call it a Holiday/Winter Concert at School.... It's a Christmas Concert
  

• I will not forget to read the true Christmas story to my kids.... straight from the Bible
  

• I will not get caught up in the commercialism... I will enjoy the simple blessings
  

• I will not make Santa out to be the reason for it all... It was God's love sent to us in a manger, Jesus
  

"The angel said to Mary, "Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end."
---- Luke 1: 30-33

Give A Kid A Quilt-- 1st Top is Done!!!

I have finished one top for the Give A Kid A Quilt charity. I really like how it turned out.....

I didn't use a pattern, just kinda did my own layout and I think it turned out cute.

The little squares with pictures of fairys, butterflies and bluebirds came from an old sheet that we don't use anymore.

I've prayed over this one, as I was stitching it all together, I prayed that it would bless some little girl with warmth and comfort during the cold winter nights.

There are 2 more sets of fabric that I plan on using for a couple more quilt tops.

Putting these tops together has really made me think on how blessed my family is.
I'm thankful that:
-my children are safe
- my children are sleeping warmly in cozy beds right now
- my children have never been in need of anything
- my children go to bed every night with food in their tummies
- my children get a hug and kiss from mommy and daddy every night

I realize that there are so many out there tonight that are cold, lonely, scared, tired, and hungry. Those children are just as important to God as mine are. He sees them, He knows them by name, He knows every fear they may have.

Providing a few warm quilts (something that most of us take for granted) for some kids, brings a happiness to my heart.
I pray that whichever child wraps themselves up in "my" quilt, will someday know Jesus as their Savior. Comfortor. Friend. Companion. Fortress. Shield. Rock. Salvation.


Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
But Jesus called them to Him and said,
"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
--- Luke 18: 15-17

Do You Wash Dishes in Your Underwear?

She does!!...................

I wish I looked that cute in my underwear!!

Western Swing Table Runner- DONE

I finished this runner a couple of days ago.

I think this will be an upcoming gift for a birthday or Christmas.

Still trying to get the Bible quilt blocks, a wall hanging, and a baby quilt done. It seems like there are always projects that I want to try but for now I feel like I better finish up some that I already have going on!

Give A Kid A Quilt!

Check this out!
Give A Kid A Quilt is a charity organization in the Pacific Northwest that is just starting up.

The plan is to send in quilt tops (they don't even have to be bound or quilted!) or your completed quilts and they will be distributed to babies and children in desperate need of warmth this winter.

The quilts or quilt tops can be anywhere from 24" square up to twin size.

What a wonderful way to share love and warmth with families that need it!

I've been reading in Proverbs 31 about the Virtuous Wife... something I strive to be, but always fall short. I know I'm a work in progress. God is revealing things to me every day. He is faithful to show me my err in a loving, gentle way.

After reading about Give A Kid A Quilt, I was back in Proverbs 31 and came across this:
"She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy" - Proverbs 31: 20

Well, that answers it for me. That was the direction I was looking for.
Thank You again, God, for showing me your path for me!

Quilters Generosity

I think quilters must be some of the most generous people around!

Every time I check my blogroll to read my favorites, I come across quilters having giveaways.

Giveaways for:

- fabric

- patterns

- quilts

- blocks

etc....

Alot of times, all they ask of the person entering their contest is for a quick blog post about their giveaway.

I haven't done this because I intended for my blog to be for friends and family to keep updated on my family. I didn't want it to turn into a place for all my giveaway entries. But from time to time, I may have posts referring to a certain giveaway that I'm hoping to win.

Here I go, I am posting about a giveaway that would be great to win:

Hawthorne Threads is opening a fabric shop . So, for their grand opening they are offering a pattern and some fabric.

When I saw the fabric being offered, I instantly thought about a pretty, little-girl quilt!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Please thank a Veteran today for his/her service to our country!

Apple Pie Cake

This is so good... thought I'd share it today.

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups flour

3 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

couple dashes of ground ginger

1 can Apple pie filling ( I use homemade apple pie filling), drained if there is alot of juice

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease a 9x13 baking pan.

Combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil. Stir in flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger.

Fold in apple pie filling and chopped nuts. Mix only until combined, do not overmix.

Bake for 1 hour or until the cake tests done.

Rub butter over the warm cake to make a light, crispy top. You can also sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.

This cake is so good, warm from the oven!

Me, My Kids, and Salmon

Last week the kids and I walked down to the river to watch the salmon spawning. It is amazing that after 3-5 years out in the ocean, those fish know exactly what river, stream, creek to swim up to return to the place of their birth!!

Look right in the middle of the picture: do you see the salmon?

See the fin to the right of the grass?...

We sat and watched the female dig her nest out in the gravel of the river bottom. She would swish her tail then swim forward a bit. But the second the male would swim up to her nest, she would circle around and return to her nest. I guess she was telling him, she wasn't done yet.

They did that about 4-5 times. It was interesting to watch.

In one hole, we spotted 7 salmon. It was hard to take pictures with the glare off the surface of the water.

After watching them for about 45 minutes, we began to walk back through the pasture towards the house. The girls skipped along, holding hands:

We stopped to listen to the coyotes howling and yipping on the hill behind the house.

All I could think was, "Thank You, God! Thank You for allowing me to raise my kids this way. For Your awesome creation that we can watch and hear!"

"Sing to the Lord,

For He has done excellent things;

This is known in all the earth."

--- Isaiah 12: 5

A Mad Women is in Our House

Ok, obviously my kids aren't all that happy with me this morning...

I tried to act excited and said, "Hey, guess what we get to do today?! ..... We get to clean out the rabbit room and the feed room!!! yeah!!"

They looked at me like a crazy women had snuck into their home.

"Come on, now," I said, " We could all shovel and sing Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Off to work we go....!"

I think my boys believe I've lost my mind....

Maybe I have.....

The Week

I have actually been doing alot of sewing around here. There are a couple of projects in the works. Some I can't show yet.. ya know, birthdays and holidays coming up!



But the weirdness of this week has been:

--A trip to urgent care with my daughter. She had stomach cramps so bad that she blacked out. Ran right into the wall and was very scared because she couldn't see me. Come to find out, she just had severe gas bubbles. I felt a bit silly after finding that out, but the Dr. said I did the right thing by bringing her in. It may have been something serious, such as appendicitis.



-- My son has his 2nd broken nose and he is only 11 years old! He hit heads very hard with another boy at school, playing football. So he is all swollen and very sore!



Other things happening around here:

-- Basketball practice has started for Ryan's middle school team. We only have 6 boys playing. They are going to be wiped out during games since only have one person on the bench!



-- I have a freezer full of fresh beef. Dad butchered and we have received our yearly supply of beef. I love opening it and seeing all that meat stacked in there so nicely!

-- I also made up a big bucket of homemade laundry soap. I'm gonna try it out and see if I like it. We are trying to cut corners around here so that money won't be so tight every month. The cost of making your own laundry soap is about $.o1 or less per load!!!



-- I had an eye appointment. I only go when I'm out of contacts and absolutely have to go. Come to find out, the astigmatism has gotten worse in my left eye. So I have to try some new contacts, hope they work out.



So that has been our week. Hopefully I'll have some sewing to show you soon. I'm having fun working on some things.

I discovered this Bible verse recently. I love the picture it produces in my mind. Thought I'd share it with you today:

"You shall have a song
As in the night when a holy festival is kept,
And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute,
To come into the mountain of the Lord,
To the Mighty One of Israel."
--Isaiah 30: 29