Pieces of Beautiful (Log Cabin and other thoughts)

"The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:2-3 "When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong."

Buckminster Fuller
How is quilting with a big pile of hopeless, crazy cut, ugly colored, unmatching mess a metaphor for our life? As I've been working on my abominable, ferocious piles of crumbs and scraps this week, I kept looking at the mess and felt overwhelmed, sometimes to the point of tears, but also hopeful, as I knew they would become something beautiful in the end. Didn't really know what it was going to look like, but I had faith that it would be pretty. I looked at the piles and laughed sometimes thinking how uncanny the picture was because it could have been a picture of my life about 20 years ago.......(or last summer when I thought I was gonna die, but lived...praises to the most high!!!)

It took me 3 days to make this mini log cabin. It will probably take the Lord more than 3 days to fix some of our messes, but it's exciting to think about the blessings that will come out of it on the other side of the "fabric, rubbled covered mountain". Sometimes, it takes a long time, but you just have to trust. What choice do we have? Trust or not to trust....I'll choose trust.

Sometimes, there are messes which will never be fixed and I'll never have peace about it...like my father's death. But you know, life goes on and I'm so grateful for the blessings God has given me to help ease the pain and help me take my mind off it...know what I mean? Just some things can't be fixed...plan and simple...but there is beauty and joy to be found every where you look and you have to focus on the good. I'm mostly preaching to myself here. I have to see beauty, love those around me and CHOOSE JOY, or I'll literally go crazy thinking about the hurt.

OK, enough of that....picture time now! :) Look at the pictures and think hard about life and pray when your done. God is good. (((group hug)))

You know.....I've given up trying to be tidy while working with scraps. It's impossible. Life has to get messy sometimes before it can get beautiful again.

Looks like Moda barfed Thanksgiving all over the place...







A 4 inch block


This mini quilt is around 22 inches. This picture doesn't do it justice. It's so beautiful. I can't stop looking at it.



Learning to Knit ... Ugh

Methinks it is a token of healthy and gentle characteristics, when women of high thoughts and accomplishments love to sew; especially as they are never more at home with their own hearts than while so occupied. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Marble Faun, 1859

 

So last year's New Years resolution was learning to knit. With the help of books, lots of You Tube videos & practice, we did ok. My daughter did well and picked it right up. While I enjoyed it, I was ready for my crochet hook by the time all was said and done. I still want to learn more, but I want to take a class so I can watch someone do it. Books are hard for me. I'm a hands on learner, which is always inconvenient as you have to wait for a patient teacher who has time to deal with you to come along and save the day.

This is "photo essay" of our first knitting adventure. Wow! Using the words "photo essay" makes you feel so smart and artistic. LOL

Getting started...


I loved this picture because my dog's nose is trying to get me to pay attention to her while I'm trying so hard to concentrate! Geeze! Someone always wants mama...give me a break!




She is a natural! She loved it, which made me very happy. She needed a craft outside of what her mother loves, to call her own.


I'm TRYING!!


Had to take a mental break....scream....add a fake eye ball impalement for dramatic effect


LOOK! We invented something. A toe blanky. We're going to make a million $$$'s off this pattern some day. LOL For realz!


I surrender. Give me my crochet hook!

Look at her go! She's a genius. I love this kid!


If you want to teach yourself to knit, there are some great books out there, but we learned the most from You Tube videos. I hope to eventually move on to hats and socks.

Be blessed! Choose Joy! Love you all!

Pooh the Narcissistic Cat...

I'm just "Pooh".    Where ever my mom goes, I must follow...because I love her so much and have to make sure she knows it, in case she forgot, since the last time I rubbed myself all over her and her things. I think it's kinda funny to torture her and pester her and get my golden, beautiful, glorious, luxurious fur all over her work. I think she loves fabric more than me, therefore, I must passive aggressively pay her back with my "affection". Have a nice day Mama. I know you love me, no matter what you say or do to me. ***wicked Cheshire cat grins***

Thrifting Yummy Loot

I don't buy or find a lot of cool magazines, but this one had a bunch of sweet crochet patterns. There is a small granny square head band pattern I can't wait to make.


Pure, glorious, serendipity. I collect art books because I love art and art history....as in...I REALLY love...super, crazy love art history!!! We use them in our homeschool and having books on hand for various time periods always helps paint a context for history studies. Even if we didn't homeschool, I would still buy them up when I find them. If you ever get tired of looking at the book, you can always rip them up and collage the pages to the wall. :)

My daughter is going to Greece and Rome in May and we had just left a meeting with the woman who is leading the group. We walked into the thrift store and found these massive, perfect, brand new books and had a good laugh. I swear they weigh 40 lbs together. I could do curls with them and have beautiful arms...if I wanted. It was an exciting find. We only paid $1.00 a piece for them.


I saw these two pictures and my heart melted. Aren't they lovely? We are re-doing my daughter's room and she wants them, but if I can talk her into changing her mind, I might put them in my sewing room. I love the frames too. This has got to be one of my most favorite finds lately. Just too sweet! I LOVE SWEET THINGS!