From the Sewing Room ~ Elijah's Quilt

Picked up the grandchildren today. Got them tucked into bed, and I'm settling down now for the evening. Sleeping grandchildren. Nothing like it....except when they're snuggled up next to us. :-)

Wanted to show you the quilt that Elijah and I worked on together the last time he visited for two weeks in the fall. He wanted to make me a quilt, so I let him use pieces of fabric from my scrap bag to design it on a piece of flannel. Should have encouraged him to use the biggest pieces he could find! He wanted me to sew it together for him. He did choose one large piece, so I decided to applique his name in that block. Some of the other pieces were pretty small, but it went together nicely. I pieced it, added the borders, and did the quilting after he left. I added a label to the back to remind him in years to come that we had worked on it together. He designed, and I stitched. I had it ready when they came back for Thanksgiving.

He said he loved it. So do I. :-)

Back in the Attic

We've spent the week continuing to clear out the attic. Made another trip to the dump yesterday and took a couple more loads to the thrift shop the past couple of days. Finding some fun things in the attic for our grandchildren to play with while they're here next week, like this kitchen combo and Mickey Mouse castle that our girls played with when they were little. Ahhh, sweet memories in the attic.

I haven't actually been in the attic for probably several years. My Beloved is bringing stuff down and we sort it out. He's been vacuuming up there, and I'm eager to go up and see how it looks. I think I'll hold off my curiosity awhile, though, and take a look later for the wow factor. :-)

Thrift shops. Some are nice, some are junky. We've taken things to a couple of them. One that we were in a couple days ago was junky, junky. I had a huge urge to straighten things up for them, but held off. I don't like thinking of our stuff just being tossed about, especially since I launder and clean things up before we go. Took the other loads to the first thrift store. They seem to show more respect for what they get. It was fun to see some of our things on the sales floor the last time we went. 

Going to stay out of the attic next week since the grandchildren will be here. I probably won't take the time to blog while they're here, either. I want to savor every moment with them.

 

Thought I'd share a soup recipe with you today. These cold days are good soup days. I call this recipe....

Loaded Potato Soup

2 boiled eggs, chopped

2 cups chicken broth

2 medium potatoes, cut into small pieces (about 3 cups)

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup celery, sliced

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup milk

1 tbsp flour

2 cups cheese (I used Mozzarella, but choose your favorite)

In a large saucepan, combine chicken broth, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, parsley and salt. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15-20 min. 

Meanwhile, boil eggs until hard boiled.

Add milk to flour, blending well. Add to cooked vegetables and stir until thickened. 

Add chopped boiled eggs.

Add cheese and stir until melted.

Serves 3-4 large bowls.

Enjoy and keep warm! 

To Err is Human?

Continuing to read through the New Testament chronologically and sharing a thought today from my reading in Galatians 5. I'm meditating on the passage beginning with v.16 onward.

I've often heard it said that we err/fail/sin because we're human. I've said it myself. But I think that's not the accurate accounting of it. Jesus was fully God and fully human. Err? Fail? Sin? He didn't, not with all the humanness that He possessed. The more Christlike we are, the more fully human we could be. Being human in itself doesn't carry with it the bent to err/fail/sin. Having a sinful nature does that. This is how Jesus is able to be fully God and fully human. He does not have a sinful nature — He is God.

I'm thinking that maybe we're not "fully" human anymore; that is, after The Fall. The sinful nature has impaired us. So, I reflect on my walk with such a nature. How can I walk in a fully human way (at least somewhat more fully)? God, through the Apostle Paul, tells us in verse 16 to "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh..... they are in opposition to one another." Jesus was led by the Spirit while here on earth, walking wholly in tandem, completely doing His Father's will. The more I walk by the Spirit and do the Father's will, the closer I nudge to being fully human (at least somewhat more fully).

 Do I lean more toward the spiritual or toward the fleshly? Paul gives two checklists in v. 19-23 to help me evaluate.

Deeds of the flesh (sinful nature of mankind):
"immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these..."

Fruit of the Spirit (new spiritual nature of believers): 
"love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

When I look at the two lists, the choices I should make seem obvious. But my two natures are in opposition to one another, and the actual choosing becomes a battlefront. My own choice, yes, but I'm not alone in this. I have God's grace and the Holy Spirit abiding in me. He supplies all our need.

"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires; if we live by the spirit, let us also walk by the spirit."
(Galatians 5: 24-25)

.......Just some thoughts during my quiet time.

Painting ~ Lady in an Interior, Carl Vilhem Holsoe 1863-1935
Wiki Commons public domain 

From the Book Shelf ~ Tales from Shakespeare

Settling in for some light reading this evening—Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. It's a Children's Classic, but it appeals to me because it puts Shakespeare in a form that I can more easily understand. It's more prose than poetry, with some original Shakespeare included. 

From the forward — 

While the Lambs cut the Shakespeare plays to the bare bones, they also managed to leave enough meat on those bones to provide a real feast of plain fare, and flavored it with as many tasty tidbits of Shakespearean language as they felt the young reader could easily digest.

I had read some of Shakespeare's works when I taught English, but just to sit down and read it for pleasure, well, it's a bit toilsome for me. I had gotten this 1986 edition for our daughters when we were homeschooling, but hadn't actually read it myself. I'm enjoying gaining some understanding of Shakespearen works without plodding through the language. 

The motivating force behind this colossal enterprise was a desire to enhance the children's literature of the early 1800s with vital and intricate stories that were at once appetizing and substantial....In the twenty tales told in this book, the Lambs succeeded in paraphrasing the language of truly adult literature in children's terms.

The book has had several editions previous and since, and I believe it will be around for many years to come. So, if you'd like some light Shakespeare, check with your local library or favorite bookstore. There are also collector's editions available. I saw a 1st Edition, signed by the illustrator, for $2,750 at AbeBooks.com—as you like it. ;-)

That Special Relationship

 Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being.                 ~ Margaret Mead, Cultural Anthropologist.

I've been thinking about this statement. Seems to me to be true. I feel like part of me is missing a lot of the time. I don't think scattering across the continent, often the world, is good for grandparents or grandchildren. 

Painting ~ The Draughts Players, Robert Gimmell Hutchison 1855-1936

Wiki Commons public domain 

Simple Woman's Daybook

Today I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to others in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well. 

Outside my window...
Night has fallen. A dusting of snow remains from the day.

Looking forward to...
The grandchildren coming for a visit. We'll rendezvous with their parents halfway this weekend. We get to keep them for a week. :-)

Noticing the sound of...   
The humidifier. My fingers crack from the dry winter air.

Thinking...
About so many good memories we've recalled while cleaning out the attic these past few days.

Thankful...
For our daughters' pursuit of God. I came across our older daughter's journal, written when she was 18 (now almost 37), as I was clearing out a closet. Made this mama so thankful that God pursued them at a young age.

Around the house...
Another attic day. Got the section above the garage finished. Yay! Tomorrow on to the attic area over the family room.

Creating...
These are the blocks that are part of my homework for quilt class. The leaves are just lying there right now, but are to be appliqued along with some branches. Block size is 8 inches finished. Hope to show more soon.

Learning...
To make my quilt pieces just a bit oversized where possible, then trim for a more accurate block.

 A Thought from my quiet time...
Reading in Galatians today, where Paul admonishes some of the believers not to think they earn God's salvation by keeping the law. He reminds them that they were saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Our acceptance of that is what pleases God. How freeing to know my salvation doesn't depend on me, but on what Christ has done for me.

Reading...
Continuing to read slowly The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (1559-1646). Am sharing quotes along the way.
 











 

Sunday Ponderings ~ What More?

In worship today, we remembered, and gave thanks.

...and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 

 "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 

1 Corinthians 1:24

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

John 3:16 

Image ~ juan-pablo via pixabay

CC0 Creative Commons

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me!

Jesus to Calv'ry did go,
His love for mankind to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh how He loves you and me!  

Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give;
Oh, how He loves you, Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me!

by Kurt Kaiser

God's Purpose or My Dream?

I've often considered over the years God's purpose for my life and made plans and preparations to fulfill it. I think it might have been too often, rather, that I was following my own heart's desires, because little or nothing came of many of my preparations, whether it was as simple as taking a meal to someone who wasn't home, taking a class in writing children's literature, taking a few counseling classes, or obtaining a graduate degree. But over time, I've come to realize that much of what I've done has been working out my own desires. That's not to say the preparations were unfruitful, but that the fruit was found in the process rather than in the outcome.

Sharing a similar thought from Oswald Chambers today.

We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process – that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.

God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterwards. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end.

God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.

~ from My Utmost for His Highest

Painting ~ A Pensive Moment, Daniel Ridgway Knight 1839-1924

Wiki Commons public domain

Chatty Cathy

More attic time today. Came across my vintage Chatty Cathy (1960) doll that I had when I was growing up. She originally talked by pulling her string, which is gone now. I watched a video on how to repair her voice box, so maybe that can be fixed. I'll keep her for our little Anna to play with when she gets a little older. Chatty Cathy doesn't have any of her own clothes right now, and she's a little taller than the popular 18-inch dolls, so I think I'll need to make some clothes for her. Later.

I was interested in seeing if I could find a way to fix her hairdo. Right now she's in a constant state of a bad hair day. I found a short video on how to do it, that, I suppose, would work for any doll. I found my daughters' Chatty Patty dolls in the attic today, too, and they could sure use a new do. If you're interested in fixing up a loved doll, you can click here to view that video.

Apparently, there's a Chatty Cathy collectors club that meets annually. If you had a Chatty Cathy growing up, or are just interested in the doll, maybe you'd enjoy watching this brief documentary about Chatty Cathy from Mattel. It's everything about Chatty Cathy.

Attic Memories

Attic Memories, Norman Rockwell

We've been pulling things from the attic the past couple of days, going through almost 40 years of memories in this house. If you've done it, you know that cleaning out the attic is not as easy as just clearing things out. There's a lot of lingering along the way, remembering when they wore those clothes, played with those toys, slept in that bed. The attic tells a story of our life here in this house.

We made a run to the mission store this afternoon to pass along some of the stuff those memories are made of. Not everything, of course. Some things just can't be parted with, and others can be passed to the next generation..."things Mommy played with when she was your age." And so we watch and see a small glimmer of our little girls again.

I saw this quote recently — 

Things end, but memories last forever.

Some things do, but I'm not so sure that things must always end, but rather can change gradually, day by day, so there is always a new day dawning. Abrupt endings are, indeed, difficult and leave us with only the memories. But this I do know — God's mercies are new every morning. Mercies in and for the memories, be they good or not so good.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;  

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Lamentations 3:22-25 

A Word Fitly Spoken and A Listening Ear

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.  

~ Proverbs 25:11

You just never know when a conversation you're having turns out to be a word fitly spoken. My dental hygienist was heavy-hearted today and much spilled forth as she cleaned and polished. Of course, there's not much that can be said with dental instruments in your mouth, so mostly I listened, with an encouraging word given here and there. I'm glad she didn't have a busy schedule today because we spent an hour and a half 'talking' things over. She said she had come to work discouraged but felt so much better after our 'conversation'. Sometimes all it takes a listening ear.

You just never know when the Lord wants to encourage someone through you. He uses simple things, and He often uses us in spite of ourselves. He did that today. I was wanting to do some shopping afterward before school traffic started, and early-on in the 'conversation' was beginning to feel a bit anxious that progress on my teeth was going so slowly. God had other plans for my afternoon, though, and I'm so thankful for the privilege of being an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer to encourage a fellow believer. In spite of myself.

Painting ~ Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, John William Waterhouse,1909
Wiki Commons public domain

Homemaking ~ Creative Expressions

I went grocery shopping this morning, had a quilt class this afternoon, doctors' appointments last week, tomorrow and the next day. Some days can be a blur, and being a keeper of the home can certainly have its challenges in our hurry-scurry culture. It was particularly challenging when we were homeschooling, but I could have lived in those years forever. Seasons change and go on, though, which is the ebb and flow of life.

Thankfully, things will slow down next week. I very much dislike the feeling that I'm constantly facing a doctor's appointment month after month, so I intentionally set my 6- and 12-month routine appointments in January or July to get them out of the way and behind me. Gives me more planning space for something else. Like quilting. :-)

Talk at the quilt shop today went to the love of quilting and the dislike of housework. I was told many years ago that housework is like an artist's brush. You've got to keep cleaning it in order to create your work of art. That's a good perspective to keep. There's creative expression in homemaking, as Edith Shaeffer wrote in her book The Hidden Art of Homemaking. I read the original book back in the early 70s as a young woman. This is a book that keeps selling.

There are others in the class who are in the same school of thought, so we encouraged one another in our perspective that it's much better to tend to responsibilities first, then savor our leisurely sewing time. Add to that the pleasant feeling when dirty dishes, unmade beds, rushed meals (or undone exercises) aren't calling my name, and I find a sense of satisfaction with the day.

Do drop by again when you have a few moments, and I'll try to show you over the weekend my homework for the quilt class.

Painting ~ Quilting Bee, Henry Mosler 1841-1920

via American Gallery public domain

Seeking Him

We're using the study guide Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss to guide our thoughts in our women's Bible study. We had good discussions this evening on obedience to God's Word. I had gone through this study a few years ago when I was in a dry season and was desperately seeking to know God better. I was thirsty for Him, and He used this study to draw me closer to Himself. 

Nancy also has this series online that she presented some time back when the study was introduced. If you'd like to listen in, click on the book image and it will take you to the Revive Our Hearts website. I think you'll be blessed if you have opportunity to follow along.

Sharing a quote from today's lesson:

God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.

~ Elisabeth Elliot

Sunday Ponderings ~ On Worship

Pondering today in Acts 14, where Paul and Barnabas were being worshiped by the crowd after Paul had healed the lame man. They were doing a great work, so the people thought Paul and Barnabas were gods who had come down in human form. But Paul admonishes them and appeals to them not to do such a thing, for they, Paul and Barnabas, were only human like anyone else.

Worship can be obvious, as it was here. The people brought sacrifices to offer to them. Worship can also be subtle, in that we begin to follow leaders, be they pastors, celebrities, or others that we think highly of. It's good to have leaders, but we need our focus to be on Christ and not the leader. We are all human and prone to weakness and failure. There is caution the other way around as well. Leaders need to be cautious not to draw people to themselves. There is danger here in self-worship. We all should be elevating Jesus.

So I ask myself these two questions:

(1) Do I more often comment on what Jesus and the Scriptures say, or do I more often comment on what my favorite person says?

(2)  When there is opportunity to lead, do I bask in the attention and accolades?

Painting ~ A Woman Seated Near A Door, Carl Vilhelm Holsoe 1863-1935
Wiki Commons public domain

Simple Woman's Daybook

On Saturdays I reflect on simple thoughts and simple pleasures. My leads are somewhat similar to others in The Simple Woman's Daybook group, yet a bit different as well.   

Outside My Window... 



 






The sun has risen over the hill, glistening the frost and casting long shadows. Today promises to be a beautiful day.

Looking forward to...
Being out in the warmer temperature after such cold weather the past several days.

Noticing the sound of...
My beloved testing our new generator. Hopefully, we won't need it this winter.

Thinking...
About my mother's upcoming surgery and wishing there weren't so many miles between us. Distance is no friend to families.

Thankful...
That both of our daughters and their families were able to spend a little time together here after Christmas.

Around the house...
Elizabeth and 5-year-old Elijah made this table topper for me for Christmas. She cut out the pieces, he designed the layout and pushed the pedal, she guided the stitching through the machine. They made a sweet memory together. Love it!

Creating... 
Got a few blocks finished from my kaleidoscope blocks for the throw I'm working on.

(Still) Learning...
To be patient

Reading...
Roe V. Wade Anniversary Issue
Hope ~ Nourishing Children in an age of abortion and neglect

A thought from my quiet time..
Reading today in Acts 12 and being reminded that those whose faith is in Christ Jesus have faced opposition and persecution from the beginning of Christianity. Here, Herod Agrippa has James executed and Peter put in prison. Such is happening around the world to fellow believers. We in America have had years of peace because our country was founded on Christian principles. That is now unraveling as our culture is fast turning from God's ways and losing its moral fiber. Christianity is less tolerated than any religion. God struck Agrippa down because of his pride and he was eaten by worms and died. As verse 24 tells us, the word of God continued to increase and spread. Jesus Christ--the truth and the way. Unstoppable.

From the Bookshelf ~ Jesus Calling

I had been thinking about getting a new daily devotional for the new year, and the best selling book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young was highly recommended to me.

I hadn't done any previewing of the book before purchasing it, and when I began to read the introduction and then read through the first few entries, I was uneasy of spirit. The entries seemed rather mystical. The author was writing as if Jesus himself were saying the words. I was uncomfortable with that, but something more was bothering me.

In the introduction, the author says, "I began to wonder if I could change my prayer times from monologue to dialogue. I had been writing in prayer journals for many years, but this was one-way communication: I did all the talking. Increasingly, I wanted to hear what God might want to communicate to me on a given day. I decided to 'listen' with pen in hand, writing down whatever I 'heard' in my mind." 

Her writing in this book is what she "hears" in her mind, and she equates that with Jesus talking to her. This is his part in the dialogue she seeks to establish. She is still doing all the talking — on both ends of the line. This is cause for caution. 

Scripture alone is God's talking to us. That's the way He communicates with us. We are to meditate on His Word, not on our own thoughts. Our own thoughts very often lead us astray.

God tells us in Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Listening to our own thoughts calling us and saying it's Jesus calling is a dangerous call to make, and to take. 

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 

Romans 10:17

Simple Goodness in the Home

Feeding Time

It is necessary that the whole home-life and home-spirit should be in harmony with the teaching and training, if these are to make holy impressions. Simple goodness is more important than the finest theories of home government, most thoroughly and faithfully carried out. There is nothing in the daily routine of the family life which is unimportant. Indeed, it is ofttimes the things we think of as without influence, which will be found to have made the deepest impression on the tender lives of the household.

The Home Life ~ J.R. Miller,1882

Painting ~ Feeding Time, Eugene Zampighi 1859-1944
Wiki Commons public domain

Complaining—Communicating a Troubled Heart

My Beloved and I are at that age now when we read the obituaries each day. It’s all too often that someone we’ve known has passed on. It’s good to see that many people are now living into their 90s, some even beyond that. The years are longer and so are the eulogies. From what I read and hear, some of those folks would have been a joy to know. But I often wonder when someone makes a comment that they never heard him or her complain. I often wonder--why not?

  

Perhaps they mean the type of complaining that the Jews did in biblical history when they rebelled again and again against God. Or maybe it’s the complaining we’re admonished against in Philippians 2:14, which is more often translated as grumbling, which could be grumbling against God, against our family or friends, or at the sales clerk. Complaining or grumbling is often linked with disputing in scripture. And, of course, the scribes and Pharisees complained about Jesus and disputed with him.

But what about the man after God’s own heart—King David. He wrote in Psalm 142:1-2—“I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.” And there are other such Psalms that speak of a very troubled, complaining heart. Most of us have complaints. It is well that we take them to God.

But how are we to “encourage the fainthearted” (1 Thess.:1:4) if they don’t 'complain'? How are we to know they are troubled or about to give up or are depressed and everything is sad? Why are they not ‘complaining’ to us? Do they feel like they won’t be heard? Do they feel like they would be viewed as unspiritual or as a burden? What would we think of them? How can we bear someone's burdens if they don’t ‘complain’ about them?

Lest you think I’m condoning complaining about not getting our own way, or not having what we want, or shaking our fist at God, I’m not in the least. Perhaps I’m taking issue with the word ‘complain.’ Perhaps there are those who are angels among us. And I do believe there could be…and they don’t complain. My point is that we need to hear and bear one another's burdens. We need to share our own burdens with those who love us and not be stoic with one another.  We are instruments in the hands of the Redeemer to encourage one another, to help one another see God and His ways in our trouble, and to help the disposition of the heart become calm and contented.

I’ve been reading The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (1559-1646). I think he agrees.

“Though a Christian ought to be quiet under God’s correcting hand, he may without any breach to Christian contentment complain to God. As one of the Ancients says, though not with a tumultuous clamour and shrieking out in a confused passion, yet in a still, quiet, submissive way, he may unbosom his heart to God. Likewise he may communicate his sad condition to his Christian friends, showing them how God has dealt with him and how heavy the affliction is upon him, that they may speak a word in season to his weary soul.”

We urge you, brethren,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Painting~By the Way, Daniel Ridgeway Knigh
Wiki Commons public domain

A Mother's Songs

I typically like to listen online to Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss while I'm getting dressed in the mornings. She helps me set my mind on the things of God before I head downstairs to begin my day. Recently I listened to a precious tribute to a mom from her two grown daughters. 

The mom reminded me of my own daughter, who is a young mom and sings a lot to her little ones. Even the goofy stuff is tender to hear. She can even get them to cooperate easier through a song, which brings more harmony to their home. She teaches so much through her songs, and uses singing to draw the children's hearts to Jesus. 

I sent her the link to the program to encourage her, and thought I'd also encourage you to listen in, especially if you have children still at home. It was heartening to this grandma as well. Although the mother was gifted with a beautiful voice, it doesn't require a beautiful voice to sing to children. Here's a brief excerpt from the program, and if you have a few minutes to listen, click here.

Mom used music to introduce us to Jesus. Even though Julie and I had our own rooms, we often had "slumber parties." Mom would sit at our bed. She would scratch our backs, and she would sing to us. We called it "sing and scratch."

And in those sweet bedtime times, she taught us how much Jesus loves us, and how we were His precious treasures, His precious jewels. She'd sing:  

When He cometh, when He cometh to take up His jewels;
All His jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own:
Like the stars of the morning His bright crown adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty—bright gems for His crown.

Sending up a prayer for those of you who have children still living at home, that God will give wisdom and joy in the journey.

Painting ~ Pardon Mama  1888 - Emile Munier 1840-1895

Wiki Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ Grace Alone

And he has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

 

 Grace Alone 
Scott Wesley Brown & Jeff Nelson
 
Every promise we can make,
Every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
Every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
Every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
Every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.

Kaleidoscope Quilt Blocks

From the sewing room

I’ve started working this week on blocks for a kaleidoscope throw-sized quilt. Thought I’d share a brief tutorial today on making kaleidoscope blocks from squares. They’re really easy to do. Once you get the basic measuring and cutting the strips done, you’ll move quickly through cutting and sewing the blocks. You'll have quite a lot of variety from just one single fabric. 

I suggest that you read through the steps before beginning, to get the overall picture of where you’re headed.

I used some fabric from my stash, and as you think about what fabric to use, choose fabric with medium to large motifs, with minimal solid background. Small motifs won’t give much variety, and a lot of solid background won’t give much of a kaleidoscope effect.

This fabric would give lots and lots of variety and color to the blocks, if you're going for a wow effect.

The fabric below is what I chose to use for my purposes. I'm making this throw to match a bedroom, so I'm looking for a more subdued effect.

(1) To cut the fabric for your blocks, first measure the repeat (like wallpaper) from one motif point in the fabric to the same next motif point. You’ll need a repeat of at least 8 inches. The longer the repeat, the more fabric will be needed. As the picture to the left shows, I measured from the beginning of a flower petal to the beginning of the next same flower petal. This fabric has a 14¾-inch repeat. I rounded up to 15 inches to make the math easier.

(2) I needed 60 (15x4) inches of fabric. I cut a couple of inches extra for some wiggle room, measuring at 62 inches. (My cutting mat starts with "1 inch" on the right, so I measured from the right, cutting on the left edge as the picture below shows.)

(3) Cut all the way vertically across the fabric, from the selvage to the fold.

(4) Then I snipped the fabric at the fold line and tore it in half lengthwise. You can cut down the fold if you choose. Tearing gives the straight of the grain and is faster, but it really doesn’t matter whether you cut or tear for this step.

(5) Iron the fabric.

(6) Cut fabric strips at your repeats from the selvage to the top. My cuts were every 14¾ inches. Yours will be whatever measurement your repeat pattern is. You should now have 4 pieces of fabric strips as wide as your repeats, all the same repeat pattern.

(7) Stack the four strips on top of one another, selvages together. 
  
 





(8) Choose a point about a ½-inch to an inch from the edge and stick it with a pen that will be your guide as you go. 






(9) Stick the pen through all four layers, making sure it enters each fabric layer at the same point on your motif.

 




(10) Choose another point with another guide pin and stick it through all layers. Stand the two pins vertically and smooth the fabric. 

 
(11) Anchor beside those points with additional pins. Slide the pins in at an angle so as not to scoot the fabric as the pin goes in. Flathead pins are a good choice here so your ruler will lie flat as you straighten the edges in the next step. Continue pinning all around the perimeter of your 4-layer fabric strip set.

(12) If the long edges of the fabric set are uneven, trim them so they will be even. I'm cutting from the back side of the fabric in this picture because my shortest piece was on the bottom. When I trimmed the other side, the shortest piece was on the top, so I trimmed from the front side of the fabric.

 

(13) At 3½-inch intervals, cut the fabric into 4 strips, from the selvage edge to the top. You may need to readjust the pins so as not to run over them with your rotary cutter.

 

 (14) Trim the short edge of each strip set. 

(15) Choose one strip set and put the others aside for now. Cut the strip set at 3½-inch intervals, which now will give you 4 layers of identical 3½-inch squares.

  

(16)Take one set of squares and lay them out so that a particular part of a motif is pointing toward the center.

(17) Rotate them a quarter turn to see the change. Do that for 4 (or 3 if you count the first layout) rotations and see which one you like best.  

I chose the first rotation above for my block.

 

 

(18) After choosing the rotation you like, sew the top two squares together with a ¼-inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance to one side. Then sew the bottom two squares together in the same manner and press. 

 

  
(19) Sew these two units together, being sure to keep all four motifs pointing toward the center. Press the seam. (Click here for some ways to press your seams. I like to press the seams away from each other to reduce bulk in the center.)

You’ve just completed one block!

Continue making as many blocks as you want for your project. I like to lay mine out as I finish them so I can try to get as much variety in new blocks as possible.

Sometimes a block just might not be one you’d want to use, like the one on the left. I think there’s just too much white in the center for a kaleidoscope look. But I’ve got plenty of others to choose from.

Check back next weekend, and I’ll show you what I’m doing with my blocks this coming week. I won't be finished, but you'll see the progress I've made on it. That will encourage me to set aside some time during the week to get back to the sewing room. :-)