From the Sewing Room ~ Autumn Wall Quilt

I've had Nicole's Autumn Pumpkin Patch pattern for a couple of years, and decided to work on it for our first autumn in our new home. Finished it up yesterday, and it's now hanging in our kitchen, where we'll get to enjoy it for several weeks.

I used mostly batiks from my stash, except for the pumpkins which are just plain cotton, and worked with fusible applique and blanket stitch.

I had intended to do the applique by hand, but the combination of fusible, batiks, and cotton batting made it much too stiff for hand-stitching, so I machine-appliqued and quilted it. Looks like I need to add a door knob. ;-)

I added some veins to the leaves.  

I decided to make yoyoes for the berries instead of trying to applique all  those circles, and tacked them onto the stems by hand, just catching the centers. If you've seen the original pattern, you'll notice that I didn't add the star to the top of the house. Wasn't going for quite that much whimsy.

So, that's it for this week in the sewing room.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday.

The 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...
All is dark. It's time for bed. Thought I'd blog a bit first.

Noticing the sound of... 
My Beloved highlighting his notes for Sunday School class in the morning.

This coming week I'm (not) looking forward to...
Having My Beloved called for jury duty.

Thinking...
That it's the nature of mankind to do wrong. We are not basically good. That's why we need a Savior to rescue us. I do hope you know that. If not, you can learn more here.

Thankful...
For a nice cozy bed to crawl into in a few minutes.

A thought from my Quiet Time...

From Luke 18, the parable of the widow who persisted in her request to the judge.

Verse 1--Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.

There's an inverse correlation between frequent praying and losing heart. I must remember that.

Learning...
That correlation, albeit ever-so-slowly.


Pictures to Share

From the sewing room...
Finished the baby quilt for a new little baby girl in our church named Adelynn. I've called it Adelynn's Garden. Here's a picture of the quilt spread on a table. (The white area is morning sunlight streaming into the back porch.) Do you see the flower beds and the boxwoods on the quilt, and the pink pathway through the garden?

From the garden...  
The hydrangeas are beautiful this year! I cut some for a friend this week.

Around the house...
My Beloved put lattice work around the back porch this week, just finished it today, and made it look ever-so-nice. It's plastic, so it won't require much maintenance at all. Now to put in a just few more flowers!

From the kitchen...
Sharing the recipe for Skillet Supper that we had yesterday. Leftovers are good for breakfast! This recipe serves 4.

Prepare the following:
3 peeled and thinly sliced potatoes
1/2 cup green onions
1/2 cup green peppers
2 cups diced, cooked ham

Melt 1.5 tbsp butter or margarine in skillet on medium heat. Layer half of the above ingredients. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.  Layer with remaining ingredients. Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Slightly beat 3 eggs and pour over cooked mixture. Cover and cook another 15-17 minutes or until eggs are set.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (I substitute with mozzarella), cover and cook until melted.

Currently reading...

Still reading Joyfully at Home: A Book for Young Ladies of Vision and Hope by Jasmine Baucham. Considering it for our church Book Nook. It's a book I wish I could give to all single, young women. 20-year-old Jasmine writes,

Be joyful. Not because I said so, but because you know [God]. Not because you want to look good to the outside world, but because you're living for him. Not because it's "what you're supposed to do," but because he gives you all the reason you need to live life abundantly. Not for any reason other than because it's what He's called you to do. 

And remember, as you strive to live joyfully at home, the key to serving in that sphere: Philippians 2:1-11. Live it. 

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves ; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The 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.  

A picture to share... 

 The finished baby quilt with a safari theme. Yay!

Learning....

I'm TRYING to learn how to join the ends of binding on a quilt so it's continuous. I had to take out my attempts on this quilt at least ten times. I looked at several videos online and finally found one that explained it ever so well. I surely bookmarked that site!

 
Outside my window...

Forsythia in bloom out by the back fence. 
 

Noticing the sound of...

My Beloved editing Sunday's service for duplication.

Thinking...

About how much My Beloved and I appreciate our pastor and his dear wife, who love seeing God change lives. There is so much that they involve themselves in that most of us have no inkling about. They are truly instruments in the hands of the Redeemer.

Reflecting creativity, in His image...
Spruced up The Book Nook at church for an April look.
 

Looking to the ways of my household...

The rhythm of routine.

This coming week I'm planning to...
See my parents and sisters. Looking forward to the visit.

Thankful for...

God's redeeming grace and the salvation of a young man and his decision to marry his daughter's mother. So grateful for God's rescue of this young family!

From the kitchen....

Sharing the recipe for potato soup that we had yesterday. Nothing like soup on a chilly day. You can add the carrots or leave them out; same with the broccoli and eggs. Add what suits you!

Potato Soup

1 cup water

3 cups diced potatoes

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 chopped onions

1/2 cup chopped broccoli

1 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules (or 1 cube) 

1/2 tsp salt

1.5 cups milk

1 tbsp flour

3 boiled, chopped eggs 

1 cup mozzarella cheese (or American, or whatever you like)

Combine first  9 ingredients in a large pan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. 

Meanwhile, put eggs on to boil.

Combine milk and flour. Mix well.

Add milk mixture to vegetables, stirring until thickened.

Add chopped eggs.  Add cheese and stir until melted. 

Serves 3-4

A thought from my Quiet Time....

Reading through the Reese Chronological Bible about Noah and his sons. It's interesting to me that his sons were over 100 years old when their first children were born--after the Flood. Many others in that time frame had their firstborn in their 30s, but for whatever reason, God waited until after the Flood to send Noah grandchildren. Then they multiplied and replenished the earth. Are you waiting for children or grandchildren? Perhaps God has something very special in store for you further along.

Currently reading...

The Incomparable Christ by J. Oswald Sanders

A brief paragraph to share as he writes on the "Person of Christ":

A strange admixture of dependence and independence was observable in the life of the Master. Although conscious that He had at His disposal every resource, human and divine, He yet craved the solace of human company and sympathy. He exhibited a sublime independence of the praise or censure of the crowd, yet the companionship of His inner circle of friends was warmly appreciated.

You may also enjoy reading what other simple women are saying and doing these days. Just click here to go to The Simple Woman's Daybook site. I'll be posting my journal on Saturdays. Do stop by again.

Finished the Quilt

I finished the baby quilt with a safari theme. I've included some pictures as it progressed. You can see the detail of the fabric better below.

Choosing fabrics

Main blocks

Sashing and borders added

Sandwiched and pinned

Hanging on the wall to decide on a quilting design