Quilting Popcorn

We started a Women's Bible study a few weeks back on the subject of "Change". The word itself is one that strikes fear in me to my very core. 

Why am I afraid of change? Is it because it pushes me out of what's comfortable or because it is something over which I have little to no control? Or, is it both? This subject has been brought front and center and has been dominating my thoughts for days. Comfortable is easy; so, what's wrong with easy? 

Just thinking about all the changes swirling around me every day sent me retreating to what's known and familiar; comfort food for the soul. I loaded up this scrappy coins quilt and pulled out an old favorite panto: "Popcorn". Somehow this seemed just right! How do you deal with all of the inevitable "changes"?

My husband has a Vince Lomabardi quote for almost every situation. He pulled this one out of thin air the other day:

I recall a former Pastor telling us, years ago, that "change is growth and growth is life". We all know what the opposite of life is, which directly implies that failure to change, or accept change, signals death. Perhaps not physical death, but death nonetheless. This week's session took change and the acceptance of change to some uplifting scripture verses and the promise that God is always the same; yesterday, today and tomorrow, He never changes! There's the hope! There's the comfort! Yes, change is inevitable and we each participate in changes every. single. day. I was just talking with a friend a few days ago about all the changes that have occurred in this town where we live over the last four and a half decades. We reminisced about favorite, long-ago closed, fabric stores and restaurants and jobs that we used to have. I suddenly realized that these changes didn't strike fear in my heart; no, not at all. These were changes that happened gradually over time, some were even changes that we'd initiated ourselves. It's only in the looking back that we can see how these changes happened and impacted us. 

I suppose that's where the fear comes in; it's the fear of change happening, fear of the unknown, that heightens alarm. Yet, when change and/or fear is viewed through the lens of God's Holy Word we can clearly see that we're never alone to live in fear. From John 14:27~ "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  And so, fearlessly, I move forward into a ever changing world; and, some days, it just feels good and right to be quilting Popcorn!

Life is Good!

Beauty Shots, Life Here at Home and a Prayer Request

I've got a new spot for quilt beauty shots, the porch; it's perfect, I can set up the stand without dealing with wind, weather and other outdoor hazards. If you've ever tried to set up a quilt for outside photography you know that even the slightest breeze will turn your quilt into a giant sail!

The location is perfect but the time of day wasn't-- I'll need to be careful in the future to make sure the sun is directly overhead and not back-lighting the subject (but, I have to admit that the stained-glass effect with the sun coming in from behind is pretty!). 

This might be one of my very favorite scrappy quilts of all time. The porch was a beehive of activity over the weekend. 

Not only was it the site for meals but for another another Chinese Checkers challenge (with yet another grandson!)...

...but it was also a bedroom for the night! Ever since the porch construction began, Gregory has been begging for a chance to sleep out there! Saturday night was his first chance, he told us that the birds were his alarm clock! So sweet. 

We watched this movie together on Friday night, I was unaware of the Brandon Burlsworth story until seeing this; what an inspiring story! I can recommend it, just know that you'll need Kleenex nearby. 

Sweet Sixteen ~ completely finished at last, measuring 65" X 80". 

Adapting in an upside-down🙃 world: I got my hair cut; (that was cause for celebration!) my dear stylist had advised me to wait in my car when I arrived, I sent her a text and she texted back when it was okay to enter. She met me at the salon door to take my temperature before I was granted entry! Life goes on~ one step at a time; and it's good, it's all good. I've seen plenty of blog posts and social media entries commenting on the state of the world, political and racial unrest, so many that I cannot even count them. You're not going to find that here; I do truly believe that there is good in the world, love and grace exist in abundance and that we have a faithful and loving God who's in control. This blog will continue to chronicle what goes on here, from our little corner of the world, a day at a time; without judgement, bias or political opinion from me-- not now, not ever. Now, a personal favor from me: would you please remember my mother in prayer as she recovers, in the hospital, from pneumonia? Her name is Harriett. She's doing well, praise God, but this is such a difficult time to be hospitalized and to be separated from loved ones, especially from my Dad. Thank you! In the meantime... 

...I'm working on a sundress for Lynnleigh from some super-cute Riley Blake Girl Scout fabric that her Mom  had sent to me; I'm using this pattern. I have made this for her before, this year I've had to go up a size, to a 7-- she's growing (they all are-- much too quickly!).

 I've found a wonderful chocolate chip cookie recipe! Here's the link, it's from Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Table cookbook; it meets my desire for a cookie that doesn't spread too much while baking. It just so happens to be delicious, too; pass the milk! 

  "...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." Titus 3:7-9

Life is Good!

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Hope and Promise

The first bloom of the season in our yard ~ a sure sign of hope and promise for days to come.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."  - Ecclesiates 3:1

Life is Good!

By Wisdom...

Check out this Clover hoop; my new favorite!
With the clamp covered there are no more tangles.

This past summer I finished all the hand embroidery on twelve quilt blocks that I have been working on for a VERY long time. Well, I haven't actually been working on them, which accounts for the number of years that it has taken to get this project moving forward! I believe that I began on these around 2001 and picked them up sporadically. The patterns are by Indygo Junction: "By Wisdom A House Is Built". 

I strayed from the pattern, making mine less primitive. Instead of fraying the edges and using applique I set my blocks into sashed borders. I changed the text font too. After all these many years, and thousands upon thousands of miles in the car (which is where I do my most productive handwork), I had the top set together last month. Each pattern can be finished and bound separately. I liked that look and decided to mimic it with one pieced quilt; inserting 3/4" strips of black (finishing to 1/4") between the blocks. Binding it with black will finish it off nicely and add continuity.

By Wisdom A House Is Built ~ 60" X 64"

It has hung on the design wall ever since; challenging me! How to quilt this? Machine embroidered elements aside, however would I quilt over all that hand embroidery? The patterns suggest very minimal quilting, by hand, in a primitive big-stitch manner. Okay, that wasn't going to happen. Each and every day I studied the quilt and considered options. I considered a panto; maybe I would load it onto Snowbird and thread it up with a monofilament and just go to town. Nah. Then I thought about cross-hatching the entire piece. Nah. A friend suggested channel-quilting it, long parallel lines of quilting over the entire piece. I considered that but rejected that too. I was stumped-- and yet, my mind kept working.

The other night I grabbed a marker and auditioned some quilting lines in the background. I liked what I saw with the whimsical, free flowing shapes. I decided that this might look good with cross-hatched borders. After that, things began to happen! I loaded up the quilt and got to work. Yes, this time I really did begin working in earnest, these blocks have languished long enough! 

Here we go! "By wisdom a house is built", 

by a little determination and some dedicated time-- a quilt is finished!

Life is Good!

 

Overflowing Joy

Lucy Ann's joy cannot be contained; when given a "shaker" filled with glitter how would you react?

Our little angel held hers to the heavens and shook it... Christmas joy, experienced through the eyes of children, is pure and unbridled; thank you, Lucy Ann, for sharing your joy and filling our hearts.

1 Peter 1:8 ~ "... you believe in him and rejoice with an undescribable and glorious joy..."

Life is Good!

Paying Attention!

Does this happen to you?  I made a special trip to the grocery store for two cans of cream of CHICKEN soup; I came home with two cans of cream of CELERY. Mr. Goodneedle will not eat celery, not even anything that hints of the taste of celery. Yes, I needed to make a return trip to the store!  Why did this happen? I wasn't paying attention... I grabbed two cans of what I thought was  what I was after, I was on auto-mode; NOT a good way to operate at all, this only results in causing me to spend more time, more energy, more money. Groan.  It was late, I was tired, I decided to wait until morning for shopping trip number two. I turned off the lights and remembered, after I was already back in the bedroom, that my clean and folded pajamas were still in the laundry room... clear on the other end of the house!  No problem;, I half-ran, half-walked, through the pitch-black house to retrieve them... plowing straight into the corner of our kitchen island. The point of impact was the left side of my abdomen, I literally heard the breath woosh out of my lungs. Wow; I had miscalculated my "flight path" by about a foot. Why did this happen? I wasn't paying attention... again; still operating, this time at full speed, on auto-mode. I got the message loud and clear. I need to pay closer attention... and get a headlamp!

What other areas of my life need my complete and focused attention? 

Distracted action, performed in darkness, is the equivalent of complete inaction.

I've switched off the auto button and turned on a light... I'm all ears, God!

"I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever 

will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible." - 1 Corinthians 7: 35

Life is Good!

Falling Short

Sundance and I have been spending a lot of time together lately, I am determined that, through practice, I will become a better quilter. I gaze at all of the seemingly perfect quilting; amazing workmanship, that is pictured all over the blogosphere and in the quilt shows and exhibitions and am inspired... but, honestly, overwhelmed at the same time. I can't help but feel that I am falling short. Yesterday, as I quilted around yet one more doggie I looked long and hard at the precious bowl that was riding along on the quilt top as I worked. It is lightweight and smooth, a bowl handmade from Maple by my husband; it has become one of my favorite longarm companions as it is the perfect vessel to hold my clipped threads as I work. And yet, although I find it perfect it was rejected by Mr. Goodneedle because of a flaw. It had cracked along one side after he turned it, he repaired the crack but the "patch" bothered him and he set it aside. Now, it's mine! Isn't this what Paul preached to the Romans in chapter 3, verse 23; "since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"... isn't this bowl, flaws and all, just like us? What is true perfection and who is the judge?

Romans 3 verse 24 goes on to say: "they are justified by his grace as a gift"...

It all comes down to grace. I'll continue to work on improving my quilting stitches and on myself,  I have faith that I can get better and a new understanding that my idea of perfection simply isn't attainable. I'll never be perfect, nor will my quilts, and that's okay... there's value there. How do I know?

A little bowl, salvaged by grace, serves to remind me!

Life is Good!

Let Your Light So Shine

  Peggy's Cove Lighthouse ~ Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our  hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

~2 Corinthians 4:6

This passage from scripture was part of our morning devotions today; and from our booklet, Christ In Our Home: "Even the smallest light has the power to destroy darkness and change the world."  -Anna Seden.

Let your light so shine...

Life is Good!

           

No Worries...

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" Matthew- 6:25

I live in a world surrounded by temptation. I shouldn't worry about food or clothing... it's right there, in the book of Matthew. And then, wouldn't you know it, Zaxby's goes and brings back FRIED PICKLES (tasty!) and Life Is Good has added a strawberry T to their Spring line up (cute!). "Be strong" I tell myself, "go back into the closet and close the door, tight!" The clean-up and organization continues, behind a barricade!

Life is Good!