Motivated!!

I headed back into my sewing room to see what else I could do for the day.  And here's what I got done.  An embroidered t-shirt for my granddaughter June.  She will look so cute in this.  But I'll have to get the one done for my grandson Grayson too.  I can't give to just one.

I'm able to now remove another item from my August Bucket List.  I still have quite a few left to get done this week but I'm getting closer. 

My bucket list for August --

Finish pink flowered top

Make bed caddy

Finish Advent Calendar

Make pink lemonade cupcakes

Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page

Do journaling for 6 scrapbook pages completed

Grayson's car stack embroidered t-shirt

June's dragonfly stack embroidered t-shrit

Make spice cake balls

My clothesline flip-flop t-shirt

Make taco cups

Completed --- Finally!

Thank You, Lord, for restoring my soul and my life, and for leading me

 in the way that is right for me.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I have finally completed my pink top!!  After all the challenges I've had I got it finished.  I think it turned out rather well too.

The neckline gaped open somewhat so I did tack that together.  I love the flattering way cross over bodices are but don't like the way they gape and shows everything. Others don't need to know what I don't have. :)  It's a simple top and a simple pattern but the way my sewing machine acted wasn't so simple. 

 I'm feeling quite accomplished and am ready to get back into my craft room and start on another project.  I don't think I'll get my August Bucket List complete but it's amazing how when I get one project finished it motivates me to get working on another.  Right now I've got quite a few projects on my Christmas list and need to get started on them.   I also have a baby shower coming up for a friend who is having her first baby.  I want something special for that.  I was thinking about a baby album and a quilt.  I'll have to get my behind in gear.

My daughter, Laura & I are attending a scrapbooking crop in September and the theme is Pajama Party - it's the groups 4th birthday so it's a celebration event.  Laura has already requested that I embroider us matching t-shirts with a scrapbooking theme on them.  She wants her t-shirt in purple and I'll do mine in pink.

The Sewing Expo will be here the first week of October and I can't wait for that.  Even though the last couple of years (although I didn't go last year) hasn't had the vendor variety that I've seen in the past I keep going cause that may change.  Laura has already bought the tickets for us.  It's my birthday present to myself. 

 I saw on Embroidery Library a submittal that a customer sent in of where she had made outfits for her granddaughters.  The customer used a "stacked" design on fleece pants & top.  A stacked design is where there are usually three items sitting on top of each other.  What caught my eye was that she put the whole design, I think she used elephants, on one of the legs of the pants then "pulled" one of the elephants out of the stack and embroidered off center close to the hem of the top.  I thought that was the cutest idea.  So yesterday since I was tired and just didn't feel like doing a whole lot I spent a good part of my day playing around with the embroidery software I have.  I've owned it for many years but haven't taken the time to learn it. I have Digitize 'n Stitch & Edit 'n Stitch 2.0.  Both are so easy to use and I figured out how to do the exact same idea that the customer did.  I want to make PJ's for my grandchildren so I'm going to use her idea.  I'll make flannel pants and put the whole stack on the leg and buy blank t-shirts and put part of the design on it.  I may even make a few fleece outfits too. The possibilities are now endless.  Sew many projects, Sew little time.



It's a tough life . . .

Lord, flow through me and help me be aware of the needs around me that I can meet.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

. . . but somebody's got to live it.

This is Sweet Pea's favorite past-time.  Laying out on the balcony soaking up the sun.  Yes, he is a cat. Not a dog in a cat suit although he is the size of a medium dog.  Probably weighs in around 25 pounds but he's pretty solid.  The funny part is Sweet Pea acts like a dog.  Sits up on his hind legs and will take a treat out of your hand.  Rolls over on his back for anyone who comes in the door to scratch his belly.  Sweet Pea doesn't care if he's never seen the person before -- they got two hands that as far as he's concerned should be rubbing his tummy.  And he's not above flopping down and giving the "pitiful me" look to make that happen. He has no pride.  I am glad that he really isn't a lap cat although at times he feels the need to lay on my chest when I'm relaxing and watching tv.  A time or two I thought I heard a rib crack. Lol.



And Another Challenge . . .

With God's help, I will embrace every new thing He brings into my life.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

Here's my new challenge with getting my top done -- my sewing machine is still messing up.  I just got it back from the repair shop about 2 weeks ago.  After sewing for a short time the top thread gets caught in the "finger" that's in the bobbin area.  So I did my own repair --  

 -- I put a piece of tape over the "finger" and so far that's working for me.  I just want to be able to put the two button holes that are in the front then I'll use my other machine.  It doesn't do button holes as nicely as this machine. Wish me luck!

Well, the tape over the finger is working.  However, because the machine messed up stitching the first button hole, when I restitched the buttonhole the front didn't look good.  Luckily, I had extra fabric and re-cut that piece.  I'm going to do the front different and leave off the buttonholes.  They're just for decoration.  The ribbon loops through and ties in the front.  I think I'm just going to tie a bow and tack it to the front.  A lot simpler.  I am disappointed that I had to use the rest of the fabric.  I was going to use that to make a cute top for my granddaughter.  But being a long time sewer I'll just head to my stash and find another cute piece of fabric. :)   

So the make shift fix has continued to work and I've gotten my pink top almost done.  All I have left is to create a casing for the elastic around the bodice and attach the ribbon to the front.  Whew!! I didn't think I'd even get this far.  It does look quite shapeless at the moment. I do hope the elastic will give it some definition.  I don't want to look like I'm wearing a pink potato sack.

 

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Lord, help me to be especially kind and gracious to those who are different than I am.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I've not sat back down to my sewing machine since last Wednesday when I had the twisted armhole challenge.  I'm heading that way next to see what I can accomplish and to listen to my audiobook "Threadbare - A Needlecraft Mystery" by Monica Ferris.  Nothing like a good book to keep me focused on my project.  But then again, I was listening to this book when I twisted up the armhole.  Hmmm . . . Note to self - pay closer attention to what I'm doing when listening to book.  Ok, I'm good.

Today I got the nerve up and attended my first ever MeetUp.com event.  It was a photography event called "Let's Talk Photography" that explained more about Infrared Photography.  I really enjoyed it and plan on attending more.  Next weekend is the photo shoot that corresponds with this meeting.  I'm looking forward to that.  I was really surprised what all can be done when shooting with infrared and how a photo can be manipulated in software to really give great pictures.  I'm excited about trying this out. 

Wisdom.

What is wisdom saying to you today? Are you willing to follow it?

Living Out Lout -- Joyce Meyer

I don't know about anyone else but sometimes, ok most of the times, it's hard to do "the right thing" especially if it's not what I want to do.  But I find that if I do what I know in my heart I should, later I do feel better about my decision and the results I get are so much better.  It's just remembering that when decision making time is here.  Maybe a post-it on my forehead would do the trick? No, I'd either loose the post-it or not look in the mirror to remind me.  So I'll just keep trying and with the Lord's help, I'll get better and better at it.  :)

Another Challenge . .

Tonight I went to work on stitching the bodice together.  My plan was to get both sides stitched, and pressed then the armholes and neckline top-stitched.  The bodice had other plans.  After I stitched one side together and I went to press it, I found I had this.

Hmmm. Not quite what I had in mind.  This bodice really has a mind of it's own.  So I was back to ripping the side seam out and restitching.  This time I made sure I didn't somehow get twisted up in the armhole.  So now I have one side stitched and pressed.  The top-stitching will come later.

Tomorrow night the adventure will continue when I attempt to get the other side completed.  I'm hoping once I get the bodice done the bottom will go quicker however for such a simple top, this one is causing me quite a few challenges.  I thought the pattern would be a quick and fast project.  That's what I get for thinking. 

Tune in tomorrow for more of the continuing saga of the pink top.  :)

Well I had a challenge . . .

Have I been frustrating the grace of God that is available?  Relax, receive it and let God's grace do for me what I cannot do for myself.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I'm making a real simple top that has a cross over front and empire waist, something I thought I could get done in a couple of sewing sessions  I think it's a New Look pattern. I had already cut out all the pink fabric when I realized that it was see through.  Ok, that's no big deal, I'll just add a lining to it.  The pattern has gathered cap sleeves that are 1/2 way around the arm hole. The pattern shows a bias binding around the neckline and sleeves but the lining will give a much nicer finish to the edges.  So last night I stitch together the bodice and lining and atttached the two together and went to turn it. But the more I tried to turn right side out the more of a knot I tied my creation in.  Now I know this should work - it's how lined vests are done.  I decided to put it down and work on it later. I mulled over the situation in the back of my mind all day today with no result.  On the way home a friend call me - a sewing friend.   The first question she asks me was if I like my new embroidery machine.  I'd  gotten a Brother PE-770 that has a 5 x 7 stitching area several weeks ago.  I had to admit that it is still in the box but I have moved the box from inside my door to my sewing room so I am making progress. Then we started chit chatting about what project she's completed -- a fashion forward Vogue dress made out of a nice knit that will look great on her daughter.  I admire her bravery of working with knits, I still shy away from them even though I've been sewing for almost 30 yerars. I then brought up the dilemma I'm having with my bodice & the turning fiasco and what do you know -- the Lord provided me the answer.  Debbie reminded me that the side seams can't be sewn until after turning.  So today when I got home I went to work ripping out the side seams of the bodice & lining.  Geez, I forgot how much trouble removing serged seams are.  I never seem to find the "magic" thread that just unravels it all.  Once I accomplished this, the bodice turn like a charm. The Lord cares about the small things too. :)  I didn't get to resew the side seams and press it.  That's tomorrow night's session.  But I will say that the lining give the bodice a very nice finished look.  I'll post pics after I sew the side seams & it's pressed.  Having sewing friends is such a blessing.. 

Orange Frosting? So Good!

Well, I didn't get to work on my bucket list today.  Since I was completely lazy yesterday - recouping from the week today was spent getting my cleaning done, laundry and having to catch up on work.  But I did get to fit some extra stuff in.  I baked blueberry bread and I tried the new Ducan Hines Frosting Creations.  I baked a yellow cake and used the orange frosting.  It's not the prettiest cake I've made but it sure is good. The one thing I did find was that the directions said to add the flavoring to the container with the frosting and mix it up.  I found that mixing the flavor in that way didn't work too well so I put it into a bowl and that worked better.  I also had to add some extra confectioner's sugar cause the frosting was kind of runny.  Once I had that taken care of all went well.   I'm going to be trying some more of these.  I was thinking chocolate cake with white chocolate raspberry frosting.  Sounds like an interesting combination.  I'll let you know how that works.

Hetic week . . .

Thank You, Lord, for creating me to be different from everyone else and for making me special on purpose!

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I've really not been able to work on any projects this week or even post this week other than Monday morning.  The week started out as a regular week until mid-morning on Monday.  Around 11am I was asked if I would go home & then come back that night at 6pm and work night shift.  That gave me about 3 hours sleep in about a 30 hour time frame.  So Tuesday I was basically comatose.  Then Wednesday is my work from home day but that got interrupted. Around 1130am I was asked to come to work and be out in the field.  Where I was sent was a good 2 hours away and by the time I got there the contractor was almost finished because of restrictions on the road.  Thursday and Friday I was back out to the same location.  During the week I've been dragging since I didn't recover from the Monday fiasco,.  I still feel as if I have lead in my behind right now and I went to sleep last night around 7pm.  I switched from the contractor side of construction to inspecting side so I didn't have to do these schedule flip-flops!  I am going to have to do some work this weekend to catch up on my responsibilities since I was covering for someone else but I get to do that from home so it's all good. Ok I'm done venting.  I'm really not complaining because I do love my job.  We must be able to go with the flow and take the good with the "bad".  And my "bad" really isn't bad.  :)  

I'm working on getting the lead out and I'm going to start working on my project list.  It's already the end of the second week of August and I've not gotten any of my "bucket list" done.  I need to get a move on or I won't have even one project done.  Life sure can get in the way sometimes but it's preferable to the alternative.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Lord, I commit to continually asking, seeking and knocking.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I have been listening to an audiobook call "Friday Night Knitting Club". I don't remember who the author is but there is a website of walkeranddaughter.com.  It's a wonderful book.  Every time I listen to it on my way to and from work I would end up with the desire to pick up a set of knitting needles and give it a go.  I have done some hand knitting but not a lot.  I did end up grabbing my needles this weekend and start with my test swatch.  My thought was I'd start with a small project such as a dish cloth.  Let's just say that I'll need to practice on several test sections before I even get close to being proficient enough to start that dish cloth.  Oh well, that gives me something to do when watching the my favorite tv shows.  I know this isn't on my list of projects for the month but that's ok.  It's my list to make & change as I want. :)

Lord, help me not to disregard or compete with others in an effort to be number one. I pray for opportunities to show love to others by helping others get ahead and reach their goals in life.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I found the blog site "Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog" last night.  She had an interesting article called "The Embroiderer's Bucket List".  What caught my attention was the statment she made -- "You’ll find if you write it down, you’re apt to tackle some of those easy-to-put-off complicated embroidery projects. And once you do, you’ll probably discover that they were way easier than you imagined."  What a great idea that is.  So I decided to create my own bucket list but it's going to contain not just the embroidery projects I want to do but other type of projects as well. 

My bucket list for August --

1. Finish pink flowered top
2. Make bed caddy
3. Finish Advent Calendar
4. Make pink lemonade cupcakes
5. Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page
6. Do journaling for 6 scrapbook pages completed
7. Grayson's car stack embroidered t-shirt
8. June's dragonfly stack embroidered t-shrit
9. Make spice cake balls
10. My clothesline flip-flop t-shirt
11. Make taco cups

I'm keeping my list short so I don't get overwhelmed.  I tend to "bite off more than I can chew" and make a long list then feel bad when I don't complete it.  Any projects I don't complete this month will roll over to next month. Of course I always have more projects I want to do so I won't have any problems coming up with another list for September. I think that list will consist mostly of the projects I want to do as Christmas gifts.  So I'm off to start working on my bucket list. I'll let you know how it goes.

The lightbulb popped on . . .

Lord, I declare that I love myself because You love me.  The more I love myself, the more I can love others.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyers

I've not written for the last several days simply because this week has been tiring - but in a good way.  Monday through Wednesday I was out in the field on a asphalt project.  Since for the last year I've been working on a construction project or in the residency and have basically had set hours, working 10 to 12 hours a day then making my over an hour drive home (thank God for audiobooks) was a shock to my system.  Sleeping hasn't been an issue for me this week.  Then yesterday was spent in the office playing catch up on all the work that I wasn't able to do while not in the office.  But I love what I do so it's no hardship - God blessed me with a wonderful job and I thank Him for it everyday.

Yesterday morning I was doing my usual - drinking my tea and writing in my journal.  Usually that's when I have my "Ah Ha" moments.  The last month or so I've had several conversations with different people I know about being alone and doing things on my own. The audiobook I started listening to turned out to be about single women who live in NYC and doing things on their own.  When God is trying to get His point across, He doesn't mess around.   I've got a list that I made of things I want to go do by myself.  I've had the list for years and haven't done anything with it but add too it.  I've been waiting to get "brave" enough to take the plunge.  So far bravery hasn't been  knocking on my door.  Although I didn't realize it, I've really been waiting to meet someone "special" and go do these things with. 

Yesterday the light bulb over my head went off and it almost blinded me.  The Lord revealed to me that I'm in my current situation because He wants me to become comfortable being alone, to get to know myself, fall in love with myself (not in a selfish way), to enjoy my own company and go and do the things I like on my own.  That I don't need to have bravery knock on my door, He's already given me the strength to do it.  The Lord showed me that by my learning the above  I will become stronger in who I am and in my faith.  That I will no longer do what I've done in the past which is to compromise the things that are important to me -- such as my belief and faith -- to keep peace in my relationship because I'm afraid I won't have anyone to do things with and not have someone to keep me company.  To learn that I can enjoy being alone in all areas of my life with Him as the best company that I can have. Learning these things will help me not to stay in a relationship long after I should be gone because I won't have the fear of being alone. The Lord showed me that I will have difficulty maintaining any relationship until I have overcome the fear I have.  However, I will say there are many aspects to being single that I already do love and enjoy -- not having to fight over the remote to the tv is one.  :) 

So anyway,  I'm going to start with baby steps and do some small things on my own.  Stuff close to home to begin with.  There's several parks close by that have trails. I think I may start by going to one of those and doing some hiking.  Or maybe go berry picking so I can make some jam.  I'm sure if anyone does read this will think that I'm such a baby for not being able to do things by myself but since I've never really been completely alone, it's new to me.  I don't want my life to consist of the only time I go do anything is when I go to work or do my household errands.  I want to live and enjoy life.  I want to become one of the confident women I see who feel the fear and do it anyway.  I heard a saying once that you can eat an elephant one bite at a time -- being afraid to go out & do things by myself is my elephant and it's time I start eating.

Something to think about . . .

There is a difference in a person's "who" and their "do".  God may not always be happy with what you do, but He is always pleased with who you are.  Remember, God always loves your "who" even when your "do" could use some improvement. 

Love Out Loud - Joyce Meyer