Finished Object Friday

Well, I have to say... It's about time I finished this one!!! It's been at least ten months since I started. Here is the last post I did. I was "almost" finished then! :) I guess one of the good things about FOF is that it encourages me to finish projects! :) I thought it turned out really cute and I had a hard time giving it up:


But, this was my first purse to sell, so that made it a little easier!
I hope Regina is enjoying it, she's had her eye on it since I started! :)

Here's the inside:

It kindof shows the pockets. There are pockets on both sides, one big pocket on one side and two smaller ones on the other.

Another thing that made giving this one up easier is the fact that I REALLY like my purple purse! I am trying to get it lined! I've started and this time I'm taking pictures for a tutorial soon! :)

Oh and here is another little project for your enjoyment... no extra charge!

A Birthday cake for my Sister-in-law, Lauren, who turns 18 tomorrow!!!
The cake isn't totally finished, there are a couple more touches to add. Mom is going to help me with the writing.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

I can't wait to see your projects! For guidelines click here.

What's in your pot?

There are two pots bubbling on my stove...

Here's one:


A nice (though small) pot of beans for supper. It will be great with some rice and cornbread! Such a warm and Southern meal! :)

Here's the other pot:

Ok, I know some yarns are yummy but this is taking it a little too far, don't you think?? :) Actually I am in the midst of felting my purse! I finally got the knitting finished. I would love to have it lined by Friday, but it will need to dry! I know it is easier to felt things in the washing machine, but I never have. I enjoy the process of feeling the fibers felt together. I also finished another purse I started right after last Christmas... it's about time! More on that project Friday.

Hope everyone else's week is off to a good start!

Blessings!


ETA: 3 Hours later... The purse is in the washing machine! :) It was felting but very slowly and because of the looseness of the stitches I wanted it very felted. So after much squeezing of purple and wrinkled fingers and purple fingernails... I succumbed to convenience! :) Oh, and it's looking pretty good now!

Sunday Blessing

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Refrain

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus
By Fanny Crosby
(Complete lyrics here)

I trust everyone has had a good Sunday. We have had a beautiful day here in East Texas! The weather has been beautiful, a clear sunny day and quite warm. A cold front is blowing in this evening, it isn't really bringing in rain, just cooler weather. I don't mind wearing my sweaters and sweatshirts, though! :) Oh and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows, of course! My wonderful hubby even made some of his signature chocolate chip cookies today. I've been enjoying them warm from the oven... yum! Anyone else love fall? :) Our leaves are just now starting to turn and I feel like fall is just beginning.

Blessings

What is your "purse-itude?"

This is a fun little quiz - and surprisingly accurate for me!! (I don't put a lot of faith in these little quizzes, but I was surprised by this one.) So what's your purse-onality? (Bad pun...but I couldn't resist that one!) :)

What Your Handbag Says About You

You tend to be relaxed throughout the day. You are naturally at peace. You are a high maintenance person. You feel lost outside of your normal environment. You are open and comfortable with who you are. You don't hide anything. You are a very creative person. Your life tends to be a whirlwind, but you always seem to pull it together. You are an outgoing and expressive person. You always speak your mind, and you're very approachable. You are a very unique and special person. There's no one else who is anything like you.

What Does Your Handbag Say About You?

**FYI: I am not endorsing the site, I just thought this was a fun little quiz.**

Just a little more on comments...

Ok, last night I had a most brilliant thought... So I asked you to comment to see if the new layout works for you... RIGHT! So if I doesn't work, I didn't have a way to know about it! (My brilliance amazes me sometimes!) Anyway, so I have now added a poll to the right. If you can't comment, you can now let me know! And thanks to all that have replied to my last post!

So a couple of reasons why I am liking the new layout:

1. It opens easily under the post without extra page loading.

2. The subscribe button... how many of you subscribe to posts? I do on most comments I make. That way I know if someone replies to my comment without continually returning to the blog. I also like how you click it to subscribe, and click it again to unsubscribe.


Well, I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Mark is getting some things done outside and I am hoping to get some sewing done as well as cleanup etc...

Until later!

Comments....

I was just wondering how many were having problems commenting? I am trying out the newer commenting method - under the posts. I would appreciate feedback. If it's not working, I'm changing back! :)

(What a way to get comments, right?) :)

Finished Object Friday

Wow, another week already! And only one more week in October! Anyone ready for Christmas? :)

For this Finished Object Friday, I wanted to share more details on this project:

This was the first time I had ever made a diaper cake! I didn't included a lot of little things, but made it more of a classic/fall look. Regina really liked it as you can tell!

In fact, it is now the centerpiece on her table! :)

I started with this tutorial. I had seen some recently at a flea market, and I like the layered look (vs. rolling each diaper and tying individually). I found big file folder rubber bands to hold each layer together (at the grocery store of all places! Wally World didn't have them!) :) This tutorial was helpful in figuring out the layering (see step 11 and the video at the bottom). I then added a couple of fall floral picks - I bent the ends down and just poked them between the diapers. I didn't make the bow, my wonderful mother did!!! She does a great job with those big floral bows - I've barely conquered girls' hairbows! She also made the bow for the corsage and helped me put it together. Here it is (picture taken yesterday - Regina is drying it.)

This also turned out VERY pretty and cost a lot less than buying it at a florist! :)

I can't wait to see what you all have been crafting recently! For guidelines, click here.

Pumpkin Tea Party: The Menu

Amanda asked what was on the menu for the tea party. Thanks, Amanda! I'm glad you brought it up. :) Unfortunately I/Angie didn't think to get many pictures of the food. I tried to set it up cute. (There are a few things we are wishing we got better pictures of. Oh, well.)

Tea Party Menu:
Chicken Salad on rolls
Cornbread Salad
Garden Vegetable Cheese Ball with crackers (above)
Crab and Pasta Salad
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Cookies
Peanut Butter Candy Cookies
Gingerbread Scones

For tea we had
Apple Cinnamon
Very Berry
(Regular) Black Tea
I also had sugar cubes, sugar substitute, and honey sticks for the tea.

Somebody's hungry! :)

This picture shows how I displayed the sandwiches. It is a cake plate on top of a platter. I love the tiered effect! (Thanks, Angie for the picture!)

Pumpkin Tea Party

We had a wonderful time at our Pumpkin Tea Party! :) It was a lot of work, but worth it. All the food was so yummy and we had a very fun time. You saw the invitations here and here. It was so much fun to plan! Maybe after seeing my pictures, you will want to host your own Fall Tea party! :)

Here is the table:

(Oh, and thanks, Angie, for taking some of the pictures!)

The girls even had a table with "kid safe" candle!

Mommy and her Girls!


At the tables...




Instead of playing "shower" games, we decorated pumpkins!
I helped Gracey with hers. :)




Silly Little Girl!! :)


Some finished pumpkins:


The girls got presents too!


Mom and Angie designed and sewed these burp rags - too cute!
(Love Regina's expression!) :)


Opening the gift from me:
(Note- Cherries!) :)


I hope you enjoyed our tea party! Let me know if you decide to host one! :) If you didn't get enough pictures, click here to view the whole online album.

Well, hopefully my internet will stay on for a while, and I can catch up with visiting your blogs. It is aggravating, but also a little break. :) Maybe I get more done with it off... but I miss all my friends! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Blessings!

Sunday Blessing

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

God Will Take Care of You
by Civilla D. Martin
(Link to full song.)

Isn't this song such an encouragement? These old songs have so much truth in them, it's almost like reading a devotional! :)

Sorry this is so late for a Sunday blessing. :) Our wonderful {insert sarcasm!} internet provider has been on the blink since Sunday morning. It was only on for about four hours yesterday - just long enough for me to think "I'll blog a little later" than off before I could do it! I am going to try to get anther post in before it goes off again! I want to share the tea party with you! :)


Blessings!

Finished Object Friday

The following finished object will be going to the intended recipient tomorrow. She doesn't frequent my blog, so I should be safe. However, just in case....

Don't look, Regina!

Ok, back to the regular programming. I finally have a knitting project that I can share! :)

It's a bonnet for my newest "adopted" niece. (at least we are planning on a niece!) It was my first real try at lace knitting and I really enjoyed it! I also loved the pattern and the way it was made. (For you knitters, it's made using the short row technique - like making the heel of a sock. I loved it! No seaming!) I hope you can kind of see the pattern of the stitches. It is the Little Shell Baby Bonnet. It was a fun and quick knit. The ties aren't finished in this picture, but I finished them off with a single crochet chain. It was a lot faster this way than in I-cord! For you Ravelers out there, here is the link to the project page.

Baby is due November 4, and we are all anxiously awaiting her arrival! :) Gracey is getting excited, but Faithie doesn't have a clue yet... she will, though! :)

So what have you been up to in the craft world? :) Join in and let us see your projects! Guidelines here.

Yum, Yum, Yum...

Hmm... is your mouth watering yet? Cause mine sure is! Wow!
This is a perfect sandwich for fall and there is just something about the flavor!

First, the ingredients:

• Rye Bread
• Turkey pastrami
• Swiss Cheese
• Sauerkraut
• Butter and
• Miracle Whip (or other condiment of your choice)

Build your Sandwich:


Butter both slices of bread and put the Miracle Whip on the other side of one slice. Layer pastrami, cheese then sauerkraut.


Grill until golden on both sides, and the cheese is melted.



Then serve!

I didn't think I was hungry, but I think I am after this post! I know not everyone is a fan of sauerkraut (Mark isn't) but you might like it in this recipe! It's great in this sandwich. I ate mine with some salad but a yummy soup would be good too. Any suggestions?? :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Blessings!

My Little Soapbox

Politics isn't a subject that I frequently discuss on my blog. I'm not a big political junkie, but this upcoming election has me concerned. Some of you may have noticed the new "sticker" on my sidebar. I'm sure I don't agree with Sen. McCain on every issue, but he is the one most likely to win that agrees most with what we (Mark and I) believe in and stand for. His main opponent, what he stands for and is involved in, is not who I want leading the country. Quite frankly, he frightens me. (FYI, I'm not stating his name in an attempt to keep out of search radars.) However, I do know whatever happens in Nov. is in God's control.

One of the main reasons I choose to support McCain is his answer to this question:

Without hesitation, McCain acknowledged that human rights begin at conception.

I also think Sarah Palin is a great choice for VP. I was a little hesitant at first, and still have a few reservations - not from her qualifications - but from the fact that she is wife and mother. This post by Sheila at To Love Honor and Vacuum really helped me in how I saw Palin. (If you have time, it's well worth the read!) Sometimes God chooses to put women in authority, especially when the men aren't capable or won't stand up for right. Just look at Deborah in the Bible. It's also great to see a lady in her position, acting like a lady! :)

Then there is this video of Palin speaking:

There are the world’s standards of perfection … and then there are God’s, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake. (Emphasis mine.) WOW! I love how she puts this!

As I have gotten older and have gained some "life experience," the more important every human life becomes to me. I don't understand how anyone could take the life of an innocent child.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139: 13-14

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Well, those are a few of my thoughts. I hope you are encouraged to vote your conscience come November, or before for you early voters! I am not telling anyone how to vote, just stating where I stand. You are welcome to leave your thoughts below, please be respectful. (I'm not concerned about my regular readers, only those that are looking for controversy.) :)

Come back tomorrow for regular, non-political posting! :) ...a yummy recipe - my mouth is watering already. Maybe I need to make a trip to the grocery store for ingredients! :)

Blessings!

Sunday Blessing

I never said that I would give you silver or gold
Or that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the cold
But I did say you'd never walk thru this world alone
And I did say don't make this world your home

I never said that fear wouldn't find you in the night
Or that loneliness was something you'd never have to fight
But I did say I'd be right there by your side
And I did say I'll always help you fight

'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keep
My grace will be sufficient in every time of need
My love will be the anchor that you can hold on to
This is the promise, this is the promise I've made to you.

From: The Promise
From The Martins album Above It All

Angie, Regina and I sang this song this morning in church. I know it isn't an old hymn, but the words really speak to my heart and I know that many of you will enjoy it as well. (I hope the audio works for you - it's the first time I've tried to embed this player.)

I hope everyone has had a good weekend/ week beginning. (Sunday is actually the first day of the week! :) I don't like lumping it in with the rest of the "weekend." ) I am looking forward to a good and very busy week!

Blessings!

Finished Object Friday

I hope everyone has had a great week! I have accomplished quite a few things around the house - including a detail job on my kitchen counters - the Home Sanctuary small thing on Wednesday (the counters, not the detail, I added that part!) :) If you haven't joined in on the Company Girls hop over and take a look. It is such an encouragement! and sometimes just the boost I need to get some things done!

Another item on my to do list was to finish sending the invitations for the "Welcome Baby Tea Party." (I'm hoping we can have the tea party before the baby comes, but it may be after!) :) I know I already posted one invitation here, but I didn't want to combine my meme with Kelli's. The invitations are also my F.O.F. As I said before, each one turned out different. I finished the insides on Saturday. They are cute inside as well, with bits of pretty paper and the party info cut out with pretty scissors and edged in gold ink.

So what have you been "crafting" lately? :) Share your projects below. For guidelines click here.

(Coming next week: a knitting project - finally one I will be able to share!) :)

Invitations

I am hosting a "Welcome Baby Tea Party" at my home a week from Saturday. My good friend, Regina, is due to deliver baby in early November, but I wouldn't be too surprised if she came earlier! I don't do a lot of paper crafts, as you all know, but I do like to make cards. I've made invitations for all three baby showers that I've hosted (this is the third, even though I'm not calling it a "shower.") :) I used to scrapbook quite a bit, but kindof just tapered off - now I knit! :)

SOo.... Here is one of the cards I made. Each one turned out a little different. (Check back to see a couple more - coming a little later this evening!) I've been wanting to join in to Kelli's paper craft meme since I knew I would be making the invitations. My designs are loosely based on some of her beautiful cards.

I don't know if you can tell or not, but this ribbon has fall leaves printed on it in gold. So cute! I had fun making the cards, as you can tell. Be sure to see Kelli's blog for more paper crafts! - and maybe spend a little time looking around! She has a beautiful blog!

Domesticating

My days have been so full recently, running here and there. I haven't really had time to putter around the house the way I like to every now and then. In general, I savor my times at home. As you know, I enjoy "wifey" things like sewing, baking, crafting, decorating and (sometime) cleaning. I like it when our home is in order, and Mark appreciates it as well! :) So today I have really enjoyed my time "domesticating."

I did a little decorating:

I added little lights to my fall mantle decorations. I love the warmth they add to the room!

I also did some baking and took a little time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
A cup of tea, warm pumpkin cookies (recipe here) and a good book.

The cookies are very good, they aren't supper sweet and kind of remind me of a scone. I bought the tea cup for a dollar at a flea market Friday along with several other glass dishes that I collect. The fabric is for some fall napkins that I hope to get made before fall is over! :) Oh, and the spoon is for my mother-in-law for her birthday. SHHH! :) It's so cute though, I may have to buy me one! :)

Now I'm off to finish the rest of my to-do list... laundry etc...

Happy Monday!!!

This and That...

Well... there are a few recent events that I have been wanting to share. Lots of pictures!!

First from last Sunday:

Gracey was sooo excited to open her gift and find "her own apron."

"My own apron!!"
(She said this over and over.)


Here she is with the cake I made her.


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Then from our trip to the local fair. I really enjoyed all the animals this time. There was a petting zoo there with some animals I'd never "met" before.

I love this fella's "fur."

It's an alpaca. Quite a friendly fella... well, he wasn't mean - he was eating! :)
I used a blend of alpaca for Mark's hat. It is very soft!

Then there was this cute little Aussie friend:

It's a wallaby! So cute and just a baby.
We found out that she won't get a pouch until she becomes a mommy.

I'd never been this close to a deer. They had two fawns. Has anyone ever seen a dark colored one like this?

Oh, yes... and he took a liking to my skirt! YUCK! :)

This rabbit was my favorite. I love the coloring! (They were bringing the rabbits in for judging.)


Well, there are a few more, but there is already a ton of pictures on this post. And you can enjoy them as much as I did in person. I enjoy animals so much. I guess I really miss interacting with one on a regular basis. **sniff**

I hope everyone's week is off to a good start!
Blessings!