Finished Object Friday

I guess it's been a whole week since I blogged... oh, well. The inspiration has been here but the energy wasn't. I won't apologize, since I don't think bloggers should feel "obligated" but I do like to keep my readers happy! :) Anyway, on to todays FOF!

I have been meaning to make this for a while, but haven't done much sewing recently. It doesn't feel like things have slowed much since Christmas! However, this project probably took me a little over an hour to complete, from cutting out the pieces to sewing. Hmm... maybe I'll do another soon! :)

This apron is for my Grandma in Idaho. She is an awesome cook and made me some of my first aprons! Her birthday is Saturday... Happy Birthday, Grandma!! However, I hope she opens her gift before she sees this post! :) The print is of the state birds and flowers. Her state is front and center!

Grandma loves her bluebirds! I loved how Idaho was at just the right spot!!

The pockets are Idaho on one side and Texas on the other.

(The bluebonnets are a little purple, but oh, well...)

The pattern is based on this original apron I got as a gift last year. It is one of my favorites and I used it as a pattern for this apron as well. I'm not a very picky seamstress. I just lay the apron on my fabric and cut around it! :)

Here's an extra little FOF, just for kicks and giggles!

Cute, huh? When Angie was a baby, Mom made her ziplock bows. I've had this ribbon for a while to make one for Hope, and it just matched her outfit today. (I babysat all three girls! We had a lot of fun.) :) I think she likes her "big girl" bow! What do you think? :)

To make: Just cut the zipper - about an inch or so - off a ziplock baggie and hotglue the bow on. Easy Peasy and so quick! It probably took me five minutes max. It stays in well too.

Well, that's all for today! Hey, it's something other than knitting! :) Hopefully you weren't too tired of knitting though. More on that next week... probably.

We'd love to see what you are working on! Here are the guidelines. (One small housekeeping issue: The guidelines ask that you link to your particular FOF post. This is to help with past FOFs so the link will go right to your FOF post not to the main blog where it may be a page or two down. Directions are in the guidelines. I will be going through and relinking so if your name is in a different place, that's why.) :)

Finished Object Friday

More knitting.... I hope no one minds! I haven't done much "crafting" recently other than the knitting for some reason. I have a couple of sewing projects in the works though. Anyway, this is another Christmas gift... I hope she is enjoying them!! :)





Here's the pattern. It was an easy knit... I thought they were going to be really big, but washing helped them a lot. It was fun seeing them take shape. Oh, and they have a name: Sugar Plum Slippers! :)

ETA: Pattern link fixed :) (I'm not endorsing the site and content, just the pattern.)

We would love to see some of your crafty items! Care to join in? Guidelines can be found here.

Show and Tell: Teapot

It's been a while since I participated in Kelly's Show and Tell. She always has such lovely things to share! I wanted to share the teapot I bought recently:

Here's a close-up of the lid:

A close-up of the front:

I love the candle, teapot and old book!!

I found it in a Christmas clearance section at a wonderful little kitchen shop in a nearby town. I think it looks very wintery, not just Christmas, don't you? :) (For my regular readers, I know I just posted this... I wanted to share it separately for Show and Tell. Thanks for being patient! And check back soon for Finished Object Friday!)

Blessings!

Deals and "Steals"

First let me say that I am not a big "shopper," but I do like to find deals - like finding things for a fraction of the cost! :) So I just wanted to share a few "fun" recent bargains with you. (Something a little more lighthearted after my more serious previous post.)

Remember these shoes? Well, I had been keeping my eyes open for a good deal on a purse to match. Saturday while shopping area thrift stores with Mary, my sis-in-law, I found this:

It works, don't you think? And it still had the original designer price tag!

Then today while shopping with a friend, I fell in love with this:

Isn't it beautiful? Here's the lid:

It was 75% off in the Christmas section, but I think it looks like a winter teapot to me!

Oh, and this wasn't on sale, but it didn't cost much, and really did you think I could resist it???

It probably should say "My first love is cherries" but chocolate works too! :)

Well, I hope you enjoyed looking at my bargains! I've also found some great clothes at thrift shops and on clearance. You'll probably see those now and again in some pictures! :) I do love a good bargain!

Happy Wednesday!!

Proud to be American

Today marks a new era for the United States of America. A new president is being inaugurated, and the former president will step down. I want to thank President Bush for all his hard work and for his leadership in the past eight years.

Today should not be the "first time" we are proud to be American, nor should yesterday be the last. Even though many of us may not be pleased with the outcome of November 4th, we can still be patriotic and have pride in our nation. Our patriotism should not be based on the color of someone's skin, but because of the freedoms we all hold dear. We can have pride that we live in a nation that is founded on the fact that all are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Declaration of Independence)

We can have pride in what our nation was founded on - principals of justice, freedom and liberty. We can be proud of our founding fathers: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, the list can go on and on. We can be proud that our nation has a Biblical background -several of the first colonies were founded by those seeking religious freedom... and they found it.

We can be proud of our freedoms. We have the freedom to choose our own leaders through the ballot box. We have the freedom enterprise, earning a living in the best way we can. We have the freedom to spend (most) of our money as we see fit. We have freedom from hunger and want. We have the freedom to speak (and write) what we want. But most of all we have the freedom to worship as we choose. We have freedom to pray and to have a church where we can gather with others. We still have these freedoms.

We can be proud of our military. We can be proud of our veterans. Both of my grandfathers were veterans and served overseas. They were honored to serve their country and I am honored to be related to them. (And I miss them both!) I am also proud to personally know several that serve in our armed forces family and friends, a few of which are currently serving overseas. These men and women are sacrificing much to ensure that we as a nation are secure and safe.

In our pride we must remember. Remember to keep patriotism alive in ourselves and to pass it on to our children. We won’t agree with everything happening in our country. Some things are absolutely appalling, especially the lack of respect for human life. It isn’t popular in some circles to be “patriotic,” but it is something we must hold on to. Without patriotism, a nation will fall.

We must remember our responsibilities. We should take our duties as citizens seriously. Voting is a very important task of every citizen and we should not shirk it. We have the duty to respect the offices of those who have been elected whether or not we agree with their platform.

We must remember to pray for our leaders, our most important responsibility. God has commanded it in His Word. We can pray that they will make wise decisions - decisions that are in agreement with the Bible. God directs the hearts of leaders, just as He directs the flow of rivers. Nothing is out of His control. We can remember that no matter what, God is above all. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, (and President of presidents!) Nothing takes God by surprise.

God Bless America!




Image Sources:
Washington
Freedom to Worship
Girl with Flag
Pledge of Allegiance