Thursday, Tea, and Tidbits

Elisabeth Elliot writes in her book, Let Me Be a Woman:

"The way you keep house, the way you organize your time, the care you take in your personal appearance, the things you spend your money on all speak loudly about what you believe. 'The beauty of Thy peace' shines forth in an ordered life. A disordered life speaks loudly of disorder in the soul." emphasis mine

I ask myself: What do I believe about God? about myself? about my circumstances? about my future? It shows in my daily life, whether I want it to or not.

My sister shared the following a couple weeks ago and I found it to be most helpful to be reminded of Truth:

Kids don't have to turn out like their parents... and I'm glad.
Our past doesn't have to be our future... and I'm glad.
God's mercies are new every single morning... and I'm glad about that.
The evil one will NOT get the last say.. And I'm glad about that.
Our enemy will fall into the trap that he set for us... and I'm glad about that.
For all those who love God and are called according to His purpose, everything has to work out for our good... and I'm glad about that.
We have not out-sinned Christ's ability to forgive us... and I am glad about that.
Christ will come back and He will claim His kingdom... and I am glad about that.
There is a world coming that will have no more bad news, no more crying, no more sickness, no more death... and I am glad about that.
The last enemy Christ will slay is death... and I am glad.
Psalm 126:3, "The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad."
 

(Beth Moore, Passion 2013)

 

 

 

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you

free." John 8:32

 

What to do When it Rains

 

My stash of scrap fabric is overwhelmingly full. It's overflowing and piling quite high that I'm surprised the fabrics haven't fallen over. But what does one do when quilting is practically a foreign word to this seamstress? I even found a bag of organic cotton batting in the closet.

 

Cutting a few strips of some fabrics near the top of the pile, I cut 8 uniform ones and sewed four together making two squares. I used these as a pattern to cut out square pieces from some of that batting. Using the old standby of "right sides together," a few stitches, turning it right side out all I had to do was some top stitching and some fake "quilting lines," and out came a pot holder. 

It's not perfect. But I'm not worried. I mean, when was the last time you looked at your neighbors potholder to see how perfect it was?

Exactly my point.

I may make up a few more of these to take with me this fall when I set up housekeeping with a few of my college friends. They're easy and simple to make on a rainy morning, and not to mention useful.

The rain is gone and the first few lines of William Wordsworth's "Resolution and Independence" befit the afternoon:

There was a roaring in the wind all night;
The rain came heavily and fell in floods;
But now the sun is rising calm and bright;
The birds are singing in the distant woods;
Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods;
The Jay makes answer as the Magpie chatters;
And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters.


All things that love the sun are out of doors;
The sky rejoices in the morning's birth;
The grass is bright with rain-drops;--on the moors
The hare is running races in her mirth;
And with her feet she from the plashy earth
Raises a mist, that, glittering in the sun,
Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run.

A "love-hate" relationship

Today I am in the sewing room working with the most dreadful and horrid of fabrics you can imagine. Even the lady at the fabric store, who was cutting the ivory silky stuff (don't recall the name, but I'll find out what it is) cautioned me of it's atrocious nature.

Despite the crumminess, they are indeed pretty! Already mentioning the light colored fabric (and I paid dearly for it!) I got away with a steal of only paying a dollar or two for the vintage print. I'm not sure if it's rayon or not, but it sort of feels like it. When I washed it though, it didn't shrink much; for which I was very glad since it was 35" from selvage to selvage.

Here's hoping the final results will be worth it!

When working with such materials, it makes me oh-so-happy to sew with cotton. In fact, my wardrobe use to consist entirely of cottons for awhile. One spring we girls and Mother-dear made matching blue calico dresses to wear on Mother's Day. But that's not all. Our friends had the exact same print made up into dresses. Imagine the fun 10 women and girls had walking into church with matching dresses. ;) We probably have pictures somewhere, that should probably stay right where they are. Haha! While the dresses are long gone, it's the memory of them that made me smile when I made up a Gracie apron yesterday using that exact same fabric.

The color reminds me of the blue flax that grows on the wild prairies of Colorado, hence its name: Blue Flax

Thursday, Tea, & Tidbits

There is great hope that energy will return, and sitting down at a sewing machine won't sound so overwhelming. Until then, I've decided to make use of my Thursday's during the summer months by making a weekly blog series of encouraging thoughts and tidbits that have come my way over the course of the week.

 

Go ahead and fix yourself a cup of tea or coffee if you like. I was going to brew some chamomile tea and then realized I was out, so I used up my last tea bag of Aveda's Comforting tea.

 



 

The following comes from a vintage copy of "Springs in the Valley" by Mrs. C. E. Cowman. Yes, it's the same woman who compiled "Streams in the Desert." I never new she had another book until I was roaming the shelves of our local thrift store last year and quickly picked up the blue hardbound copy for a couple of dollars. It has dog-eared pages; something I was taught to n.e.v.e.r do. But somehow I don't find it detestable, but rather convenient to find pages that were once helpful and encouraging to "Mr and Mrs. Orvin Himelick from Ira and Bertha, Christmas 1946" according to the handwriting on the inside.

 

"When ye pray, say . . . Father." (Luke 11:2)



It is strange how little use we have of the spiritual blessings when God gives us, but it is stranger still how little we make use of God Himself. Though He is "our own God," we apply ourselves but little to Him. How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we  go about our business without seeking His guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens  ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord that He may sustain us! This is not because we may not, for the Lord seems to say, "I am thine soul, come and make use of Me as thou wilt; thou mayest come freely to my store, and the oftener the more welcome" It is our own fault if we do not make free with the riches of our own God.

Then, learn thou hast such a Friend, and He invites thee, draw from Him daily. Never want whilst thou hast God to help thee; go thy treasure and take whatever thou needest--there is all that thou canst want.

Learn the divine skill of making God all things to thee. He can supply thee with all; or, better still, He can be to thee instead of all. Let me urge thee, then, to make use of Thy God. Make use of Him in prayer; go to Him often, because He is thy God. Oh, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege? Fly to Him; tell Him all thy wants. Use Him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark providence  has beclouded thee, use thy God as a "sun"; if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah as a "shield."; for He is a sun and shield to His people. If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use Him as a "guide"; for He will direct thee. Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art, remember God is just what thou wantest, and just where thou wantest and that He can do all thou wantest!

-C. H. Spurgeon

 

"O little heart of mine! Shall pain

Or sorrow make thee moan,

When all this God is all for thee--

A Father all thine own?"

Downton Abbey in a Modern World

When my sister took a couple pictures of me last week, I took some of her in return. Being a Downton Abbey enthusiast like her older sisters, she put together a lovely Downton Abbey inspired outfit using modern clothes.

 

 

 

 

Blouse: Kohls

Skirt: Thrifted

Necklace: The Limited (I let her borrow mine) ;)

Shoes: Target

 

Elegant and lady-like, wouldn't you agree?

Coffee, Chevron, and Changes

Yesterday one of my sisters and I went out for coffee in "old town" at a super cute café. I was glad for the visit since one almost has to make an appointment to see her since she works two jobs and does babysitting several times a week.



 

I ordered an Irish Crème latte with a Cranberry Lemon scone.

Later on in the morning another sister grabbed a few pictures of me wearing my completed "Pinterest-inspired" skirt. It only took me a couple of hours to make from start to finish. If one knows how to put in an invisible zipper and do pleats, even a new seamstress could make this!

These pictures confirm that I look as "fluffy" as I felt wearing a skirt with lots of pleated fabric and a  few layers tucked in the waistband. Perhaps it's not the most flattering, but it's fun for something different.

Speaking of different, I seem to be going through reverse culture shock being back home. I'm walking around the house aimlessly and bemoaning how bored I am even though errands are being done, and moments of rest/naps are still apart of my day. The change of pace, or the things that define it are probably a good change for a few months.

Aprons at last!

New in the shop this morning! If you have looked lately, I added two aprons from my own collection several days ago. I have a 1930s apron cut out and will hopefully add many more over the summer.

There is some sewing to be done for Mother-dear, myself (as you saw in the previous post), and then I've got several projects lined up that span from the Titanic era to the 1930s. Those will be fun. :)

Chevron (not the gas station)

Chevron in Blue

Chevron in Yellow

Chevron in Red

For my birthday last month, my parents bought me two yards of this beautiful chevron fabric. After seeing the above pictures from pinterest and Ashley's homemade version of this skirt for summer wear, I'm anxious to get started. I have a feeling I'll want this skirt in more colors, though the grey and off-white will be very versatile.

What do you think of chevron? love it? hate it?

Early Monday Morning

It's so strange to wake up on a Monday morning with "nothing" to do. Over the course of my sophomore year at college Monday's were my busiest days.

 

I made coffee and a homemade McMuffin for breakfast. In my PJs. (Since when have I eaten breakfast in PJs??)

 

It's obvious that I can't take clear pictures in the morning. At least I can make food, and possess the ability to wake up the household in doing so.