What have I been doing?

A lot of knitting and spring cleaning and trying to be more diligant on my bible studies. . . man, it's such a balancing act.

I have done, been doing commission works as well, including this quickie embroidery add on to this center piece.  This is by Karen Davison, a true newbie to quilting and she is making this for her grand-daughter.  I'm so impressed by her willingness to jump right into those challenging techniques of quilting.  She is taking my beginner classes now, but she has learned a lot by just stopping into the shop asking a few questions at  a time.  And all I did was add the name and date :)  This is about 36" x 42".

And one of our largest local guilds had their annual quilt show a few weeks ago.  I didn't take a lot of pictures (camera was dying), but here's a few to enjoy.  The Smokey Mountain Guild, based in Knoxville, TN has over 200 members and host a show every year.



Created with flickr slideshow.

He Has Risen!

Matthew 28:6 NIV He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Rejoice in knowing our Savior lives and has risen for me and you.  What a blessed day this is to remember the importance of this event.






I'm trying to re-energize my blog this week...new layout, new "about me", just renew.  I've been working through how I wish to use my blog.  And I have several blogs - - - it's hard to combine them all into one because they represent different parts of my life, at the same time it's hard to keep up with 3! :)

So, let's try simple with one post at a time. 

Happy Easter!

Grateful Thoughts

Happy New Year's!

It's funny every year I read and listen to folks mention how bad the previous year has been and how they hope and wish for a better new year.   I wish they find that peace and happiness they are looking for and deserve this year.  Everyone deserves happiness and peace.

Every year is hard, difficult and sad - - yet, there is always positive and so many blessings to be thankful for.  It seems sometime we focus more on the bad because of the emotional impact it has.  But I think if we list all the good, the bad seems to disappear - or at least minimize.

I think, if we start the year off with a mindset of gratefulness, when trouble does happen we can adapt to it a little easier.

I'm grateful for:

• My husband and his journey home.
• My kids and their challenges and successes in their lives.
• My furry friends.
• My new relationships with friends.
• My old relationships with friends that continue to grow.
• My paycheck, food on the table, roof over my head, electricity and the internet.

Keeping Busy

 I've been keeping busy with holiday happenings and here's a few things I've been working on.

This has been done awhile, it is my November "Let's Be Together" block:

And  I have received 6 of my blocks back:

Been doing a wee bit of knitting - like quilting I have serveral on going projects, so it's nice to toss in a quickie dishcloth:

Sunday Grateful Thoughts

I'm grateful for adventures and new life journeys and new chapters.  I'm heading to Florida tomorrow with mixed emotions.  My dear friend Stacie, has fulfilled one of her dreams to move, work and live in England.  I'm so excited for her, but it saddens me at the same time the next time I visit Florida, she won't be there.

I'm grateful for this new adventure for our friendship and knowing all we have been through in the first 10 years of our friendship will have prepared us for this new long(er) distance relationship.

We met online and then in person 10 years ago this coming week - kinda fitting that we'll be spending the week together as she prepares for her next chapter in life.

While all my friendships are important and valuable, this one has taken the most beating and most growing as two people can go through without being family - - though we are very much sisters at heart.
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I know we'll make the time and effort to continue to communicate and visit each other and knowing she is always a part of my life is one of many things I'm grateful for this Sunday.

Created with flickr slideshow.

My Week

I took 3 days off from knitting, to make a bag just for holding all my knitting paraphernalia!  In two weeks I have accumulated a bit :)

I've always wanted to make a professional tote, but never had a "need" for now . . . until NOW!   So, taking a few hours a day earlier this week, I "whipped" one of them up.  I've now worked in 2 different states and 2 different shops and I have to say this is the most popular pattern over the past 5 years! 

Let me say I'm in love with my new bag!  It was basic and simple, just a lot of details and prep and steps!  I have no desire to do another one - again, no need - - - -unless my knitting paraphernalia over grows this bag :)

Created with flickr slideshow.

I also made a case to hold my needles that matches my bag - forgot to take pictures of that.  And I'm working on some yarn bags.

Happy Veterans Day!

Sunday Grateful Thoughts

Another beautiful Fall weekend is passing and with the additional hour of sleep tonight, there is always so much to be grateful for.

My crockpot is the best time saver I have!  It has been very depended on here.  By the time I get home after work, I'm not up to cooking an entire meal for the family.  I take a few minutes before work, stuff my crockpot with something yummy and when I walk in the door after a long day of work, it smells wonderful.  Not to mention how yummy and satisfying it feels to know I don't need to spend an hour in the kitchen on my feet.

I think this is my favorite way of cooking a chicken, but we do eat beans and spilt pea soup a lot as well.  Do you have a favorite crockpot recipe?  I think need some new ones.

So tonight we are having Beans and Corn Bread - - yum.

And as I took this picture, I promptly crashed my glass lid on the floor and it shattered into tons of pieces. . . let me say, I'm very grateful for my husband's new job so I can get a new crockpot (can't get a replacement lid, out of stock) and continue to make dinner the easy way this week.