2016 Right Around the Corner

Since this is primarily my blog about quilty things, on this last day of 2015 I was going to talk about quilty stuff but instead I am reflecting on two things, one I heard and one I read this morning.  I am putting both here where I will be able to easily find them and reflect on them again throughout 2016.

The first was Thru the Bible with Dr. J. Vernon McGee.  He started in Revelations today with an introduction to the last book in the Bible. He spoke about reading mysteries and going to the end of the book and finding out what happens. That is what Revelation is, the end of the book.  But not the end.  It is the hope of the future laid out for me.  What amazed me about his comments is they were made almost 30 years ago and yet seem like he was observing the world today.  People in all walks of life are talking but not really saying anything, placing importance on things that aren't really important. I needed that reminder at the end of 2015 to take me, ready and full of hope, into 2016  If you would like to hear his introduction to Revelation click here. Then click on broadcast schedule and find 12-31-2015 or search Introduction to Revelation.

The second was a sermon from Father Timothy Kavanaugh, a fictional character in the fictional town of Mitford.  The book is "In this Mountain" by Jan Karon.  I have not included the entire sermon but the parts that spoke to me. Here are Father Tim's words that spoke to me:

...God blessed me with a completely different message - a sermon for this service, this day, this people.  The trouble is, He gave me only four word....

Here are the four word. I pray you will ascribe them on your heart.

In everything...give thanks.  In everything, give thanks.  That's all.  That's this morning's message.  If you believe as I do that Scripture is the inspired Word of God, then we see this not as a random thought or an oddly clever idea of His servant, Paul, but a a loving command issued through the great apostle. . .

Though we don't do it often enough, it is easy to have a grateful heart for food and shelter, love and hope, health and peace.  But what about the hard stuff, the stuff that darkens your world and wounds you to the quick? Just what is this everything business?

...I admit to you that although I often thank God for my blessings, even the smallest, I haven't thanked Him for my afflictions. ...  Why have I decided to take these four word as a personal commission?  Here is the entire eighteenth verse "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."...

Let's look once more at the four words God is saying to us . . by looking at what our obedience to them will say to God.

Our obedience will say "Father, I don't know why You're causing, or allowing this hard thing to happen, but I'm going to give thanks it because You ask me to.  I'm going to trust You to have purpose for it that I can't know and may never know. Bottom line, You're God --and that's good enough for me.

In everything, I will be giving thanks to God in 2016.  2015 has been a wonderful year.  Yes there were ups and downs but all were in God's plan for me and for that I am truly thankful.

I pray that all who have visited take hope away from this post and find ways to be thankful in everything.
Joyfully looking forward to 2016
Terry

 

 

 

Row by Row Experience 2015

Yesterday was an event-full day.  It was the first day of summer, Father's Day, my DH's birthday and the first day of the Row by Row Experience 2015.

The Row by Row Experience is a summer long, make your own shop hop.  No fees, no passport to stamp.  Every state in the U.S. and many provinces in Canada are participating.  From June 21st through September 8th visit any or all participating shops (there are over 1200) and ask for the row by row pattern.  The rows are no more than 9" X 36" finished and may her vertical or horizontal.  The patterns are free.  Each shop may also have kits or fabric license plates for purchase.  To find our more, click the Row by Row badge on the right and let the fun begin.

Now why am I writing about this.  Because I am excited to say that this is also the launch of my own designs.  I work for Sierra Sewing Center in Reno, Nevada.  When Linda, the owner, said she was participating in the Row by Row I volunteered to design our row.  It was definitely a challenge.  The design and making of the row was the easy part.  Writing the pattern was another story.  Sometimes what you see in your mind doesn't translate easily to paper.  But I did it and if you are in the Reno area this summer, please stop in for a visit and pick up our row pattern.

Here is Sierra Sewing Center's row.

Mountain Bluebirds by the Truckee

Since this is my first design and pattern, if you pick one up and have any feedback I would love to hear from you.  I will post any corrections as necessary here on my blog.  

Thanks for visiting!

Joyfully hopping, row by row,

Terry

Drop and Give Me 20 Halfway There

Happy Valentines's Day to all you quilt/fabric lovers!  We are halfway through February and I am still wondering what happened to January. I joined DaGMT 2015 (click badge in side bar for more info) in hopes of getting two tops completed this month.  That was before we decided to put in wood laminate floors in the living and dining rooms & re-carpet the master bedroom.

My home is in chaos right now.   Furniture on top of furniture and boxes of laminate acclimating to our environment.  But I am going to love it when it is done. 

Now about that 20 minutes a day of sewing I committed to on January 31st.  I have done very well, very well indeed.  Only two days went without sewing or doing something in my sewing room, I hope we can average our time because other days I managed an hour or more.

Here is my first completion.  Took me about 1 1/2 hours.  It's a pillowcase for our grandson.  All those astronauts and the stars glow in the dark.

He is 4 and when he saw it his first reaction was "that's so cool." Of course, right now everything is cool to him.

Next finish was the quilting on a table topper called Double Cross.  I will share a picture after I have the binding on.  Otherwise I have been pressing on with Grand Illusion and finally have one block together and all the components ready to go.  I really like to have things ready, it makes sewing for 20 minutes very productive. 

I have also been doing some scarp organizing.  I follow Bonnie Hunter at quiltville.blogspot.com.  Check it out if you dare.  She is addicted to scraps and will get you hooked.  When you get there click on the tab "Tips & Techniques!", look for Scrap Users System to find out more.  Back to scrap organizing, I have resisted cutting my scraps into usable sizes like 1.5, 2, 2.5 inch square and strips because I was afraid I might cut something one size and need it in another size.  Now the scarps have taken over, they are not readily useable, I have to cut for every scrappy project and I want to be able to sew more and cut less (even though I enjoy the cutting process.)  So part of my "sewing" time has been cutting and organizing scraps.

Total time so far for February - about 11 hours.  So until next time, piece joyfully!

Joyfully making progress,

Terry

Joining Drop and Give Me Twenty 2015

This is a quick post to get in on the fun and get something done in the month of February. Find out more here.  And now for my pledge.

 I, Terry,  am joining Quilting Hottie Haven's third annual DaGMT event, and pledge to stitch, sew, quilt, or some related activity for at least 20 minutes every day of the month of February, 2015. In doing so I hope to get Grand Illusion to top status, the same for Nevada Skies (aka My Blue Heaven) and make headway on several other UFO's that have taken a back seat since I went back to work.  I found this through Purple Moose,  followed the link and I thank Beth Helfter for coming up with this concept and inspiring me to join." 

Joyfully stitching 20  minutes a day,
Terry

Celebrating a friend, Happy Birthday!

I promised my friend I would not put her name on my blog, but I never said I wouldn't write about her. Today is her birthday and I want it out in cyberspace that she is a wonderful friend.  Here is a little story of how it all started. 

Jean and Marie (names changed to protect the culprits) worked together in 1989.  Marie (that's me) invited Jean to a quilt show.  Jean accepted and away they went. Upon arrival Marie locked her keys in the car and Jean kindly called AAA while thinking "what have I gotten myself into."  Marie was thinking "Jean will never do anything with me again."  AAA came, keys were rescued, off to the show.  Jean seemed to have a good time and Marie wanted to make everything she saw.  Jean purchased Holiday Happenings which was signed by the author, Crystal Carter.  Ooh, how exciting, holiday pictures made out of log cabin blocks sewn together using 1" strips (yes, one inch). And Jean said we can share this book.  Marie was happy, it meant Jean would go to other quilt shows with her.  Marie told Jean she would love to make the pilgrim picture and Jean said take the book and get started (or something like that, so long ago who can remember the exact words.)  Marie and Jean had lunch, had a good time, went home inspired and went on to become fast friends.

Fast forward to 2012 (yes, 23 years later, whoa where did that time go) and Marie dug out the book and the squares already made.  Her 2012 resolution was to complete projects started years ago.  Who knew one would be from the last century.  In assessing what was done and what needed to be done and thinking about the intervening years, here are some thoughts:        

•  Never go anywhere without AAA, even if it isn't your membership
• When you borrow a book from a new friend don't wait 23 years to return it. 
• Pick you first quilt show companions carefully as they will become part of your life.  They will bring you joy, happiness, a much larger stash than you thought possible, more patterns and tools than you can possibly use, adventure, family, and many years of memories to cherish and the anticipation of memories yet to be made.

And now it's 2015, 3 more years have come and gone, we are many miles apart but iChat, email, and phone help.  And pictures sent of projects in the works or wonderfully completed  are always shared.  Here is her very own mini quilt show.  

And her current project is from Barbara Brackman's blog . Check it out by clicking Civil War Quilts

She is my best friend, the sister I didn't have and my very special sister in Christ.  She lifts me up, convicts me, makes me laugh, makes me cry, and is there for me even when I didn't think I needed her.  On this, her birthday, I hope you all have a friend like her in your life.  

Joyfully celebrating your life my dear friend,
Terry

Monday Mystery LinkUp a Day Later

Happy first Tuesday of 2015!  I was very excited to see the early release of Grand Illusion Quilt reveal.    I love the movement in the quilt and how it spins.  And I am glad I didn't finish every step.  In my last post I speculated about what we were going to do with the 80 HST's set aside from Part 1.  It was a good thing I went back and read all of Part 4 otherwise I would have had 80 extra HST's and may have run out of some fabric.

I made a small modification to my main block.  Here it is.

I may also do something with the aqua corner stones.  Maybe a yellow and aqua four patch.

I have set a goal to have this top completed by the end of January and to the quilter in February.  Even though today is only the 6th I better get going, time is already flying by.  I do have most of the parts ready for chain piecing so when I have a few minutes here or there I sew a few seams and before I know it another step is done.  

I love seeing other color combos and am amazed that so many already have the quilt tops done.  Wow, quilters are an industrious group of people.

Happy New Year to everyone! May God bless each and everyone one of you, and fill your life with joy!  You may click here to get back to Quiltville Mystery Monday link up.

Joyfully piecing,

Terry