Christmas Gift

My sister gave me this Christmas gift, a book I was wanting. One year one of the quilt guilds I belong to showed a DVD on these ladies and I was very intrigued. Check out the web site and be amazed. http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/

Fifteen Reasons to Pray

To seek the face of the Lord and know Him better (Psalm 27:8)

To get your eyes off your problems and on to the Lord (Psalm 121:1)

To speak to God (1 Peter 3:12)

To unburden your heart (Psalm 142:1-2)

To make your requests known to God ;(Matthew 21:22)

To hear God (Proverbs 8:34)

To be free of suffering

(James 5:13)

To resist temptation (Matthew 26:41)

To be rescued from distress (Psalm 107:19)

To receive God's reward (matthew 6:6)

To withstand evil (Ephesians 6:13)

To have joy (John 16:24)

To get close to God (Isaiah 64:7)

To be healed emotionally (James 5:13)

To have peace (Phillippians 4:6-7)

Fun, Fast Scarfs

I've probably made about 100 of these scarfs, seems like for a few years they were a new craze that was getting non-knitters into knitting and re-newing the fever for long-time knitters to pick it up again. No hard fast set rules, here....I've used anywhere from a size 13, 15, 17, 19 needles with 1, 2 or 3 strands of various types of decorative yarns/threads. Depending on yarn, I've used anywhere between 8 to 12 stitches. All you really need to know is how to cast on, garter stitch, and bind off and weave ends in...for these simple scarfs the yarn textures and color is what really makes the scarf. Very fun, can probably knit one of in a little more than an hour, depending on needle size and yarn size and length. I've seen them from short to very, very long. From decorative sweater accessory to warm coat necessity. have fun and try different combos.

Santa Baby

This is my nephew, Andrew Gary!

Making Choices

All throughout history God has allowed people to make the choice how they want to live. All throughout life we have many choices to make as we travel this journey on early. There is only one choice that will impact us for all eternity. No one human will have a perfectlife. Since Adam came into the world and chose to live separated from God, that sin choice has spread through the whole human race, putting a chasm between God and humans. From that moment, God set His plan in place, a stairway that will close the chasm between heaven and earth, because God loves us so much he does not want us to be separated from Him. At christ's birth, god gave us the ultimate Christmas Gift. 33 years after His birth, Jesus chose to remove the chasm that separates us humans from our God by taking the penalty of our sin choices. he died on the cross andkeeping one of His many promises, rose again three days later. there have been many great people in this world, but there has only been one person that chose to die and then come back to life again for eternity, so each generation of people can put their faith in Him and know that when we die we too will come back to life for eternity in Heaven. God allows us to make choices in our life. What choice have you made? To live life on your own, separate form God, or to live with God at the center of your universe? It is the only life or death choice you will ever make for eternity!

Pray to Accept Jesus...
heavenly Father,
I realize that I am not perfect. Living life on my own is not easy, I need Your help, I choose today to accept the love You give me through Your Son, Jesus, and I will follow You the rest of my days. Thank you for Your forgiveness and life in eternity with You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Taken from EHWC Advent 2008 "HIS"TORY Our Journey with Jesus

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The Children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker and baby on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray , I new in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head. It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He had in His hand, Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; When He said, “It’s no here,” my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love, He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound, While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There’s only one life and when comes the last call, We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

Quilted Nativity Scene Panel

I bought several of these Nativity Scene Panels, they are so vibrantly colored. I'm quilting most of them as table toppers, maybe a few as lap quilts. This is a table topper I quilted, 4 scene's of the navity story in yellow thread, the front only shows up when looking closely at the quilting to make out some of the story, but he back, wow, on solid green with yellow thread the whole story is alive.

The Candy Cane

Candy canes and Christmas-or Peppermint sticks, as they used to be called. I remember getting these sweet treats as a child from the local "candy" store (where they made homemade candy and still do to this day). One year I made everyone in my family ordaments for the tree, you just hot glue the bottoms of two candy candy canes together and the points where they meet and it forms a heart, add ribbon for a hanger and I personalized them with rubber stamped tag with names on them. Another year, I stamped the legend of the Candy Cane on red card stock and mounted it on white card stock, punched a hole and tied silver cord around a candy cane and attached one to each package. (if you don't have the stamp you could type it on paper or even pretty hand writiing). For those who are unfamiliar with the legend, here is it:

The Legend of the Candy Cane

A candy maker decided to fashion

some candy to honor Jesus

He made hard candy because Christ

is our Rock. White symbolizes

Christ's purity. the red stripes are

for His blood, shed on the cross to save

us. The shape is a sheperd's staff,

for Jesus is the Good Sheperd.

Three Wise Women

A little holiday humor:

Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of three Wise Men? They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and, brought practical gifts.

Green Splendor

This is a really cool pattern, using a 9 patch that you cut once down the middle and then across and then you can mix and match the pieces and sew back together again. I saw the pattern for a charm size 5", but I used 10" square, wanted a really really fast quilt to piece, you could use any size square and adjust the the desired final dimensions, fabric Robyn Pandolph's "Flirt" and One Song Needle quilt design, pantograph. I have this quilt for sale on my etsy site.

Sunflower card

I have several sunflower stamps, but this one is my favorite, I'm going to plant a tone of sunflowers next spring all along the playhouse in my front yard, and then in front of that some orange corepsis and in front of that some giant yellow and orange marigolds.

Antique Castle Wall Quilt

I purchased this top on e-bay, it's an antique quilt top with many vintage fabrics, feedsacks, etc. The name is Castle Wall block and there are over 1600 pieces in this top. It was all hand pieced and I machine quilted it. A very colorful scappy quilt. A nice addition to any collection.

Taking Tea with Mom

Saturadays....shared so many of them with my Mom. One of our activities together was taking tea, sometimes at home, sometimes out, but always special. At Mom's the tea pot/coffee pot was always on for whenever someone dropped in, which was very often on a daily basis. She was a very sweet, generous, kind hostess, always something homemade and baked by her. I learned my baking skills and love of it from her. She made a "mean" apple crisp, apple pie, graham cracker cream pie, zucchini bread, texas sheet cake, cookies and many more {famous potatoe salad}. Her kitchen was a large country kitchen with orange stained cupboards made by my Dad and a huge picture window that overlooked a pond that my Dad and Grandpa created and beyond that a large field and on top of the hill, woods, they had 24 acres. They viewed turkey, deer, ducks, flowers, apple tree and waterlillies, {family and friends coming}, the weather, out of that hugh picture window. I can't imagine that window not in the kitchen, it was so much more than just a window...like an opening to the world, that you took time to stop and admire God's creative handiwork. There was also a bird feeder with many visitors. Her kitchen was the heart of their home, abounding in love, the true gathering place. The kitchen table not only served as a place for meals, but also an entertainment center for playing cards with family and friends {several times a week} and a place where conversations over tea/coffee were heartwarming {happy times, sad times, funny times}. How wish those time had never ended, I long to be able to go there just one more time and soak it all in and feel the warmth and love. The kitchen is so much more than just a kitchen...I can only hope that my own kitchen may evoke a little bit of this for my children's memories. I can only imagine what she may be doing today in heaven using her special gifts, and skills to worship and serve the heavenly Father. I thank and praise God that he promises to reunite us for eternity.

Psalms 103-one of my favs

I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me. He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He fills

my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle's! He gives justice to all who are treated unfairly. He revealed his will and nature to Moses and the people of Israel. he is merciful and tender toward those who doen't deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him. For he knows we are but dust and that our days are few and brief, lilke grass, like flowers, blown by the wind and gone forever. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, tho those who reverence him; his salvation is to children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant and remember to obey him! The Lord has made the heavens his throne, from there he rules over everything there is. Bless the Lord, you mighty angels of his who carry out his orders, listening for each of his commands. Yes, bless the Lord, you armies of his angels who serve him constantly. Let everything everywhere bless the Lord. And how I bless him too!

Pantograph Floral Quilting Design

This quilting was done on a client's quilt. This is a beautiful design that works well with a lot of quilt patterns. A pantograph is an "overall" edge to edge" type of quilting technique. This design is one of Anne Brights, one of my favorite designers for the Statler.

alcohol ink autumn cards

These cards were so much fun, I love the tree and leaf stamps, you can't go wrong no matter what you do. The colors of fall are rich and warm and the techniques of alcohol inks lend themselves well to both the stamps and color of the season.

Market Tote Bags

These are great totes, a nice large size with should straps for easy carrying and sturdy, can stand alone. Possibilities are endless, one fabric, two fabrics, trim, no trim, what fun!

Psalm 63: 1-8

God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

on my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Lady Rose

This was a quick card using a stamp cube from B-line Designs, one of my favorite designers and lines, along with rose stamp and word stamp, cut-up.

Fall Contemporary Floral Quilt

Bright, vibrant, colorful fall floral quilt, large lap size, using Tina Givens Annabella Fabric. "Quilt in a Day", focus fabric, with three borders and one print for back-making it a reversible quilt. Overall floral quilting pattern from Anne Bright.

Who is God?

I'm taking a class on Revelation, a precept class, it is awesome. I thought I'd try and summarize some of what I've grasped and walked away with and this is what I'd like to share.

God is the one who is worthy. (worthy comes of greek axio, wieght or value something). Worthy to receive: 1. glory-is recognizing God for who he is 2. honor-reverence him, fear him, proper esteem 3. power, be able, capable. He is (God) worthy because he created everything, for his will/pleasure. **Nothing happens or exists apart from God's intension or purpose. **You exist because it is God's good pleasure to exist. ** Recognize it and live accordingly and bring him joy.

Fall Prayer

"From DaySpring Blessings"

Lord,

There is so much happening in our world right now. In the mdst of it all, it's so good to know You're in control, Your love is never-ending, and You provide for us. As the trees turn colors andthe nights grow cooler, may we be reminded that every season of our lives is a part of Your loving plan. Amen.

Antique Dresdan Plate Quilt

This is a beautiful hand pieced quilt top, that I custom quilted with a high loft batting. It is so soft you just want to sunggle up with it and grab a good book and cup of tea. I have this quilt for sale on www.etsy.com (rosebudquilter).

Photography/Orchids/Dad

I write this post with tears streamy down my face, it still hurts 6 years later. My Dad is with the Lord but the separation is only tolerable with the knowledge that God promises we will be reunited. My Dad's love of flowers and photography has had such an impact on my life {two of my most favorite things}, of course you wouldn't have been able to tell me that when I was a teenager. My parents owned a greenhouse business for 45 years. There are a just few pictures of flowers in those albums and collection of slides.

Floral Cards

I really like this BIG, I mean really BIG floral stamp. Two of the images are water colored, cut out, glittered edges and embellished with beaded stick pin and the other is colored on velum with marker and added edged chunky glitter. (stampin up hostess stamp). The only small problem is the stick pin doesn't go thru regular mail, need a padded larger envelope.