Happy Birthday Jerry!

Today, my hubby turns 68 years young!  I told him to go out and look at his new truck and all of its accessories and enjoy his birthday.

I did send him two Blue Mountain birthday cards, but ....

I was standing by his computer when he opened them.

He had NO SOUND, so the birthday cards didn't work right.

I had to ask him to turn his sound on and watch them again.











I need to plan something special for his dinner tonight.  I think I have some steaks in the freezer.

Hold on while I run and get the steaks out of the freezer.........

Okay,

I'm back.

NO STEAKS anywhere!  All I could find was chicken breasts and hamburger meat.  Looks like I'll have to go to town for some birthday groceries.

MAYBE I will bake a cake.

Hold on while I run to the pantry....

NO!  No cake either!

It is sure going to be a boring birthday if I don't get out of this chair and head to the grocery store.

BY THE WAY,
I missed a post yesterday and Sunday, BUT I have to tell you that Matthew Hagee preached the most MARVELOUS, WONDERFUL sermon.

It was entitled "When was God at His best?"

I thought that was the strangest title!  I thought to myself, "God is ALWAYS at His best.  He never changes."  I couldn't wait to hear what Matthew had to say.  It truly was wonderful.

You may remember -- if I told you -- that Jerry's brother has been here for his third attempt at rehab from drug and alcohol addiction.  When he is here I INSIST that he go to church on Sunday which is upstairs on our big screen via the internet.  He was supposed to stay for 30 days, but he headed back to his house this morning.  We begged him to stay, but he said he just could not handle our Christian beliefs.

How SAD is that????

Anyway, Matt's sermon this Sunday was straight from the Throne of Almighty God for Don.  I thought SURELY, it would hit him like a lightning bolt and awake his diseased spirit.

MAYBE it did.  MAYBE that is what made him so uncomfortable.  I don't know.  We have been praying for him for 40 years.  SURELY, God is at work in his messed up heart and mind.  He is very ill from all the abuse his body has been through.  Blood pressure 227 over 127.  We expect him to just konk out any moment!  He has been to the doctor and the ER.  They just send him home. Probably don't want to mess with his addiction.  I don't know.

You may recall, we buried Jerry's other younger brother just a few months back.  He died an alcoholic.  We pray Jerry's only other sibling doesn't meet the same fate.

If you want to hear the awesome message by Matt, you can hear it at www.getv.org.  Just click around until you find last Sunday's sermon.

I better get going.  I'll be back tomorrow.

Have a FABULOUS day!

Hugs, Joy

Simplicity 1539 "Muslin" - My Latest Wadder

Yes, this top was destined to be a wadder when I ran out of fabric.  I just assumed I could grab another piece of knit and "color block" it.  I stayed with it thinking that just MAYBE it might look good once I got the sleeves in.

Jerry came upstairs to ask me something, and I had this blouse on.  I asked him how he liked it.  He looked at it for several seconds and then announced:

"It looks VERY strange, Joy."

I am wearing it now, but it is about to be discarded.  I may cut the fabric off the bottom to use for something else, but I can't imagine what.  After all, I didn't have enough to make this blouse -- how could I make another one?

Here is a short video of me showing you the completed blouse and the issues I am having with it.

Wave goodbye to it!

Other than this blouse and a few emails back and forth from Phylly, who by the way TOLD me she didn't like this pattern before I made it, I have washed and folded all the laundry and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.

Terribly exciting, I know!

I still like the pattern enough to try it one more time.  Or maybe I will choose a different view to make.

Jerry's brother is living with us for 30 days for a third round of free rehab.  The other two times were for long weekends.  He made it for a short time, but got right back onto the same sad Merry-Go-Round.  I don't understand that personality, as I am the opposite of it.

A little different here with a live-in brother-in-law, but we are adjusting.

I better go.  Jerry is loading the truck for a trip to Goodwill, and I want to see if I have anything BESIDES this blouse to throw in it.  Just kidding!  I wouldn't want anyone else to see it but you.

Hugs, Joy

A Quick Hello

Hey everyone!

I am SO SORRY about my STUCK video on the Kwik Sew pattern I made.  I think it is fixed now if you want to try to watch it again.  I was able to get it started 3 times this evening.

Jerry and I are back home in Kingston now, and you KNOW what that means.

Yep, sloooooooooooooooooooooooow internet service.

I will be home sewing tomorrow.  I am trying a new pattern.  I'll take some pics and maybe do a short video.  We shall see what the day presents.

Jackie has been home alone all day long because Jerry and I had to work, so I need to go outside and play with her for a while before her 8:00 bedtime.

Until soon,

Hugs, Joy

Kwik Sew 2965 Five Ways

Hi Everyone!

Are you having a perfectly MARvelous Sunday?

Thank God it hasn't become politically incorrect YET to say "church" or "sermon".

I "attended" Cornerstone this morning where Matthew spoke about slaying giants.  He talked about David and Goliath but compared it to the giant of corrupt government, socialism and pure INSANITY happening in America these days.  There is an election coming up, and his purpose was to motivate Christians to VOTE!

I have to admit, I don't even know who is running in my district or for what.  I need to find out where one goes to investigate that and do some research.  Sometimes, you don't have a choice that you really agree with, and all you can do is vote AGAINST the worst choice.

My husband is on his way AS I TYPE, and I am so excited to see him.  It has been two weeks!  The "boxes" I have been waiting for NEVER CAME!  Jerry finally called about them and found out they never shipped.  SO FRUSTRATING, you could scream!  If it would do any good, I would!



Yesterday was a Play Day with Phylly.  She worked on her CLD skirt since she FORGOT her jacket.  She brought everything she needed to finish her jacket BUT the jacket.



I snapped a picture of the HALF-skirt she got done while here.  She is holding fabric that the jacket will be made from above it.  VERY PRETTY!





















You may recall I am making Kwik Sew 2965 for the FIFTH time.  I just happen to have all five tops here, so I photographed them all for you.  Let's see if I can find them.

Here is version #1.

It has short sleeves,
boat neck, and turned under hem at neck and sleeve rather than the binding.

I made some kind of mistake -- probably cut a hole in it -- so I applied the applique to cover it.

I was wearing this in one of my videos.
















Here is version #2 in my favorite type of fabric:  BRIGHT floral.

This is a V-Neck with 3/4 sleeve.  This one does have the binding band at the neck.

I don't know if you can tell, but I cut the "bat wing" back quite a bit on this one.

This is version #3.

This is V-Neck again.

I made it fuller at the waist and longer.

This is a veeeeeeeeeery stretchy knit from Silhouette Patterns.

The skirt is about to be hemmed as soon as I finish this post.

AND, GUESS WHAT!?

I did a special little video for you to show you this new way I learned to tie my scarf.

Scroll down a bit if you don't see it yet.

And, yes, the still that You Tube chose for me is SO LOVELY!

And now to version #4 of the same Kwik Sew pattern.  This is the one I did the video on the other day showing you how I added all the fullness at the bottom.  Still a V-Neck but WAY MORE fullness than in the red one, but this is a much different fabric.  It is stretchy but is a light weight rayon or poly.  Much drapier.

And here is the one I have on right now.

Version #5.

THANK GOODNESS, I added more of the bat wing back into this one because I made a HUGE boo boo.

I ASSUMED this fabric was stretchy.

It is NOT.  It doesn't stretch even 1/8" in any direction!

I had to make some adjustments:

#1:  I had to slit the sleeves under the elbow.

#2:  I had to put a button and little flap at the shoulder so the neckline would open up enough to get it on over my head.

I'm showing you a close-up of the button/flap below.  Sorry it isn't very clear.

So that is all of my Kwik Sew tops.  It is easy to make IF you don't screw it up on the way.

I am working on my second long skirt.  I made it on the diagonal.  I did NOT make this top.  I am going to make a top though as soon as I run to Hancock's and buy some gray knit.  I want to use the stripe to bind it. HOW CUTE will that be.

NO, the stripes do not match on the side.

I did good to figure out how to get the stripes to be on the diagonal down the front and back.

I think that nearer the bottom, they did accidentally line up.

Gotta go.

Jerry just called.  He was stuck 45 minutes in traffic.  That means I have time to dash to Hancock's.




Hugs, Joy

Video Blog Today Re: Nasty Comments, Shopping and The "New" Math

It is so nice to just sit and talk to you, and with super fast internet here, I can upload videos quickly.

This was one of THOSE days.

There are TWO videos because I had to stop right after I started to turn the AC down.  I always turn it up when I'm going to be gone for several hours, and I had forgotten to turn it back down when I got home.

Just watch the 1st video, and then the 2nd.  It is all the same video.

This is #1

This is #2 -- It continues where #1 left off.

Shortly after making the videos, my daughter surprised me with a visit.  I was so excited to see her. She came baring gifts, as usual.  She is trying to teach me to knit, and I am really bad at it.  She brought me a beginner's knitting book, and I am looking forward to starting over.  I wish she would learn how to SEW so we could do that together, but that shall remain a secret desire of mine.  Maybe someday the bug will bite her.

Until soon.

Hugs, Joy

Kwik Sew 2965 Version 2

I made another top today.  It was an experiment.  I'm not real happy with it, but I will wear it.  I spent all day messing with the neckline and the too-big armholes, and then I got the not-so-bright idea to make a matching scarf.

I made a video for you.  It is long and boring, but you can watch it if you like.  I describe how I got the bust dart OUT and all the fullness IN the front.

After I made that video, I thought about a scarf.  I thought, "I have some fabric left over.  Why don't I make a matching scarf???"

I could answer that question real good now, lol.

Anyway, I cut an entire width of the fabric into a giant rectangle.  I sewed the sides and ends together and turned it.  THEN I decided it needed some fringe on the ends.  I thought those little balls they have in the fringe department of Hancock's would be so cute.  SO, I drove 3 miles to Hancock's.  I went in and immediately found the little ball fringe.  I drove 3 miles back home.

I got home and spent the next hour figuring out how much ball fringe to use and how to apply it.

Finally, I got it all done.

It was a MAJOR disappointment.  When I tied it around my neck, it creeped up into a tight loop, and it looked like I had just left the Emergency Room after having my neck tied onto my head.

The little balls looked like King Kong's eyelashes had fallen off and somehow attached themselves to the end of my scarf.

I cut King Kong's eyelashes off, so I had to pin them back on to show you this picture.

The scarf is now residing in the trash along with KK's eyelashes.

This fabric doesn't make a pretty scarf like the one I had on the other day.

I will probably make another top tomorrow because these types of tops are SO COMFORTABLE.  I want to find a knit in my stash this time, and MAYBE do an embroidery design on it.

I have all week to entertain myself, so I might as well try to be creative.

I bought a new Craftsy class last night.

Something about "One Blouse - Many Looks".

The instructor is a pretty young girl that looks young enough to be my granddaughter.  I can't imagine how she could know all that she knows at such a young age.  It has taken Phylly and I FOREVER to learn what we know, and we have so much more to learn.

That's all for today.  Check back tomorrow.  You never know what I'll make next.

How could you?  I don't even know myself!

Hugs, Joy

Sunday Sermon, New Knit Duo and Blessings Galore

Hello on Sunday evening.  Jackie is sound asleep, and I am sitting up in my bed with my laptop on its little holder-upper thing.  I am still at one house, and Jerry is at the other.  We are having computer issues at our stores, and it seems the home computers are not able to connect with each other.

That may not seem like a big deal to you, but I guarantee you it is a big deal to our employees on Pay Day, which is tomorrow.  I will have to go into the OKC store to print the checks tomorrow.  Since Jerry and I no longer have offices in the OKC store, I will have to move someone out so I can move in and finish payroll.

Then I have to wait for some new kind of "boxes" to arrive here on Wednesday.  When they arrive, I have to take them to our computer-fixer people who I call "The 9 Nerds" (they are really "The 3 Nines" but I like my name better).  The 9 Nerds will configure the "boxes".  Then, somehow, the "boxes" will get put in our two houses and everything will magically work again.

Whew!  That wasn't easy to describe, and I'm sure nobody gives a hoot anyway, lol.

So, it is Sunday.  Since I am alone, and I don't mind watching church on my computer instead of on the television, I was able to bring up our preacher from Durant, OK.  His name is Duane Sheriff, and he is a fabulous teacher.  I was able to get him LIVE this morning.  He was preaching about humility and the true meaning of it.

True humility -- in my tired memory -- is knowing that in yourself, you are NOTHING and you can do NOTHING of any lasting value.  With God, however, ALL things are possible!  I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.  (Phil. 4:13)

Jerry called to talk to me after that, and he told me that the guest speaker at Cornerstone was really good today.  So, at 11:00, I watched him on my computer.  I don't remember his name, but I remember he was so well dressed that I couldn't quit studying his shirt and his pants and his shoes.  He was a nice looking 60-ish black man, and black men seem to have a knack for dressing especially fancy.  Those preachers must have their clothes hand made by tailors because the fit is perfect.

His sermon was about how SPOILED we all are with our "fit in our pocket" cell phones, washers, dryers, televisions and endless modern conveniences.  I could preach my own sermon from here, but I won't tonight.  I'm too tired.

I did finish a new outfit this weekend.  It started out to be a red knit SLEEVELESS top with a long skirt.

I decided I wanted to wear a scarf with it because scarves are really popular right now,

AND

It draws eyes to your face instead of to your hips and belly.

AND

If you wear it long and skinny down the front of you as below, it cuts your width in half.
























I decided the BACK SIDE of me looks better if more of it is covered up,

so I happened to have another yard of this fabric from Peggy Sagers, and I decided to make a blouse with sleeves to see how I liked it with the long skirt.

The blouse is NOT hemmed,
it is NOT pressed,
and it has not been paired with the skirt yet,
but I took picks of what I have so far.



I've decided I need to start doing those anti-bat wing arm exercises again.

It wouldn't hurt to do a few hundred sit-ups every day either, but that isn't going to happen!

I have to accept the fact that this body has been around for 64 years, and it will be requiring MORE fabric and MORE scarves and MORE jewelry for camouflage.

Might as well enjoy it as cry about it.

It is a brand new week!

We have SO VERY MUCH to be thankful for.

Can you imagine in your worst nightmare having Godless barbarians come to your home -- tell you and your family you have to LEAVE and take nothing with you -- tell you that if you don't believe as they do, they will torture you and kill you -- watch them as they gouge out the eyes of your children and hang them on crosses -- and more and more horror each day if you are unfortunate enough to live after all of that??????

It goes through my mind nearly all the time these days, and my heart breaks for those people.

I'm ashamed that I'm concerned that my body looks so old.  God forgive me!  How many of those dear people won't ever get anywhere near "old".  Being old is a blessing that many will never share. I'm changing my attitude about it this very second!!!

Have a great week, and remember to count your blessings.

Hugs, Joy