Good Sunday evening my friends. This day has been very full and very busy. I love to be busy all the time, so that is a good thing.
We started with Cornerstone Church this morning and listened to Matthew preach a fabulous sermon on the Power of God. He just gets better and better. What a blessing he is.
Then I finished my new Sure-fit Designs red blouse that goes with the necklace I made last week.
Here is a video for you because I could not get a decent picture:
I get lots of comments from "my people" saying they love my videos, so I keep making them. You know how I have a major lack of conversation around here, so I have to talk to you via the video cam on the tripod.
Jerry has his birthday boat back from Bass Pro, and he wanted to take it out for a few hours to break it in some more. I went with him, and we had a really nice time. He let me drive for awhile, and I was able to figure out the new throttle. The motor on this boat is SO QUIET, Jerry and I can't figure out if it is ON or OFF. We are both really loving that!
I want to thank you, Diana, for all your great advice. I am a person who can take advice, so keep it coming. Your eyebrow tips are WONDERFUL, and I tried what you said. The WET brush makes a huge difference. But, no, I did NOT wet it with my tongue. I'm feeling so much better about my brows.
And to Connie Ruth. Yes, I was afraid Glenda might not appreciate my comments to the beginner seamstress. I do, however, feel that SFD would be difficult for a beginner. There is a whole lot more to it than just following the dots. You STILL have to know how to tweak it for all the various issues. I have been VERY, VERY complimentary about SFD because I LOVE it! Lots of people have bought SFD because of my blog. I wasn't in any way saying that SFD isn't amazing and wonderful and awesome. I just don't think it is for a beginner. I will do a video clarifying. I'm wearing my latest SFD blouse in the video above. I learned P&P BEFORE I bought SFD. Both are great products.
And to Debbie who guessed that I was watching videos on how to do the Two-Step: Your surprise will be in the mail tomorrow. I'm wondering if you dance, Debbie. Actually, she guessed the videos were about dancing. I called that "close enough".
I just noticed it is a whole week since I have posted.
Time just flies by. I was with my friend, Nancy, yesterday enjoying the gorgeous Fall weather and going for the first time to the MOST DARLING little kitchen goody-type shop. It is called Kopper Kettle. It is one of those stores that carries all the unusual gadgets for your kitchen. I'll show you what I got when I remember to take a photo.
I have been busy all week long, and I made you a new video yesterday morning.
Here it is:
You will notice that I keep PULLING DOWN my blouse. I decided I didn't leave enough ease in the bottom half of it. I also noticed (amazing what you notice in a video of yourself) that the bust darts were too long. I don't see HOW that is possible when I put them where they are supposed to be.
SURELY, my apexes aren't moving from side to side!
Last night I took off the blouse. I took out the front waist darts and left them out. Then I moved the bust darts back 1/2". It is SO MUCH BETTER.
I love to wear that blouse because I love the bracelet I made to go with it. UNFORTUNATELY, the bracelet decided to keep falling off. I went to the restroom at the restaurant yesterday, and when I was getting ready to exit the facility, my bracelet fell off ONE INCH from the toilet!!!
I had a MAJOR panic attack.
It was gross enough picking my pretty Swarovski crystals up off the bathroom floor next to the toilet!
I don't know WHAT I would have done if it had fallen INTO the toilet.
I picked it up, patted it off with a paper towel, and I put it in my purse.
When I got home last night, I added a BEAD BRIDGE (my name for it) so the little toggle thingy could NOT turn around and fall out. Then I wore it until bedtime last night, and it did not fall off again.
Whew!!!
I have found a NEW -- VERY EXCITING TO ME -- kind of hobby. Still sewing. Still quilting. But a different thing.
Terry actually started it.
She is having half the nation to her house for Thanksgiving. They have a gorgeous table that can be made to be very long. Terry was concerned that she could not find placemats that were big enough for all the plates, silverware, napkin and glass. She said people always moved their drink OFF the placemat, and that defeated the whole idea of the placemat.
I already showed you what Terry made in my last post, but here is another picture in case you didn't see it.
While Terry was doing this, I recalled a Craftsy class I had recently purchased about Home Deco. I thought I might learn something new, and I did.
I learned that not only is there a TABLE RUNNER, a TABLE CLOTH and PLACEMATS; there is a new thing called a TABLE SCARF.
I decided I wanted to quilt a TABLE SCARF for my table. I decided that it was easier to make ONE BIG PLACEMAT, than to make 8 or 10 small ones. I really love what I made, BUT I will definitely be making some changes to the next ones I make.
I will PRESHRINK the fabrics and use NON-SHRINKING batting.
My table scarf shrunk SO MUCH in the wash, that I lost almost six inches in length. It is too puffy and looks like a bed quilt.
Heres a pic of my finished table scarf:
HERE,
you can see the leaf panto I used. I wanted it to have a Fall theme. You really cannot tell on the top, however, what the pattern is. WAY TOO PUFFY due to all the shrinkage.
I ordered a bunch more of the fabric so I can make napkins to match.
THEN, I am going to do another one with a Christmas panto of some kind. Terry and I just bought about 8 more pantos. We are having SEW MUCH FUN!
In my video, I mention a FREE GIFT. I have no idea what it will be, and I have never done that before. A lot of bloggers do though, so I thought I would jump on that train. You have to guess WHAT new thing I was learning how to do via Youtube videos. I am ending it on 11/11/15 because I will be out of town dealing with other issues. WE HAVE A WINNER! DEBBIE GIROUX GUESSED I WAS LEARNING TO DANCE. I WAS LISTENING TO PAM TILLIS SING "THE SWEETHEART'S DANCE" AND I COULDN'T REMEMBER HOW TO DO THE TWO-STEP. IT TOOK ME ABOUT ONE MINUTE TO LEARN IT, AND I TWO-STEPPED ALL OVER THIS ROOM THEREAFTER TO THE THREE COUNTRY CD'S I HAD IN THE BOOM-BOX.
I am cleaning house today, so I better get back to it.
It has been raining lightly all day long, and it is so quiet and peaceful here. Jerry is relaxed and happy. I gave him a haircut this morning as I have been doing every 2 to 3 weeks for over 35 years.
He thanked me several times and told me it was perfect. He commented that I must have saved us a fortune over all these years by cutting his hair and mine too.
He did complain, however, that I poked him with the scissors, AND he asked me if I realized that the vacuum nozzle I was sweeping the hair clippings off his body with was metal!
And, of course, we went to church via www.getv.org and joined the live service at Cornerstone in San Antonio. Matthew is so adorable. He preached an awesome sermon -- as usual -- with a very strange title: "Rip It".
I have never heard that expression, but it was very appropriate for his message.
He talked about how he used to always get in trouble when they were on a trip in their station wagon when they were kids. There were five kids. Matt was the youngest. They would aggravate their parents until they got the famous threat, "Don't MAKE ME come back there!" One time, Matt decided that there was NO WAY his Dad could actually come into the back seat when he was driving the car. He decided to be extremely stupid, and he said to his Dad, "Why don't you do it?"
He said his Dad SLAMMED on the brake so fast and so hard, the station wagon practically stood on its nose! He got out of the car, and he jerked Matt out of the back seat onto the side of the highway where he commenced beating his bottom. He said the truck drivers were driving by and offereing to help.
That was to explain what "Rip It" means. Evidently, it is the last straw, or when you have had so much of something you explode.
Then he talked about Jesus and our relationship with Him, and HOW we are able to actually go right before the Throne of Almighty God and approach Him.
Does ANYONE have the slightest idea of the magnitude of that????
It happened when Jesus breathed his last breath on that cruel cross. There was darkness and in the temple the VEIL -- that up to that time had prevented man from going directly before God -- was torn from top to bottom.
Matthew said, "God said, "RIP IT" and the veil was torn."
It was really good.
And for those of you following the Owl Quilt construction, here is a little video of how I did the leaves:
And here is a picture of the finished quilt top. I will be putting a lot more detail in each owl when I quilt this.
It is ready to put on the longarm, but I am not in a rush to do that. We are working on table runners, placemats and a new thing called a table scarf. Here are some Terry just finished. Can you tell she and Doug are from Texas? Their mailbox is the shape of Texas.
Terry made enough placemats to cover the table with the extensions in it. That table is HUGE! Her goal was a placemat big enough that the water glasses would fit on it. So wonderful to be able to make exactly what you need.
Terry and I spent the whole day together yesterday. She picked me up at 8:30 and we headed to Ardmore to a birthday party for a 5-year old. It made me feel QUITE ANCIENT being around all the young parents and children. After the party we went to The Brown Paper Bag where everything in the store was 80% off as it was the very last day before they closed for good. I bought 8 plates and matching mugs for 80% off. I was DElighted! Then we went for yummy coffee and a muffin at a Starbucks-like place. We, of course, went to Hobby Lobby since it was the only place in town that sold fabric, and we both bought some. Then to the grocery store and back home. After putting groceries away, we met in the sewing room and happily played the rest of the day.
PURE enjoyment!
Gotta get.
God bless and have a WONDERFUL week of falling leaves and cooler days.
I made a video this morning showing you all the things I'm working on.
I am SO EXCITED to tell you that I have my owls all done except for the leaves. By tomorrow night, I may be able to post pics for you here.
But,
Until then,
Here is a video for you.
Terry and Doug came over for dinner. We had such a wonderful time. Her sewing room is being built, and she was showing Doug all the things I put in my sewing room upstairs. He found things she didn't even know he would want, and he told her she was going to have them too.
He is a major sweetie pie, like Jerry. We are two lucky gals! And Deb is a lucky gal too. Jim is as sweet as sugar! And Debbie's husband sings and makes CD's. We truly are very blessed wives.
You MUST put God first. God is Lord of ALL, or He is not Lord at all. The Bible says, "Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."
In order for us to do God's will, we must KNOW what God's will is. The WILL and the WORD of God are one and the same. It is not a recommendation. It is a command.
How can we say we WORSHIP God when we don't even know Him or His son?
Adam's sin was putting his will over God's will. Satan was kicked out of Heaven for the same thing.
It was a great message, and I'm so glad I heard it. John Hagee is getting back to the basics that I was taught as a child. He has no fear of politically correct garbage, and he preaches the truth -- like it or not.
Fortunately, I LIKE IT! I want to live under a BLESSING, not a CURSE! I ask God every day to please give me wisdom because the Bible says that the only way you can get wisdom is from God.
America would be a completely different country right now if our leaders had been elected because of their fear of God. How can anyone not see that?
Hagee is preaching about all of the feasts. I don't really understand all of that, but it is good to hear since all of those are obviously very important to God. Today was the Feast of Tabernacles which is about FIRST FRUITS. I learned that when I was a toddler. My father new the Bible very well, and he taught it to us all the time. Plus, he saw that we were in church at least 3 times a week -- Bible School every summer -- Church Camp after that. I am SO THANKFUL that I was born into a Christian family.
I heard Joel Osteen preaching last week how God put you in the family you are in on purpose. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT! God made it possible for males and females to make babies. Babies are born into the family they were conceived by. I cannot believe that God would choose to put babies into families that would sexually abuse them, beat them, not care for them properly, lock them in closets, and WORST OF ALL, tell them that there is no God or that they are to worship Satan.
That wasn't Hagee. That was Joy.
You know you can go to www.getv.org and listen to all the excellent sermons there at any time. The music is wonderful too.
I just watched A Night to Honor Israel where Pastor Hagee gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to various Rabbi's and organizations that help the Jewish people. How wonderful!
After church, I worked many more hours on a new necklace. I started over at least six times. This necklace is supposed to be a spiral, but I am having a hard time seeing the spiral. I took a quick pic for you.
In this case, I am making the necklace FIRST, and then I will make the red blouse to go with it.
I have a feeling that this is HALF a spiral, and that is why it is so loose. There is a design called a DOUBLE spiral. That would be too heavy for me, so I shall leave this as it is. Besides Jerry likes it this way.
Deb called me from Ozark today. She still doesn't have her sweatshirt jacket done. It takes quite a bit of time to make one. I'm still waiting for my fabric, and then I will finish mine. It isn't a masterpiece by any figment of the imagination, but it will be cute with jeans. At least, that is what Terry tells me.
Terry is coming tomorrow to finish her Christmas table runner. I will try to finish that necklace.
I was finally able to upload the Applique tutorial requested by Anne. You can see it here if you are interested in my way of applique.
REMEMBER: You can click on Youtube in the picture and you will be sent there. Then click on the cog and choose "720" and everything will be in high definition. Much bigger too.
Be back real soon.
Have a WONDERFUL, God-filled week and enjoy the falling leaves.
I'm dropping by to say HI real quick and to tell you that I do not have the applique tutorial uploaded to Youtube yet.
I am going to start it before I go to bed tonight, and hopefully, it will be ready when I wake up tomorrow.
The upload speed here is a total J O K E ! It would make a sleeping turtle look FAST!
I suppose I should be thankful we have any speed at all, but really, why is it super speedy just 150 miles away? Actually, it is much faster just 8 miles away at our store. Doesn't make sense.
I worked all day long on a jewelry project. It has a LOT of beads in it. The directions were not good. I had to email the writer and ask her to correct them. She thanked me. It is one thing for directions to be wrong or incomplete when a pattern is free; but when you are paying for it, directions should be TESTED and accurate.
I can't show my project to you yet because it is a Christmas gift. It turned out real nice. I need to start another one tomorrow because Christmas will be here before we know it.
Guess I better get upstairs for the "Booze Bloods". Linda may or may not be shot and dead. I'm sure she isn't. At the end of last night's episode, the screen went black, and we heard two shots fired. My guess is it is the police shooting the perp.
I was VERY aggravated with one of the episodes where a young bride-to-be went to visit the prisoner who killed her Dad, Mom and brother 20 years earlier. He had "found God" and received treatment for his major mental disorder. He was going to STAY in prison until he was dead. He wanted to apologize to the girl. He did NOT expect her to forgive him, and he said he couldn't forgive himself. He had slit his wrists in an attempt to kill himself because he felt so horrible for what he had done.
Instead of the girl forgiving him -- which the SUPPOSED God-fearing PC (Police Commissioner) should have counseled her to do -- she told the prisoner that she hoped he tried to kill himself again but got it right this time.
The PC was PROUD of her.
WRONG! Non-forgiveness would only cause hurt, pain, bitterness, resentment and an early death to the girl. It is in the Bible! Her unforgiveness couldn't hurt the prisoner. He didn't expect it. Bad writing for that episode.
Remember Jesus on the cross. The Romans were murdering him, and they didn't even know why really. Jesus knew that. He asked God to FORGIVE THEM as He writhed in pain and agony for crimes He never committed.
And HOW did I get off on that?!
My mind just jumps out "there", grabs a thought and runs with it.
Won't keep you, but I do want to thank you all SO MUCH for your opinions on the black or brown flange in my owl quilt. Terry came over today, and she came up with an idea that I am going with. She said, "How about a REAL DARK BROWN?"
I still have to do a flange (never have done one before) and the borders.
I made a video so you can see my progress. Unfortunately, I have not gotten back to the jacket because the fabric must be coming on a sloooooooooooow boat from China!
I also did a tutorial for you, Anne, but I won't have it up until tomorrow. Videos take forever here, as you know, and the owls wanted to see "my people" today.
Remember Debbie saying, "Show them to your people."
I laughed and laughed. She was referring to those of you who read my blog. I love "my people"!
Here is a short video if you are interested in the owl quilt:
I love the pic YouTube chose to put on this one. You sure can see the embroidery stitches I did.
Nothing else to tell you today. I'm working on an earring pattern.
