In His Word Wednesday: Psalm 27:14

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage. And He shall strengthen your heart, wait, I say, on the Lord!

With the election coming up, it has got me to thinking about life's choices. Life is full of choices, and if we want to make the right choice, we need to wait on God's guidance. We all have those times in life when we need God's guidance. It's not always to easy to wait on God, or follow His decision because the answer is not the one we wanted. But I have learned, and it has taken a few times, that God doesn't make mistakes. His decision is always the best for me and my family. Take note that I didn't say "the easiest."

One thing the above scripture says is "wait." Patience is one trait that I, and many others, struggle with. In this time and age, there are few things we have to wait on. Technology has made many parts of our life so much easier and definitely faster. I remember, as a young teenager, I had to wait to get home to call my BFF to discuss the happenings of that day. Fast food was an occasional treat, not a source of a daily meal. In my first job, paperwork was time consuming but necessary. Sometimes it would take hours to discover a mistake in the records as we flipped pages, checking each entry. Dinner took about an hour to make, not 15-20 minutes it now takes to bake in the oven or heat in the microwave. Well anyway, my point is that waiting is not always easy for most of us, but God says wait. "Wait on Lord," is mentioned twice in this one verse, and the last ends with an exclamation point. I can safely say that David was trying to drive the importance of waiting in this one verse.

Over the next 7 weeks, I want to share 7 things that will help when seeking God's guidance in your life's choices.

As always please feel free to share any of your thoughts, but I would like to ask that you share a time in your life when waiting was difficult.

Blessings and Happy Sewing!

Sewing Room Inspiration

I sewing studio is a mess and has gotten really unorganized. I have fabric every where, pre-cut pieces that need to be sewn, stamps laying out, and much much more. I don't know how or when it got to be such a disaster area, but it is a total mess. I have been looking at sewing and craft rooms for ideas. After I'm home from my dad's next chemo treatment, I plan to start the much needed renovation....ugh! So here are few ideas that I fell in love with. I hope you find inspiration too.

This is a great way to use a small space.


I'm in looooovvvvveee!


So bright and cheerful.


My favorite colors...pink and green.Great use of some spice racks.Love vintage!Great use of an old CD rackA craft closet with everything at your finger tips.A must have signI could have added many, many more but we would be up all night. I hope these ignited a desire to create in your soul.Blessings and Happy Sewing!

In His Word Wednesday: Matthew 10:42

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

I would like to point out two things that I think of when I read this verse. First, God doesn't reward only "big" jobs and "important"works. He loves to give and He loves to reward obedience, no matter how "small"or ïnsignificant" it may seem to us. Giving a glass of water, smiling, saying kind words such as "thank you" or "have a nice day," could be just what that person need that day. Second, it also reminds me that we can do things for God just for the rewards we one day will receive. It has to come from our love of God. Think about it, when you really love someone what do you usually do? You do things that show that person you love them or to make them happy. True acts of service stem from a sincere love of God and a desire to please Him.

Latest Treasury: Smoky Mountain Mist

'Smoky Mountain Mist' by KingMtnTreasures

Beautiful mist mountains is often the view from my front porch. Enjoy these inspirations.

Smoky Mountain Art ... JimGrayGallery $10.00	Pink and Gray Hair ... BellaMiaDesign $18.00	Handcrafted Pink an... elitewomen $41.90	Pink and Dark Grey ... KarlaWheelerDe... $195.00
Czech glass leaves ... MayaHoney $1.70	Enamel earrings - S... aforfebre $30.00	Catiz Fabric Dual B... BagDoRi $70.00	Pink Grey Floral Pr... graciespawprin... $4.95
Pink grey and black... CreazioniMANIA $13.00	Checkbook Cover wit... tenderroni $13.00	Baby Bedding Crib S... LinenBaby $263.00	Pink Crystal Earrin... mftjewelry $4.75
Gray Infinity Scarf... mojospastyle $65.00	VOGUE GOOSE NAGOIRE... KIMONOSFeather... $3.95	Very soft merino wo... evarica $69.00	Pink And Grey Zippe... handcraftusa $14.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell Costumes

Because I'm a PetPerks member at Petsmart, I receive emails advertising sales, etc. Last week they sent out an advertisement for a pet costume contest. Click on the picture for the contest details.

I entered my two wienie dogs in a local contest a few years ago, and Toby won 3rd place. I made butterfly costumes for both wienies. Here's a picture of those costumes.

 

There's nothing like developing an idea as it a forms in your head. Well after I received the email, an idea started to take place. I wanted to make a costume, but I didn't want to put a lot of money into it. Thankfully, I had all the supplies I needed in my studio.

 

I really wanted to include a costume for one of the hedgehogs too. I started playing around with material and designs, then my idea blossomed. I was going to make a Peter Pan costume for one of the dogs and a Tinkerbell costume for the hedgehog. Oh, the joyous fun of piecing together an idea.

This is the Tinkerbell costume. It's made mainly with cotton fabric. The wings are made from pipe cleaners, covered with glitter(there has to be some pixie dust), and sewn to the back of the dress. I used elastic to hold it on the hedgehog. Here's the finished product being modeled by Spike (yes it's a boy wearing the Tinkerbell costume but all the girls were too fat.)

Next, the Peter Pan costume.

I made the had and the with cotton fabric, lined with batting in between. The belt, trim on the hat, and the knife are all made out of felt. All pieces are sewn into place. Elastic holds the costume in place. Here's Dinky modeling the Peter Pan costume.

Below is the picture I submitted to the contest. Please click here and vote for Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. Voting is closed October 21st.

 

Animals are not always willing to cooperate when it comes to taking pictures. I wanted to share some of the other pictures I took.

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed these pictures of my beloved pets and what they have to endure.

 

Blessings and Happy Sewing!

 

 

Favorite 5 Friday: Fabulous Fall Decor

One of my favorite pastimes is browsing Etsy. It's not only a wonderful way to find a fabulous gift or to get inspiration, but also to mingle with like-minded individuals.I will be promoting (blog, Etsy, Twitter) my "Favorite 5" every Friday, so contact me if you would like me to check out your items. Tell me what you think about these items or share some of your favorites...Find something you want, just click on the name. Please take time to visit these shops to see all their awesome items.

My favorite time of year...I love the rich, warm colors, beautiful days, and cool, crisp nights. Here are a few of the ways I like to decorate.

Table Runner

Fabric Pumpkin

Wreath

Apple Cinnamon Candles

Serving Platter

A Few of My Favorite Tutorials

I'm always looking for different ideas, so I search tutorials. So many times I've often looked at a tutorial and find an easier way of doing something.

Being on several email list, I receive lots of new ideas weekly. I thought I would share some of my favorite, very easy tutorials, in hopes it will spring you into creating. These tutorials are not my creations but from other website. I just wanted to share ones I've made and how I've changed them for my personal taste. Just click on the name to visit the website with the tutorial. Happy creating!

Log Cabin Block

These block can be made to hang on walls or lay on a small table. Add heat resistant batting and make a beautiful hot pad to protect your counters. The ideas are endless.

Boo-Boo Bags

These bags make great gifts for adults and children like. Change the shape a little and make it to stretch across the shoulders. I have to say I don't like using rice because being so small it doesn't hold heat a long time. I have used corn, but it has a smell when heated up. It's not a bad smell to me, but some people don't like it. I prefer cherry pits. I don't recommend these for pets as they can be poisonous if the pet tears a whole in the bags and eats the pits.

Painted Jars

These are so easy and fun to make. I love these pumpkins, but the ideas can be endless here too.

Gift Card Cozies

What a great way to personalize a gift card. Add the persons name and they can keep it to keep a credit or debt card in. Make them in holiday fabric is too cute.

In His Word Wednesday: James 1:4

James 1:4
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I have been under a lot of stress with my dad suffering through chemo treatments. Not just the stress of watching my dad suffer, but all the traveling (I live 2 hours away), time away from family, not being able to complete projects (a little perfectionism), and the strain on the finances, has had me under the weather.

As with all suffering, we wish we didn't have to go through it. But I know that God, in all His wisdom, is using this time to strengthen me and deepen my faith. God has not only told me that He is there by using examples in His Word, He has placed many people in my life who have went through similar situations.

We don't need to be told "life is hard", all we need to do is live awhile. As believers we know God uses these hard times to crush out all our selfishness and warped priorities. Eventually we will get to a point to where we thank Him for the suffering we have endured.

Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

In His Word Wednesday: Philippians 1:6

Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day until Jesus Christ."

I love to watch these renovation show, of houses and yards. Experts come in a take a total disaster and make it into a beautiful, useful, functional thing. That is what God does with us. He comes in when we are dirty, damaged, and cluttered with sin, with skill only a Master Expert has, and cleans us up, fixing all our broken, dirty places.

We would be totally lost without the Lord. He rescues us when no one else can. Sometimes it takes a while for Him to clean up all the dirt, but He will be faithful in completing His work in us.