Projects in the pipeline

I have been a little fabric crazy the past week or two. My stash is quickly growing, although most of it has specific purpose already. I have begun planning some gifts to make and some additions to my own house. 

Currently I'm working on placemats for my table. 

Not bad for my first attempt. I will be mixing up the patterns using the following fabrics: 

 (I forgot to include the white fabric). 

I also have these fall colors for a gift to give my grandparents in Colorado. 

I will be using these for pillows in Maddy's reading/relaxing nook. She picked most of them out and surprisingly I don't care if they match.

That's most of it for now. Can't wait to share my finished works. 

iPad case project

The world of sewing can be tricky, trying and oh so rewarding. On my latest project, that I just created in my head, I had a simple math error and ended up screwing up the project. Before I scrapped it, I decided to just work with it and see if there was any way to salvage it. I had originally intended to have it fold the same way as my iPad cover, and that's where my math error screwed it up. I had somehow cut it too short for the width. Once I twirled it around and looked at it vertically rather than horizontally I found that it was the right width, just needed another 4 inches for the length. The fabric I was using for the pocket was a large piece so I made an extension using it and extended the flap to coordinate with the back pocket. 

Once I got that little snag figured out it was pretty smooth sailing from there. 

This is the back pocket. My stitches are still a little shaky, mostly when I get overconfident and try to speed thru it. 

This is the front and flap extension. I think it pulled the project together well. 

I am still figuring out the closure. I have elastic cord but its a little bulky to fit around a button so I think I may use a small hair elastic. Also have to decide if I want one button or two. 

Only regret is not lining it, but its a learning process. 

First sewing tutorial project

I wanted to make some simple tote bags for the summer. Easy to carry things to the pool, library, friends house, park, wherever the wind takes us. I followed this tutorial and made a few modifications mid project. I changed the length of my fabric when I realized it was going to be too long for Maddy, and I switched the straps from 2 bought straps to one strap made from fabric leftovers. I changed the straps because I thought Maddy would do better with just one and it was a good use of this scrap.

I got this fabric on clearance at hobby lobby today with this purpose in mind. Maddy was quite pleased with the choice. Once I finished I had her try it on for length and cuteness. 

Success!!! I made a few mistakes along the way but with more fabric to use I know I'll get the hang of it soon. 

 

There's a grief that can't be spoken, there's a pain goes on and on

August 25th, January 7th, January 25th, December 30th, and May 3rd. These dates pass each year without much thought for other people... but for me, they mark the anniversary of a sweet baby leaving my body and entering heaven. They are a dream cut short, a future altered, a pain in my heart that has no measure.They are something else though too. You have to look closely, want to see it, NEED to see it, to survive.

 These 5 dates in my life are something so much more meaningful than anything else I've already said. They are exactly what my God does. They are chances for redemption, opportunities to seek His face, moments to turn to Him and fall into His arms. More than any other struggle I have faced to date, these hardships and the emotions they evoke, are my biggest reminder that God is faithful. He does not leave me, He has not forsaken me. He is not punishing me, nor keeping something good from me. Just the opposite. In the moments when the grief swells, and the sadness consumes, and I'm awake in the pitch dark thinking about the children I thought I'd be raising, God is there. He is not silent, cold, empty. I feel Him all around me, moving thru me, healing me, comforting me. Like the sweetest words ever whispered He covers me with His presence and love. I know without a doubt that the good thing I want (those children) is fleeting compared the the glory of His better thing I've been given...... my relationship with Him.

For reasons I don't need to know, God has given me a bounty of chances to choose him, and I do so joyfully. Could He have used other methods? Sure, but then you don't know me like He does. I'm hard headed, stubborn, just plain ornery. I like to think I have it all figured out and half way executed before others have finished looking at the situation. So God in all His goodness sought me and pursued me with a fury. He wants to be my healer, my comforter, my strength.

4 years into this trying to conceive journey and we are no closer to growing our family than we were at the start. But oh how much closer we are to our Savior, the giver of life. I've written before about how He never leaves me empty handed when a baby is taken, and this is the fullest my hands have ever been. In this complete surrender, hands open, held high, in worship.

Happy tears

Today was a special day for Maddy Moo. My tiny little human took a simple walk on a stage and became a big girl. I cannot deny that this mama shed a few tears, mostly happy.

She won the most creative writer award and did a great job walking the stage and crossing the bridge.

This was her teacher's first year and we loved Mrs.Miller so much. We made this wall plaque for her door because she didn't have one yet. Maddy will miss her this summer. Every time Maddy plays "teacher" she is Mrs. Miller. 

Nana was able to attend the ceremony and even brought her a congratulations balloon.

Grama and Grampa also came and even arrived at 7:15 for the 8:00 ceremony. They gifted her some chocolates and a play phone that stores make up. 

Her grandparents sure were proud of how well she did this year.

We just love and adore our sweet, funny, imaginative girl. Couldn't imagine this life without her. And yes, I may cry again thinking about how much she's grown and how fond I am of her.