Enjoying Grandchildren

I get a phone call everyday between noon to 1:00pm from our grandchildren in Colorado. I love this time. We do homework and talk about everything in the world. We do crafty things, I see the dogs, and we just share our lives with them. What could be better than that? I sometimes just work on my crafts while we talk, they do homework, and our granddaughter makes bracelets. Too Much Fun!

 

Still not much time to work on my fluff ball with sickness and visitors, cleaning up from visitors, and the general busy-ness of the day. I have been keeping up with my bullet journal though. This one thing has transformed my days to be more organized. I love that! I get so much more done in a very efficient way. I am so happy I found this organization tool.

Hope you have time today to do something you love. I would love to see what you're working on!

Happy Trails to you,

Debi

DONE!

I believe I have finally finished the clues for the mystery quilt that will be posted on the Quilters Club of America site. It is with my testers for wording now and we will be posting very soon. I am excited to get started. I spent the rest of Monday writing and re-writing clues and taking pictures to add for clarity. I have done two mysteries already and have this one and another ready. I am working on yet another quilt for them, but it is in the beginning stages where I make the blocks and try to figure out the easiest way to complete them. I love this!!! I love all the quilters making something that I created. Such a sense of accomplishment!

I still have had no time to work on this fluff ball of a bear! I will get there, hopefully today!!!!! I have only gotten a few seams done. I have the paw pads on the inside arms and the center of the face sewn together. There is much work to be done. I call it work, but really it is my form of play and is my sanity! 

I think I should get to sewing and enjoy what little free time I have today. Hoping you have an amazing day and rest of your week. I also hope you have some time to spend in your happy place doing your happy things.

ENJOY!

Debi

Time Never Wasted...

Well, it has been a few days since I posted. It has been a crazy busy weekend. We started Friday with a couple of "my girls" coming to help me bake some cookies for Sunday and to get ready for Saturday. I made beds for them and tidied the house Friday, I also harvested and baked zucchini bread for Saturday morning. The girls and I baked two types of cookies and called it a night...fun food and fellowship, what could be better!!

Saturday started early doing the final preparations for the "Mum's Spa Day" for the mums of the girls in my Sunday School class. We did facials, manicures, and pedicures. A good time was had by both the mums and my girls. We finished around lunch then went to a cafe in town and had some lunch. Very special time with my girls and their mums. We also collected a couple of young people from church as their parents were out of town for the weekend. So, more sheets and towels to do, hehe! 

Sunday was a fantastic day at church! In the afternoon we had 18 youth and 4 adults at our home for an afternoon of fun, food, and games. We had such a fantastic time! I love ministering to these young people. They are our future and time spent with them is never wasted. In the evening service, we had a guest preacher, an actor who portrays great preachers of the past and "Charles Spurgeon" was our preacher. Then we had the preacher and his wife in our home for the night and into Monday afternoon. What a sweet time of fellowship. 

Needless to say, this chook is tired and ready for a day of rest. I haven't had much time to spend in my craftroom, but that's ok. I was able to do some baking, entertaining, and listening which I love and am reasonably good at! I am thanking the LORD for keeping us busy and close to Him.

 

Debi

Fray Stopping Preferences

I just finished applying the fray stopping "adhesive" to the fur ball of a teddy bear I showed you the pieces for the other day.  I ran out of "Stop Fraying" and started a bottle of "Fray Stoppa".  Aside from getting the first bottle in the USA and the second in New Zealand, there are many other differences as well. I have been using the "Stop Fraying" for a long time as it was what I could find. It is white like school glue and dries much like that as well, a thin bead around the outside of my pieces. It does the job it was designed to do, no doubt, but I wasn't sure I liked the added thickness to my pieces...if I painted (because I use a small paintbrush) a bit too far inside the piece, I found it hard to push my needle through the woven backing of the fur.

"Stop Fraying" takes at least six hours to dry and dries clear. In this pic, you can see the white around the outside of a leg, also the liquid looking strip around the arm piece. The "Fray Stoppa" (bought in New Zealand) is liquid, much like water. It has a nozzle type lid. When you squeeze the bottle, depending on how far you open the twistie lid, a small amount of liquid comes out.

"Fray Stoppa" only takes five minutes to dry but dries a bit stiff, letting me know if I went all the way around since it dries clear. This results in a better finish in my opinion. It is easier to sew since it is more flexible, less intrusive, and takes much less time to dry. "Fray Stoppa" has the added benefits of using it on other things: hems, button thread strays, and a run in your stockings!

Given the option, I would much prefer the liquid "Fray Stoppa" over the white glue type fray controlling adhesives. I will continue using fray stoppa and let you know if there are any other compliments or complaints on either product.

My your hems not fray!

Debi

It's a Mystery

I spent most of Sunday afternoon preparing for the upcoming mystery quilt with the Quilters Club of America, sending emails, pics, instructions, and getting the final touches put on everything...checking typos and measurements. This is the third one I have done for them.  I sat and designed another one this past week (making five!). This keeps me busy and loving my sewing room! (And very thankful for my sweet man who purchased all my machines and fabric!)

 

If you'd like to join in I am sure it will be fun. I and two other ladies will be on call to answer any questions and help in any way we can. If you are local to me (Rotorua, New Zealand, or close), I can hands-on help. I love to teach, I love to sew, I love quilts....all things put together, this is my happy place!

Monday was a sewing day...blobbing out in my sewing room most of the day. Hope you have an amazing week. Take some time out to do something you love!

Happy crafting,

Debi

More Blessings!

Sitting here having my cuppa tea, sometimes my mind boggles and I have a hard time wrapping my head around God's blessings on us. This past week has been one of those weeks. We have had long time friends stop by and bless us, new friends made, and prayers answered in miraculous ways (amongst too many other blessings to name). I am not sure why God chooses to bless, but I am so very thankful for His grace, mercy, and provision.

It goes without saying God knows what we need, when we need it. I "preach" this to myself all the time. It still takes me off guard sometimes when He answers that, "I don't know what we are going to do" prayer. We have watched God provide miracoulously over the years, but I still stand in awe when He just keeps continuing to bless us. We serve because we love our LORD, I know He blesses because He loves us. 

Sorry to blab on, but I just wanted to Praise the LORD for His blessings in our lives. I know I don't thank Him enough, can we EVER thank Him enough for saving our souls, making us joint heirs with Jesus, and bessing our lives exceeding abundantly above all we could ever ask or think?

God's richest blessings on you,

Debi

Fur Ball!

 

I promise this will be a bear! By the time I had it cut out, I didn't know who was furrier, the bear or me! I chose this fur because it is so soft, I just wanted to pet it forever. It is going to make a cuddly wonderful bear. The pile is very dense and pretty long. Looking forward to how it makes up.

Friday was a busy day with baking, washing, eating, and preparing for our visitors today. I did get everything done I wanted to, that makes me happy! I didn't get a lot of time to sew, but that's ok as I will be able to sew Sunday afternoon! I don't have a lot to do next week, that means more time to sew as well!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend. Take some time to do something you love!!

Happy crafting,

Debi

Stringy Thingy!

 

I really feel I accomplished some things yesterday. I did all the wash (hanging it out in the beautiful weather we have been having), cleaned bathrooms, chose rubber stamps for some invitations, had visitors, and all the other daily duties. Plus, I had time to finish the wee bear!

This one is pretty stringy, but I like it! I find her different with the bad hair (everything is sticking straight up). I plucked her face which took forever as there were strings everywhere. It was a challenge, but I love the end result. I am addicted to making bears and quilts...hard to choose each day which I want to do!

Here she is with a couple mates I finished recently. One is the last one I completed (the one with the eyebrows) and the other is my ballerina bear. It is now tutu and bow tie time. I would also like to make a ballerina bar for the pink one. I am working on slippers for her, designing them is the challenge!

I hope to have time to sew today. We are having visitors for lunch tomorrow and I want a clean house and I need to make some bread. Five children will be here...all the same ages as our grandchildren. The toys will be drug out and played with, the house will be noisy, we will dirty a lot of dishes, oh what fun!

Thanks Nicole for posting the pic of your blanket you made. It is fantastic! Please share what you're working on and let us join in on your accomplishments! I love to see what others are doing.

Happy Crafting!

Debi

Blessings....

I find it totally amazing how much God chooses to bless each of us everyday and we never stop to say thanks. I want to thank our LORD for the blessings of the day. I thank Him first and foremost for my salvation, but secondly and not too far behind is my compassionate and godly husband. I was given a gift of clothes Wednesday, and met new friends. God is blessing me exceeding abundantly above all I could ever ask or think!

I also had time to finish filling and stitching seams closed on the wee bear. It however, doesn't have a face yet. It is pretty cute, the proportions are good and the fur works, which I was concerned about. Hopefully I will have time today to finish it up. I also want to sew the handbag and bow tie I have cut and sitting on my sewing table. I would love to spend the entire day in here, but laundry must be done and my loving husband needs fed (although he caught lunch and will smoke it!). I would also love to research a craft I don't yet know how to do and learn it. I have asked a lady to teach me how to knit (past the knit and pearl stage), so that is on my list of things to learn. I would like to learn to bead...I could make these bears their "bling"!

Church was a true blessing last night, three visitors and a sweet spirit by all. We met new friends and had sweet fellowship around God's Word. Can't wait for Sunday now! Love my church!

Have a great rest of your week,

Debi

Friends

Isn't it lovely when long time friends come and visit. We had such a visit Tuesday. Some friends just pick up where you left off many years ago and our visit was like that. It was such a nice afternoon.  Good friends are a blessing and we are thankful for the time with them. We so wish it was more. We may see them for family camp, that will be great!

I did get the wee bear all sewn together and I started to fill it. The joints are in it and it looks funny all in piece with the joint pins sticking out. Should have a final pic tomorrow. It is looking quite cute. It has good form and the fur isn't too long. I think it is going to be another cutie patootie! I hope to be able to show you tomorrow.

I know not many people read this, but I enjoy the daily journaling of our lives and being able to look back at where we were and where we are going. Thanks for letting me babble on!!

Have a fantastic day...church tonight!!!!!

Debi

Not Much Movement...

It seems these smaller bears take longer than the larger bears do. How is that so?? I finished the hands, one leg and the body today. Doesn't look much different from yesterday's picture, does it?? I promise it is!!! I do think it is going to be okay with my fur choice. I hope to finish it today, but I have some cleaning to do. I need to wash four beds worth of sheets from our visitors over the weekend. I also have a list of things in my bullet journal for today that needs doing. I am loving my bullet journal. It really does work...for me. I don't do it the way most do, I am artistic but don't take the time to decorate like others. I also use pencil on my calendar so I can erase and move things around. I find these changes from traditional better for me.

I also made my first ever angel food cake yesterday. It wasn't perfect, but for my first go it was pretty amazing! I may try souffle next. We have two ducks and six chickens all laying right now, that's eight eggs a day. I am constantly looking for things to do with eggs! We had quiche for lunch yesterday, I put all kinds of fresh veggies in it, every herb I could find, and bacon.....YUMMY!!!!

Our garden is looking good. We have red onions showing their heads, cabbage is getting large, zucchini is looking yummy, broccoli has it's little heads down in there, potatoes are near ready, pumpkins are in flower some with little pumpkins, and the squash is finally taking off! Our fruit trees are hanging full of fruit, the nectarines are ripening up. Our grapevine is growing amazing fast. The mandarins and lemons are in flower with the tiniest of tiny fruit coming on. We are going to be sharing a lot of love this summer.

I should get busy, tons to do. Have a fantastic day!

Debi

Busy Weekend

We had a pretty busy weekend. Starting Saturday with visitors for the night. We cleaned and made beds, went to the grocery, and did some organising for family camp. Sunday was full on with church and baptisms, with four being baptised. It is always a fantastic service when we have so many follow the LORD.  We are very thankful God has seen fit to use us here in such an amazing way.To Him be ALL the glory!

I did get time Sunday after the baptism towels and changing water filters with my honey to work on the bear I started. I got it designed and cut out on Friday, painted (with fray stoppa) and  the head sewn on Saturday. Continuing on Sunday with the other parts of it's wee body! I am using string mohair. I'm a bit concerned the fur is too long and sparse to get the look I want, fortunately I chose two different fabrics. If I don't like it, I can always try again!

I will be busy this week getting the mystery quilt on Quilters Club of America. I have it all ready to go, I just need to get the advertising spots written and give the start date. I must decide how many weeks we will work on it and separate the instructions into easily attainable "projects". I have a friend in the States who does all the posting for me. Roxana is my right hand when it comes to the USA side. She and "quilteraz" test for me, helping with typos and my math (making sure I give correct fabric requirements). I also have my bullet journal loaded with things I want to get done around the house...my area of deep cleaning for this week.

Hope your week is fantastic!

Debi

Ready to Go!

Spent most of the day Friday doing the wash (which I love...I know it sounds crazy!!) and setting up the tent and airbed to make sure we are ready for family camp next month. WE ARE!!! I'm looking forward to it as we have a great time of concentrating on our church family AND we haven't gone in eleven years! Still so much planning and organizing to do.

When I wasn't busy washing, hanging out, folding, ironing, or pitching tents, I drew a new bear. This one will be reasonably small. Not the smallest bear I have ever made, but little nonetheless. I plan to cut and sew on her today. Don't ask how I know it's a "her" as I don't know, it really depends on what color and length of fur I choose to use. It all makes a difference to the final outcome. If it comes out good like I hope, I think I will post this one's pattern here for you to try. I am also going to post one of a bit bigger one. You will find them as a .pdf. When I (by I, I mean my husband, the computer guru) sort out how, I will let you know where you can find the pattern.

Hope you have a perfect weekend! I know between sewing, planning for my Sunday School lesson, and church on Sunday I plan to have an awesome weekend!

Happy crafting,

Debi

Too Adorable

A few times in my teddy bear making past I have made a teddy bear that I really like and I would say becomes one of my favourties.  This bear has to be one of those bears. I am in the process of making a bow tie for him in charcoal. Hopefully it will highlight his eyes and look posh!

The fabric under him is what I found to make Mrs. French her handbag and hat! So much fun! The pic doesn't do the fabric justice. It is a maroon color with bling all over it...like sequins. I may have to find a different type of medium to make the straps out of. I just need to find a pattern that I like that won't be too overbearing for her. In the end, I may have to design it myself and that's ok too.

I have been down for a few days. It seems the brain is willing but the body is weak. I spent Wednesday in bed, feeling better Thursday. I did get to play and finish this bear...that's always fun and will bring anyone out of a frumpy mood! We are also busy preparing for family camp for church, looking at the facilities Thursday and organizing our thoughts on paper. Can't wait to get started with decorations and all things to make it memorable.

I hope to finish the bow tie today and get a good start on the handbag, maybe design another bear and I need to get busy on another quilt for the Quilter's Club of America.

Enjoy your day,

Debi