Hello, I'm still here! We have been very busy the past few weeks so I've neglected my blog terribly! Sorry to go so long without posting.

I wanted to share a great giveaway for a quilt book today.
Visit Dawn's blog over at Linen Closet Quilts and take a look at her blog and that neat book she will be giving away! Dawn is a very talented quilt designer who loves antique and vintage quilts.

Although we are working hard to finish up our schoolyear we are making time for some fun too! Soccer, fun with friends, including our dog Ellie, and time spent with family.

Tomorrow night we are celebrating as we have an end of the year program with our precious Homeschool Group! Each child will be recognized as they move up to the next grade level. The kids have been practicing songs to sing and playing the handbells during the program. We're excited to "Celebrate" together with our friends!! God has blessed us with such sweet friends through our homeschool group that are such an inspiration and encouragement to our family.

What's a Jelly Roll?

We have been busy as ever. Our latest project is a bathroom makeover. The past couple of days I've been ripping down wallpaper and will paint as soon as it's down. It's coming down, slowly but surely. I'm using fabric softener to dampen the paper and a putty knife to scrape off that nasty second layer! Uggghhhh!!!!
Hubby is making a new vanity and we have a lovely new top and sink in black and white just waiting to be installed. Before and after pictures would be nice if I can make time to post them.

Now on to thoughts of sewing. I found a great post with information that will be helpful to my friends who are just beginning to quilt. I've been quilting for several years but just recently learned what a jelly roll is myself! Hope you enjoy this over at Simplify. Camille shares some great thoughts and photos on jelly rolls, layer cakes, and much more. Just scroll down a few posts after arriving there.
Have a great weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday

Well, ok, maybe just a few words.......
We are enjoying the warmer weather SO much!!
Here are a few pictures to share with you.
First two pictures of Allie and Ellie wrestling and having fun.

3)Allie at her sewing class with the almost finished skirt.
4) My latest sewing project I'm making for a decoration for my living room.
I have it completed and will show tomorrow. Waiting for my hubby to make a frame to place this in so I can paint it black and hang on the wall in my living room.

Have a great day!

A gentle and quiet spirit

This week has already been very busy and so I really needed to take time this week to begin my day in prayer and meditating on God's Word more than ever!.

1 Peter 3:4 -rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

As a Christian woman I should strive to have an attitude that is not demanding and harsh, but soothing and tranquil.

Father, help me focus more on inner beauty, which will not decay, and less on outer beauty such as makeup, jewelery, and clothes.


But there is a kind of beauty that will never fade, that is precious in the sight of God, And, amazingly, those beauty secrets are found in the letters of John. John tells us how to grow in beauty, so that one day "we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28 NKJV).

Applique practice

We have actually been doing quite a bit of sewing lately. Our sewing class is going well and we have so much fun together. I have been sewing for years but I am still learning when it comes to making clothing. The teacher is a wonderful seamstress and good friend, so very patient. Of course, it takes lots of patience when sewing, as I've learned over the years. As I've been blogging and visited so many blogs with good advice that's one thing quilters are stressing, Enjoy the process, don't get so frustrated and anxious to finish.
Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to lately.

Daughter #2 cutting out her skirt pattern

Spoiling our sweet little "ELLIE"

Making hexagons and learning to do English Paper Piecing

Practice with applique

Dee Brestin

My two daughters and I were so blessed this weekend as we listened to Dee Brestin, Christian author and speaker. She was the speaker for a Women's Conference that we attend each year.
She is an amazing motivational speaker and author of many books and Bible Studies. We purchased three books before we left. I started one today, Woman of Beauty,
focusing on 1, 2, and 3 John.
Dee certainly has an amazing calling on her life as the Lord uses her to speak to women today. Praise God for the opportunity to have met her.

Sunshine and Scrappy Quilt

The weather has been wonderful today!! Not bad for the first day of February!!
Such a great day with warmer temperatures and sunshine.....so we took a nice walk over the field behind our house to see the awesome view. Taking in the beauty of the majestic mountains and blue sky was such a sweet sight for a Sunday afternoon. Of course the funny thing is, not everyone would enjoy our little walk since it IS where our neighbor keeps his horses. hee hee. You gotta watch where you step. (:
Come on, it really was worth it!

I have several projects going.....the pinwheel quilt for my hubby along with a few hand stitching projects. But....I just had to start cutting those 2 1/2" strips for a "scrappy quilt" when I saw this over at Quiltville!

How easy and so cute. I really need something that requires no thinking, lol!! So, that's what I did this afternoon, began cutting those strips in lights and darks. Can't wait to start on the sewing tomorrow.

My youngest daughter and I begin a sewing class tomorrow that will be taught by one of the homeschool moms in our group.....we're excited!! Looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead for these sweet girls and moms who will be learning to sew together!

Have a Great Monday!