Wednesday, February 27, 2013

A Beautiful Epiphany ~ Please Read This My Dear Friends

 
Do you know those moments when you know something to be true but it suddenly becomes real to you?

I had such an epiphany this morning that I just have to share with you!

 Let me start at the beginning…this past week end I woke in the middle of the night not feeling too well and of course the dogs wanted to go out.

I went in to the bathroom first ~ sat down….and must have passed out.
The next thing I remember was being surround by peace.


It was as though all the love in the world was embracing me. I could feel myself smile as I basked in this glory.

I remember thinking how wonderful the cool tile felt on my cheek and feeling completely cared for and content.

It was then that I realized I was laying on my bathroom floor next to my toilet with my head partially under the cast iron claw foot tub.


I stumbled up and made my way to the living room sofa ~ not wanting to try to make it back up the stairs to my bed.

I could feel my mouth begin to swell and that my front tooth was chipped but went peacefully back to sleep of the sofa…..still feeling bits and pieces of the peace that had surrounded me.

The next morning I was a bit shaken up at what had happen but could not get over that feeling of peace I had experienced.
 
I told my husband it was all worth it to feel that. I have had many amazing experiences with the Lord but this was different.

The feeling of His angels had surrounded me, it was as though I could feel their tender strokes of love as I lay there legs wrapped around my toilet, head under the tub.


The last four days, I have asked the Lord over and over in my mind for some kind of explanation.

This morning as I was reading random verses from the Bible ~ look what I found!


 
I have read these verses countless times before but this time I knew the Lord was explaining the beautiful peace that had surround me this past week end.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. "       2 Corinthians 12: 9 – 10.
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”      Isaiah 40:29-31


My dear friends ~ isn’t it just amazing the way He loves us.
Even when we know the promises of God are real and true it’s so hard to comprehend they are REALLY for me, for you.

 
It’s like the story of the little fish in the sea. He was very thirsty and feared the sea would run dry. The sea said to him “Drink away little fish, my sea is sufficient for thee.”

 
Don’t we all sometimes feel like that little fish, afraid what we need will run dry. But no matter our need, no matter how bad or good we think we are….He promises “My grace is sufficient for thee.’
2 Corinthians 12:9


I am so thankful God turned what might have been a scary moment into a life changing lesson learned!

So needless to say ~ this has been a wonderful week!

Creatively ~ I have been working on several things. My daughter gave me some clothing from her friends Mom who passed away and I am working on a baby blanket for her new baby made with her Mom's clothing.
They are dark colors and mostly linen so with me luck!

Here are some greeting cards I just listed on etsy. I used post cards from the early 1900's ~ some were made in Germany.

 
I really love these and almost wanted to keep them to use myself. I am going to look for some more of these old postcards as I would much rather give these cards to my friends and family that store bought ones.

 
 
 I used antique trims and hand dyed ribbon.


 
On the back are the vintage French laundry labels with my initials. I just got them from etsy in France. I LOVE these and will be putting them on everything I make until I run out!

 
                                                       French Laundry Labels on etsy


 
Have a wonderful week ~ feel LOVED!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Antique Crochet Bags and Crazy Quilted Pieces Just Completed

Hello my dear and beautiful blogging friends!!!!

I haven't posted for over a month not for lack of something to say, life has been wonderful and I'm bubbling over with things to tell you!


I started the day after Thanksgiving creating and just going wild in my little sewing studio 24/7!


I downloaded beautiful vintage reproductions of advertising themes and the wonderful offerings of Graphic Fairy and many others and made button cards with vintage buttons, trims and charms.
I have found in my own creative process ~ the sweet little carded packages my creative friends have sent me I often keep in a dish to look at and enjoy.
They give me great inspiration until I am ready to snip off the buttons or bows for a project.
That is what I wanted to create for my blogging and etsy friends.

                                                     Spring Green and Creme Inspiration Box

I was so excited to post about it the next day. As I was getting ready to post, the news about Sandy Hook started coming in on our local station.
I have lots of friends there so became consumed with the story.
Needless to say ~ it just felt inappropriate to post about anything other than the tragedy.
The blog post I ended up writing on Sandy Hook was in the Sandy Hook Patch and others in Connecticut and I wanted to keep it front and center until it felt right to re post.
So here it is two months later from that sad day in December  ~ it feels okay now to share joyful things while still carrying their broken hearts in mine.
Besides the button cards, I have also created Inspiration Boxes containing far more value than the $19.99 I am charging on Etsy.
They each have a color theme and contain a mixture of vintage supplies, hanky's, silkies, new silk ribbon, silk threads, some have tiny pin cushions I made filled with emery to keep your needles nice and sharp.
You will be able to open the box and start a new project!
 I've decided that I need more variety of supplies to create with but I don't want much more than 3 yards of any one thing....that doesn't apply to silk ribbon however ~ we all know you can never have enough of that!


I am listing all my vintage laces in addition to the silk warp and grosgrain ribbon and velvet that came from my Aunt's millinery shop in Chicago well over 60 years ago.

I have been buying crochet trims, soaking them in lavender baths...


then pressing and carding them by the yard. 

I LOVE taking this ~

and turning it into this ~

Many times I tea stain the trims ~ in the photo below you can see an example of the same crochet trim ~ one tea stained and one left white. (center lace)


Hand crocheted by loving hands ~ these are treasure that must be preserved!

I have also started collecting crochet bags from the late 1800's early 1900's.
My budget is under $10.00 a bag but after a good soak, loving care and a little mending...
these bags are the treasures they were always meant to be!

I couldn't understand my sudden obsession with these.
Then I realised my Grama was an amazing crochet artist. Her stitches were tiny and perfect,
She had strict orders to send me all her "mistakes" which I will love and cherish always.

She passed away this past fall ~ then it became clear there is a connection to my determination to "save" vintage crochet pieces!


I also remembered this little bag filled with lavender,
It has been hanging on my guest room door for years. I found it in my basement when I was a little girl and it has stayed with me all these years.
It belonged to my great grandmother who was an expert pattern maker and seamstress.
It's really just in my blood, to care for and then pass on these pieces of art.
It feels in some way as if I am caring for their legacy.


I have lots more trim to list in my shop over the next couple weeks.

Here is more beautiful antique laces I found at a local shop ~


My dear pal Pat sent me the most beautiful fabric book for Christmas ~ I cherish it so!


As is always the case ~ she inspires me so much that I decided to make one for each of my daughter for their 30th birthday.

My beautiful twin babies ~ I can't believe they are 30!
Here are a few of the pages ~



The front of Cheri's book ~ sorry it is sideways!


The layers of pages from Jaci's book ~ I love all those vintage fabrics!


Someone ~ she knows who she is ~ got me hooked on paper dolls so I tried making one from shrinky dink printer paper.
It looked a little silly but was cute for the book tassel.

This is a needle book I made for a very special gal ~ using the same idea as the fabric book but very tiny ~

more sideways pics ~ so sorry!


The needle book closed ~ the tiny crochet ball at the top is filled with emery to sharpen pins and needles.

A repurposed Ballerina jewelry box for Pat ~


And a bookmark with sweet little Angell's picture.


Speaking of book marks ~ here are some I have on my etsy shop ~

                                                                Book Mark Section Etsy Shop

And this little needle cases with layers of chenille and felt inside ~


 I 've also combined some of Grama's vintage pins with lavender hanky sachets ~
                                                       (the first one is sold)


                                                        Pins and Vintage Goodies Etsy Shop

These are butterfly's from Germany that I have had for many years and just listed ~
their wings flutter in the wind!

                                     German Made Victorian Butterflies with Magnetic Wings

 I have so much more to share but have to get to the grocery store!

This will be the 31st year of making Heart Shaped Meatloaf for Valentines Day Dinner!

We were snowed in for four days ~ until Monday so it's quite nice to once again be able to just get in the car and go!

Here are the town trucks coming down our one way road to save us!!!

We had 6 and 7 foot piles in our street from snow drifts and people cleaning snow off their cars.


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to you ALL!!!!!

How about treating yourself to Pat's latest issue of



Folks ~ it Crazy Beautiful!!!


Remember no matter what your situation ~ you have a Father in heaven that calls you His Beloved!
He knows every hair on your head and every desire in your heart ~ YOU are Never alone!

































Vintage books, Felted Bookcover and Wisdom from Martin Luther

Vintage books, Felted Bookcover and Wisdom from Martin Luther My dear Friends! How are you doing?  I have been using the time at home...