Look What My Hands Have Made

My New Bed Skirt from Damask Table cloths

Oh it has been too long since I have written, I am ashamed to say...however, I have been creating a bit around my home and thought I would share what I have been up to. This last summer I was given a big bag of beautiful linens. I couldn't believe the generosity of my dear sweet friends, Carolyn and Tom. Tom's mom had passed away and they were dealing with her estate and gave me these linens because they knew I would appreciate them and use them! So of course, I had to put them to good use. Not only to remember them by, but also because these linens were so beautiful.   Well in and among this bag were several antique, white, Damask, table cloths and of course dollies galore!

 My Sweet Little Lamp Shades

                                                                       

Believe it or not I decided to cut up(yes I did and yes I cringed when I did it!) and use the table cloths for skirting for my king duvet in our master bed room and I used one of the cut work, round doilies,  to make designer- like covered lampshades to fit the antique sconces I purchased from the Farm Chicks Show last June. I chose this doily because of the heavy scalloped edge and simple but raised thread work.Yardage at the fabric store, for this project, would have cost me an arm and a leg because of the design I wanted. Not to mention, I would never be able to find anything this fine and durable. For the lamp shades, I found  a self adhesive, designer shade at Joann Fabrics-perfect! This handy and simple product, allows you to remove the protective covering, use the covering to trace the paper as your pattern, then cut and stick on your fabric.Super simple! Both shades took me less than 15 min. to make!

Details of Skirting

The old saying the right tool, for the right job is so true. So instead of spending my money on yardage, I spent it on a ruffler foot for my Bernina sewing machine. Oh- my- word- this baby is worth it's weight in gold!! AND it  allowed me to create my dream bed covering in- oh about 30 min.- Waaa Hooo! Now I already had a handmade duvet cover that my mother had passed down to me and this is what I used to attache my skirting to.Then I put my decorative duvet on top. This way I can change out the duvet if I need to wash it or just need to change decore.  So here it is in all its lovely-ness!

The Gift

I was given a gift today.

Unexpectedly.

Isn't it a beauty? I have been collecting these treasures over the years and I am up to about seven. They have all been abandoned or blown from the trees in our yard.

I just marvel at all the layers and funny fibers that are found inside some of these nests. This one has a bit of red curling ribbon and a beautiful stem with the seed pods still attached.

The outsides are always tattered, matted and rugged.

Rough.

But not the inside. In the roundness of the inside I can see the smooth indentation of where small eggs were cradled and where small babies were care for. It really is so sweet to ponder.

My husband brought this in on the first afternoon of home school, as the kids and I tackled our classical writing exercises. It was rough day, we were tired in our thinking and progress had been so slow. It was such a kind gesture. I really felt such a deep warmth come over me like peace.

Thank you dear husband.

Even the birds of the air are cared for and not forgotten like it says in Matthew 6:26. You can see the Lord's provision for these amazing creatures. It reminded me in a tangible way that the Lord will make a way in this chapter of our lives and bring me peace.

He does care for me.

Do Not Worry

²⁶Look at the bird

s of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

This is my chicken's egg and feather

Doing Hard Things

Oh am I being stubborn!

Not the kind of stubborn you are when you are right and someone else is wrong, its the kind of stubborn born from not wanting to plunge into something you need to do. Some call it procrastination. For me, this type of stubborn is formed from the later and therefore, it is an attitude of the heart.

Yea, I know not so good.

Usually, I love a challenge and I am anxious to try new things but, I am not feeling that way about some new things on my horizon...isn't that strange? I wonder where this is coming from? I have a feeling it is a sense of having to give up other things in order to do something I know is important. Perhaps it means rearranging my priorities to serve others for awhile.

So in other words it comes from the desire to serve self first....ohhhh.

Boy is that disappointing. You know, when you do "the-reflective-inward-look" and it isn't so pretty. The whole dying to self thing is a tough one in the life of this Christian. It is times like this that I am grateful for the loving grace of Jesus. I am glad that He is the bearings by which I can reset the compass of my life to when I get off course.

Well, this home school year is looking to be a great challenge for me. I have 2 middle-schoolers this year and the challenge comes in the form of Latin, Classical Writing, and Formal Logic. Yes, I know isn't that crazy? Would you want to dive right in? I didn't think so...see what I mean?

The upside to these classes is that I will get all the knowledge and skill as a by-product from teaching these things to my children. The bonus of homeschooling! Not so convincing is it....

So say a prayer for me this year, as I dive into these challenging subjects. We will all have our noses in the books of great writers and philosophers from ancient times. I am sure the Lord will bless the effort and we will learn wonderful things from our journey through time. I know I will enjoy following the golden thread of providence God has woven in the tapestry throughout all of history.

Lord, you know my heart... I pray that I would give my selfish desires a rest and give them over to you. Bless our efforts to study new and exciting things even when I fail to be obedient and humble, use these lessons and this homeschooling time for your glory and our refinement, especially mine. Amen

Snowing in Spring

Our Cherryblossom Tree

We had a glorious day on Friday! The sky was the best color of blue like cornflower blossoms and the sunshine was good medicine for my tired soul. It was so warm and bright, no wonder the bulbs and seedlings reach out for it pushing through the darkness of the earth. I have felt like that lately, reaching out to the light to be warmed and nourished. It is amazing what an afternoon in the sun will do for a busy mama!


I decided since I wasn't feeling well that we could finish up our schoolwork outside on our new homemade picnic table. The sunshine and fresh air would do us some good! Something about a change of venue and the promise of being outside more often, was a great remedy for our lack of
enthusiasm towards school.


The breeze was balmy and so relaxing. To our delight as it blew through the boughs of our cherry tree it took with it, its billowy, soft-white, petals and then dropped them all around us. My youngest, with awe in his little boy voice said,

" Look Mama! Its snowing..."

Creative Home Touches

I love decorating my home and I love making old things new! Recently, I took a pillow sham I have covering a throw pillow, and gave it a bit of creative new life. I love this fabric and its soft tones but I thought it could use a few more subtle details to add some texture and dimension.

I used a new stamp design from Layers of Color called Nature Walk. I used the largest stamp in the set, the flourish, and VersaMagic multi -surface chalk ink pad in Jumbo Java and stamped directly onto the fabric. This is my favorite ink ever. I use it so much I am due for a new ink pad soon. See how the stamp gives an added dimension and texture. Just enough to make it new!

A Breakfast at Our House

Ooh! Here is a yummy breakfast recipe that I just had to share. If you are like us, oatmeal lacks a bit of panache, especially on those cold wintry mornings. So I make oatmeal with fancy, but wholesome toppings. This one is sure to win over the pickiest eater, as well as, those with more refined taste.

Heather's Brown Sugar Banana Breakfast Oats

2 ripe bananas sliced- these can even be a bit over ripen too
1/4 c. of dried dates- I buy in the bulk food section of Fred Meyers Health Food Dept.
1/4 c. or less of brown sugar according to your taste
2 T. butter
1/4 c. whole milk
1/8 t. ground nutmeg

Over medium-low heat melt butter and brown sugar, then add dates, stir till coated and start to soften, then add milk and stir to incorporate, then add banana slices, and finally your nutmeg. Continue to stir and heat through till bananas get soft but are still whole, maybe 3-5 min. Serve over cooked oatmeal with a slice of ham and hot tea or strong black coffee, now that should get you going! This will make servings 4, Enjoy!