Various Projects!

 

 

 

Hello! I haven't been the best about updating my blog, but I'm here now and ready to do it, and praying I get better about posting more often! I don't have pictures of all the things I've finished since I last updated, but I have pictures of some of my favorite things that I've done!

 

To start out, I made a pair of camouflage baby booties, I love them, of course all baby items are super adorable!

 

I love the camouflage yarn, it's really cute, and super fun to
work with!

Second, I made another doily, for a long time I was in a doily making mood, but now I think it'll be a little while before I make another one! This last one is for myself! I've made a lot of purple doilies, and don't have any that I've kept!

I used all leftover crochet cotton to make most of my doilies,
and still have more purple left!

Next....I made up a pattern for baby socks, this pair is for my moms doll, but her doll is about the size of a newborn baby.... I love making baby stuff! The socks were super easy, and I was pretty pleased with the way they came out!

 

I used leftover sock yarn from the pair I made myself

 

 

I also made a purse and a matching wallet, this is my winter/Christmas purse, it's more like a drawstring bag, but it still works as a purse....once again, I was able to use leftover yarn....I love when I able to do that!

 

I like this because it looks kind of old-fashioned and the light
colored yarn is a little sparkly!

 

 

I made this little outfit for my moms doll, I made up a pattern for a dress and matching bonnet, the yarn I used has sparkles in it and it was fun yarn to work with!

 

 

You can't really tell in this picture, but the dress is actually really full!

Lastly, I made a cape! I had been wanting to make one but patterns are expensive! However, a few months ago there was a sale on patterns at Joanns and I got a pattern for $2! Praise the Lord! Then I realized the pattern I bought used fleece, which is usually $10 a yard...BUT! I was on Joanns.com a few weeks ago and they had a sale...it was half off! I was so excited and ordered some! Then when it came in, I started sewing my cape together! It was my first time doing button holes, and for some reason I was having the hardest time figuring out how to use to button hole foot, but eventually, I figured it out....God is good! =) The cape is really warm so I think I might be able to use it as my winter jacket!

This is the front of the cape, not the best of pictures though

And the back of the cape....I love the bottom ruffle!

Well...that's about all I have to post for now! Praying everyone has a great day and (just in case I don't get around to posting for a while), have a very merry CHRISTmas!!!

Old Projects and New

Hello! I was standing in my room the other day and realized I never blogged my finished cross-stitch piece, so I took a couple pictures and put them up. I started the piece a few years ago and never finished it because I didn't ever work on it, so a few months ago I got it out and finished! =D I used some quilt pieces as my frame and have it as a wall hanging in my room now, it was so much fun seeing it all come together, and the colors matched really well, which is always very exciting! 



I was so happy to finally work on this a finish it!

And here is what it looks like with the quilted frame, I used
a stick as a way to hang it up....obviously =D

        About a month or so ago, I was at a friends birthday party and had no idea what to make while we sat and visited, so I made up a pattern for a little bowl/basket....it comes in handy to put some small things in.

I think at some point I'll make a little lid for it =)

    I have still been making some doilies, I love making up patterns for them, and they make really great gifts!! I made one for a birthday gift and another for a friend, I think I'll be making more when Christmas comes a little closer.

This one is a little smaller than others I've made,
but I really like the colors!

I like the colors on this one too though!

 

 

About a week ago, we had a "girls day" with my cousins and grandmother, we met at my cousins house around 10am and went down to Florence, AL to go to craft stores....it was so much fun, and a wonderful time of fellowship, a HUGE blessing! We went to Joanns, then to Chinese for lunch, then to Hancock Fabrics, then to Hobby Lobby....we were so tired by the end of the day...we got some really great deals though!

At Joanns, I bought a crocheted sock book, and some yarn...then when we went to Hobby Lobby they had a TON of yarn on sale, and, praise the Lord, I got sock yarn for only $2.33 a skein!!! I couldn't believe it, I was so excited! The day was great and I believe all of us thoroughly enjoyed our time together!

So a couple days ago decided to make a pair of socks for the first time, and I was very excited when they actually came out looking like socks! God has really been blessing my efforts in learning to be a keeper of home, (Titus 2:5), and I'm very thankful for it!

Here are my socks....I can't wait to make more! I'm working on
Christmas gifts right now though! =D

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a great week!

Mt. Zion Craft Show and More=D



  Hello! I hope everyone is doing well! Things have been wonderful here in Tennessee, and homemaking has been keeping me very busy, which is great!

                 About a month ago we were told about a craft show at a BEAUTIFUL place called Mt. Zion, so since then we've been making things for it. My mom, sisters, and I started out by making eight shawls, then we each made some other smaller things to try to sell.

                  At first I had no ideas as to what to make, then my mom found the cutest pattern for tea cup pin cushions, so I made two of those, then altered the colors to make coffee and hot chocolate, they were SO much fun to make, and they worked up really quick!! After I finished those, I crocheted some doilies, I used leftover thread and made up my own patterns for them, and oh my cotton-fields, it was an absolute blast! =D

                   Today was the day of the craft show, we were able to meet and talk to different people in the community which was really nice. At the craft show there was a civil war reenactment. Mt. Zion is located right on Sugar Creek, and the last civil war battle that was fought in Tennessee was at Sugar Creek (or near it, I can't remember which), so that was pretty neat! The entire day was wonderful and now I feel pretty tired, we got to Mt. Zion a little after 7am and didn't leave until after 3pm, so it was a pretty long day. God has been blessing our efforts in homemaking and I'm looking forward to the future craft shows.

                    Even if absolutely nothing sold today I think I still would have had an amazing day, it was spent at a beautiful place talking and laughing with friends and family, and crocheting while doing so!!! My cotton-fields, I can't even begin to describe how much of a blessing today was.....Well, now it's time for me to figure out what to work on next! Have a blessed night!

                      

 



These are the pin cushions I made =D

Here is a better picture of one of the pin cushions.

One of the doilies

Another =)

Another...... hahaha

And the last one =D

I made this a little while ago for my mom's birthday

I worked on this doily while we were at Mt. Zion, then finished
it when we got home and gave it to my sister Tabitha

I made this doily before Mt. Zion, but couldn't part with it
because I loved it so much! =D

Ice Cream Social!!!

       Hello!! It's been such a very long time since I last updated my blog! First and foremost, I am very glad to report that the Lord brought us safely to Tennessee, and we are moved in to our new house, settled, and back into a normal routine! YAY!! =D
 

Ice Cream Social...

    A few weeks ago my sister, Tabitha, and I were at our friend Cami's house knitting/crocheting. As we sat talking about various things Cami mentioned that she and her family like going to this one ice cream social about an hour or so away, Cami had said it was a get together where everyone brings ice cream, then , everyone dances.... old fashioned civil war style....not only that, but everyone dresses the part! Then, she showed us a video of some of the dances, and let us borrow it so we could practice them...So then of course, we HAD to find out exactly what this dance was like, so my family decided to go!
    Around 10am this morning we arrived at Cami's house and she did our hair, we all got ready, then Jonathan (Cami's brother), and Cami drove up there with us, and Miss Lona (Cami's mom), and Mr. David (Cami's dad) followed behind.....and oh my cotton-fields, what a blast it was! The whole day was purely enjoyable! There were so many dances, so many people, and lots of food! What could be better than a group of Christians, dancing, and having ice cream?! hahaha  My little brother, Billy, was so much fun to watch dance, especially when he and another little girl danced the Virginia Reel! I think the Virginia Reel is my favorite dance, but then again, the  Canadian Barn Dance/ another dance but I can't remember the name was a BLAST...oh! And the Patticake Polka is so much fun too... my cotton-fields! They're all fun! hahaha....AND! I learned to waltz...(which for those of you who don't know me....that's really awesome because I've ALWAYS wanted to learn!).... The whole day was fun, I really enjoy dancing, and due to the lack of guys there dancing, I was also able to dance with my sisters, Tabitha and Tara. It was really nice because no girl minds playing the guy part as long as they get to join in the fun! =)
    I was able to get some pictures of getting our hair done, but none of the actual dance, due to the fact that the camera batteries kept dying =( oh well! That's OK! :)



Today was wonderful! I'm so thankful that God gave us this opportunity, and feel so blessed to have made friends so quickly. God is so awesome! =D
   Well, it's about time for me to go to bed! Dancing exhausted me! =D Hopefully I'll post again soon! I have a few finished projects I want to get around to posting!!!' =D

Experimenting with Muffins

Wow! I'm about to do my second post in ONE day! Perhaps I will get better about my blogging! ;)



I love cranberries SO much that I thought they deserved a picture! =D haha

This afternoon, I decided I would use up the rest of our cranberries and make up my own muffin recipe. It was so much fun, I love being in the kitchen! =D Cranberries are one of my favorites, I love the bitterness they have !. There really isn't much to say about the muffins, but I took some pictures while I was making them, and after they came out of the oven. =D I was actually kind of happy with the way they came, (considering I thought of the recipe as I went along haha).

The batter tasted really good, so that was a good sign!

Here they are! =D

And last, but not least, the inside of the muffin....cranberries, yummy!

Experimenting is always fun, and so is working in the kitchen! Now, I'm going to get back to my cross-stitching, I'm hoping and praying I'll finish it soon! =D I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to have the ability to work with my hands! Praise the Lord! =D


More Finished Projects!

Hello!
I should really get better about blogging, I haven't really been in the mood to do so!... I've been pretty busy lately, I've been doing my best to finish up some projects before we move to Tennessee, (our move is in 18 days!!! =D) I'm getting more and more excited with each passing day, God is SO good!!!!... Anyway, I finished a shawl, a kitchen set which consists of 4 placemats, 4 cloth napkins, and a pot pad, and also finished a babydoll afghan, and a babydoll outfit. I don't have any pictures of the afghan though.



This is the back of the babydoll outfit, I really wanted to make the doll a boy for now,
but I couldn't find a pattern I loved, so I made my own pattern =D



I was really pleased with the way it came out! This is the front...obviously ;)



My kitchen set



Here is a better picture of the placemats...well one of them =)

 

Here is the shawl I finshed. I think it may be one of my favorites that I've made!

First Dress!

As you know, I've been wanting to get better at sewing. About a month or so ago, I realized I had NEVER followed a sewing pattern, I generally make up whatever I'm making, so....I decided to buy a dress pattern and some fabric to make it.
The dress took me about a day to sew up, when I finished, I was pleasantly surprised that it fit, and looked good! I was thinking..."Oh my cotton-fields! It actually looks like a dress!" (Yes, I was surprised it looked like a dress) haha...... I honestly didn't know what to expect....first time following a pattern, and I'm pretty new at sewing in general!

This is the front of my dress

Anyway......I'm really happy with the way it turned out and look forward to making another one. The next one I make will be a different color and print, a little shorter, and the sleeves will be different! I'm finding that, the more I sew, the more I want to sew! =D

The back of my dress =)

Finished Afghan!!

     Once again, it's been a little while since I last updated my blog! I'm very happy to report that I was finally able to finish my granny square afghan! I'm extremely happy with the way it came out, which is always a plus! =D I'm unable to remember how many squares it took to make my afghan,  but I know it was a strange number, I think it may have been 99 squares. I used four different colors, green is the main color, then I also used brown, blue and pink, it was a great way to use up some of the yarn I've collected over the last couple of years!

My completed afghan!

I had a blast making this! Granny squares are a fun, quick, and easy way to make an afghan, I love them!
     It seems like it took me longer to sew the squares together than it did to actually make them. When I sewed them together I was pretty random with my design! In a way, I think the randomness in my design makes it look like patches, which I think is kind of neat! =D
   

Two Shawls and a Purse

Knitted Shawl

Shawls

   I just realized that I had made two shawls a little while ago and hadn't posted any pictures of them! One is knitted, and the other is crocheted. The knitted one is a light, summer shawl, more for looks than for warmth. The second one is crocheted, this one is more of a fall shawl, it is heavier and feels warm!
     I think shawls may be one of my very favorite things to make, they're fun and, for the most part quick!


Crocheted Shawl

   Purse

     As you may know, I've been practicing sewing, so far I've enjoyed it immensely! A few weeks ago I decided I would make myself a new purse. (We had a recital to go to and I wanted a purse to match my dress). I was pleased with the way it came out, and also happy it only took me one night to finish!



Learning Drop Spindle....Again!

         I finally was able to figure out how to spin wool into yarn using the drop spindle! =D While in Tennessee, my friend Cami, taught my mom, sister, and I how to use the drop spindle, however, by the time we got back to Connecticut, I had already forgotten most of what she taught. I was so disappointed because I REALLY wanted to be able to practice spinning!


This is the change purse I made out of my first ball of yarn I spun =D

          The other day I started thinking about spinning again, so I decided to look on videos on YouTube...after watching SEVERAL videos, I was able to begin spinning, praise God!!! =D I'm not at all good at spinning yet, but the small ball of yarn I made was at least usable, so I made a little change purse. =D
          I have a feeling that using Mom's drop spindle is going to get VERY addicting! Since I started really working at it, I haven't wanted to stop doing it! It's been a blast...such a huge blessing!
         Keeping my hands busy in general has been a blessing, whether it be knitting, crocheting, learning to spin, learning to sew, baking, cooking, or cross-stitching, it's been wonderful....Praise the Lord! He has blessed me with all the supplies I need to do these things, and the ability to do them! =D

Proverbs 31, A Virtuous Woman

¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
²What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
³Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Sewing

 Getting Motivated!           

       Lately, I've been wanting to learn to sew some of my own clothes, but, I'm very new at sewing. However, my mom ordered a video put out by the West ladies called The Art of Sewing,  watching this video with my mom, older sister Tabitha, and my little sister Tara, was most inspirational! The things they were making were so creative and got me motivated!

Getting Started and Finishing Up

     So, after watching this video I decided I would go for it! I would just try my best to make something simple to wear. I had remembered seeing a way to cut up and old pair of jeans to make a skirt, so I decided I'd give it try.
     After cutting up the jeans and cutting out fabric I took it to the machine, I must admit, I was slightly worried my project would turn out to be a failure, but to my surprise, it wasn't! =D
     Now, I'm even more motivated to learn more about sewing.....the more homemaking skills....the better....After all, according to God, I'm to be a keeper of home (Titus 2). =)

New skirt =D

Bucket of Dishcloths

        Lately, I've been working on a large crocheted, granny square, afghan, but after completing several squares I needed to take a small break, so I took all of my opened, cotton, dishcloth yarn and started making a bunch of dishcloths! I was able to use up all of the opened packages of the cotton yarn. I made 10 cloths, and 1 small scrubby, (the scrubby was made so I didn't waste any yarn at all!). By the time I finished all the dishcloths, which was about a day, I was ready to go back to working on my afghan, now I continue to work on the afghan, which is going to take me a very....long....time....but it''ll be worth it =D

I was able to make 10 dishcloths and one small scrubby.

Here is a cute way to display your dishcloths, in an old, black, bucket =D

Two Things!

One!

Spinning?

The chain I made =D

    Today, Mom was brushing our dog, Pumpkin. She's a labradoodle, (a mutt). As Mom brushed her, the fur slowly filled up the brush, so Mom emptied it. Then, I realized how much her fur looks like wool, then I thought....why not take this little bit of fur and try to spin a short piece? So I tried....and....it worked! =D So after spinning it, I made a very short chain....out of dog fur! hahaha

Two!

    Tonight I decided I would do a little bit of sewing, so I got out a quilting kit I got a few years ago and started making one of the squares. I had missed sewing very much, it was a lot of fun to sit down behind the machine again and get some work done!

The square I made tonight =D

    Since I started crafting again I feel so motivated, it's wonderful! I love ending a day feeling like I was productive! It's so nice to not only be productive, but to do things I enjoy! It has been a blessing and the Lord has blessed me with all the materials I need to keep on doing my homemaking! God is so amazing, He always provides! =D Without Him, I can do nothing.

Next Projects!

Almost too Many Projects!

        I have so many different projects that I want to do, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and spinning...all of it! I want to sew using a quilting kit I got a while ago, sew a skirt, finish knitting another shawl, crochet a different kind of shawl, crochet a large afghan, and get better with the drop spindle. My cotton-fields! SO many different things I'm wanting to do! It'll be so much fun, almost overwhelming though ;) haha

 New Yarn...and FREE!

        So, when we were in Tennessee, we went to Hobby Lobby. I got some fabric to make a skirt and was SO excited about it! Well, a couple days ago my sister, Tabitha, took me to Joann's because I wanted to get some yarn to make a matching shawl for my skirt, I couldn't find yarn to match it, so I bought a different color that I liked, even though I knew it wouldn't match my new fabric.
        OK, so here's the actual point to the story haha.... Today, my Gram and Grandmother came over to spend some time with us and work on some crafts. Gram showed us all of her finished shawls, one of them matches my skirt fabric PERFECTLY!! Then, Gram said she had 3 leftover skeins of that very yarn and that I could have them if I wanted! I was so super excited! It's the perfect amount to make a beautiful shawl to match my skirt! Now I can hardly wait to get sewing and crochet a shawl to match it! =D God is just so good!!!!

Update!!!

      So, after I posted this yesterday my sister and I brought my grandmother back home, and guess what! She gave me several skeins of a sage type green yarn! It'll work REALLY well for the afghan I'm wanting to do....my cotton-fields, so much yarn was given to me yesterday! =D Couldn't be more excited! Praise God!!!

 

There are about 6 skeins of this green for my afghan! =D

   


My skirt fabric and new yarn! =D

More Time to Craft

           I'm very excited to say that this week I finished up the rest of my schoolwork and graduated highschool! =D  I have much more time now to help my mom around the house and practice homemaking, which is such a huge blessing!


Some of my finished projects laying out on my bed =) Lots of yarn =D

          At some point in the next week or so I plan on getting better aquainted with our new sewing machine, I can hardly wait! We recently got a video put out by The West Ladies called The Art of Sewing, which I look forward to watching, I'm sure it'll be very helpful! =D
          Another thing! I'd REALLY like to try to use my mom's drop spindle and get good at spinning wool to make yarn. While we were in TN my new friend, Cami, taught us how to use it, I was really bad at it, but really want to learn how to get good! haha =D Cami does some BEAUTIFUL work on her spinning wheel, it inspired me, and I believe the rest of the girls too!
          I can't believe how many different crafts I want to do, and how many crafts I want to learn to do, I want to crochet more, learn more knitting and sewing, and get better at spinning, but hobbies are good, and crafts are productive, so I guess I can't really go wrong! =D Now that I'm graduated, I'll have more time to learn to do the things I want to learn and do more of the things I already know how to do, I'm sure it'll be a huge blessing, it already has been! =D God is so AWESOME!









         
        

Homemaking

          Lately I've had the pleasure of doing more homemaking, I've been crocheting like crazy and have been learning to knit and sew, it's been SO enjoyable! I love being able to be productive throughout the day, not only be productive, but do it in, and from the home. For a little while I was thinking I couldn't wait to be 18 so I could go out and "work", now I'm approaching that age and I've realized that staying home and crocheting, knitting, sewing, baking, cooking, and working with my mom and sisters cleaning the house IS in fact "work". I realize now that the Lord doesn't call me to go out and get a job, He calls me to be an obedient daughter that strives to do His will and strives to follow Proverbs 31.

         About a day or so ago I started reading a book called Joyfully At Home, I haven't yet finished it, but just in the introduction I was so encouraged! In today's world it's considered "weird" to be a stay at home daughter, a homemaker, a home schooled daughter who has no plans of going to college, no plans of getting a "real job", and no plans of working outside of the home at all. But now I realize that just because people, meaning Christians today, think it's "weird", doesn't make it wrong! According to God's Word, I'm suppose to be a keeper of home, that is what He calls me, girls and women, to do.

        I was also encouraged on our trip to Tennessee, I met some girls down there who share the same belief as my family, and my cousins. It was very refreshing to be sitting with a group of girls, working with our hands and for it to, not only be considered normal, but necessary, useful, and productive. I'm so thankful for the things God has shown me and the people, books, and bible verses He has brought into my life to encourage me! :)

This is my knitted shawl, I was so excited to learn how to make it!



Dishcloth and soap scrubby

Baby Afghan

Baby Hat

Booties :)

Gift Baskets

Another baby hat :)

My first sewn baby dress! :) It's hand sewn because we didn't have a sewing machine, and I didn't have a pattern. I was so happy when it came out right! :)

My afghan

My new purse :)