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Sunday, July 17, 2016

Stitching and Praying

Sundays are always a time for contemplation for me, as I am sure it is for many of you, too.  It is hard to ignore the insanity of our world right now, and this morning I found it very comforting to be able to pray my heart out until I felt His peace fill me up to the brim, and then spend the rest of the day with My Guy, peacefully stitching and watching the final round of the British Open.


And although he doesn't care at all for golf, my little furry sweetheart cannot resist a quilt, and it wasn't long before I saw this little face pop up .....  Whatcha doin' Mom?


Can I help?


I think you might have a problem .... right .... here .....


At this rate, you'll never get done Mom!!!  
C'mon!  Let me show you how it's done!



Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl has challenged her readers to take a Mid-Year Review of their goals for 2016 and see how they are doing now that the year is half over.

#2016MidYearReview

I didn't have time to do a formal review, but I do know that my main goal for this year is to finish my Blue Collection quilt.  To that end, I have been diligently working the hand applique on this project at every opportunity since the first of the year.


I'm happy to say that the 3D braided tree is now completely appliqued down!  There are still a few small branches at the top that will need to be stitched down after the top row is attached, and of course, hundreds of leaves, but I am so pleased with my progress on this project!


I also have several quilts that are on my list for family members.  Our smallest granddaughter still does not have her baby quilt!  She's 1-1/2 now, so it's definitely time :*)  Other than choosing the pattern and purchasing the fabrics, this project is not yet started.  And I have a brother who hopefully will receive a quilt from me this year as well, but choosing the pattern is as far as I've gotten.  Another goal has been to complete each month's UFO on my Guild Challenge list - except for last month, I've been faithful to get those done - Yay!!!  I am determined to finish last month's Blooming Nine Patch before the year is out.


One special goal for this year is to make a special quilt for a special someone that I can't share for a while.....


As you can see from my design wall here, I've got a great start on it, and if all goes well, I should have it done by the end of this week.  I had a ball digging through my white, gray and black scraps to make this background.


I cut the pieces I could get from them, then of course I saved the little left-over crumbs for a later project.  By the end of the day, I had quite a nice little pile of adorable crumbs :*)


And yes, I had lots of help with this project too!


I'll show and tell on this project as soon as I possibly can, 
but I don't want this someone to see it before it is gifted!

I'm looking forward to a fairly quiet week, which is nice because the past month has been pretty hectic.  I have a sit-n-sew with friends tomorrow - one of my favorite highlights of every week!  I'm teaching a class one day and still have some prep work to do to get that ready.  The rest of the week I will be immersing myself in those things that make myself and my loved ones happy.  And I hope you will be doing the same!  What will you be doing this week that makes you or someone you love happy?

Isn't it wonderful to have a passion in life that allows us to put the chaos of our world on a back burner somewhere, while we enter our peaceful zone with needle and thread?  While the world is seemingly going to hell in a handbasket all around us (one of my grandmother's favorite expressions), I am thankful to be able to take up my needle and choose to create something beautiful and lasting and filled with LOVE to counterbalance the hate spilling out on our streets.  And while I stitch, I pray.  For our country, for all countries, for all people, for our world.  When fear for the future, for the world our children and grandchildren are inheriting tries to overtake my mind, I turn to Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.... and before long my broken heart finds rest in His peace.

Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=

Linking up with the following:
Slow Sunday Stitching
Design Wall Monday
Tuesday Linky Party
Oh Scrap!
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

23 comments:

  1. Your day sounds like mine - stitching with prayer (and helpers). I had that need to sooth my soul.

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  2. Love your projects and the kitty photos. Thank goodness for handwork and prayers!

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  3. With all of the "help" you have, you should be almost finished with everything, shouldn't you? *LOL*
    I am so looking forward to seeing your Blue Collection come to completion. It is a gorgeous design and your fabric choices have been spot on!
    Very nice quilting on your Blooming Nine Patch! Look at you go!
    Oay, now I am curious to see what comes of all of the black, grey and white.
    Stitching keeps me centered when everything else is off kilter--and prayer keeps me focused on who and what really matters!
    Nice post, my friend. : )

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  4. Игрунья - шалунья!

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  5. It's great to have this passions in more ways than one! Awesome projects. Good luck with all of your goals! I'd be hard pressed to list and organize everything I have started! I also envy you your little helper! I miss having a kitty around! XO

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  6. I love your braided tree. It's so unique and so lovely. We have many vines in the woods here that wrap around tree trunks and this applique piece reminds me of those trees. So lovely.

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  7. Thanks for your beautiful post, the spirit of it, the beauty of your work and your kitty! Read your blog so often, but don't take the time to thank you.

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  8. I've been praying, too. Good luck with all your projects.

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  9. Your stitching is beautiful. I just love your braided tree. I, too, have been praying while stitching. It sure helps to sooth the soul.

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  10. You are such a tease-your kitty has seen more of blue collection than we have!! not fair! I want a full on photo of the whole quilt. Your fabrics appear to be absolutely fabulous.
    If anyone wants to see the completed quilt with my variations, visit my blog:
    pamspaintbox.blogspot.com

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  11. Your little helper is just like mine.. they all take turns helping! Your progress as of mid-year looks awesome!

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  12. Thank you so much for linking up. I find quilting to be such a quiet and meditative activity and I'm glad to hear that it brings you such inner peace as well. I hope you have a great week and rest of your year. It sounds like you are on track to meet several large goals.

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  13. Your tree is turning out great, but HOW could you stitch while watching that competition???? That was nail biting between those two.

    We've had so many heartbreaking days lately. It is so nice to have the quiet stitching time to pray and contemplate.

    Your little helping buddy looks so sweet.

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  14. The quilts you want to finish are amazing! Working little by little on the applique is the only way to get it done--believe me, I know. I love your little quilt helper. What a wonderful day, stitching and listening to a happy purr!

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  15. Beautiful projects you are working on. The blues are gorgeous.

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  16. Love how the braided tree turned out. That quilt top has a ton of applique to it. You are doing a great job. I too reflected on this world of ours on Sunday. We have to give some things up to the Lord. Have you read Bonnie Hunters sayings from her blog. She had one by Mother Theresa. If you want to change the world, go home and love your family. I think we need to get back to the basics, and that is a great place to start!! You teaching your grand-daughter to quilt, will give her a way to deal with her world in the future. ps. not sure of the spelling of Mother Theresa, but you know who I mean!!

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  17. Well said. We have had so many days of sadness full of hate that all we can do it pray.

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  18. It certainly seems like prayer is the only thing that makes any sense in these turbulent times. I love seeing your little helper.

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  19. Your applique is just beautiful! How did you ever get anything done before Rocky came along to help! lol

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  20. What a beautiful sentiment. Hope you have another beautiful Sunday today.

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  21. Absolutely... stitching saves our sanity!
    Love the photos of the snoopervisor helping with the hand stitching!
    Such a little bundle of love and happiness!
    Congrats on finishing the tree...it's gorgeous!

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  22. Your quilts are so beautiful. Now following your blog via Bloglovin'

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