crafting out

Today I met some friends downtown at the yarn shop to do a little knitting (in my case I did do a little knitting, I mostly talked and enjoyed my coffee).
I had a fun time, in fact I know I need to do this more often (plus it's one of my crafting goals for this year). Hopefully I'll make the time for knitting, friends, coffee -all together- at least a a couple of times each month. It's so nice to get support and to admire the handiwork of others as well.

~hot drinks

~busy hands


~in the lap

a really nice way to spend a Sunday.



(just a little note~January was both a busy and emotionally tough month on the personal front, so for February I'm looking for new inspiration. I'm going to do a picture a day blogging-"photo February" -just taking a snapshot and then posting a few words about the picture or just about the day, I'm looking forward to this.)

fine wine and cheese

frosting, originally uploaded by *nichole*.

Me~
a year older,
hopefully a bit more wiser.
But like I told my mom for her birthday,
"just think of yourself as a fine wine or a good block of cheese, improving with age."
I'm definitely holding onto that one (:

old sheets, will work

A couple a weeks ago I found myself wandering around the department store looking for curtains, I needed some for the girls room. As I kept looking through the curtains the prices (along with the styles) kept me from financial commitment. I then had that thought "why not try and make some". I also needed king sized pillowcases, so I decided to go ahead and sew some up too (I got one of the pillowcases finished, the other one is in the works).
Last weekend was the first weekend in a long while since I had time at the sewing machine, and it was time long overdue. I just took some thrifted sheets (along with some fabric squares for the pillowcases) and transformed them into what I needed~

"new"pillowcase


curtains, homemade style




All in all I'm pleased with my small sewing projects after all I was able to incorporate the 3 R's-reduce, reuse, recycle.

yay for thrifted sheets!

On my mind....

Haiti~
the country experienced a powerful aftershock today, please keeping praying for everyone in Haiti and for the relief workers that are there. Just yesterday more people have been rescued, a week after the earthquake.
Some links to help,

and

ADRA

It seems in life things often happen that defy all reason, but energy used in trying to figure everything out is exhausting-so I try not to, but of course it is very hard. I just keep praying-that's what I do.
"Find rest, O my soul in God alone; my hope comes from Him. Psalms 62:5
In such times, hope is what we cling to, hope is what we need.

(just wanted to add that my dear friend Tara and her band The Beggarmen are having a benefit concert this weekend, if in the area please attend).

ten

My oldest turned ten today. We are now officially in double digit territory. Which is both exciting and yes a little overwhelming.

Growing into young womanhood
being a mother to a young woman
trying to be understanding
trying to be a good example of womanhood myself for her
failing at times
accepting grace
extending grace
her love
her heart
allows me to grow in so many ways
so as she matures, so do I
becoming more of the mother she needs.

Ten.

a year in review~craft 2009

Here's a couple of things I have learned about myself from crafting,

~I'm a total process crafter, I can't turn out projects too quickly.

~I love color.

~I love inspiration from books, blogs, magazines-but can become easily overloaded.

~comparison isn't necessarily a bad thing, perfectionism is.

~I craft in spurts, basically just when I feel like it.

~I love giving something I made to someone I love.

Some of my crafting goals for 2010 include,

~taking a few more risks with both knitting and sewing
(I want to knit a sweater, yes a big but well-fitted sweater-cause I'm not on the small side, that's for sure).

~making more time to craft with others (fellowship with others while crafting).

~making the most of what I have already on hand.

All I know is that my yarn/fabric stash better get ready, cause I'm on my way (: