Quiet Life Homestead

Saturday

We woke this morning to nice crisp weather!  It is such a difference from what we've had for the past couple of months and felt so good.

I finished moving the living room around.  Now Bethany and I will have our sewing machines in here and can work while the guys are in the "leather shop" (dining room) working.  Now if I can just find a place for all the material..............

Quilt Woes - A Spiritual Battle?

I'm still having trouble with this quilt I'm making!  Once I took out the stitches from before, I re-measured and re-basted.  Today I started stitching it up again.  ONCE AGAIN, it has somehow moved!  I called my husband for a little moral support, and wise guy that he is, he suggested staples!   

Looks like I've got some more reverse stitching to do once we get back from Bibliomania!  I think I'll just hand sew the rest of it.  This is why I despise machine quilting!  Three-fourths of the quilt did just fine, actually it's more than that.  For the whole queen-size quilt, only about half of one length of it messed up.  We're talking the borders here, so I guess I shouldn't complain too much!  It could be much worse.

At least this time I caught it before I had done the three rows.  I was about halfway done with the second row when I noticed that it was bunching up around the basting.  I took it out and sure enough, it did it again!

Maybe I should just quilt all my quilts by hand (the ones I'm not tying anyway) and leave the sewing machine for quilt tops and sewing clothing.  I think that's my biggest frustration, I've determined to not make any clothing until I got this quilt finished.  It is taking so long and so Bethany and I haven't made our dresses yet.  Also, I'm getting scared again that the dresses might be hard to make.  Dear, sweet Deanna, at Abundant Blessings has said much to encourage me in this endeavor.  I may have to get another pep talk when the time comes! 

Here's the point.  I KNOW that God wants me to be a keeper of the home.  I KNOW Satan does not.  Anything God wants me to do, He's given me the ability to do.  I just have to study and work on it.  Satan is always going to try to put things in my way to make me stumble, keep me discouraged, and keep my eyes off what the Lord's will is.  I've thought about adding some encouraging scriptures to my sewing notebook to look upon when I am discouraged.  The more I think about it, the more I've decided that that's exactly what I'll do!

Vicki

By the way.  I'm not one of those people who think everything's a spiritual battle, i.e., my hair's sticking up, it must be an attack, etc.  But I'm wondering if this may be since it is attempting to get in my way of doing what God has commanded, being a keeper of my home.  Also, I know that not everyone is equally gifted in every skill or even has the desire or ability to do the things I'm talking about.  But, I want to be better at as many areas as I possibly can and do all that I can to be what He wants me to be.

Crisp Wednesday Morning & Two New Sewing Books

We had the windows open all night last night and I thought it was a wee bit chilly.  This morning on the radio they said the temperature was 32!  Oops!  Probably should've closed the windows.  It is projected to get to 70 again today so I'm not going to worry about it.  The kids are still asleep and Charlie's off to work so it's just the dog, cat, and me.  I thought I'd write this morning and then get some cottage cheese for breakfast.

Yesterday we took Charlie to work and went to the zoo.  We hadn't been in weeks (we're a big time zoo family here).  It was warm in the sun and cold in the shade, but nice to be out walking and breathing in the fresh air.  We ended up running around all day yesterday.  It always seems to happen when we take him to work, I end up driving all over Tulsa doing this and that.  I'm so looking forward to being home all day every day for the rest of the week!

I went to Barnes and Noble to let them know that the book I had reserved I didn't need (my sister got it for me).  I ended up picking up two books anyway.  I don't know how to put the little book picture things on here but I'll tell you the titles and if you're interested you can find them from there.

The first book is Sew What! Skirts by Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp.  They talk about how you don't really need a commercial pattern to make a skirt.  The book teaches you how to develop your own pattern according to your body dimensions.  Then they give you 16 different style ideas (some honestly a little shorter than what we'd wear).  I'm really looking forward to making some of these.  The important thing though is once we learn the concept, we can do lots more than the styles they have.

The second book, In Stitches by Amy Butler, has 25 projects to make for the home.  It has patterns included for things such as different types of pillows, kitchen items, bedroom and bathroom items, even a kitty tunnel.  We've decided that the dog might think our kitty tunnel is a Holly burrito (Holly's the cat's name), so we might not make that one.  If I can figure out how to make it bigger, I can make one big enough for the dog to go through.

I'm making myself get finished with the quilt BEFORE I begin another project, so I'd better get off and get quilting! 

The End of Procrastination!

We got an early start this morning so I have a little time to update my blog.  Cody's working with Bethany on her math (fractions) and Dallas breezed through his math.  Bible and Spelling Power are also done!  Dallas is "reading" his current list book - I say "reading" because he sure is making lots of noise with the dog for someone who's reading! 

I've decided that what we'll do when the youngers get done w/ the math is clean off the table and put the quilt on it.  I'm going to have everyone work on quilting the cornerstones.  This will teach the boys a little hand sewing (could be useful in the future), sure up Bethy's skills, and get the thing DONE!  Well, except for the border, but I'm thinking about tackling that with the sewing machine!  You must understand, I started this quilt when we moved into my parents to help with my Dad back in 2001.  I'm SO ready to get it finished!  Also, I think Charlie's getting a little tired of all the material.  I used to have a system that organized all of it, but through the years I've accumulated more than I've used and I don't have the shelving system anymore.

Once we get this quilt done, I've got a pair of "crayon" quilts for Bethany's beds and a christmas quilt, both of which I started before 2001!  I didn't realize I'd been procrastinating, but today's the day when it begins to change.

I'll take a picture once Charlie gets home.  He took the digital camera to take photos of his new store.  He got a promotion and today's the first day we're allowed to say anything about it.  I'm so excited for him and have been praying that God would continue to bless him and to give him favor in the eyes of his bosses. 

Have a great day!

Vicki

Thursday

I've started a new afghan.  I wasn't going to until I finished quilting my bed quilt but I was suffering from a case of excessive energy yesterday and couldn't focus on the quilting.  I guess I should have cleaned, but I needed to stay in the living room because the kids were reading their list books.  The children have seemed to regress and now I must stay in the room where they are reading, otherwise they start playing with each other or the dog.  We have a pretty basic school schedule to make things easier to stick with but, once again, we've strayed a bit off the mark.  I think part of the problem is that I write my blog in the morining.  Maybe I should do it in the afternoon while the children are reading.

I'll work on my quilt today and then once I get that done or my eyes get too tired I'll switch to the afghan.  Bethany's decided to try crochet again and we figured out what was giving her problems before.  She had forgotten to add the chain stitch at the end of a row and was getting frustrated when her project would curl in the beginning.  I guess it had been a while since I had a beginning project and she forgot how mine did the same thing until the weight of the project keeps it flat.

The boys have leathercarving to do.  Dallas showed Charlie his project last night and he gave him some ideas and some places to fix.  Once they get theirs done, I'm not sure how Cody's project is coming along, they'll probably work on some kits we have here.  We have purses, wallets, and some other ones to do to try to sell.  Plus we've decided that this year for Christmas we're going to make all the nieces and nephews belts.  As we have 2 nephews and 5 nieces, we decided we might be better off starting now.  The boys will get western style with maybe some braiding added.  The girls will probably get "bling-bling" - where you add little rivets that have jewel-looking things in the center.  I know all the little nieces will want these, I just don't know about my sister's oldest who's going to be 18 this year.

I'd better get going!

Vicki

Wednesday: Snow, Sewing, Ideas Needed For Boys & Container Gardening

It's snowing!  Well, sort of anyway.  We're supposed to get snow from today through Friday. 

Bethany made a robe and a skirt for her Molly doll yesterday.  It just amazes me how she can do something like that without a pattern.  She's been blessed by God that way.  We've been trying to work through our Training Our Daughters to be Keepers at Home and it amazes me how much of the stuff she already knows.  I haven't taught her these things, but she instinctively knows them!  She'll probably be teaching me a lot of the things!  She hasn't quite got the hang of crochet so I guess I beat her there (LOL) :)  No, we really do have lots of fun working together. 

I need to find things for the boys to do that are beneficial and productive.  The already do leatherwork since Charlie runs the local Tandy here, and their skills are improving greatly.  I guess that may just have to be it until God blesses us with a homestead.  I've thought about checking into container gardening since we can't do anything with the land we're on here (mobile home park).

Please let me know if you have any ideas or resources I can check out, for either the container gardening or stuff for the boys to do.  The only stuff I've found online for activities were way to young for them (they are 14 & 13).

Also, thank you for the encouragement and prayers, they help very much! 

Vicki

Another Idea For Old Blue Jeans

My husband and I were talking about making this and my 11yr old daughter overheard.  She went in her room and we heard her sewing machine working.  Within 5 minutes, she came out with one that she had just made!   I'll see if I can get some pictures of it on here this evening in case you are like me - visual learner.

Take an old pair of jeans, any size will work.  Cut off the legs just past the crotch.  Sew a straight line along the bottom of the pants (old leg-crotch-old leg).  For the purse strap, she had an old denim strap from who knows what (she is The next Martha Stewart) that she attached to either side of the purse with grommets.  That was the only part she needed help with.  You can purchase grommets probably at any craft store (Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnns) or definitely at Tandy Leather. 

Like I said, I'll try to post pictures of her purse.  Also of note, she uses the pockets to store things like little notebooks and pencils.  Quick, cheap, and so easy an 11 year old can do it....that's my kind of craft! 

Bird Invasion & Window Coverings

I got up this morning, planning on finishing the window coverings the kids and I have been making.  I was greeted by a lot of chirping once I came into the kitchen.  A bird had gotten into our vent for the stove.  Charlie had already left for work so I didn't know what to do!  Dallas, my oldest, went outside and scared the bird out and then put a stick up there.  The vent will still open but hopefully not enough so the bird can come back.  I was wondering why our cat was on the stove, something she never does! 

Bethany and I have been working on window coverings.  I don't call them curtains because they're patchwork and they won't be very pretty.  I have been given tons of material over the years and finally had enough of dragging it all over the place.  So, two days ago, we put all of it on the kitchen table (good thing its big) and starting sorting: for clothes, flannel, for braiding rugs (can't wait to try this one), small scraps, and everything else.  I don't know how many we ironed and cut, but we ended up doing a whole bunch and then put the rest back into boxes and bags, I know it's not good for the material.

We cut them into 5" squares and started sewing.  I'm going to move her sewing machine into the kitchen today so she can start sewing them as well.  First I have to see what's up with her machine.  She made a purse out of one of her old pairs of jeans and I think the tension got tweaked. 

By the end of the day, we hope to have all 12 windows covered.  Like I said, it won't necessarily be pretty, but as Bethy said when I told her that, "It's purpose is to be warm, not pretty."  I'll try to take a picture when they are done.

Now to see if I can get the boys to finish cutting and installing the skirting before the football games come on!  Good Luck!