My Joyful Heart

Here is 11:00 Sunday night:

Here is last night's 11:12 finish:

A little late night blurriness and shadows - sorry.

 

"Joyful Hearts"

by Widgets and Wool Primitives

28 ct. Sandcastle (leftover from Mr. Darcy)

WDW Lancaster Red

 

This makes my heart joyful. Truly!

How often do I get a new chart on Friday and have it sewn up completely by Monday? Umm, this would be the first!

The reason this feels so good is because I got inspired on Saturday,

when I was cleaning the bathroom.

 Mmm...hmm. Bathroom cleaning.

 It provides great inspiration as well as time to reflect and pray. I got inspired to stitch this little sweet thing up and have a giveaway at the Bible study I spoke at this morning and have to repeat tomorrow night.

 

The joy part on the little verse fits perfect with the book of Philippians and the happy home thing was what I was sharing about in Phil. 2:1-4. I was so happy and

grateful to get it done and not just have it be "a good thought."

 Not getting it finished until 11pm was pushing it a little, but it wasn't too stressful.

 

I had plenty of stress thinking about delivering my talk!

Yikes! I am not a public speaker.

God so totally gave me everything I was going to say, so knowing

the material was no problem.

I was afraid my voice was going to quiver and I was going to turn into

a puddle of sweat. 

 I was afraid that my sympathetic nervous system was going to play a wonky game of teeter-totter with my parasympathetic nervous system.

You know, one calls out, "Fight!"

The other shouting back, "Flight!"

Back and forth. Up and Down.

Leaving me cold and shaking afterward.

 

Now several, relieved hours later, I can say that none of that happened.

Praise Jesus! He was and is so good to me!

Many wonderful people were praying away for me, as well.

My heart is joyful that I have one talk done. Yay!!

 

But if you hear something that sounds like a faint knocking, it just might be my knees not feeling so joyful over the prospect of giving the talk again!

 

With joy for you!

Victoria

 

 

 

Two Finishes

I am happy to share a couple of finishes I got done this weekend.

First, Mr. Darcy~



Another fun Sampler Girl piece!

 

Friday I found myself going a bit out of the way home from an appointment to check out the closest LNS to me. Since the one only 20 minutes from me closed in September, I thought I had better familiarize myself with the now nearest one. ;)

I have absolutely no need for anything but wanted to take a gander and build a relationship with the store owner.

 

I have been pondering the idea of lacing my own pieces to save money.

So I asked her about it.

I did a quick Google search and learned a bit there, as well.

Some lace; some simply pin.

The whole process doesn't look too complicated but just rather putsy.

I am not sure if I want to invest the time but saving $$ is always appealing.

 

Dear Gentle Readers, do any of you out there do that?

I'd love some practical advice!

 

But back to the store, I didn't feel right about just gathering information

for my benefit without giving the lady some business.

So I poked around a bit and fell in love with a sweet little design.

I love the script and it gave me a bit of a Valentine's feel.

So home it came. I started it Saturday afternoon and got it done after the Super Bowl.

 

The designer is Widgets and Wool Primitives. Apparently she/they (?) had been local until this past summer. I had not heard of them. There is a really cute finishing design on the pattern that I am planning to do this week.

 

Must pop off to bed for another busy week ahead.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

Simply,

Victoria

Questions and Lessons to Learn from Jane

On January 28, 1813, the much loved Pride and Prejudice was first published.

Pride and Prejudice, Title Page, First Edition, via Wikipedia

 

Tanya, over at The Sampler Girl's blog, shared her favorite blog for all things Jane: 

http://austenonly.com/

 Reading today's post at Austenonly informed me about the story behind the story.
The fact that the story was first named First Impressions.
The fact that it first pursued publishing in 1797 but actual publishing didn't
 happen for 16 years.
The fact that her family, especially her father, were her huge fans, believing in her and encouraging her to continue her writing.

Feeling a bit analytical here, I got to thinking how different things would be if Jane hadn't believed in herself and if her family would not have supported her.
Sixteen years is a long time to wait on something that you believe is good and not just chuck the whole thing. Pride and Prejudice seems to be her most famous novel.
What if she would have given up?
What if she would have just thrown the whole manuscript into the fire?
What if she wouldn't have continued to write in the meantime and
Sense and Sensibility wouldn't have been published in 1811?
And, what if her father, a reverend, would have told her that the story she was writing was "improper" for a clergy man's daughter to write?
What if he and her siblings wouldn't have believed in her and her talent?
Hmmm...

What if God has work for me to do and I just give up?
What if I just get so weary of rejection and persevering and choose to quit?
What if the cares of this world distract me and pull me away from pressing on?
What if I would have hung on a little longer and blessings would have come in abundance?

What if I don't show support and belief in my kids?
What if I am not so sure that what they are doing is God's plan and unknowingly
show them rejection?
What if my belief in them was all it would take for them to keep on keeping on?
(Well, with the Spirit's working too, of course.)

I am not a student of all things Jane. I really don't know much about her life at all. I just simply enjoy her novels and the movies and samplers made from them. So I can't begin to speculate what exactly happened in her life to keep her going forward. But, I can look at what little I know and draw out some great character traits that are worthy of pursuit, both in her and her father.

And I can ask my Father to give me what it takes to persevere.
Off to ponder a bit more while I work on my Mr. Darcy sampler,
Victoria





Chicken Pox, Curtains, and Chili

It has been a long road of illness here. Shingles boy is much better - able to be active and catching up on school. So glad for homeschooling in situations like this or he would be tremendously behind. The littlest dude is still coughing and we have figured out that it is whooping cough. In addition he is itching and grumping with the chicken pox. No surprise - I have been waiting for it actually.

A little joy in the week has come from getting my curtains up. I finished them last week and the rods came 2 days ago. I have to say that it encourages my heart. Just a little bit of accomplishment around here when all is less than in order and I am constanly on call.

 

All they are is simple double-sided squares draped over a rod.

The horseshoe "home" sign was a gift my oldest daughter designed and made for me. She brought the horseshoes back from Texas after she finished Bible school, painted them,wired them together and even made the barbed wire.  

 I have a small start on my next Jane Austen piece. I haven't touched it all week.

Perhaps tonight I will get to stitch a bit more as my family is taking chili

for 70 people at an inner city church and I am staying back with the sick one.

Let me say, chili for 70 is one massive amount of chili!

I so hope a lot of people come to get fed physically and spiritually.

 

Finding Joy serving wherever I'm called,

Victoria

 

Slow Going

It's been 9 days and counting. One 17 year old with the shingles and a barky cough plus one 6 year old with a relentless cough that doesn't respond to any treatment. After one more night of broken sleep and trying in vain to help the little one with his cough, this morning was off to a slow and late start.  Yet it was a morning that called for a little breakfast comfort - baked oatmeal. While it baked, I grabbed a shower. Coming downstairs with wet hair, I caught this out of the corner of my eye while I was scurrying around to get breakfast on the table.

 I so seriously almost grabbed it and used it to pinch back my hair. 

That's when I knew I was in trouble...I was so tired I couldn't think straight.

A bag clip as a hair accessory?? 

Maybe the lack of sleep was making me creatively resourceful?? Nah, not quite.

Thankfully I wasn't too tired to read the recipe correct.

We love this and eat it like piggies around a trough!

I've adapted this for our family since half of us are gf and one is df but it would be simple enough to switch to dairy.

Baked Oatmeal
1c. honey
2/3 c. olive oil
2 eggs
1 1/3 c. rice milk
1 tsp. sea salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking pwd.
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 c. gluten free oats
Mix together thoroughly and bake in a 9x13 pan at 350 for 30 minutes. Can add diced fruit before baking. Lately I have been throwing in 1 c. organic frozen blueberries which is really yummy!

In addition to playing nurse maid/pharmacist, I have done a small bit of stitching.

Not much left to finish!

And Saturday I started the curtains.

I have 2 squares complete and hope I can work on the rest soon. The sewing is all done; I just need to press them and close the seam.

It has been rather a slow going day defined by giving meds, pushing through a bit of school, and snatching a nap myself. Not a lot else got done here but that's ok too. I'm just trying to find strength in some scriptures and press forward as He enables.
Well, I'm off to draw an epsom salt bath and administer more herbal drops.
Simply,
Victoria

Finishes and Starts, Endings and Beginnings

Christmas break has been a lovely, relaxed time of family laughter, good food, staying up too late, and slow morning starts. Big D was able to extend his stay by using up his paid vacation. Always, always a joy to have him home!! In addition to relaxing, I also got to play a bit -- doing some creative fun and making a couple of runs to Jo-Ann's and a local quilting shop.

I had previously decided that I would not start any new stitching this past week. I really wanted to spend some time completing the pieces I had done in 2012. You know, those ones that pile up and get forgotten about because it is simpler to pull out a new design, linen, and thread colors of rich assortments.  So I have been puttering around with them. It's been good and feels like accomplishment to get these 3 done.

  

This is just a sweet one from LHN that I stitched in November but couldn't finish before Christmas because I had only 1 holly button. The ruffle might be a tad bit wide, but I'm ok with it.

I stitched this up this fall but was really NOT looking forward to sewing it on to the

 Impie, Hattie and Bea workbook but this was a tremendous help!

 Mary Kathryn is a very talented lady and made the job less intimidating!

Not perfect but I am just glad it is done.



This one I finished back in March. I do love The Sampler Girl's designs! The words on this one really speak to me in my role of mama to 6. I am constantly in conversation with the Lord
about one or another of my kiddos at the ages and stages they are at.

 It was fun and quick but didn't know what I'd finish it with.  This fall I bought some fat quarters from a Facebook sale that Down Sunshine Lane had.



These fats make me drool. I just love them.

They are the Blueberry Crumb Cake line by Blackbird Designs for Moda.

 I have some fun plans for them this year.

 

I thought the ABC fabric in the line fit nicely since I am also their teacher, who spends much time praying for wisdom and grace for herself as well.

 

  I plan to add this proverb that was also on the same fabric to it in a narrow strip to be used as a hanger. My pinking shears is beyond dull. So that will have to wait a bit.

 



I didn't get all my finished stitches completely complete. Time and money have a say in that...
But here is my list of stitched finishes for the year:
My Beloved - CCN
Liberty scissors fob - Shepherd's Bush
Mother's Prayers- Sampler Girl
Good Tidings - LHN
At Home with Jane - Sampler Girl
Pumpkins for Sale - LHN
All is Calm - LHN
Joy - Feathers in the Nest

It's not a huge list but I am pleased with it. I have only been back to stitching not quite 2 years now after losing interest in the country style and cutsie designs of the 80's and 90's. It is amazing the changes and growth in cross stitching that have taken place. I am still catching up with it all.

On to starts... For 2013...

 

I have some Sampler Girl Jane Austen designs that I have been collecting and itching to start. I decided on this last night while BNH and I watched a Hallmark.

It's called His Letter to Anne.

In addition to the Jane ones, I have several others that are kitted and ready to go.

 

Also I am finally ready to sew my kitchen curtains. I had an idea in mind of what I wanted but didn't know how to go about it. That is where the trips to the quilting store came in last week as two helpful women blessed me with ideas and a well thought out plan.

Looking forward to starting this too.



Stay tuned...

 

 2012 ended well. Not just with cross stitching but with life.

God has been faithful, patient, and oh, so full of grace! I have grown a lot this past year, learning to let go of things I can't control and resting in the knowledge

 that He is always good.

 

 And 2013 is beginning well. I am not a New Year's resolution girl.

But I am committed to be purposeful in my desire and prayer to be the woman

He created me to be. That alone covers anything a resolution could state.

 

I am thankful for you, my little handful of followers, coming along and following the new girl on the blog. : )

Praying that you will grow into the women He created you to be as well.

Simply,

Victoria

Merry Christmas!

 

  

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to save the sons of earth

Born to give us second birth

Thankful for His birth!
Victoria