Crafty Pants

So recently a friend asked if she could borrow my sewing machine to make some bean bags. I hadn't pulled the sewing machine out in 6 months, I had to wipe dust off it!
There were some things I had forgotten to do properly, like wind the bobbin and I'm still not completely educated on tension and fun tricks. But I was able to start her off and then she took over her project like a champ. It was nice working with someone cause I wouldn't get as frustrated at problems that arose. And problems always arise with me and my machine!

I'm glad to say that afternoon my creative spark was lit again! I have since made a flower head band for Kayla, although that didn't involve the machine.  And I've started making Kayla a jersey knit scrap dress with matching leggings. Well, I haven't taken that project to the sewing machine yet, but it's cut and pending sewing.

What my point?
What I did actually sew was a simple gift bag thingy.
We bought a gift for one of Sean's friends and it's an awkward shape. I didn't have a gift bag on hand to fit it in and wrapping it wouldn't work well. As I was digging though my collection of gift bags I had the idea of just sewing a simple drawstring bag to put it in. It was a quick project and could satisfy my creative itch. Sometimes you just need to conquer your sewing machine!

So this is the gift that was an awkward shape and if I wrapped it I'm sure the wrapping paper would be prematurely punched though by a nameless toddler.

In the end I had basically a pillow case. Which made me realize I could have just used a pillow case! But I had a hand me down white sheet from my Grandma, hence the musty smell of material =/ 

I cut the material on a fold so I only had to sew two sides to create the bag. I sewed the far left side (in this picture, which is the bottom of the bag) and the top edge.The far right is the opening of bag.

I used the preexisting hem as a casing for the drawstring ribbon. I have learned through many repurposing tutorials on the net to use existing hem lines or seams to your advantage. Below the bag is inside out and you can see the existing hem that I used as casing.

I snipped two holes on either side of the seam to insert ribbon, then attached ribbon to a safety pin and fed ribbon though. Easy peasy. oh and I used fire to melt the ends of ribbon so they don't fray.

 And BAM, we have a simple gift bag that the receiver can use to store stuff if he wants. Or toss cause it was cheap and simple and easy to make!
 I wanted to add a little something so I grabbed some chipboard letters I have that I use for stencils. I eyeballed the centerness, traced letters with a map pencil then went over with Tulip brand felt tip fabric markers. hoorah...so satisfying to make something useful yourself =)

 Nothing fancy, just wanted to share to spark your creativity (possibly?)
Get yo craft on =)

Brandi

I want my prayers to be reality. So bad.

Our dear friend Brandi was diagnosed with brain cancer spring of 2011. Brain cancer. wow.
needless to say it is very serious. She has been on chemo for so long and the treatments aren't showing that there has been improvement. I can hardly wrap my head around all the medical jargon. What I do know is the cancer is killing her.
but...but...but God. Brandi knows the love of Christ. She knows he has plans for her. He formed her in her mother's womb, he knows the hairs on her head, before the foundations of the universe He knew her, He knew how her life would unfold.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

She has hope and she has a future. She is secure in her salvation through Christ, because Christ died a death none of us will ever have to face. We sinned against God in the Garden, we didn't obey his law, we couldn't. Christ could and he did. God incarnate on earth came to dwell with us. He was sinless and we sent him to the cross be murdered, we rejected him. He took on the wrath of God, he suffered, he died a painful death. 

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.1 John 4:10

 but... Christ was raised from the dead, he conquered death. Brandi worships a God that conquers sin and death.

 Brandi has been transformed by Christ and will live because Christ died. I am confident in her eventual entrance to Heaven.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:5-7

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

I can't claim to know when or even if Brandi will be healed. She may not be. But that doesn't make Christ any less powerful. He is sovereign and the Creator of everything. His will be done, not mine.

I still cry out to Jesus for healing. He knows the desires of our hearts. We long to see Brandi live many, many more years on earth with her husband and two young children. We desire to see a miracle in her life that would glorify God to the extreme.

I still give praise to God for seeking Brandi out, for calling her into his kingdom. His love for his children is unfathomably huge. I pray we can glorify him though this situation, that people will see his power and majesty. 

Please pray for healing in the life of my friend. Pray that God would be glorified.

>>>Brandi's CaringBridge Site

27 weeks with Baby No.3

I had an OB appointment Oct 1st and everything looked good, no signs of labor. I go back the 15th and hopefully it'll be the same. My doctor said to take it easy and avoid long walks, i.e. the zoo, grocery store, Target. I am still getting out of the house but I plan to scale way back on that.

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Size of Baby: 14.5 inches, 2lbs

Total Weight Gain: 15ish lbs

Maternity Clothes: yupp

Gender: boy!

Movement: yes, lots

Sleep: pretty good

Best moment of this week: the best moments are usually when Sean is interacting with the baby...err..my belly. We explain to him there is a baby in there and he'll say "patience". Because we tell him the baby will come out eventually but we have to be patient. Or he'll say "baby's kicking". He hasn't felt a kick yet because a toddler hasn't the time to leave his hand in one spot for more than 3 seconds! You can see the baby move from the outside so I'm hoping Sean can catch a glimpse of that and start to understand a little more.

Food Cravings: sweets, not sugary candy sweet but chocolate, bready, cookie sweet...mmm

Symptoms: more achy this time than with first two, but I guess that's just how it goes both as I age and as I carry more children

What I am looking forward to: meeting this little guy of course! Not too soon though =)