Hello! I’m happy to report I already have two finishes this year, and before the month is even up!
I can’t remember having blogged about this first one, but I recently posted this pic on Instagram.
The HSTs in this quilt were cut for me by Katy Quilts on her AccuQuilt Studio 2 when I visited her in Michigan in August 2017. Last year when I joined a monthly Featherweight Group I decided this would be my traveling project. I think we had 2 meet ups before Covid hit and we may have met 2 more times at the end of summer so I didn’t get much work done on it. Partly, because I visit and talk more than anything at sewing groups. Anyway, I had always planned to make this for my oldest grandson. He turns 14 years old in February and I thought it would be the perfect b-day gift to bring him when I visit next month, so I pulled it out and got to work. And voila! It is beastie approved! These are my beastie boys; Moe (chocolate & peanut butter) and Wonton (vanilla & chocolate).
This next one I started in December. I wrote about it in this post. My first Bow Tie Quilt. I immediately thought of my younger grandson who turns 6 years old in February. He will be getting this one for his b-day. I wasn’t sure how big to cut the corners that make the knot in the Bow Tie. I made them a variety of sizes in this quilt but you can’t really tell for the scrappiness of it. I quilted both on my long arm and I will wash both to bring out the crinkly goodness before gifting.
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, God bless and Happy Stitchin’!
A Thread for Life (this one is kind of long but such a good reminder)
THE ENEMY OF YOUR PEACE by Pastor James MacDonald
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (PHILIPPIANS 4:6, ESV).
When Paul coaches us, “Do not be anxious about anything,” it’s easy to react with indignation. “Really, Paul?! Have you looked at my life lately? Don’t be anxious about anything?” Since these are hard words to apply, let’s consider Paul’s advice thoughtfully to see how it bears up when the rubber meets the road.
The core of the word anxiousness is the idea of “a dividing care.” Worry, fear, and anxiety are like troubled sisters. But anxiousness evokes the idea of a dividing care—something that wakes you up at night, a distraction so nagging you can’t fully enter another conversation, a trouble that overshadows all your interactions. A care that divides your mind.
There is no peace in that. When you have peace, things are in their right place—entrusted to God—and no care divides your mind. When Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything,” he is instructing us not to allow a dividing care about anything.
We tend to rationalize our anxiety. Well, Paul’s advice applies to most people in most situations, but if Paul considered what I feel anxious about, he would make an exception. Clearly, I should be anxious about my burdens. But are our anxieties really so unique?
We can all agree that anxiety is natural and understandable, but many things are understandable that are not excusable. Because we believe that God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit, we believe every word is specifically chosen by God—even this word anything. So we must accept that the God who made us wants us to hear, “Do not be anxious about ANYTHING.”
The decision to be anxious is the decision not to trust God about the specifics of your situation, the decision to give up your peace.
When we choose to sin, we choose to suffer. When God tells us not to be anxious, He is not trying to rob us of something satisfying; He’s warning us about something self-destructive. Anxiety has nasty, proven side effects: irritability, depression, insomnia, fatigue, migraines, muscle pain, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, ulcers, weakened immune system, susceptibility to overeat and overwork. The side effects of anxiety seep into every area of our lives: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Anxiety is obviously not healthy.
So how do we banish anxiety? “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We start praying. About what? Everything. There’s no wiggle room or creative way to parse this: pray about everything.
Your money, Your children, Your relationships, Your health issues, Your job. There is no such thing as The Unimportant Prayer Request List.
Be anxious about nothing; pray about everything. Out with anxiety—in with prayer.
Linking up at:
A Quilted Passion 