It's beautiful to me

I am the type that does not feel satisfied until a project is complete.  I am convinced it is a strength as well as a weakness.  The drive to finish certainly helps me to get things done, but it also makes me a little impatient when I have put things off because, well, life is happening...at full speed.  But once I have accomplished what I set out to do, it is so rewarding.

I am not posting these pictures because I expect you to be impressed with how amazing my room is.  It doubles as an office.  It's small.  It's a pretty ordinary place with cheap bookshelves and thrift store finds.  But I am just glad that God has taught me to rejoice in the blessings he has given me (it's been a work in progress) and to do my best to make this room a place that I want to linger in throughout the day. 

It's a place to have a quiet moment to regain some sanity...to slip in and and quietly close the door to pray a desperate plea to God for the grace and help not to totally blow it...to talk with my husband privately...to comfort and disciple my children.  I have taught school lessons while ironing at the same time.  This is definitely a room that is used all day and it really needed help!  I needed to feel at rest when I entered, not have my stress level rise.

Having art on my walls makes me feel a little more of a sense of order and also gives me more motivation to keep it that way.  I do a lot of laundry friends.  This is the place where the dreaded laundry will often be folded and then need to be put away.  It is my weakness and the thing I try to put off the most.  But there is nothing worse than hunting for a needed item when I am in a rush to go somewhere and I can't find it anywhere!  I want to experience that as little as possible.  It takes work and sometimes it seems like the laundry never ends and it feels so mundane!  But, as I keep teaching my kids, God has given us these responsibilities and meeting them is important and worthwhile.  

I am finding that the more I beautify my little spaces, the more I want to keep them that way.  I understand, this might not mean a thing to some, but it's meant a lot to me.  I spend a lot of time in them. ;)

>>>---------->

Some more details if you're interested...

~I bought the frames at thrift stores for six dollars or less and painted them.  I cut duck cloth to size.  I cut pieces of fabric and hot glued it to the duck cloth.  Very fun project.  You can find a picture of something you like online and use it as a guide for cutting pieces of fabric.  Lowe's sells paint in sample sizes which is perfect for painting frames.

~I bought a king-sized sheet at a thrift store for three dollars.   I strategically used the seams that were already there so that I would have less sewing to do.  I bought linen at Walmart and sewed a strip on the outer edge of each panel, it helped to make them bigger and I love linen so it was perfect.

~I used the same fabrics from the curtains and the wall art to make the pillow cover.

~The duvet cover, as I mentioned in another post, is made from two queen-sized sheets that I sewed together, also thrift store finds!

I really didn't have to spend much money and it was so fun to do!

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday!  God's blessings abound!

Remembering my grandma

I'm up late sewing curtains for my bedroom.  I cut up a $3 king-sized sheet.  This is great, I am in my element.  I love finding things at the thrift store and giving them a new and useful purpose.  I love saving money on curtains.  I love that no one else will have the exact same curtains as I do.  Totally thrills me.

That is my grandma's sewing machine up there in that photo.  She wrote all the notes on those little labels.  I think of her every time I use it and remember how much she loved to sew.  I feel as though I didn't have enough time with her.  When she passed away, I was newly married with one child....wow, so much has happened since then.  I often wonder what it would be like to spend time with her now and to hear her hearty laughter.  I used to love it when she thought something was really funny and she would laugh so hard...I can still hear the wonderful sound.  

And that is my most profound memory of her.  Her laughter.  

I always felt so special when she would tell me about when I was little.  She would tell of how I knew all the nursery rhymes and how I fooled people in to thinking I could read because I had memorized the story.  A little deceptive of me, I know. ;)

Many times, she would remind me of the time we walked outside and when I saw the sunset I exclaimed "Beautiful!"  I know I was little, maybe about three (?)...anyway she thought it was the most wonderful thing. And I would smile every time she told me about it.  She would also tell of how my grandpa had taught me my colors with M&M's.  And I'm sure there were more things...if only I could remember.  Maybe mom does. ;)

It all makes me think of how short life is.  Sitting there at my grandmother's machine, the same machine that she sat at not very long ago.  She sewed things stitch by stitch, making special things for the people she loved and probably could not conceive of the day that she would not be with us and the truth is neither could we.  I am reminded to cherish the time that I have with my loved ones.  The memories that we make are precious indeed.  I sure miss my grandma.

In loving memory of my grandmother, Johnny Mae (1933-1999)

{  By the way, my mom later told me that I was two when that sunset inspired me to say "Beautiful!"  Man, that must have been so cute!  :)  }

Fun on Christmas break

It's still dark outside and I can hear the comforting sounds of rain.  I am taking a bit of a risk as I begin to write.  Isabel has already woken up twice this morning and then gone back to sleep...will she interrupt my happy typing with her cries?

I have been enjoying Christmas break immensely.  The "extra" time to get more accomplished and to finally make some things that I've wanted to make for a long time.

Like this...

[ Skip this part if the details about my pacy clip bore you ;) ]

I crocheted this pacy clip using the "MAM" attachment from the store-bought clip.  I love these pacy's but I do not like the clips that are sold for them.  The neat thing about this pacy is that you never have to be concerned that it is upside down unless you are particular about the picture on it.  I love the designs they have too.  

I found the metal clips on Amazon.  I like this clip much better than the "MAM" one.  It stays in place and it's not so bulky.  So anyway, I'm pretty happy with my end result here and look forward to experimenting with other designs.

And these...

{the only thing I might change would be the seam on the hood...hmmmm...how to do that on the next one?}

I found the fabric for these at the thrift store for a few dollars.  Amera searched online for a tutorial on how to make a child's cloak and we were on our way.  She cut the fabric out and I did the sewing.  You should have seen Manny the first time I put it on him.  He was so excited  and happily ran around the house in it.  His brother, Javi, was out with his Dad and sisters when I made them.  So it was very exciting to surprise him with the finished product when he got home.  I love how the cloaks came out!!  The boys look so cute together don't they?

My next plan is to use a king sized sheet to make a cape for Brienne and Clara.  The sheet is plum purple and I also found it at the thrift store.

I still haven't found the top sheet for the duvet cover I am planning to make.  I am looking for something in a light color with a pattern...the search continues.  Target maybe?

It's been so fun to create!

It has also been fun to wrap gifts and anticipate giving them...I love how the kids are all excited to give their gifts to each other.  What a blessing!  I enjoyed wrapping these things I found for Joelle.  It was fun to write little clues in an attempt to intrigue her even more as to what they contain.

I look forward to waking up in the morning and gathering in the living room in our PJ's to open gifts while a french toast casserole bakes in the oven.  I wrapped a little booklet with a tag that says "The greatest gift of all, Ephesians 2:8-9".  The little booklet is similar to a wordless book but it has a verse on each card to share the gospel with the kids.  Javier and I are looking forward to the opportunity to emphasize how God's gift of eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ is the most precious gift we could ever receive.

This Christmas break has included so many fun memories of being together.  Shopping for something special, creating things together (our latest kick: earrings), watching movies at night and not worrying about getting to bed because we know we can sleep in, snuggling on the couch, and laughing at all the funny things the kids do!  I love my kids!  And soon I will finally do a little holiday baking.  In fact, I think today is a good day to pull out the cookie cutters and bake some sugar cookies!

Merry Christmas to all!  

steppin' up

Big sister Amera's "Mission Trip" to New England seems to have motivated some change in our home.  Joelle and Brienne have both taken on more responsibility. 

Joelle has learned to independently do the laundry from loading and unloading both machines to folding.

Yesterday I taught her how to clean the bathroom (something I haven't done in a lonnnng time--it's been Amera's job for years!) 

And she is actually eager to learn how to do the ironing.  I'll probably teach her that today.

She also whipped up a batch of pancakes and made chocolate chip cookies!

I find that I am also getting more relaxed and letting them do things more independently.  Even if it doesn't come out as good as I might like.  I know they will learn best by doing.

Brienne has also stepped up.  Joelle taught her how to mop the floors.  I couldn't believe how excited she was when I told her that Joelle was going to teach her how to do it.  My children are not always such "eager beavers", but man, I'm just going to keep encouraging them to do their work "as unto the Lord", hope this attitude lasts, and encourage them when it begins to fade.  Isn't that what it's all about?

We found an old, round dining table on the side of the road and Jav picked it up for the kids' little "club house" out back.  Brienne was beyond excited to pull out the sewing machine and she has been sewing little pieces of fabric together to make a patchwork tablecloth.  She also got inspired one day and sewed two pieces of fabric together to make a little "blanket" for Isabel.  Isabel likes to chew on it.  :)

It's exciting to see my girls take on more responsibility with enthusiasm.  I'm excited to see how much more we will be able to accomplish as a family with more help to carry the load.  

Looking forward to Amera's return on Thursday.  I miss my girl!

By the way, we're just about finished with our Colossians study.  I'm looking for a new one to start.  

Any suggestions?  

It doesn't have to be "mother, daughter" per se.  Just looking for a good Bible study with question and answer format.  Let me know of any that have blessed you.  Thanks!

one stitch at a time

Amera's latest crochet project.
(It's going to be a shawl with some flowers on it.)
Love, love, love the charcoal gray!

    Yesterday morning Amera and Brienne were not feeling well, so I decided I would be staying home from church with them.  Manny had a slight cough the day before, so we concluded that this throat thing must be spreading.  Normally our little ones are up between 6:30 and 7am, but yesterday morning they were just getting up as Jav and Joelle were leaving the house for church (around 8:20).  Although things were a bit abnormal yesterday, it turns out that we are not as sick as we thought we might be.  I think all we needed was some extra rest.  Thankfully, we are feeling much better today.

   Last night I was able to do something that I have been meaning to do for a while now...sewing projects!  I mended a pair of my husband's slacks, mended Brienne's skirt that had torn at the slit, but these things were done after I had my fun sewing a soft blanket for Isabel.  The fabric had been washed and folded and sitting on a shelf in my room for months.  It was finally time to sew it together.  I asked Amera to pull out my machine that was passed down from my grandmother.  I'll never forget the time she made my sisters and I satin pillows for our beds.  I loved my white satin pillow!  Now, I make satin blankets for my little ones.  :)

     I am very happy when I am sewing.  Once I'm doing it, I often wonder why I waited so long to get out the machine.

   I even had the energy left over (it must've been that nap I took) to prep a french toast casserole for a Monday morning Men's Bible Study that my husband goes to.  Once a month I try something new, and see what the men think.  This was my first time making this and I have no idea what it tastes like!  My husband said it was really good and we'll definitely have to make it again so our family can try it.  I probably should've made two of them.  When I woke up at 4am, I was so glad for a casserole that I had prepped the night before.  All I had to do was sprinkle on the topping and bake away!  I needed that time to cook the sausage links.

   You just gotta love online tutorials.  I wanted to learn a new stitch and this "crinkle" stitch we learned tonight  is so much fun to do.  It took me a few tries to get the hang of it.  Amera amazes me with the ability she has to grasp new things like this so quickly.  Admittedly, I get slightly intimidated with new instructions.  I'm not exactly sure why.  I shouldn't be.  I know I'll get it eventually.  I think I just wish I'd "get it" faster.  Anyway, it's very helpful to have Amera right beside me to guide me along when I'm not so sure if I'm doing it right.  She really has a knack for this.  We sure had fun learning this new stitch tonight.  I plan to crochet a blanket with this crinkle stitch someday soon, perhaps with that gray yarn I love so much.  :)

Amera does her stitches nice and tight, she says she tries to loosen up a bit.

Sometimes, I think mine are a bit too loose so I want to tighten mine up a bit.  Practice makes perfect!

I love the crinkle stitch!  Amera and I are planning to learn new stitches more often!

   

A slower pace, yet it's flying by

   The sun was shining bright and hot.  I stood in the backyard spraying the kids with the hose as they jogged by me doing their routine.  Even before they finished, Manny was very anxious to have the "sprayer" all to himself.  He had a delightful time spraying the water upward so it would fall down on him.  I chuckled as I watched him spray his own head.  He even sprayed me when I got too close with the camera!  He laughed as I screamed and ran away.  It was all a part of the game.  I was enjoying it too.

   Wow, to think that summer will soon be behind us.  I have so enjoyed the slower pace of summer days.  Time seems to be more abundant lately.  Yet at the same time, this summer seems to be flying by.  There is so much to look forward to.  My heart is full of anticipation.  Has God given us a boy or a girl?  How will the Bible Club turn out next week?  I'm so excited about these things!

.......................................................................

   Brienne is quite the character.  She's always making faces.  She reminds us so much of her Abuelo (Grandpa).  They look so much alike.

...................................................................

  A light blanket I made for Clara's toddler bed in the summer.

I love the colors and I love blankets that are satin on one side.

This was fun to pick the fabric for and so fun to make!

     

Learning to sew

This is the child who is learning how to sew and enjoying it immensely.  

She is holding the doll that is wearing the dress that she made.  

This is the spool of thread that was never cut loose from the doll in the 

dress after Brienne sewed on a button.

The result was quite comical...after the fact.  The doll belongs to Clara, 

and Clara spent much of the morning carrying her doll back and forth

and all around the house.  All of sudden little children began to realize

that their feet were tangled up in thread.  As we sought to discover the 

culprit, we found that the thread was never cut from the spool!  

Brienne's lesson learned: cut the thread when you finish a project.