Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Second finish for TGPC 2010

I have joined BeckySC in her "The Great Pumpkin Challenge 2010"!

I am so excited to share not only my second finish for this challenge but also my 11th finish for 2010!

They are so cute!

They are stitched on a kitchen towel....

This is my Pumpkin trio in the dark.... of course the flash brings out the whole thing but at least you can see a little sparkle from the glow in the dark blending filament.

(***EDIT*** this pic was taken in a very dark bathroom ... the only reason you see it is because of the flash. I took a pic with no flash and it came out solid black)

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Hardanger cross

I decided to dabble a little in hardanger once again.

I found a freebie cross online and decided to change it a little.

I decided to try the blanket stitch on the outside of the cross...

Grant it....

I am still a beginner but I think I did real good.... just need to figure out how to do the inverted corners better.

What do you think?

Friday, September 24, 2010

My first finish in the TGPC 2010

I have joined BeckySC in her "The Great Pumpkin Challenge 2010"!

I am so excited to share not only my first finish for this challenge but also my 10th finish for 2010!

Isn't he cute!

He is a kitchen towel.... although the blue, red and purple are from my sewing machine cover. (in my last post.)

This is my happy ghost in the dark.... of course the flash brings out the whole thing but at least you can see a little sparkle from the glow in the dark blending filament.

(***EDIT*** this pic was taken in a very dark bathroom ... the only reason you see it is because of the flash. I took a pic with no flash and it came out solid black)

Well I got a little.....

I decided to take a look at Modabakeshop they have some real cute sewing ideas.

Anyway, I seen a really cute sewing machine cover there that is made with jelly rolls.(no not the food.... it's strips of fabric rolled together.)

So I decided to make one for myself....
Although I changed mine to something that would suit me better.....
Arizona has way too much dust.... so a cover with ties just would not do.

I made my cover and decided to not waste any of the little scraps.

So I made me a pin pillow, needlebook and scissor fob to match!What do you think?

Monday, September 13, 2010

My secret project

Crazy me decided a week before my sister's birthday (8-22) to stitch her a birthday present. I am by no means a fast stitcher especially when health issues flare up.

Anyway, I never made the deadline. I did however finish it today.

I think it is soooooo cute.

So now I am going to show you what I have been working on.
I was able to pick up a nice frame that actually came with a mat that went perfectly. Here it is framed.
This is finish #9 for 2010! Time to pick up Jesus Wept and get some of that one done.

Answering WIP Jesus Wept questions by Chris B….

The questions she asked are:

What is the meaning behind the piece???
The meaning for me behind this piece is Jesus looking down on the world and seeing all the evil, selfishness, murder, hatred, lost souls, and etc.

You could just see the heart break in his eyes. There is just so much going on that it would and does make me cry as well.

Why is Jesus weeping????
Jesus is weeping because: “Jesus sadly gazes at the lost souls in this troubled world.” (taken from Christcenteredmall)

Is this a HAED pattern????
This is not an HAED pattern.

I contacted the artist Erik Hollander back in 2004 and requested his permission to create a pattern of this wonderful painting.

I wanted so badly to stitch it.
He gave me permission to make the pattern and stitch it for myself.
I have chosen to stitch the black on this piece to give me the break from the confetti stitches.
Those that will hopefully be able to stitch it in the future can do it on black if they chose to.

I have been hoping that when I finish it… he will place it on the market for others to stitch.

I have been taking emails from anyone that is interested in stitching it in the future. (golden-angel@cox.net)

I will be sending those emails as well as the pattern and finished photo to Erik.

I also was made aware that someone online was selling this pattern online illegally and made it known to Mr. Hollander.

He responded to me saying, “Thanks for the heads up. ...and no I did not know about the selling of the pattern and will look into it. I appreciate your concern and integrity. Your cross stitch looks like it’s coming together nicely and I look forward to seeing the final outcome.”

I need to get working on it so I can get it done.
I appreciate all the comments and support from all of you.
It does help me find the motivation to keep going on this piece.

Again thank you for your questions regarding my WIP Jesus Wept.
Also thank you everyone for your comments and support!!

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Added a display...

I have added a display near the top of my blog to show the progress of my Jesus wept piece.
The first pic is what it will look like when finished.
Then every pic after that is in order until the last pic that shows where it is now.

I hope to continue adding pics so that you can see it grow.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

I can only imagine... Heaven

I can only imagine... Heaven as written by a 17 Year Old Boy

This is excellent and really gets you thinking about what will happen in Heaven.

17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was what Heaven was like.

"I wowed 'em," he later told his father, Bruce. It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.

Brian's parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County

Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven.

It makes such an impact that people want to share it.. "You feel like you are there," Mr... Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.

The Moore 's framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. "I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son's vision of life after death. "I'm happy for Brian.... I know he's in heaven. I know I'll see him.

Here is Brian's essay entitled "The Room."

Page 1
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.

As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards.. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.

A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."

Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived...

Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting.. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.

One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.

But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.

And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused.. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand..

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes..... No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him..

No, please not Him... Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response... And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.

Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room.. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.

The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

If you feel the same way forward it to as many people as you can so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also. My "People I shared the gospel with" file just got bigger, how about yours?

THIS NEEDS TO GO AROUND THE WORLD, PLEASE PASS THIS TO EVERY ONE YOU KNOW, CHRISTIAN OR NOT! "LET'S FILL OUR OWN FILE CARD" AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

You don't have to share this with anybody, no one will know whether you did or not, but you will know and so will He.