Postcards From Heaven, Block 2, February

Are you ready for Block 2 in our Postcards From Heaven?  It's ready for you!  I have to confess, when I drew this up, I didn't even think of Valentine's Day...but I think a heart is appropriate, don't you?  

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

In the pattern, I explain that I used "alway" as does the King James Bible.  However, Jenny used "always", and I give you the option in the pattern - I've added the "s" for you in the second version.

Jenny's version, oh so beautiful!!!

I just love her soft colors, and those beads!!!

As you can see, I picked out my red fabrics - aren't they pretty???  I'm still not sure how I'm going to put it all together, but there's plenty of time.  It will probably be simple, because that's how I roll.  Maybe a frame of each postcard in the red dot, and wide sashing of the red and white, then the red dot for binding.  We'll see.

You can get your postcard from my craftsy shop, just click  >>HERE<<

Be blessed!!

Love,
Allie

Sustenance

Because lots of stitching requires it.

After this flu I've had, I swore off sugar.  Unfortunately for my resolutions, our grocery store had Spanish peanuts....which meant chocolate ice cream....which meant chocolate syrup.  I believe we used to call those a Tin Roof Sundae.  If that won't keep you going, I don't know what will!  

And I do need to keep going!  Right?  Right?  A girl can't stitch with only coffee to keep her spirits up, as wonderful as coffee is.

You may have noticed some changes in Allie-land.  Since this IS my happy place, I decided I needed roses.  Lots and lots of roses.  Roses always make me think of my grandma, and thinking of grandma brings back those happy years I had with her.  She was my sweet, Wild Irish Rose....and her eyes were always smiling.

Are you ready for February's Postcard From Heaven?  It's almost here....I'll probably upload late tomorrow night, as it will already be the 1st in Australia.  I can't wait!  See you then! 

Love,
Allie

Pulling Colors

It's a lovely day in Allie-land.  Mild, hazy sunshine, and I was up at 5:30am.  Good day to get things done.

So, I'm pulling floss colors for my new garden stitchery.  But not very enthusiastically....I don't know what's wrong with me since I've been sick, I just can't seem to "settle" into anything.  I have lots to do, and no desire to do it!

I think part of it might be that we're house-hunting.  My goodness, that's distracting.  We live in a tiny house, bursting at the seams, and we're looking for something bigger in a better city.  I did find "the" perfect house on Saturday, a 1958 mid-century contemporary tri-level with a fireplace in my sewing room, but it didn't have enough yard and storage.

I'm spending far too much time on the computer looking for prospects.  I LOVE "home" - making a home, being at home, decorating a home, and it's consuming me right now.

I've never loved the home we're in - it's never been "mine".  So dreaming about a space that I love is weighing on my mind heavy lately.  For a long time, I've decided to be content with what the Lord has given me, and minister where He puts me, but all this looking has stirred up long dormant feelings.  It's hard to be content when you have a big fat juicy carrot dangling in front of your eyes.

However, "someone" is very content, no matter what, as long as mama is around....

Not very ladylike, but content.  Maybe I should go take a nap too.

Mending

No, not the jeans kind.  The healing kind.  I'm finally on the mend.  After six days spent mostly in bed, without food or [more importantly] COFFEE, I'm now up and about!  That first sip of java was incredible - and the first meal I "cooked" couldn't have been improved upon.  Rice with frozen peas added in [cools the rice, warms the peas without making them mushy] and a can of tuna just plain.  I've never tasted a better meal in my life.

After I slaked my thirst and filled my tummy, I had strength to look around my sewing room.  EGADS what a mess.  I had forgotten, if you can believe it, that I had gone to Joann Fabrics on Thursday - my oldest son John had taken my fabric and washed it for me.

For which I was profoundly grateful, but it took me several moments to remember where it had come from.  It's for a new project.

And no, he doesn't fold the laundry - he just washes it and brings it in here.  It needs pressing anyway.

I had also ordered some Kona Bone for another project, it arrived while I was submerged.

More Joann's.

And after I cleaned off my table I found things that were ready for tracing!

I have five projects in various stages of progress right now.  Five that are mine - several more in bags tucked around the room.  Enough already with being sick, I'd better get crackin'!

And I didn't even take a pic of my sewing table, which is covered with strips for my Scrappy Cabin!

Jenny did a lovely post this morning about crocheting.  Do you crochet?  I used to all the time.  My favorite was Fisherman's crochet - popcorns, cables, basketweave - but this afghan was the only one I kept, it's not Fisherman's.

I used to love to crochet, and it's really making a comeback!  It hurts my wrist too much now though, so someday I want to learn to knit.  I still have some baby sweaters that my mom knit for me when she was carrying me.  So sweet.

Well I suppose I'd better get off here and get something done, heaven knows there's enough to do!  I MUST grocery shop today; I have this new-found interest in food, lol.  I'm dying to try this Paleo Avocado Tuna Salad I found on pinterest, looks too yum!!!!

I'll see you soon - I also have a thousand emails to answer, and blogs to read!  Oh what joy to be back among the living!

Hermione is glad mum's back too.

Serious Lack of Content

Cuz I can hardly get out of bed - we all have the flu.  We're calling this one the Freight Train Flu, because that's how it hits you.  I tried sorting a load of laundry, and my jeans were too heavy to pull out of the basket.  Haven't eaten since last Thursday, or worse, had COFFEE.  See you when I'm ready to stay vertical for more than five minutes.

This One's For Amy

Because she said she wanted to see, lol.  So here you go, Amy!

Awhile back, my son took me to the Salvation Army store.  He needed some shirts or something.  As I was wandering around, I spotted something that made my heart skip 3,000 beats.......

Well, wouldn't yours?  It was sitting there, with its four chairs looking all padded and comfy, and I heard it call my name......"Allie.....take me home with you....oh Allie....."

Just then, a woman walked by, stopped cold, and exclaimed, "what a darling kitchen set!"  Uh-oh.  Competition....

My son came walking up, and I grabbed his arm and showed him My Table.  He asked where on earth would I put it.  Well, good question!  My room is exceptionally tiny.  I already have a 50's table, along with a ton of other stuff in here.  Never mind, I said, I can make room.  I'll stack dressers.  I'll knock out a wall.  I'll sleep in the hallway.  You know, the things you do for a set like this.

One of the employees came walking up, and like the other woman, gushed over the set.  I was getting nervous.  I walked back and forth, saying yes, saying no, and finally decided Sam was right, I didn't have the room for it.  We started to walk to the cash register so he could pay for whatever it was he bought.  I was in a fog and didn't care.

As we walked up, the gal at the cash register got on the loudspeaker.  "All furniture today is 20% off!"  Sam looked at me, I looked at Sam, and we RAN back to the table, snatched the tag; and like the good son he is, he bought it for me.

I won't bore you with the details of how we got it into the car, the house, up the stairs, and into my room.  I can't really walk a straight line in here.  But oh the bliss when I sit and design.

 
Two chairs have to live downstairs for now, we need to put the feet on the bottom of the legs on the table [hence the papers keeping it level], and I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China.  It's huge - it did fit better without the leaf in, but I love a good big table to work on.

So there you go, Amy.  Now if you can just find me a pink metal cupboard like you have in YOUR sewing room......

Posctcards From Heaven, Alternate Words

A few folks left a comment on my last post, about using the King James scripture on the Postcards From Heaven blocks.  Jenny and I talked it over, and we decided that it would be fine for me to upload the words I'm using to my craftsy shop - not the design part, as I feel that would infringe on her copyright, only the words.  If you wish to use the KJB words also, you can trace them after you trace Jenny's design.  I also added the frame I'm using for the postcards, in case you want to use that as well.

You can find the design in my shop, click >>HERE<<

Make very sure that you print it at ACTUAL SIZE - I printed it out in a hurry, and it didn't come out the right size - when I did it again, I noticed that it was set to print to "fit", and that won't come out right!

And now a word about commenting.  I reply to every single comment left on my blog, as I love my readers, but if you're a no-reply blogger I can't!!  I get email notification of your comments, and can reply right away through email, but lots of you are now on google+ and there's no way for me to email you, or even comment on your blogs.  That's a problem I found early on with google+, and why I won't use it.

So if you've left a comment, first of all, THANK YOU!  Second, I'm so sorry that I can't reply to you.  If you did leave a comment and got no reply to it, please leave your email in your comment so I can thank you personally.  Blogging is all about friendships, and I always feel like a bad friend when I can't email you.

I hope you're all having a beautiful Sunday, I'm still recuperating from hours and hours at IKEA yesterday - oh my aching feet!!!