What Is In A Name?

Well, I've finished three more projects from my list: two more books, and the quilt. Here are pictures of the quilt, as well as two other I have finished this year. While I was at it, I thought I'd also share a bit about how I name quilts.


So, my most recent quilt, The China Plate Quilt. It was my first try at a scalloped edge, and I'm decently pleased with how it turned out:

 The other two I finished are Way Down South:

And Maple Leaf Rag:

 Now, as for names. As Shakespeare would say:

"What is in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."

As true as that may be, I still love a quilt's name which has a story behind it. And it's a very fascinating process.


Only once in almost 20 quilts have I known what the name was going to be before I had actually made the quilt. And that was with Maple Leaf Rag, because I chose that pattern specifically because of the maple leafs, and because it corresponded with the song Maple Leaf Rag. But with all the others quilts, I never know what their name is going to be until near the end.

Usually, the name comes to me during the hand-quilting part. I'll have lots of idea floating around in my head for a while, but when the right one comes, I just know. And each one has a story.

Way Down South, for example, is named such for the line in the song Dixie Land,

"And I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray, Hooray, In Dixie land I'll take my stand to live and die in Dixie, Away, Away, Away down south in Dixie!"

I though it fit, however, for several reasons. One, geese fly south. Two, while I was making it I was doing a lot of Civil War reenacting, and that pattern was popular during the Civil War, as was the method of using lots of little scraps. And thus, Way Down South.

The China Plate quilt was named that, well, just because it stuck. I had no ideas what to name it, but my mom started calling it the china plate quilt. And....it stuck.

One of my other quilts, In Honor Of Glory, is done in blue and reds, with stars and stripes. Rather reminiscint of the American Flag. Another name of for the flag is Old Glory, so the quilt is in honor of glory.

And thus.....naming quilts.

Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Painting Pictures of Egypt

Painting Pictures of Egypt

Sara Groves

I don’t want to leave here
I don’t want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most
Are the places where I’ve been
They are calling after me like a long lost friend

It’s not about losing faith
It’s not about trust
It’s all about comfortable
When you move so much
The place I was wasn’t perfect
But I had found a way to live
It wasn’t milk or honey
But then neither is this

I’ve been painting pictures of Egypt
Leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard
And I want to go back
But the places that used to fit me
Cannot hold the things I've learned
And those roads closed off to me
While my back was turned

The past is so tangible
I know it by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom
But now I hesitate to go
Caught between the promise
And the things I know

If it comes too quick
I may not recognize it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick
I may not appreciate it
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

Slowly But Surely

Well, a quick progress report on my project list: I"m getting there. Slowly. But it's happening. Since that blog post, I have finished the 2010 slide show, and finsihed reading the book I got for Christmas. So, two things done!!! But, I've been rather busy since Saturday, and haven't had a ton of time to work on them. However, tomorrow I will start again!

Also, just to fill this post up a tad more, I found some time last week to make Apple Cinnamon Bagels......and let me say, they were AMAZING! I seriously did not expect them to turn out as well as they did, because I meshed together two different recipes and my own ideas to create these:

Yummm!!!! It's a pretty awesome thing to be able to experiment in the kitchen and actually have the product turn out well! On that note, the recipe:

Ingredients

* 4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
* 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 3 tablespoons white sugar
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1 small apple, finally chopped
* Cinnamon

1) In large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour and yeast. Mix water, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt together, and add to the dry ingredients. Beat with a mixer for half a minute at a low speed, scraping the sides of the bowl clean. Beat at a higher speed for 3 minutes. Then, by hand, mix in enough flour to make a moderately stiff dough.
2) Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (8-10 minutes - this is important; make sure you actually knead it for this long). Cover, let rest for 15 minutes.
3) Knead in the cinnamon and apples. The dough will be kind of sticky now, and not all the apple will stay in the dough. Just leave the extra apple pieces on the counter.
4) Cut into 12 (I might have done 10....depends on what size you want) portions. Here is where you can mix some more apples into each individual ball. You will probably need some flour on the counter for this: Roll each ball into a "snake" slightly longer than the width of your hands together. Join the ends of the snake and squish them together well. Put them on a cookie sheet (again, some flour on here will help). Cover, let rise 20 minutes.
5) Meanwhile, start a gallon of water boiling. Put 1 tablespoon of sugar in it, mix it around a bit. Reduce to simmering.
6) When the bagels are ready, put 4 or 5 bagels into the water, and cook 7 minutes, turning once. Drain them. Place on a greased baking sheet, brush the tops with beaten egg and bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes.

 Enjoy!!!!

Living in A Movie

I can't believe it's already that time of year again, but this past Sunday was the annual Jane Austin Ball. Wow, May 2011already??? It feels like the 2010 ball just happened! But, it has indeed come and gone once again.

This year's ball was a ton of fun! I'm not sure why, but this year I actually felt as if I were in a movie. Maybe it was the fact that everything sort of passed in a daze, or maybe the fact that I have my own "Mr. Bingley" this year.......I don't know; but, it was really awesome. It was also really cool to have not only my mom there but my dad, too. I never thought I would see him doing this, but it's wonderful to have him join us!

Of course, getting all dressed up like this requires some extensive photo shoots!

Some others were outside with us taking pictures as well, and they were a riot to watch!

 And after so many serious pictures, we decided to have some fun!

Somehow, the ball ended in a "fight" between these two =)

 

Yes, we are weird....but we had a lot of fun in the process!

And one last shot before heading home!

Thus, yet another successful Jane Austin Ball!!

My Own Mt. Everest

Well, it's almost May, and that means 11th grade is coming to a close. In fact, I have only four more weeks! (Woohoo!!) Since I'm getting down to the end of my high school years, more and more people are asking me that infamous question:

"So, what do you want to do after you graduate? Are you going to college?"

And when I reply, in all seriousness,

"Actually, I'd like to get married and be a wife and mother."

They then give me a blank stare, a fake smile, and a "Oh, yeah, that's great.", all the while really thinking "This girl is insane."

But, it's true. Over the past two years the Lord has firmly cemented into my mind that my purpose and goal in life is to be a godly wife and mother; to glorify His name by being a helpmeet for my husband and by raising godly children. And it is incredible to see how God has worked things out so perfectly, to actually make that come true!

But there's more to it than that. I don't just want to be an everyday, average, mediocre, barely-gets-by wife. I want to be the absolute BEST wife and mother possible. I want to be the virtuous woman who is a crown to her husband and whose price is far above that of rubies (Proverbs 12:4, 31:10). I want to be like Ruth, whose reputation was so good that the whole city knew that she was a virtuous woman (Ruth 3:10). I want to be a godly woman who reflects the Lord everywhere I go and in everything I do. I want to be an example to others of a woman who is focused on serving God by serving her family.

Whew....that's a mountain and a half of goals.

So, I've gotten my gear together, I'm doing a lot of training, and now I'm taking the first little steps up that mountain. But then, I look up towards the summit, and my heart sinks.

"Oh no!" I think. "That's as big as Mt. Everest! I'll never make it up there!!"

I'll never reach the top.
I'll never be a good wife and mother.
I'll never be a virtuous woman.
I'll never be a crown to my husband.
I'll never reflect God in everything.
I'll never be a good example to others.
I'll never, ever, ever reach those goals!!
I just can't do it!!!!!!!

A little dramatic, I know, but you get my point. Those are the thoughts that haunt me some days, and they make me want to sit down, give up, take all my gear off, and simply QUIT.

But then, I remember Moses, and Joshua, and David, and Daniel, and Jeremiah, and countless others from the Bible.

Moses was called to lead a nation out of captivity....a NATION. And yet God didn't expect him to be perfect. When the Lord told Moses to speak to Pharaoh, his response was,

"And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."

Moses didn't think he was good enough. He didn't think he could do it. And yet, God had called him to do what was seemingly impossible to him. But God didn't expect Moses to be perfect, or to be eloquent; no, He simply expected Moses to OBEY, and then He would give him the words to say.

Joshua also had to lead the nation of Israel. But he had more to do than that; he also had to go conquer other nations. That's another big mountain. But, again, God did not expect Joshua to be a perfect leader, or a perfect soldier, or anything of the sort. He simply expected OBEDIANCE, and He would fight on Joshua's behalf. In Moses' last exhortation to Joshua and the Israelites he said:

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Later the Lord spoke directly to Joshua saying:

"Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. ........Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

And Jeremiah.....he was called to prophecy doom and destruction to the kingdom of Judah. And he was a very young man at that time. And his response to God's calling was:

"Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."

Again, God didn't expect perfection. Just obedience. And God gave him the words, and the courage, and used Jeremiah for His purposes. 

And that is encouraging to me. When I look up at my Mt. Everest and start to feel like quitting because I'm not perfect, I just remember these men. And I serve the same God as they did. My Lord doesn't expect me to be perfect, or to know everything, or to get everything right the first try. He doesn't expect me to never stumble, or never be afraid. He just wants me to be obedient, and He will climb with me, and teach me, and pick me up, and get me to the top.

And so, I don't quit. I get my gear on and keep taking one step at a time, knowing that I serve an awesome God, and that He is with me every step.

So Many Projects......

......Not nearly enough motivation.

I don't know about you, but I wish I could run down to the nearest Starbucks and order motivation the same way I order coffee.

Um..yeah.......I'll take a Venti of Motivation with a shot of Energy, and extra Creativity on top, please.


Unfortunately, life does not work that way. I am naturally a rather lazy and unproductive person; motivation only comes my way on its own every once in a while. Thanks to lots of hard work and wonderful parents who have taught me diligence and self-discipline, I can now say that on most days, I am productive. And yet still, I have a long list of projects to finish.

Another thing I like to do it have at least two or three projects going at the same time. I get bored of one easily, so that way I always have another to work on. Sounds great, right? Yeah, well, the only problem is......I don't always finish all the projects I start.

All that to say this: in a effort to be productive and finish ALL my projects, I thought I would share them on my blog. That way, I know people are expecting to see some results! So, here we go:

First one positive note; last week, I cleaned out and ironed and organized my fabric stash!! A big project, but one that NEEDED to be done.

Before:

And after:

Woohoo!! It felt good to get that done.

Now as for the rest of my projects...well..........

I have a quilt that I need to finish quilting, then bind and label:

I have a slide-show of pictures from 2010 to finish:

 I have a book which I got for Christmas to finish reading:

I have a shawl for re-enacting to crochet:

And I have three more books which I got for my birthday to read:

Then add onto all of that my daily chores, weekly tasks, all the places I go, and all the things I WANT to do (like bake apple-cinnamon bagels), and I'm left feeling like there are too many projects and not enough motivation or time. But......somehow, I will be victorious!!!