Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sunset over Stanley

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1

squares

A friend gave me a bag of granny squares that she had started crocheting many moons ago and does not want now. They have been stored for a long time, were a bit dusty and musty, and I think the silverfish/mice? may have been at them :o(

I have washed them and am unpicking the ones that had been sewn together



And I have started edging them all in black. I will have to 'mend' some of them that have holes, and I will see how they look. I hate to just throw them away

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Reach Out

He lifts us up, gives us His strength;
So we, in turn, can give.
Reach out to those who need His touch,
And show them how to live.

We are His hands, His eyes, His feet,
Asked to give so that others may eat.
Provide for their immediate needs,
And then in friendship, plant the seed.
The Gospel - true and wonderful,
God's love so rich and bountiful.

We have His life, His love within,
That frees us from the weight of sin.
So freely given us from above,
Can we do less than share His love?

(Lynda Helen Kay 2011)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Remember this?

The quilt top I got at the op shop for $8?




With the batting to go in the middle. And the piece of red fabric that my friend Debbie gave me.


Here it is with all 3 layers pinned together (with safety pins) ready to be quilted



And here it is all finished!! I'm using it as a cover on my table. I really enjoyed doing the hand quilting on it. Think I might get me some more to do :o)

Saturday, March 5, 2011

God's Blanket


This morning on the beach I was walking in fog. I love walking in the fog. It's like being wrapped in a big blanket. There was no wind, and what I could see of the water was like glass. I seem to be able to centre my thoughts much more in the fog. Not so many external sights to distract me. My thoughts turn inward. And they were certainly in overdrive this morning.

I got to thinking about life and how often we can feel like we are walking in the fog...in the greyness of life. When we focus on our problems and trials, life can seem very grey and depressing, but it's then, that we need to lift our eyes.

As I walked, focusing on where I was stepping and the sand in front of me, I looked up to the eastern horizon and I could see a slight lifting and clearing of the fog over the water, and the brightness of a clear day shining through behind the line of hills on the other side of the bay. That lightness and brightness was there, but if I had not looked up, I would not have seen it.

God is there in our trials and 'greyness of life', but sometimes we get so bogged down in them, that we forget to lift our eyes and look to God (Psalm 121:1-2). He gives us times of brightness and joy even amidst the heaviest of burdens if we will lift our eyes to Him.

I always carry at least one plastic supermarket bag with me , and on my way back along the beach I pick up rubbish - metal, cans, plastic, glass, bottles, etc. - and when I get to the council rubbish bin back at the start of my beach walk I dump it all in there. We collect 'rubbish' and burdens – anger, bitterness, guilt, regret, sorrow, etc. - as we walk through life. Don't collect them all and carry them home with you. Dump them in God's rubbish bin of the past (Hebrews 8:12).

What I noticed as I walked back along the beach was that the lightness and brightness on the eastern horizon had gone and it was all greyness there again. But the fog in my immediate area seemed to have dispersed and I could see more of my closer surroundings of sand, sea and sandhills although further away was still greyness.

So, maybe in your foggy, grey day, or period in life, God is wrapping a big blanket of His love around you. Try snuggling down and resting in it awhile :)
Then, as we go back into our world of commitments and difficult situations, after spending time wrapped in God's blanket, we can take some of that love with us.

Just as God lifted the heaviness and fog from my closer surroundings, may I be able to take some of His brightness and lighten some-one else's day. And although the past and future may still seem grey and foggy, we can live each day in the light of God's love (1 John 1:5).

(Lynda Helen Kay 2011)

Quilting

Remember I told you about the quilt panel I got at the op shop recently? You can read the post here.

Today I pinned the top, batting and backing together and started quilting it.

Shouldn't take long at all!



Friday, March 4, 2011

Two more finished!

These are smaller baby blankets (28" x 22") I like making them because they are quick and I like mixing and matching colours :o)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Charity knitting.

Yesterday was our first charity knitting day for the year. We had a nice morning...lots of knitting, talking, eating, drinking (tea and coffee that is!)...and laughing!!




And here is a picture of some of the knitted items the ladies brought in: a large blanket for the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia and scarves (rolled up in the picture), hats and slippers for various charities. Plus lots more knitted squares that some of the ladies have taken home to make into blankets.

Look what I got!!

A spinning wheel!!



A friend is moving interstate, so I bought her wheel off her. Now all I have to do is remember how to spin!!

It's been about 20 years since I've done any, so I've reserved some books from the library and have a contact number for a lady to try and get some fleece.

The cold weather has arrived...even though we are only 2 days into autumn...so it's certainly spinning weather :o)