My Manger....

I look forward every year to putting up "my" manger with the emphasis on the MY!

You see about 15 years ago, I joined a ceramics class at a very low ebb of my life.

The weekly fellowship with those my age and several older ladies was life giving...

I made a deviled egg platter, an African Violet planter, a bank but what I most enjoyed

was making "My" manager....and it took months to make.

First you pour each mold, let it dry for a week or so, then clean each piece, paint, then fire.

I worked on all  19 pieces with joy and thrill and was very sad when I had it all completed.

I started with Mary, Joseph and the Baby and ended with the angel.

I used the same pretty soft shades of pink for Mary and the angel...guess they were kinda my favorites.

The wise men took a lot of effort because I painted each with different colors of clothing and then coordinated the camel bags.  The camels are big so they took time to complete.

Another favorite was all of the animals...two sheep, a goat, one cow, a donkey (of course) and the three camels.

There are a three pieces that I have never been too sure about...a beggar and a young man/boy with a horn and a man looking off in the distance.  Some years I use them and some not. I need to look in the scripture and see just who they are....any suggestions?

There is also a sweet little shepherd boy and I usually place his sheep in the manger and one beside him.

Sweet baby Jesus and his special parents...my manger on the mantel...in our den.

My close childhood friend's mother helped me pack each piece in a box lined with shredded news paper.

And here it is empty for a few months and all ready to be filled again...

Special time in my life.

Special time in the life of all.

What preparations are you making for the

King's birthday?

Blessings all,

Kathy

...the only dish we need

Reading today...
Instead of partaking from a sideboard of fancy entrees, Jews usually ate out of a large common bowl place in the middle of the table. Guests would break off pieces of bread and dip them in the soup or broth.  Jesus may have gently reminded Martha that her overdone effort in preparing a multitude of dishes was keeping her so busy in the kitchen that she was missing out on the real "food" the real "life " of the party...

"Only one thing is needed" - and that is found in true fellowship with him.
For he, after all, is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the only "dish" we need. He wants to change our hearts and empower our lives. He wants us to find the great freedom of Luke 10:42.

I cannot do everything , but I can do "one think."

I cannot meet every need, but I can respond in obedience to the need the Spirit lays on my heart.

I cannot carry every load, but I can carry the load God has for me.

For his yoke, indeed , is easy , and his burden is truly light.

P. 62-3   Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

Her blog is HERE


Here is her new book too..      .


I found this a good word for this season of the year!!

Blessings all,
Kathy

Rick Rack OR Ric Rac???

I have been sewing, sewing , sewing....so what am I making?
Take a peak...

Some is for Christmas and some to sell in my Etsy store...

I am also gearing up to bake sweet potatoes for pies for Thanksgiving and cookies for our church's Angel Tree Ministry  where we serve a great meal and give presents to the children whose parent is in prison in our county. Will post more later in the week...

So, do you spell this pretty curvy trim Rick Rack OR Ric Rak???????

Blessings all,
Kathy

Sharing Proverbs...

I found this list and found it so helpful for me so I thought you, too, might enjoy!!!

It comes from Courtney's blog found here...Women Living Well

Check it out and enjoy your week BEFORE Thanksgiving....

She is also having a give away of her friend's book, Let.It.Go ~ by Karen Ehman

“Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning.” Proverbs 10:13

Pursue discernment.

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

Hold your tongue.

“A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.” Proverbs 11:12

Hold your tongue.

“A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” Proverbs 12:16

Overlook insults.

“Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18

Use your tongue to bring healing.

“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3

Guard your lips.

“A quick tempered man does foolish things.” Proverbs 14:17

Be slow to anger.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh words stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

Give gentle answers.

“A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs 17:27

Use restraint.

Blessings all,

Kathy

Chicken Scratch...aprons?

I go to an auction almost EVERY Saturday night out in the country and I mean OUT in the country about 15 miles from our house. It is in an old tobacco pack house that the owners enclosed and it has a wonderful front porch. You enter by the old wooden door that has a wooden latch!! You park yourself on the grass area  and the men gather outside, kinda like the olden days!!As you enter you write your name on a pad and get out number and walk around and see what goodies are up for auction.  There is a regular group there and then there are some new folks, young and old, babies, children and teens too. It is a gathering place for this community and has been for years as I understand it. The owner/auctioneer's wife serves hot dogs with chili, freshly popped pop corn, candy, chips, BIG pickles and canned drinks in a screened in area with an old screen door...I have actually seen people come and get hot dogs and go home and NOT stay!!

I usually bid on something I do not need but that I just want...dolls, wicker doll furniture, a baby cradle, and they even have fresh produce in the summer... squash, potatoes, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, and this week pointed head cabbage. You get this at the beginning and the middle of the auction, oh,even home made peanut brittle and pork skins too.

I did not know anyone there the first time Cliff and I went and now after about 5 months, I have several buddies and we chat, eat and bid...

It is soooo fun.

Well, this week I had been there about 2 hours and was starting to yawn when I noticed green and blue aprons coming up for bid....yes, chicken scratch ones....so I asked one of the helper guys to bring it up for me and he did....the bidding went down to $2.00 and I was the only one to place a bid and got them for $4.00!!!!

 

I could hardly wait to get home and look at them real good.

I was surprised to discover that they were not aprons at all but full gatherer skirts with zippers and buttons!!

Can't you just see two little teen girls wearing these with great pride after their mother OR grand made them especially for them...probably from the 60's by the zippers...one is metal and one plastic.

I plan on making the green one into an apron for me to wear for Christmas and perhaps a little girl apron with the extra fabric for our new little great niece...

Anyone know what these patterns are? I do not know much about chicken scratch embroidery but have always loved it...

I will keep you updated...I also got an old wooden & metal piece that was used for mule plowing..$2.00 for that too...almost got two wool carding paddles, but quit bidding because I could tell the lady bidding really wanted them and I could pay more than I planned...she paid $8.00. I think!!! oh well, next time.

Blessings all,

Kathy

What I am working on ...

What I have been sewing...

blocks for table runners for my Etsy store...

old guild name tag...

new guild name tag

with prairie points and newer brighter colors.

This is the view from my kitchen window and it is not in our yard but our neighbors so

they even get the leaves!!

Isn't it lovely even a few days after its peak of yellow gold.

Pretty little ornamental peppers in the garden,

egg plant that I did not harvest and zinnias,

and some the last of the herbs 

with the cilantro and thyme looking better now

than in the summer's heat.

I have moved a few plants inside and am leaving others outside to just die back

and we will see which ones survive our winter.

Yes, Summer has really ended  :(     

But a new season has begun...

Blessings all,

Kathy

Sweet Stroller....

I have a friend with a little granddaughter and she needed a "stroller outfit" in pink, of course.
So, I have been sewing pink gingham, pink rosebuds, and pink ticking. I really just love making fun things like this as I cut freely with scissors and a tape measure in my hand and then go to the machine and stitch away!!

Little tufted mattress and pillow,

fitted and top sheet,

eyelet pillow case,

and a pin wheel doll quilt.

She purchased the antique stroller for a good price and will give it for Christmas. I do not remember this type of wheels being on my childhood toys and I am 56, so I feel like it must be older than that. Perhaps some of you will recognize this style and help us date it.

I also made her a similar doll bed outfit last year for the same little one but used her mother's quilt squares to complete the pillowcase and quilt...you may remember this post, pretty-little-doll-baby-bed.

Hope she enjoys playing with this one to...who knows, maybe I will get to make yet another one as she grows older!!!

Blessings all,
Kathy

Fabric...

Would you like to register to win some lovely fabric ????

Take a look  here...    Simple Life Fabric by Riley Blake

Looks Like it Needs Stitches... blog




Enjoy and blessings,
Kathy

Slip Covers for Older Ottomans...

I had been reading about making a slip cover with drop cloths and trying to get my courage up to make one!! I purchased a smaller one at Lowes and finally got it out to wash it several times and get ready to cut. The chair that has found a permanent place in our new dinning/sitting area needs a recovering DESPERATELY....so I decided a slip cover would have to wait.

So, my daddy's ottoman from my childhood would be just perfect for the project AND he also found this great little foot stool at his church yard sale and got it for me because he knew I would love it AND, I do!!!
So, a second project.

I covered them in a similar way but used different fabric for the cording...the smaller one is for me and my future chair (after daddy moves) and the larger one for Cliff and the chair when we finally get it recovered.

Pillow that matches the drapery panels...Cliff has already enjoyed using them "on the floor" ...eksssssss

You can see why the chair needs covering first...it was my first furniture purchase years ago as a single girl!!So, I want to keep it, even though it would be cheaper probably to buy another chair...

And here is the cute little one...I would like to add a monogram someday soon...with one of two damask small pillows.

Here are the new panels that I made and you can see the before and after pictures of the old dinning room in   this post...notice the little birds on each end of the drapery rod, also from Lowes.

I had read several blogs about using drop cloths to make slip covers, but I most liked Miss Mustard Seeds series on sip covers here....there are 6 in the series and she shows you step by step just what to do and makes it look real easy....remember, I have NOT tried a chair yet, but I would now.
Besides, the cost of the drop cloths is so much less than upholstery fabric it makes you feel ok if you mess up.


Have any of you make slip covers? and what success have you had that you could share with me before I begin the chair (after reupholstering)

Blessings all,
Kathy