Knitting, Knitting, and more Knitting!

While buying yarn for the patriotic scarf I promised to make Harrison, I found this lovely Blue, Brown, and Cream yarn. So I decided to make a scarf for me too! The yarn is so soft!

For some odd reason the scarf is turning into a zig zag pattern. I am very happy with it! This pattern is super easy. Using a size US 11 needle, I cast on 25, then *knit and pearl* to end then repeat until it is at the desired length! Then Bind Off.

Harrison's was a little bit more difficult. He wanted a patriotic scarf. He wants the colors to be in bands of Red, White, and Blue. He searched for the pattern and found just what he wanted. A scarf that was ribbed. I haven't got much done on it yet, but am swiftly working on it in between getting ready for a garage sale, house and bird sitting, quilting, and fabric hunting.

The pattern for the scarf I am making Harrison is as follows: Using Size US 8 needles cast on 35 stitches. Row 1: K3,*P1,K3* Row 2: K1, *P1, K3*, end with P1, K1. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until desired length. Bind off. This one is pretty simple too!

Overwhelming Crafting Desires

These past 2 weeks, I have become aware of a new addiction. I have a fabric addiction! Yes, I can't get enough of fabric. I love fabric! But what good is fabric if you don't do anything with it. So I have decided to remedy that and take up Quilting. I like to sew, but hate sewing clothes. I can get by with the basic clothing sewing such as costumes for our church Harvest Festival and the occasional pajama bottoms. But that is not my forte. I think quilting just might be my forte. We shall see.

I love shabby chic and retro fabric, but never knew where to find such fabric that didn't cost a fortune. I grew up only knowing about your local Joanne Fabrics and your typical craft/fabric store. But what I didn't realize is that there are all sorts of quilting shops that specialize in stocking the newest fabric lines and quilting! I am now addicted!

I found one quilting store in Danville thanks to the world of blogging, which caused me to look up other quilting stores! I found out that there are 3 really good quilting stores within 30 miles. I have their store websites on my links list or at the end of this blog.

I have 3 absolutely favorite lines of fabric. The first would have to be Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey, second would have to be Swell by Moda, and third would have to be Simplicity by Moda! Below are pictures of some of my fabric finds!

I have been searching far and wide for any store that carries Heather Bailey's line called Fresh Cut. It has been like a scavenger hunt. Many of the stores are out of her line and since her new line comes out soon, they will not be reordering. I will post all of the fabric I purchased from her line in a later blog. I went back to the quilting store today searching for anything I can find by Fresh Cut. I came to the realization, that I would have to order some of her fabric online. That is if I can still find it online.

Just when I decided to give up, I started talking to one of the employees and found out she has some extra fabric that she doesn't need! So we are meeting on Thursday and she is going to show me her fabric to buy. I cant wait! Isn't the Lord wonderful?! He dropped it right in my lap.

I found 3 great quilting stores in my area! The first is in Danville, The Quilters Inn. The second is in Concord, Thimble Creek. And third is in Lafayette, The Cotton Patch. I was able to get some great fabric and quilting idea's from these stores!

Screen Cleaner

Thanks to my friend Marian for this great new cleaner! Great for cleaning your dirty computer screen. Click on the link for an easy way to keep your screen clean and germ free! Thanks Marian! ;)

New Great Product!

Pictures

I will be posting a blog soon on my fabric spree and all of the new goodies thanks to tax money returns. But until then, I wanted to post some pictures of my Grandfather and I.

A Kiss So Sweet!

My mother and I headed back home on Monday night from Washington. I was ready to come home, but leaving was extremely difficult. My Grandfather, in my opinion, was doing a lot better. We can only pray that he will recover from this stroke and that the Lord would keep him from more strokes. I have a peace, because I know the Lord is in control. Most the time when he was not sleeping, he was able to recognize everybody. There were occasions when he didn't make any sense or he did make sense but it had nothing to do with anything. Still just knowing that he recognized me was enough.

Our plane was leaving at 8:25pm Monday evening. We needed to drop off the rental at 6:00pm which meant we had to leave the hospital at around 5:00pm. The closer it came to saying goodbye to my Grandfather, the more my heart broke. I don't like goodbyes. But I really don't like the kind, where you don't know if you will ever see them again. My mom and I were able to have some time alone with my Grandfather which was a very sweet time. We sang in harmony the song "In the Garden" to him. We started singing and his face lit up and emotion crept into his face. When we were finished he whispered "I've always loved it when you sing". This was very special.

The time passed and the inevitable came...saying goodbye. I told him how much I loved him and that I had to head back to California. But that I would be praying for him every day. I hugged him and then looked into his eyes and told him I loved him. He then kissed me on the cheek and I even got to hear an "I Love You". I hugged my grandma goodbye and then we left the hospital room. My heart was breaking because I was afraid I would never see him again. All I can do is leave it in the Lord's Hands. I will always remember what if felt like to hug and kiss him goodbye. And I pray that he will get better so I can hug and kiss him again.

This song keeps running through my head today giving me comfort. It is titled "My Redeemer is Faithful and True" by Steven Curtis Chapman. It goes:

As I look back on the road I've travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

CHORUS My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
'There is a place I am preparing for you.'
I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face,
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

(chorus)

And in every situation He has proved His love to me;
When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.

(chorus)

Thankyou, Update, & Continued Prayer

My mother woke me up on Thursday morning telling me that Grandfather took a turn for the worst. She also informed me that she was flying to Washington state in a few hours to be with family at the hospital. I had this nagging feeling as we hung up the phone, so I called Harrison. Being the supportive husband he is, he said I should go up with my mom. So I called my dad and with some fast packing we were on our way to the airport.

On the way, we heard the news that he was going in for Brain Surgery at 3:00pm. This is the same time we were going to be boarding the plane. So I called Harrison again and he called the prayer chain. In a matter of an hour there were faithful women from our church praying for him. He ended up not having surgery after all. The doctors said that the bleeding in his brain is stopping. I know that this turn of events had to do with our faithful praying friends. The Lord is good in every situation. Either the prayers helped the doctors realize he didn't need the surgery, or the Lord stopped the bleeding. Either way it was because of the prayers of these faithful women that made a difference. Matthew 18: 20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

He doing better but still is not out of the clear. He is in Intensive Care and is having lots of pain. They gave him some medication which gave him hallucinations. That was very hard to see. But the Lord is helping me cope. They were finally able to give him different medicine to help him sleep. He had a cat scan early yesterday morning and the results came back better. We are just watching and waiting. Please keep praying for my family. Especially my Grandma. She is such a strong women. But I know this has to be extremely difficult for her. She is very strong and we are all proud of her.

But most important please keep praying for my Grandfather. Pray for his healing, that the Lord would give him a positive attitude and a peace of mind. The Lord is good. I know that whatever the outcome, it is in His hands.

Only God and His word can give peace and joy. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The Lord is good in every circumstance. Thankyou to everyone for praying!

My Grandfather

I am posting this to tell everyone that I am heading up last minute to Washington this afternoon with my mom. My grandfather had a small stroke about a day ago and he is in the hospital. There are some complications so we are heading up to visit him. I have a peace because I know the Lord is in control of everything. Please pray for his healing and for my grandma to be comforted.

On a side note, it looks like I am going to miss Room with a Past this month! They are opening tonight. :( Maybe I can get my husband to go without me and look for some finds. :)

Please pray for my mom and I as we fly! Will blog again as soon as possible! Take Care!

Next Craft!

With all of this packing away of my favorite things for our (who- knows -when- we- are- ever- going- to- move) move, I have decided I need a small craft to do. I have no clue when in the world I will find the time, but have committed myself to it nonetheless.

Being inspired by my new necklaces by Susan Branch and seeing this trend all around my favorite stores, I have decided to make a necklace of my own with Rosie the Riveter as my picture. My mother being the excellent crafter she is has an article on how to make these lovely soldered silver Charms/Pendants. I have the picture all created and printed, thanks to my parents lovely i-mac. I am 1/4th of the way there! I have no clue how long this venture will take me, considering I have so many other crafts that need to be done, that actually have a useful purpose.

For instance, the 2 bird cage seed catchers I must sew for my birds, painting my 25 dollar coffee table, and finishing my other painting projects. :) My husband loves to make fun of me because everything I buy, I see it in my head painted white with shabby chic distressing. But of course he doesn't complain considering he gets some great furniture out of it. For instance, his by the couch - 10$ - goodwill buy - that I painted white and distressed - magazine rack/table-for his air traffic control, creation and popular mechanics magazines-and an occasional soda. Yes, he is always quick to say that it is HIS magazine rack/table. But of course I don't mind, if it means I can keep my antique white spray paint and sand paper square in my hand. :)

However - I will be the first to admit, My name is Rebekah and I am a shabby chic addict.