Me to a 't'

"I do enjoy baking, as you well know. There's peace in the distraction of my busy hands, and I find the task silences my mind. I've muddled through many a dilemma in the kitchen." 

--Lisa Norato, Prize of My Heart

Afternoon light

I couldn't resist taking a picture as the sun streamed in our front window late this afternoon. 

This is a miniature rose that I was given for my birthday and popped into a moss basket.

It's been sitting on our kitchen table spreading a little joy each day!

Today I added a big paper rose that I made using pages from an old 

Eclectic Reader that was too damaged to repair.

Dreamer was hyperventilating 'in shock' that I would 'deface' a book this way!

We have such a deep reverence for books around here.

Most especially The Book - world's #1 seller - The Bible. 

I decided not to feel too badly since it was partly moldy, water damaged, falling apart 

and headed for the garbage anyway.

I'm so thankful to know that God uses broken 'throw away' people and carefully

conforms them into the image of His Son.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 

Silk purse out of a sow's ear ... I hope I hope I hope

What do you do when you come home from attending an auction with a box of garbage?  
Well, first you'd mourn the loss of your hard earned cash. 

 You might be justified in shedding a tear or two when you realize you've blown

 a whole week's grocery budget.

On garbage.

Then you try very hard to explain to your hubby how you thought that the beautiful yarn on the top of the box represented the rest of the lot because you would never dream of a fellow weaver tucking complete garbage underneath the 4 perfectly lovely and usable spools on top. 

Not in a million years.

Then you'd admire the beauty of the completely rotten spools of

silk, linen, wool and cotton - in all their organic loveliness. 

You know you have junk, completely unusable for it's intended purpose but 

still somehow so pretty. 

You might just throw that junk out

or ...
 re-box it carefully and put under your sewing table.
You might even move those two boxes of decaying natural fiber just
because you can't quite part with it.  
Twice. Over international boarders. Twice. 

Then you might just tuck those boxes into the front hall closet and
forget them there for say ... seven years?
 Give or take. 

Well, that's what you would do if you were me!

Flash forward to The Colossal Spring House Cleaning of 2012. 

Slowly but surely I am thinning every room, closet and cupboard.
Oh, and getting rid of some garbage. 

Because we are NOT moving. 

And I have a case of the Seven Year Itch.

Funny thing is that even after all these years, I just could not throw out my rotten
spools of weaver's linen, cotton, silk {sigh} and wool. 

So ...

This is what I did.

With scraps from a thrifted linen shirt - even the button placket, some felted wool scraps, 

and bits and pieces of vintage laces and trim tucked here and there.

And my trusty hot glue gun, of course.

I ripped, twisted, tied, glued and giggled as our sweet Dreamer declared each creation ...
adorable!

Tomorrow I am headed to a wonderful downtown shop called Expressions of the Home 

to see what the owner thinks of my silk purse out of a sows ear idea.

Let's hope she thinks they are adorable too!

If for some reason she doesn't, look for these at Goodwill 

because I am NOT bringing them home.

I told you I was serious about Spring House Cleaning!

UPDATE: The owner of Expressions of the Home liked my creations so they at in her lovely shop!
She bought all 19 of the Weaver's Spools!
Yeah!

Weeping and rejoicing together

 

This week we've been reminded of the beauty of God's design for the body of Christ. When one member weeps, we weep with them; when one member rejoices, we rejoice too. On Monday morning we got a prayer call from our church for Matt and Lana Cretzman, missionaries to Cuba. Their 3 year old daughter Azlynn was fighting for her life after an early morning accident on icy roads.  We stopped our morning and sat together as a family to pray for Azlynn and for her family. Later we received another call telling us that Azlynn had passed away.  We wept together at this news and began to pray again for this young family. We've been keeping abreast of the news through Facebook as Lana Cretzman underwent surgery to repair her leg. We were privileged to pray for her as the doctors worked. We rejoiced to hear that all went well and that she is expected to make a full recovery, though there is certainly a long road of healing and therapy ahead.

This morning there was an update on their website and we were so encouraged to hear that people all over the world have been touched by their tragedy and are supporting the Cretzman's in prayer. Many are donating towards their medical expenses, funeral expenses for Azlynn and to replace their leased vehicle that was totaled in the accident. Since the story was carried by the news media I sure that this wonderful outpouring of support isn't only from believers, but I imagine that much of it is. As it should be.

It's hard to imagine how God will use this tragedy for good, but we are confident that He will do just that. Already Matt has tweeted that they feel the prayer support of the believers all over the world who are lifting them up. They've been overwhelmed by e-mails and Facebook posts of encouragement and support. They have peace in the midst of tragedy. They are hurting, grieving, suffering and yet God is in the midst using His eternal Word to bring hope and healing. Will you keep this young family in your prayers? Thank you!

Update from Matt Cretzman on FB:

I wish I had time to read and respond to every single message, phone call, and email but know in the months ahead we will be going through every one for support and encouragement. This truly is a time when God's people prove that good indeed does triumph over evil. We already know of at least one person who has trusted Christ through Azlynn's testimony. #IndescribablyBlessed.

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
Gen.50.20