Friday, December 30, 2011

A Year in Time

….Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting; it’s not a bad idea….especially at the beginning of a new year.

As we look into “year” we look at a block of time.  We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds.  AND all is a gift from God.  We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchase it.  Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.

The gift of time is not ours alone.  It is given equally to each person.  Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak…every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day.

Another important thing about time is that we cannot stop it.  There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it.  Time marches on.

And you cannot bring back time.  Once it is gone, it is gone.  Yesterday is lost forever.  If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain.  We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it.

Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions.  We can waste it.  We can worry over it.  We can spend it on ourselves.  OR, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God.

The New Year is full of time.  As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make very minute count?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

© Steven B. Cloud, Pulpit Helps, Vol 14, #2


Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas to everyone!



What Christmas Is All About
Christmas will always be for us
A time to reflect on Christ
The gift God gave to all the world
Was the gift of His life

We know Christmas is not about tinsel
Nor fancy Christmas wreaths
Nor is it about all the decorations
That adorns our Christmas trees

And it’s not about Holly or Mistletoe
Hanging from our doors
Nor is it about the gifts that are left
By the jolly Santa Claus

Christmas is more than all of this
And the only reason why
We celebrate Christ’s birth together
And the wonder of His life

So remember as you celebrate
Just what it’s all about
And invite the Lord to join with you
Instead of leaving Him out

For He will always be the reason
We celebrate this day
No substitute the world may offer
Can take that meaning away

© By M.S.Lowndes ~ 2007

Friday, December 23, 2011

New pretties

Another clean out of the finished basket before Christmas...

This doily is called "Breakfast Nook" and comes from Decorative Crochet, issue #62.  It was made with #10 thread and measures 13 1/2 inches across.  I did change the last round of the pattern to something that I felt better suits the doily.




This three-piece set is from a foreign magazine called Robotki Reczne, their 09-10/2010 issue. The runner measures 22 x 12 1/2 and the round ones measure 11 inches.  Made with #10 thread




This is just a cute little doily that I thought would look good in Christmas colors.  I chose white, green, and gold thread to do it in.  Thread size #10.  It measures 11 1/2 inches across.  (I make make this one again...)  Again, I changed the last 2 rounds on this one to better fit the doily.


The final doily is called "Pink Perfection" and is a vintage pattern from the Celtic site.  I think its much prettier in Christmas colors.  I had made one of these earlier....this one now makes a pair of doiles.   Made with #10 thread and measures 17 1/2 inches across.


All of these pieces, along with some others posted earlier, will be making their way shortly to their new home in North Carolina!  Enjoy Linda (dear friend) !!

Friday, November 25, 2011

More Doilies...

The fingers and hook have been FLYING!  Here are the latest three...hope you like them...

This doily is called Periwinkle.  It was made with #10 thread.  The blue thread is from ThreadArt.
Here's a close up view....

The next doily I've named simply "Christmas Doily".  I made this pattern earlier in coral and white (see the October 17th posting)     It was calling to me for Christmas colors.  Made with #20 thread. (The red and green thread is LizBeth thread)  I really like the way it turned out....


A couple of close up views....




The last doily is called "AZUR" and comes from a foreign publication.   I think it's so pretty in white....done with #20 thread...



As the cartoon would end when I was a kid....."That's all folks".....

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving


As we approach Thanksgiving day, please remember to be thankful in all things that you have been blessed with.  Remember our service men and women, as well as those that are less fortunate.  In all things give THANKS!


Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen.  Now please pass the dressing.

We're slaves to the ole factory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minutes more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

Thank You, dear Jesus, for residing in that place
and I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person in my life circle.

Amen!


Saturday, November 12, 2011

A couple of new doilies to share



This doily has no name.  It's from an out of date publication by Ondori called "Classic Lace".  I used #20 thread and it measures 19 inches.




This doily is called Alysia from a Patricia Kristoferson book called Absolutely Gorgeous Doilies.  I used Aunt Lydia's Aqua #10 thread.  It measures 12 1/2 inches across.



This doily is called Ten Point Poinsettia.  It is a free pattern on the web and can be found here:

http://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history_culture/textile/olgastolz.html

I did change the last round as I felt the doily definitely need "a little something".  It was made with #10 thread. and measures 9 1/2 inches across.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Time for Tea

When I saw this doily it immediately reminded me of sea shells.  It's from an American School of Needlework publication called "Easy Doilies to Crochet".  The pattern is by Rita Weiss.  The finished doily measures 19" across and was made with #10 white thread.



Monday, October 17, 2011

Flower Lace Doily

Posting my 2nd doily for the day!  It's called Flower Lace and was found on Picasa.  It was made with Lizbeth #20 in white and their color 628 (salmon medium).  It measures 17 inches across.  After finishing the doily and studying it I saw Christmas colors!  This is probably one that I will make again in Red/White/Green. The parts I did in the salmon remind me of Christmas trees. What do you think??


Pine Cone Doily

Made with Lizbeth #20 thread - color 657.  Measures 13".  If you make doilies and haven't tried Lizbeth thread, you are truly missing out.  The thread is wonderful to work with and comes in such beautiful colors.


Monday, October 10, 2011

New doilies blocked

I've finally been able to empty the blocking basket of all finished projects.
The 1st one is a Patricia Kristoffersen pattern called Impressive from her book "Simply Delightful Doilies".  It was made with a #10 thread in a Moca color from ThreadArt.  The finished doily measures 18 inches.




Another Patricia Kristoffersen doily called Distinct Harmony from the book Pineapple Elegance.  It was made with Lizbeth #20 thread and measures 13 1/2 inches.




The final Patricia Kristoffersen doily is called Captivating and is from the book "Doilies With Charm".  It was made with #10 thread and measures 16 inches across.  I really like this one in two colors.



This doily is called Moon of My Delight by Fujiko Takagi and comes from Decorative Crochet issue 48.  It was made with Clarks Big Ball size 30 in ecru (color 61), and took approximately 270 yards.


AND the final one is called Tea and Cakes.  It was made with Lizbeth #20 thread.  Not sure right now where I found this pattern.



That's all for now....but I'm still crocheting!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Still crocheting...

Even though I haven't posted any new finished projects...doesn't mean I'm not still crocheting.  Crocheting is a part of my daily routine after working all day, preparing dinner, and then relaxing.  A crochet hook will always find it's way into my hand if I sit for over 10 minutes at a time.  What can I say, I'm addicted.

I have two new pieces blocked...and two Patricia Kristoffersen doilies to block.  I so love her work....Hope to post some of them later this week.

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable week...for us, two more days in the low 90s and then we are scheduled to drop to the low 80s with a cool front moving through.  FALL is on the way!  Cool/crisp mornings....warm days....cool evenings...  This is definitely my favorite time of the year!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Sweetness doily

One of my followers had asked about the pattern for the Sweetness doily.  It came from an American School of Needlework publication called "The Big Book of Doilies".  It has many wonderful doily patterns in it.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Two new doilies

August has been a busy month with no new postings, BUT as usual, I have been crocheting.  Here are the two latest ones:

This one is called Sweetness.  It was made with Lizbeth #20 thread, color #640-Antique Violet Medium, and measures about 18 inches.  It took 445 yrds (2 1/3 balls).


The next one is simply called Pineapple Pattern Table Center and comes from the book White Crochet Lace by Ondori.   It was made with #30 white thread and measures about 20 inches across.



Monday, August 01, 2011

Black Widow

The name of the doily is Black Widow....but my version was made with ThreadArt Mauve Pink #10, using a #8 hook.  It took one ball and measures 17 1/2 inches across.



Monday, July 25, 2011

Modedl 23-Fasnoszara serwetka

This beautiful doily comes from a foreign magazine called Moje Robotki.  The April 2010 issue.  It was made with Aunt Lydias Extra Fine Crochet Thread #30 in white and took aproximately 450 yards.  A 11/1.10 MM hook was used.  It measures approximately 15 1/2 inches across.