project #3 and a happy girl (again)

My youngest is off to Calgary this weekend for a visit with one of her best friends and to attend a comic con conference...a lot of people dress up as their favorite sci-fi or anime character and my little Miss is no exception.

This year the theme is pink and the dress needed to be full and the hair, well, pink so off to the fabric store we went and online to find the wig and here are the results...now when it comes to sewing clothes I am far from perfect...Emily cut out the pattern and did the majority of the sewing I was left with the hem...of a full rounded skirt...no small task.  But seeing as it is a costume and doesn't have to be perfect I am over all happy with the results.

Now it is time to get back to my small quilting project...I finally bought a 1/4 inch foot and am getting much better results with my blocks.  Waiting patiently for some special felt I ordered online for my next project so I'd better get a move on with this one.  Have a great "liquid sunshine" day...the grass is greener, the trees are blooming...and for me up here in Aberdeen the tulips are 2" out of the ground YAY!

All the beautiful ideas

I have completed crocheting my blanket together I really enjoyed working with this wool, it is called amazing and such a great name for it as I loved watching what color came next as I made the squares for this blanket...If anyone has any suggestions on how to take a better picture of it I'm open to suggestions I didn't like how it was pulling so much but here it is...another labour of love...for who I'm not sure I have a hard time giving away my projects...sigh greedy I suppose or just that they are things I like...maybe I have to make things I don't love so much...but what fun is that!

I chose to use a ridged join for the squares hard to see here but it is raised I liked it and thought it looked good.

Now it is back to my quilting project that hit a snag and I had to undo a bunch of it...but I am ready to try it again...perseverance...and patience that is what God teaches me every time I start a project oh and the best lesson is the joy once it is all done...I am so blessed by a wonderful creator who inspires me to create!

I (heart) UK magazines!

There is just something about the magazines from the United Kingdom...Australia etc... They usually come with extras of some sort.  This magazine I discovered a few months ago...I get 12 sheets of paper plus  6 stamps and some cut outs...and some awesome ideas to boot!  I love going to Chapters, grabbing a handful of my favs and finding a place to sit.  I then go thru and decide which ones will be added to my collection and which ones are just nice to look at.  Inspiration I find comes from a large selection of blogs, websites, magazines and even a few that just pop into my head from time to time...

What are your favorite mags or websites...I'm always exploring looking for new ideas and would love to see what inspires you too.

Hope everyone is having a crafty warm weekend...today I spent the morning cleaning up my whirlwind projects of the week...and sorting through my scraps.  Then an outing with my sister and now home to blog and rest...maybe work on my crochet blanket I'm 1/2 way done putting it together...pics to follow soon!  So keep checking!

Oh and I'm happy to have company so if you like my spot please feel free to share my address with others...www.createdandbeautiful@blogspot.ca

One happy girl!

I have finished one of the 4 "wips" I have going...this one is for my daughter Emily.  She loves...loves...loves hedgehogs...

so I made her this little pillow...well not little it is 17x17.

She has been going through a hard time these past few months...being 15 is so hard and it is complicated for her with the challenges of her added mental health issues.  So there are a lot of people praying for her right now and hopefully a cuddly soft pillow to hug when she is feeling not good.  It is made out of flannel so it is especially cuddly...

Sometimes I wonder why life is so darn hard...our family has had a lot of struggles this past year...my hubby's job was deleted ,our oldest child moving out,  my ongoing health issues, 1 daughter with Autism spectrum disorder and another with a list of struggles including ADD, OCD, low frustration tolerance and depression.  Yet I still feel God's hand in my life His encouragement and love so ever present.  I could not imagine my life without my faith.  It is this faith and trust in Christ that pushes me to be creative and share with others...not only my crafts but my faith in Him as well.

There is no easy path for us here in this world, the only straight path leads to a relationship with Jesus and after that you just hang on to Him as the world swirls around you.  I am so blessed, yes I said it, blessed even with all the trials of life I still hold onto the Truth of Jesus and His promises to me, in that I never waiver!

Blessings to you all...

While hubby's away...

A big huge mess happens...there are a number of projects going on here this week...nothing is completed everything is in a different stage of working...here's some pics to prove we are busy doing something...

I am surprised at how much not fun it is to crochet a blanket together...sheesh...a hot pink dress my daughter is making with tulle to fill out the skirt and a pillow with hedgehogs and mushrooms for the same girl....

hopefully I will have some finished projects to show by the end of the week....

addicted

I am working on my next piece, I am about 1/2 way through, just starting to sew it all together.  Already I am thinking about the next one...oh my goodness perhaps I do have an addictive personality!  Really what I need to be working on is a place to work where I don't have to clean up everyday...the only problem is the space I have intended on using is dark, no windows...the basement.

The nice thing is it is a big finished space...lots of room, no one uses the rec. room in our home...hmm maybe because it is dark?!?  I was thinking of heading out to a window shop and getting an estimate on putting in some side windows...there is enough room between the ground and the main floor to put in 2 short windows...I know it would make a huge difference, the drawback of course is the cost...which I don't know because I never get around to asking someone who would know...sigh crazy me.

Anyhoo with my low energy levels I have decided to call my trusty friend who loves to clean and organize to come and help me get my space ready.  So until she has some free time I'm off to my new addiction...to work on my project...wanna peak?

time to finish this up

I've been working on a knitted blanket...I have all the squares done, now I need to put it together, but here is a quick sneak peak!  Stay tuned...

I also hope you all had a good Easter weekend with family and friends.  I am finding myself rather "pooped" out from the whole weekend but feel a great sense of satisfaction from the family gatherings and church events.  Blessings for the week ahead...

The Grace of God

On this weekend, whether you are a Christian or not, I hope you take a minute to think about what this weekend really is about.  A man, like you and I was born on this earth to fulfill a task.  A task appointed to Him by the creator of this world, the creator of you and I.

Yes this man who was perfect in life, no sin touched Him or tempted Him.  He loved like no other, wept for all man kind, befriended all  He came across.  Was killed on this day.  Why?  For you and I.  So that we could be cleansed of our sins...great and small ones...ones we don't even think about.

He loved us all so much that He offered Himself as the sacrifice and it is all so simple now for us to accept this gift He gave us.  We only have to believe that His death happened and that in a few days He was resurrected in order to sit at God's side and speak on our behalf to God, to show God our goodness.

Wow, one day I will be there in the presence of God and Jesus and will have the opportunity to finally say thank you in person...Wow I can't wait...

But I don't really have to wait because every day of my life I have promised to Jesus that I would work on myself that I would model after Him...that I would learn to offer Grace and Mercy to others and I would strive to love everyone just as He did.  That is so freeing, so amazing and so wonderful that I want to tell you about it so you can experience what I do everyday...

I look for my saviour in every part of my day...and I find Him...every day, even the really bad ones He is there with me I could not do life without Him...wanna see what it's like?  It is truly amazing...come on give it a try.

I'd love to show you the way...

Happy Easter

Such a powerful time of the year so many things going on...spring, new beginnings and most importantly the celebration of what Jesus did for us on the cross...just think about it. He died so that we may live and have eternal life in a place filled with other believers. The sacrifice goes beyond what our minds can even comprehend. No matter what we do through Jesus we are saved once we accept what happened 2012 years ago on a small hill. He hung and died on a cross to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and then 3 days later He rose from the dead so that He can reign in Heaven awaiting our arrival...Thank you so much for loving me so much!

Ah...it is such a great thing to think about. While I've been busy sewing these past few days I have been thinking about who my gifts are going to...my 3 lovely daughters and praying for them to learn and accept this great gift from Jesus.

I have made little treat bags for their "goodies" for Sunday. They were very easy to make and a lot of fun...I used some of the "new" quilting knowledge I have acquired and am looking forward to my next...more quilty project!

worth the wait

Well here it is my first quilt project.  It is no where near perfect...just like me.  But it is something I am proud of even with all of its flaws...Just like Jesus feels about me.  He loves me regardless of all my flaws.  Such a great feeling to know.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 The stars are looking ok!

Finished product...we learned 3 styles of quilting, stars, rails and blocks!

I loved my border so much I used it for my backing!

Now it is on to the next project...stay tuned I don't think it will be too long in coming!

A new beginning

I follow many women who have more than one blog so I thought...hey I can barely keep up with one just think of how much fun two will be! The intention for this blog is to share the crafts I make and the new things I learn during my walk with my saviour Jesus.

I just thought I'd like a place to put my 2 favorite things together...so here goes.

I am working on my first "project" to post here so keep your eyes open!

My bible quote for the day is: I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phillipians 4:13. This past week was a crazy one for me I took a quilting class that was over 3 days from 9-4. With my fibro this is not something I would normally take on. Knowing what the consequences might be with 3 busy days I accepted the fact it might cause a flare and signed up.

Now what occurred over those 3 days was nothing short of amazing...and I fell in love with yet another avenue of craft expression. I look forward to sharing my stuff here.