Friday, October 26, 2012
Quilt Scraps
Here is what I love about quilting. I love scraps. I love making something from nothing. I love taking a piece of fabric that has been discarded and joining it with others to make something beautiful. I am not great at picking colors that 'go' together and my seams often do not meet where they are suppose to but I love the scrappy look of many different materials working for a greater good. Often I am given started projects from others who have never had the chance to complete their work. I love to finish them. I have given that quilt a life it may not have had otherwise. I have completed a project for someone else who didn't get the chance. I feel useful and this quilt now has a purpose. As I work on it I think about how many times this quilt will give comfort to someone sick in it's life. Or maybe used as a playmat for generations. These are nice thoughts for me. How symbolic of our unfullfilled lives and how God breaths into our scraps and makes us useful and beautiful. He finishes the job we can not do on our own.
Monday, October 1, 2012
I am always overwhelmed by harvest time. We are so blessed to have so much food. Here on our farm we have beef, milk, apples, pumpkin, peppers, cucumber, rhubarb. All with very little effort. With this season I get canning. This year I have canned apple pie filling, salsa, jam and green tomato salsa. Our freezer is full of homemade soups and frozen veggies and fruits. I love doing it. I look forward to thanksgiving and I have my menu planned. With all of the food and sewing I have been doing I really get choked up when I think that others may not have half of what I have. Not just food either but health and a beautiful family to share love with. There are some lonely people very close to home. There are people cold and hungry. Many in my church and community who are sick.
It is easy to be thankful but is it the same to be aware? I was given fabric from a friend who makes quilts. It was a generous amount and I have been sewing up baby quilts for the local quilt guild that donates quilts to veterans, Interval house, Fire hall and who ever else in the community is in need. I also passed on flannel from this friend to someone who makes kids flannel quilts to be sent to Africa thru a local missionary. They also send used sheets, towels and bars of soap. She has started making some flannel quilts for northern Canada kids with bad housing through a priest stationed up there.
There is so many ways to be a help to someone else. A neighbour meantioned to me that she was looking to get more involved since she was new to the area. When I told her all about the quilter groups she became excited to help. These examples take time but sometimes just a smile and kindness are enough to help a new mom on a bad day.
Our houses are packed with extra things. We all have more sheets then we need or toys for example. When it is time to clean out do you really think about who could use those items? We have recieved so many hand me downs and not just clothes but toys and even furniture. Our family is happy to get them. We do not need to have the best.
Gifts are awesome. I love to give gifts but I do feel my kids recieve more than they will ever appreiciate. I would rather spend 5 dollars on someone elses kids then on my own. Maybe that isn't an appropriate thing to say but I feel so much love for my kids. Others may not recieve the same love and attention at home. What if a new coloring book shows another child that they are loved and someone cares.
At Christmas I support the Interval House for the kids gift program that they run. Kids that come thru the Interval house really start from scratch. Their parent maybe an example of the working poor. There is no governement funding for kids at christmas that come thru the Interval house. This is a program run by the staff. They asks the kids what they want from Santa and from my experiance they want lego, books, crayons..... really, I don't think those things are to much to ask. The Interval house gets gifts for kids up to age 18. At age 16 and up they are really on there own. Basically if they have come thru the Interval house they really have no one to give them gifts at Christmas.
Old navy has a sale right before Christmas. Hoodies for $5. The last 2 years I have gotten sweaters for kids at Interval house. I have asked others who would like to donate for 5$ as well. Come on...$5. I will be collecting money for hoodies again this year. How about you pack a lunch one day instead of buying one and get a kid a warm sweater.
Any donations for sewing material, clothes, toys, sheets, towels or soap I will also be collecting for these organizations.
It is easy to be thankful but is it the same to be aware? I was given fabric from a friend who makes quilts. It was a generous amount and I have been sewing up baby quilts for the local quilt guild that donates quilts to veterans, Interval house, Fire hall and who ever else in the community is in need. I also passed on flannel from this friend to someone who makes kids flannel quilts to be sent to Africa thru a local missionary. They also send used sheets, towels and bars of soap. She has started making some flannel quilts for northern Canada kids with bad housing through a priest stationed up there.
There is so many ways to be a help to someone else. A neighbour meantioned to me that she was looking to get more involved since she was new to the area. When I told her all about the quilter groups she became excited to help. These examples take time but sometimes just a smile and kindness are enough to help a new mom on a bad day.
Our houses are packed with extra things. We all have more sheets then we need or toys for example. When it is time to clean out do you really think about who could use those items? We have recieved so many hand me downs and not just clothes but toys and even furniture. Our family is happy to get them. We do not need to have the best.
Gifts are awesome. I love to give gifts but I do feel my kids recieve more than they will ever appreiciate. I would rather spend 5 dollars on someone elses kids then on my own. Maybe that isn't an appropriate thing to say but I feel so much love for my kids. Others may not recieve the same love and attention at home. What if a new coloring book shows another child that they are loved and someone cares.
At Christmas I support the Interval House for the kids gift program that they run. Kids that come thru the Interval house really start from scratch. Their parent maybe an example of the working poor. There is no governement funding for kids at christmas that come thru the Interval house. This is a program run by the staff. They asks the kids what they want from Santa and from my experiance they want lego, books, crayons..... really, I don't think those things are to much to ask. The Interval house gets gifts for kids up to age 18. At age 16 and up they are really on there own. Basically if they have come thru the Interval house they really have no one to give them gifts at Christmas.
Old navy has a sale right before Christmas. Hoodies for $5. The last 2 years I have gotten sweaters for kids at Interval house. I have asked others who would like to donate for 5$ as well. Come on...$5. I will be collecting money for hoodies again this year. How about you pack a lunch one day instead of buying one and get a kid a warm sweater.
Any donations for sewing material, clothes, toys, sheets, towels or soap I will also be collecting for these organizations.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
coffee and quilts
Today is a special day. It has started with coffee and quilts. I wish everyday started like this. Since the family thanksgiving dinner was last night and my girls got properly spoiled, they are sleeping in this morning and I am enjoying the rare quiet. Yesterday I worked hard to get my huge list of house stuff done. I actually did it! I completed the list....well I skipped cleaning the fridge. It can wait til I get back. Gary and I are going away today for our first over night without the kids. We are going to Gananoque Inn and starting our mini vacation with a 1000 island boat cruise. My parents are coming this morning to stay over night with the kids. I am not jealous of them. My huge heavy girls can be unhappy when mommy is not here. They do love there nanny and poppa though......maybe things will be fine.
I have so much to be thanksful for. I love my sewing room, I love that the laundry is done. I love that I can create and have balance in my life between 'me time' and being mom...if I work hard at it. I love that my husband and I still both make an effort in our relationship. I love that I can hear him starting the 4-wheeler to go put the cows out to field because the milking is done. I am thankful for my old complicated moody house that takes a lot of work. I love the fall morning smell of leaves, fresh cold air and farm. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
I have so much to be thanksful for. I love my sewing room, I love that the laundry is done. I love that I can create and have balance in my life between 'me time' and being mom...if I work hard at it. I love that my husband and I still both make an effort in our relationship. I love that I can hear him starting the 4-wheeler to go put the cows out to field because the milking is done. I am thankful for my old complicated moody house that takes a lot of work. I love the fall morning smell of leaves, fresh cold air and farm. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Quilting
Another big-time favorite for me is quilting. I love creating with my hands. I love the touch and colour of fabric. I love to own it. Like many women feel when they have lovely clothes and can be happy shopping for hours, well that is me in my craft room. I love that I have many pieces to choose from. I find it a puzzle. In the night when I wake up and need to distract myself from my worry, I imagine my fabric stash and I think about the 4 - 11 projects I have in different stages of progress. I think about what my next step will be. What backing goes with each quilt top and will there be enough. Each scrap of material goes in a pile that is similair in colour theme. Girl baby pastels in one tote bag and autumn colours in another. Bright primary colours in a cardboard box, and special christmas material in a tupperware under the boardgames in the closet. When my pieces get picked over I cut them into the biggest square I can get out of it and pile them by size. All the 2 inch to 5inch, all in labled ziplock bags, eventually they will be a table runner or a square for a sample quilt.
When I am with the kids I can not iron or cut material and very rarely sew, but I plan. I look online at patterns in the backyard while the girls play on the slide. I can do binding while we watch Go Diego Go and Ashley takes her time waking up from her nap. Mostly sewing happens in the evening or if I wake up with Gary when he goes to the barn. By the time the girls have their nap I find I need one too. I can clean house with the kids a bit and I can cook with the kids. Often I get my excersise with the kids but sewing is for me. It is my time to shut off my mind from responsability and enjoy seeing pieces of material come together to BE something. The house is a mess again, the kids are hungry again, but I made this today. I will remember where I was when I made it and how I felt. I think about what the quilt is for, especailly if I have a person in mind while I make it. I made quilts for both my girls when they were in my belly and having the time to sew was like time with them. All my wishes and dreams and hopes were shared with the quilt thru my hands and then passed on to them. When I look at that quilt I remember.
The surprise benefit that comes from taking time for yourself is seeing my family respect what they see as import to me. My girls love to sit on the quilts when they are finished. Ashley says 'it's boot-e-full'. At some point in the quilting process I have to ask for an opinion on colours or math (how to cut the most from material) from Gary. I think he enjoys being invited into my world. He is happy to help and His answer is often the best one. I actually respect his judgment in matters of quilting. It makes a nice evening for us to talk about what I am working on and figure out a problem together. He probubly doesn't want me to spread it around so it will be our little secret. I like him a lot when he takes time to be interessted in my interests. Maybe that is a sign of a good marriage. I always hear others say "how do you have the time". I really feel it makes me a better wife and mom to quilt and have that time to be myself and I feel like I am sharing part of myself. So to them I say "how can I not make time".
http://www.etsy.com/shop/megson
When I am with the kids I can not iron or cut material and very rarely sew, but I plan. I look online at patterns in the backyard while the girls play on the slide. I can do binding while we watch Go Diego Go and Ashley takes her time waking up from her nap. Mostly sewing happens in the evening or if I wake up with Gary when he goes to the barn. By the time the girls have their nap I find I need one too. I can clean house with the kids a bit and I can cook with the kids. Often I get my excersise with the kids but sewing is for me. It is my time to shut off my mind from responsability and enjoy seeing pieces of material come together to BE something. The house is a mess again, the kids are hungry again, but I made this today. I will remember where I was when I made it and how I felt. I think about what the quilt is for, especailly if I have a person in mind while I make it. I made quilts for both my girls when they were in my belly and having the time to sew was like time with them. All my wishes and dreams and hopes were shared with the quilt thru my hands and then passed on to them. When I look at that quilt I remember.
The surprise benefit that comes from taking time for yourself is seeing my family respect what they see as import to me. My girls love to sit on the quilts when they are finished. Ashley says 'it's boot-e-full'. At some point in the quilting process I have to ask for an opinion on colours or math (how to cut the most from material) from Gary. I think he enjoys being invited into my world. He is happy to help and His answer is often the best one. I actually respect his judgment in matters of quilting. It makes a nice evening for us to talk about what I am working on and figure out a problem together. He probubly doesn't want me to spread it around so it will be our little secret. I like him a lot when he takes time to be interessted in my interests. Maybe that is a sign of a good marriage. I always hear others say "how do you have the time". I really feel it makes me a better wife and mom to quilt and have that time to be myself and I feel like I am sharing part of myself. So to them I say "how can I not make time".
http://www.etsy.com/shop/megson
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
cooking
Today's supper is meatloaf.
I spend a lot of time thinking about supper. I love food, but as a busy mom living on a busy dairy farm I don't always have time to make fancy suppers. I love cooking and I hear a lot of women saying they are tired of the same old, same old meals. And even more tired of cooking them. So I thought I would share my smart, cheap and quick meal ideas. My favorite ideas are cooking one meal and making a few nights suppers out of it. In the past i have cooked in one day up to 30 meals for girlfriends who are expecting babies to help with the first month with their new little joy. I myself have 2 babies. Ashley is 18 months and Emily is 6 months. Supper time is the more stressful time of day so I try to have supper made or at least ready to cook in the morning.
Preparation is definatly the way to make cooking easier. Planning your meals is so important to keep to a budget as well. We eat a lot of meat which can get more costly so I try to make it stretch. My husband works very hard outside and though he is pretty helpful with the girls when he finally gets in at night. I have found having a nice hot, filling meal is so important to help him relax and feel more positive about playing with his girls and helping put them to bed. Sometimes he even will clean up supper!
Having our meals together as a family is so important. It encourages our little ones to eat and gives us all a chance to enjoy each other no matter how busy, tough, frustrating and tiring our day was. We also find it is the time to be thankful for our blessings even if we forget to voice them. Just look around the table and their is everything you need.
I spend a lot of time thinking about supper. I love food, but as a busy mom living on a busy dairy farm I don't always have time to make fancy suppers. I love cooking and I hear a lot of women saying they are tired of the same old, same old meals. And even more tired of cooking them. So I thought I would share my smart, cheap and quick meal ideas. My favorite ideas are cooking one meal and making a few nights suppers out of it. In the past i have cooked in one day up to 30 meals for girlfriends who are expecting babies to help with the first month with their new little joy. I myself have 2 babies. Ashley is 18 months and Emily is 6 months. Supper time is the more stressful time of day so I try to have supper made or at least ready to cook in the morning.
Preparation is definatly the way to make cooking easier. Planning your meals is so important to keep to a budget as well. We eat a lot of meat which can get more costly so I try to make it stretch. My husband works very hard outside and though he is pretty helpful with the girls when he finally gets in at night. I have found having a nice hot, filling meal is so important to help him relax and feel more positive about playing with his girls and helping put them to bed. Sometimes he even will clean up supper!
Having our meals together as a family is so important. It encourages our little ones to eat and gives us all a chance to enjoy each other no matter how busy, tough, frustrating and tiring our day was. We also find it is the time to be thankful for our blessings even if we forget to voice them. Just look around the table and their is everything you need.
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