Week 2... 2 Blocks Down, 109 to Go!

  2 Blocks Down, 109 to Go!

1st Block (block #2 in book) =Summerhouse by Lily Ashbury (Super Cute Freebies on her Blog!)

2nd Block (block #4 in book)= Ruby by Camille Roskelly  

AND Little Apples by Aneela Hoey

*Check out these ladies blogs for oodles of inspiration!

So, whatcha think? I was feeling really anxious about using a variety of different fabric lines but Lissa assured me it would be fine. She said to think of each block as a mini quilt and just focus on it. Not to think about the entire quilt and how each of them will look together because you can always make it work in the end! And I'm sure she will show me how when/if we ever get there! ; )

We had a little show and tell to see everyone's blocks!

Here are just a few... 

 Proud Block Momma's!

Here are the awesome Marti Michell templates that were demoed during class...

I'm gonna have to get some of these babies!

Some of us (not me!) got some sewing done during class.

See, I like mine to be a surprise so I just cut them out during class! ; )

And who can forget what every quilter needs... a little sustenance!

What did I learn today, you ask? I learned that I desperately need some sort of organization system! Throwing my stuff in my bag before running out the door like a mad woman in the morning is not working so well.

So I got to admire everyone's lovely storage choices as I rummaged through my bag!

I have my eye on a few things to store my fabric/supplies in...

what do you think about these colorful containers!

How do you store your quilting goodies??

One day

At 27, seeing all of your friends get married and have children can be disheartening. I have to hold tight to what I believe and know that my heavenly Father has beautiful things in store for me. Whether those things are marriage and children or a life on the mission field, whatever it is, I know it will be better than anything I can ever imagine. 

 "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
   nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him"

 1 Corinthians 2:9

I will continue to pray for my future husband and dream about those special moments.

Here is a beautiful wedding video that makes my heart happy.

True Love Always Wins from Stillwater Cinematography on Vimeo.

All of these emotions were stirred up on Saturday night when I got to help set up this scene for a proposal in downtown Dallas. It was so sweet and simple. A dozen white roses with one single yellow rose.  Red rose pedals scattered all around. And my favorite... A Bible belonging to both the future bride and groom. He had even incuded her soon to be new last name in it.

 

He also went through and circled passages like this... 

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Ephesians 5: 25-27

It was exciting to be a part of their special night.

I'm curious.
What was your proposal like?
How long had you been dating?
How did you know he was THE one?
Are you still waiting for him?

Fri(ed)day!

What a looong week! 

I have felt like this poor toddler all week since returning from my mission trip last Sunday. Except my desk at work doesn't have all the fun toys.

This weekend I will share more about my trip and how I got to help teach ladies from one of the poorest towns in Nicaragua how to quilt!

Well, I am so thankful I have made it to Friday!  

This delightful little treat has been calling my name all day and now I finally get to enjoy it! 

What treat do you look forward to all day?

Xoxo!

  

Real Housewives Made an Appearance

 Day 1 went pretty well.. See the smile on my face? : )  I finished my design board and it is presh!

I mean how could it not be? It is made from Camille's amazing Ruby fabric line! 

I did still manage to be behind the rest of the class as I did not even get my first block cut out much less put together like Lissa (the showoff that she is!) *Notice my sad face in comparison to Lissa! 

BUT I always say "Comparison is the thief of all joy"!

So I am thankful to have finished my design board and can't wait to go home and work on my blocks!

Here are some shots of the rest of our girls having fun on their design boards & blocks!

*Some more fun than others as you can see ; )  

Guess the real housewives did make an appearance!

Today was so much fun and most of all it renewed my joy and sparked my creativity. Only downside is now I want to go buy MORE fabric!

Thankful for laughter & a wonderful boss who is a constant source of encouragement! 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful"

~ Proverbs 15:13

Following Along? Check out Angela & Amanda's Week 1!

Real Housewives

Ok, so I may not be a wife... much less live on a FARM but I am determined to make this darn quilt.

Can I just be real honest here for a minute? When my boss Moda Lissa and I first started getting interested in joining the modern Farmer's Wife bandwagon I was reallly excited. Why was I so excited? Because I saw the progress of the amazing girls who have already completed several fabulous blocks. For instance...

the adorable Camille Roskelly of Thimble Blossoms

Angela

And Amanda

Aren't they adorable? Ok, so I am sure you can now see why I was so anxious to become a fellow Farmer's Wife.

Welllll I will tell you I am feeling a wee bit anxious today since my friend Michele told me the shocking news. There are duhn duhn duhn... 111 BLOCKS in the whole quilt!!!! WHAT?! What have I done? I am known for picking projects that can be completed within say... a day! Just call me, "Instant Gratification!" 

So, I admit I had a tiny nervous break down between the hours of 10am and um, well, now. But I have come to terms with the fact that I will be entering a new season of life called patience and perseverance.

I hope you will join me as I not only learn new quilting techniques (OH, did I mention I am a BEGINNER quilter?... 111 blocks!... Beginner!) but also alot of life lessons. Encouragement and Prayer (lots of prayer) is all I can ask for. 

Thanks for tuning in to what may be the death of me. : ) 

Here we go,

Sarah "soon to be Farmer's Wife" Stephenson 

Remember...Open Hands

"When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what matters most to the heart of God. She lives in the balance of passion and contentment. She learns to love well, give without regard to self, and forgive without hesitation. The woman with a kingdom heart may have a duffel bag full of possessions or enough treasures to fill a mansion, but she has learned to hold them with an open hand. Hold everything with open hands. I don't think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven. When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated. And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small."

I read this passage from the book A Beautiful Offering a little while back and it touched me so much. Every line of it is perfect. I desperately want to be this woman and find myself struggling daily to set my mind on God's kingdom and not my own.