Freebie sampler on Facebook page

Inspiration?

Fresh strawberries of which I made a nice creamy filling and put in parfait glasses for dessert.

 

The name of the sampler is "The Fruit of the Spirit: Love"

 

If you like strawberries, you will like this sampler!!

 

All you need to do to print it is go to Feathers in the Nest FB page

You can click directly on Abbie's pic below and it will take you to the page.

 

 

 

Abbie says she loves you this morning!

 

 

What I'm up to?  well Summer cleaning still.  This cabinet was headed in a truck to the dump and I got it free from a very good friend. It's repurposed now to go in my stitching studio. I also have a small CD player to put in the top to have some instrumental music while I work.

 

You have to be in the right place at the right time. I can't believe this was going to the dump.

 

I'm still working at cleaning out clothes and such to donate as well. Yesterday I cleaned one closet out, 3 more to go.

 

We have 2 guest bedrooms and changed linens and replaced quilts in one of them, an old, old, quilt. Changed the curtains to lace to let in the sunlight and it seems like a bigger room.

 

Letting go of shoes and clothes is hard for me and for what reason I don't know. But simplifying my life seems to be reducing alot of stress already.

 

For me, alot of things donating are when I ask these questions:

 

is it old and nonfunctional?

 

is there a bad memory attached?

 

is it worn out?

 

faded?

 

does it have shoulder pads? :P

 

if yes, then they are going to Goodwill.

 

 Purl of Wisdom~~~Chaos is something that is not conducive to a smoother life journey. Reducing chaos and clutter reduces stress in life just by altering the environment in which we live.

 

I hope your weekend is full of sunshine and stitching!

 

Jennifer

 

Friday Flashback~the first snow at the homestead and progress

Today I thought it would interesting to show you some pics of what the homestead looked like BEFORE painting and removing the front screen and also in a deep snow here on Fox mountain.

What a flashback!  My daughter had never seen so much snow at one time at her early age of 13.

Winter 2002

 The backyard

This is before I paid to put a red tin roof on with new sub wood layer because it was leaking upstairs. The color of the house was a blue stain on the wood. I had it painted of course after the roof went on .

And before that the screen was torn down to reveal a nice front porch. Alot of work done on and in this homestead over the 11 years.

Woke up this morning with frozen ground after a nice sheen of water. Still have more sleet/frozen rain to go today with temps below freezing. Tomorrow this should clear up. 

It's cloudy and almost looks like snow clouds instead and that's one thing in the North Ga. mountains, you just never really know how much ice and when. 

Abbie is curled up beside me. Our Buck wood stove has been going now 48 hours straight. Woke up to some good hot coals yesterday morning and this morning and I've been keeping it going which is saving tremendously on gas and electric bills. It's been a consistent 76 degrees in here when it's below freezing outside. Can't beat that!

Last night I picked up a few stitches on a scarf I'm making, still in garter stitch in a grassy green. Then,  watching the weather on TV, PBS said Downton Abbey was coming on at 9pm, so I saddled up my sampler and worked on it a bit more watching the repeat episode. I can't wait for the new one on Sunday night!!! Mr. Darcy and me both, LOVE this series.

I hope where you are is keeping you warm and especially your hearts so that love can freely flow.

a sneak peak

Manor Red, Antique Rose and Milady's Teal, and Gold Leaf so far........

the knitted project with my Kindle is here.

I will be hand stitching in this pocket I sewed on the machine.

and when I hand stitch the lining in , THEN I have to make a flower from this fabbie and put where you see the rolled up extra.

My kindle cozy will be all ready for some kind of closure on it

I''m still loving my glass needles. XXX my fingers they last a leeeeetle bit longer.

This is a nice grassy green that could easily be a scarf into Spring, I'm thinking with pinks.

So this is what is going on at the spot of the map called Sautee, GA.

My stitching, knitting, lap-hugging, and writing buddy is here for me. She drags her blanket to me to wrap her at night.

I would say she is spoiled but I think it's beyond that now. 

She pulls out her stained potty paper in her pee pan when it's full, and looks at me to replace it.

I guess this is a bed n breakfast for her now. She is quite enjoying the stay.

Dinner last night here:

Chili

skillet oven-baked corn bread

dessert--- chocolate cream pie

Tonight?

pizza!

This sampler will be for sale AFTER I finish stitching the model........yes, I will hurry.

I feel like I birthed a baby by the time I got through with this, but it was well worth it.

Till later stay warm and cozy,

Jennifer

A Super Sweet December weekend

When I was a wee, little girl, Christmas time was always the best. We struggled like many folks and I remember that all our trees were "real" and several times I went with my dad to go out in the woods somewhere and we would pick out a tree together. If I liked one bigger, he would climb way to the top and cut the top of it off for the tree. As I grew older we bought trees or an artificial one but never would they replace those wispy ones from the woods we put in a bucket inside.

 

This is me. All giddy on Christmas Eve with my brother in matching pjs. I used to think that was so neat. We got one pair like that right before Christmas for a pic under the tree. I was 5 years old here and had made a Santa and proud to put his limp self with cotton balls and all right under the tree for Santa to see when he came to put the presents around!

 

Of course back then, mama put alot of icicles on the tree and as I grew older, she let me put them on there. I think then she would go back and even them out. :o

 

Those were the simple times.

 

 I guess my love for crafting came very early in life even way before this when I got put in the time out chair in kindergarten for playing with my crayons when I was supposed to be listening.

 

This weekend, Mr. Darcy and I went to a lovely, huge Christmas party and danced till we couldn't anymore. We had so much fun. The food was overflowing, the music was good too.

 

So, today I've been getting a little out of the village and decorating a bit. I'll show you some pics later but here are a few sneak peaks. We even got a pic with Santa but I don't have it with me right now.

 

 

 

more of the village when I get finished with it. It honestly takes a good 2-3 hours of set up.

I used a different "snow" this year. I so miss the other kind but couldn't find it in stores so I basically used the poly stuff.

 

 

 

On the baking front, Mr. Darcy likes yellow cake with chocolate frosting so in between decorating,

I made up one. The frosting recipe is from a Better Homes and Garden cookbook.

It's a Chocolate Butter Frosting.

 

simple to make and oh so rich!

 

it made enough for extra cupcakes if you whip it up though....I was licking beaters and bowls until I was about sick.

The one piece was mine till he gets home. Yes, I'm a pig. :P

 

 

Our Hoosier cabinet makes a great place to put sweets for the week.

 

the recipe for the frosting is:

 

Chocolate Butter Frosting

 

takes about 30 minutes to make, 20 if you are quick

 

this yields 4 and 1/2 cups of frosting!!!!!!  They say enough for one layered cake. I say enough for 2.

 

3/4 cup of sweet butter softened

 

2 pounds of powdered sugar (in a 2lb large bag)

 

1/2 -3/4 cup of milk ( I used canned evaporated milk as I was out of regular)

 

2 tablespoons of vanilla

 

3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Hershey's and a bit more to taste)

 

In an extra large mixing bowl beat butter (softened) with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well. Add the powdered cocoa. Beat in 2/3 cup or so of milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in remaining sugar ( LOTS). Beat in additional milk to reach spreading consistency.

To frost a 13 x 9 inch flat cake, halve the recipe.

 

Then try to refrain from licking all the icing and spread generously on the bottom layer and sides. Then plop out the 2nd from the baking pan and load up the top and ice and lick until your heart's desire. :0

 

 

So what else is on the stitching front???? Well, lots of cleaning and sorting into new cabinets downstairs in my sewing area. (didn't get it today) but in the process I pulled colors for the freebie previous to this post for Mr. Darcy and my first Christmas ornie.

 

I was about to pull the colors and then I found this in the mounds of stash.

 

 

so I decided to use these silks I got a couple of years ago and the ones I selected from the box for the sampler are here. Silks stitch like BUTTAH!

 

 

yep, with some small piece of 32 count antique white linen

 

 

Obviously this was in between the village decor and the chocolate mess I made. :P

 

My other things I gathered are a small wooden hoop I've had from the Scarlet Letter for 5 years or so and these scissors.

They are 7.99 including free shipping from Speed Factory Bike Ebay store. They are antiqued with titanium planting over stainless steel. They are razer sharp and 4 inches. They have several about 7 or 8 other vintage style scissors. Great for gifties for stitchers.

The seller for these on EBAY is:

 

hsuan05

 

 

Along with this small clip on Mighty Bright light and a pair of magnifying glasses and I'm good to go!

 

 

 

Well, best get back to decorating and cleaning up.

 

 Soon bedtime will be here and yes, I'm watching the 2 hour special of the Walton's wedding tonight if I can stay up late. Late to us is 10pm here on Fox Mountain. 

Soon to get out my Christmas cards.....

 

 

oh what a list of things to do in December! 

Till our threads entangle again,

 

Jennifer

A Ray of Sunshine

 

Miss Little Ray of Sunshine

 

 

 

On this beautiful, Fall crisp day.

 

 

Here's hoping that whatever path you take in life

 

 

 

Home or away

 

 

brings a bit of God's beauty to touch your heart

 

 

Long enough to stay

 

 

Savor in the sunny spot, and there's always one somewhere.

 

For it's in the darkest times in contrast, that we can appreciate the light.

 

Hoping your Sunday is spent with the ones you love, some cool, crisp, sunny air and doing something restful and creative to share.

 

God bless each of you.

 

I'm off to find some adventure with Mr. Darcy. It's a Darcy kind of day. :)

 



A House and Home sampler

 Today I designed House and Home sampler.

 

This morning was such a great, lazy, cool morning in which sipping of peach tea and designing were on my agenda while the fresh breeze of Fall air from the North Georgia mountains blew in a peaceful spirit.

There is just something about Saturday mornings in which inspiration flows much better. It's probably because of the relaxation that Saturday morning brings, to sleep in, to get that extra rest and inspiration from the quiet.

 

Home has always been important to me. Never perfect but always something since I was a wee girl to have when I grew up as a woman.

 

Through all the ups and downs, one constant that never changes is my desire to have a peaceful home, one in which is not just a building but whatever size, a place of reprieve from the brash world and busy life.

 

I've admired through the years many with large homes and wondered, as I rode by them in deep thought, if they were really homes; as homes are only made of hope, love, and trust. And of course, how fortunate the blessings to have both!

 

There have been years in my life that I had only hopes and dreams for a real home, although blessed with a house in which I put my heart into. There were things missing for peace to flourish and love to grow. No matter how much nesting, cooking, or decorating my house, unfortunately there were times when it was just a house. But love has now made it a home.

 

I'm thankful that in this past year God has opened my eyes to a brighter future He had for me in store which included exactly what I prayed for many years, a home built on love and hope, trust and peace.

 

 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.” Jeremiah 50:6 (NIV)

 

I hope I never forget my own resting place which is my home with the one I love and trust. The blessing of making it a home, although humble, is given to me by my Father in Heaven, and for that, I am very thankful to Him. From protection from those who tried to destroy my home, I can't be thankful enough to Him for surviving and rebuilding with love and trust.

He has given me a house AND a home now which is a respite of peace and love, and not fear and restlessness and lies.

 

These are my thoughts today as I offer this to you as a freebie, that as you stitch, you are reminded, along with myself, that a God-centered home is a huge blessing that not all get to experience in their lifetimes.

 

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a favorite website that I love to read and participate in when I can. The website is here:

http://www.proverbs31.org/

 

The daily devotionals are awesome!

 

I hope your house is full of HOME today and always!

 

 

Jennifer

 



Making a new overstuffed pillow

before

and

after my distraction

Spent about 4-5 hours this morning and evening wiping down all the things that go back into the porch and it was a sandy painty, dusty.......did I say sandy? adventure. When it reached about 100 degrees, decided to stop that and got distracted with a piece of Waverly fabric that was square cut and found at a local thrift store or 50 cents.

I've had it for about a month but knew right away that it would go with the chaise outside if I make it as a large pillow covering.

I started with it like this........knees on the floor. I like to just get on the floor and size up and pin it. I know the table is better and I have one but that's just me.

I  had some vintage red ticking cloth in my stash and I thought this would go well with it.

I doubled up the fabbie to cut with the block.

Get-R-Pins

make sure you put the two of the right sides together. I made the mistake of pinning around and then looking to see I had to unpin it all and rearrange.

And pin all the way around.

Discard to the side the remaining for other projects. Thinking of making some small matching pillows in heart shapes.

this is the truer color here up close.

I put in an old pillow from a bed and repurposed it to use for stuffing.

I had to also add a little more stuffing to fill it out and it will flatten as the chaise is laid in.....and next weekend when the temps drop to a high of 75, my hiney will be in this chaise at some point!

I used the sewing machine to do most of the sewing and then left a portion at the bottom to stitch by hand after I finished with the machine.

Seams look good, corners are stuffed.

I plopped it down here so when the wicker chaise is out flat, I can take a nap or read my Kindle OR actually work on a sampler. :P

This red cover I made last year for the long cushion because......I simply couldn't find one that long anywhere. I still have to make some black ties for the top and bottom.

Right now, with cleaning after the staining the floor job, I just got my old afghan out of the dryer for cooler nights.

This afghan I found in 2000 for 5 bucks in a thrift store. Yes, I love junkin'!

It's lasted many washings as well.

And for about 1.00, I think this was good thing.

This is my next home project. A Hoosier cabinet I've had for awhile. I love reading the history and watching people online re-finish/ and or paint them............for another day though.

And while jamming to Classic Rock, we continued on with the back porch while he was sweating gallons of water, pressure washing the side and finished sanding the stairs.

And so except for the blue paint tape...LOL....the back porch is done and probably cleaner than it has ever been. The red stain, I'm still lovin'.

And if you can stay awhile......as mountain folks say.......take your shoes off and have a cup of something ice cold with good conversation!

If walls could talk.

Stay cool,

Jennifer