tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36473986465949376882024-03-18T21:49:52.366-02:30Devoted QuilterLeanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.comBlogger1207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-80897840114565743612024-03-18T07:00:00.001-02:302024-03-18T07:00:00.122-02:30God's Varied Grace<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Mostly when we talk about grace, we do so in terms of forgiveness, but the Bible also uses the word grace when talking about the gifts God has given us. It’s so easy to focus on the gifts other people have, while feeling like we don’t have any special gifts at all. The Bible is clear that isn’t the case, though. Peter wrote, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10). </div><div> </div><div>We learn two things from this one verse. First, we all have some gift or talent. Notice that Peter wrote, 'as each has received a gift' and not 'those select few who have received a gift'. That’s because God didn’t leave any of us out, even if sometimes we feel otherwise. What are you good at? It may not be a thing that gets much attention, but that doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. Sometimes we don’t recognize our gifts because they come to us so easily that we just think everyone can do what we do. That is definitely not true!</div><div> </div><div>Second, we are to use the gifts we have to serve one another. They were never meant for us alone, but were given to us to serve a purpose in this world. Some of us will serve a few people in our immediate circle of influence. Some will serve hundreds, and some will serve even more. How many people we reach with our gift isn’t a reflection of the value of the gift (or the person!), but only of the purpose God had for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILr4wAJBMsOcmqPYDJU1tpRxefPLcoFdMzYouSmdKpa6LOYGcH_Wuh371e6NMimDIfEGzVGMp7UoJeWwqMWfRtE7S5A9ha04fT6YRUdIiKxmSMtJbiPphhjWRY2PgFCctwUZq_JupEfhjfRf_6naghIsxq6TLf0aM5W0rb6Q6yaUWvsgCHEUedmKr9oE/s1080/Use%20our%20gifts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="We are to use the gifts we have to serve one another | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILr4wAJBMsOcmqPYDJU1tpRxefPLcoFdMzYouSmdKpa6LOYGcH_Wuh371e6NMimDIfEGzVGMp7UoJeWwqMWfRtE7S5A9ha04fT6YRUdIiKxmSMtJbiPphhjWRY2PgFCctwUZq_JupEfhjfRf_6naghIsxq6TLf0aM5W0rb6Q6yaUWvsgCHEUedmKr9oE/w640-h640/Use%20our%20gifts.jpg" title="We are to use the gifts we have to serve one another | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>I love that Peter refers to it as us being good stewards of God’s grace. Stewards don’t own the thing they’re stewarding. They’re like the caretaker of it, doing the best they can with it for the one who does own it. In our case, we have God’s grace given to us in the form of a skill or talent we can use to benefit others. We are to do the best we can with our gift, in service to others, for the glory of the One who gave it to us.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-36081420650968168482024-03-14T16:33:00.000-02:302024-03-14T16:33:40.849-02:30Pinwheel Irish Chain (Take Two)<div style="text-align: left;">Back in 2019 I made my <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2019/03/pinwheel-irish-chain-march-island-batik.html" target="_blank">Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt top</a> for an Island Batik ambassador challenge. Then, as part of Sarah's Hands 2 Help Comfort Quilt Challenge, I donated the top to Victoria's Quilts Canada, a group that accepts only quilt tops, then finishes them to give to people going through cancer treatments. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since then, every few months I get a request from someone looking for the pattern, but I hadn't written the pattern. And since I had donated the top, I also didn't have pictures of a finished quilt to use for the cover of a pattern. I knew I'd have to remake the quilt someday, and now I'm happy to say that day has finally arrived! Here is my Pinwheel Irish Chain (take two).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_yZgwe73L7jq6BqhdJJahF5_HtkPJEzQ-QUJQvH8iyHYOTsBvrCjE23EZS5W66IeWcsBCihM8eq7njrfQqqOaIRhpq0Tj14qOwr-PV55vlH4LT62Rw8bhJ0NvBJUO2OHxNZ5Xplf2wIeS0QJFERc3AnFczxBk1oGLLexPNkEFCLdi0hcW6Pz7EEuqWc/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1000" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_yZgwe73L7jq6BqhdJJahF5_HtkPJEzQ-QUJQvH8iyHYOTsBvrCjE23EZS5W66IeWcsBCihM8eq7njrfQqqOaIRhpq0Tj14qOwr-PV55vlH4LT62Rw8bhJ0NvBJUO2OHxNZ5Xplf2wIeS0QJFERc3AnFczxBk1oGLLexPNkEFCLdi0hcW6Pz7EEuqWc/w640-h492/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%202.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>The weather hasn't been great for outdoor pictures, but Nathan and I did manage to get out to the backyard one afternoon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7yIka81y4NAGC6efbb8nRDkX3_2GjuNC3MdX8AWzyLO1vkwMxSJIFeWjOrcRp2cD839Ua4cAYNpCcfHNhQcqkwpIvS01IbUUkhwOV3Wo-4FPr2N1Os5VgKq1Olj2V5T5uP1WGupKE3jxkBEusXbxQuE5gJFdHiLPvKlMCIoLn7VMUnj-UVLgLqmSFY8/s1236/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7yIka81y4NAGC6efbb8nRDkX3_2GjuNC3MdX8AWzyLO1vkwMxSJIFeWjOrcRp2cD839Ua4cAYNpCcfHNhQcqkwpIvS01IbUUkhwOV3Wo-4FPr2N1Os5VgKq1Olj2V5T5uP1WGupKE3jxkBEusXbxQuE5gJFdHiLPvKlMCIoLn7VMUnj-UVLgLqmSFY8/w518-h640/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%201.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="518" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">Not only did I remake the quilt, I also finished the pattern, and Pinwheel Irish Chain is the Stash Artists pattern for March. If you're not a Stash Artists member yet, we'd love to have you join us when the doors open again in a few months. You can <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/stashartistswaitlist" target="_blank">get on the waitlist here</a> so you'll be notified when the doors are open. Stash Artists is for quilters who love stash-friendly patterns like this one.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I cut the the squares for the Irish Chain blocks using child labour, aka the childcare littles. They <b>love</b> to use my Accuquilt Go!, so they think it's great fun when I suggest we do some fabric cutting. I kept a ziptop bag for the blue squares and they helped me cut them from my scraps over a few cutting sessions. We were able to cut all the white squares for the chain blocks from my scraps, too. I have no idea how many different solid whites made their way into the quilt, but I know there are a few. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FRJXhweZ7YdVocGfa2bxA5_-lwmo5vF78BRDVQ-PTv__7__uvfIZnHv6s0zmXk38FJ8Jb7otODE9hKE_bD15cziEAWx0oawzew4ijigDBhw-TtE0l-G1yM8Lr69n4MvKoTbcLhX39K5cypPyEnQF8VOJ0Ku5d-u0HsaMLoA3pxzZtoa08JIt4MlKSDQ/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FRJXhweZ7YdVocGfa2bxA5_-lwmo5vF78BRDVQ-PTv__7__uvfIZnHv6s0zmXk38FJ8Jb7otODE9hKE_bD15cziEAWx0oawzew4ijigDBhw-TtE0l-G1yM8Lr69n4MvKoTbcLhX39K5cypPyEnQF8VOJ0Ku5d-u0HsaMLoA3pxzZtoa08JIt4MlKSDQ/w640-h640/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%206.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of my favourite things about scrap quilts is remembering where all the fabrics came from or where I've used them before. Some of the blues in this picture are from my time as an Island Batik ambassador, some are from quilts I made for Riley Blake blog hops, and the light blue with leafy shapes was donated when I sent out a call for quilt blocks after the senior's home across the road burned down back in 2017. That blue backed at least one of the many quilts made with the donated blocks, and I kept the strips trimmed off the sides after the quilting was done. There are fun fabric memories scattered all over this quilt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWjJmpttYyrsUlm8IuKRAytAm5EdLs03iUwpMiUsJl_xXwATHsVkSBKRkK5zTKTibKEhhMcz_VwXzsiuuwSjSEN41gZCAwtCbmUW6UlYYdMoDId4WVKumugv_r9e8CxJmFhS3tmJ6Ijf4ZrdUIwS1vBk-tUQ_vumU05XCb43gXfPxvQ_VAPp0Poulyi4/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWjJmpttYyrsUlm8IuKRAytAm5EdLs03iUwpMiUsJl_xXwATHsVkSBKRkK5zTKTibKEhhMcz_VwXzsiuuwSjSEN41gZCAwtCbmUW6UlYYdMoDId4WVKumugv_r9e8CxJmFhS3tmJ6Ijf4ZrdUIwS1vBk-tUQ_vumU05XCb43gXfPxvQ_VAPp0Poulyi4/w640-h640/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%208.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">With the Irish Chain done in blues, I used every colour except blue for the pinwheels. I love the bright, fun prints.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0Hq8PyYuYWmPXHb0DybRs1B0YJcAaposGoYmioSq9mxFfZ_TUmWpChV4G-ye2ze_hyphenhyphenwERMvAxkA2x0CDy8D8qxHp-8QC6PTAWhyN7BTW8ttNws4wn5bMB1oxuEe8BO5ltf8-W9dQP4Ja4tbiVJUKhBpWSeEEznoNwGxMUk_UWcsFUCIvzFTvSm39l30/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0Hq8PyYuYWmPXHb0DybRs1B0YJcAaposGoYmioSq9mxFfZ_TUmWpChV4G-ye2ze_hyphenhyphenwERMvAxkA2x0CDy8D8qxHp-8QC6PTAWhyN7BTW8ttNws4wn5bMB1oxuEe8BO5ltf8-W9dQP4Ja4tbiVJUKhBpWSeEEznoNwGxMUk_UWcsFUCIvzFTvSm39l30/w640-h640/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%203.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I started a new cone of Aurifil 2024 (white) for the quilting, and chose my go-to double loop design. It just seems to suit pinwheels so well. If you use thread cones, do you keep track of when you first use them? It's absolutely useless information, but I love knowing how long I've been using the same cone. I write the date on a piece of tape and stick it to the inside of the plastic cone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrSk3OikmuhHALfyTTMyhlakhSsFifTZwQ9FxK88I5Dz1PnJyhp05B5mYojeGvGNpLuDTmvNPR2KQxBT0GQC-Xdzwjk4yMfi2wxYTq2YL4Hwz4YU7z8UBLiC2yzV5SvZKLTSyrGPRpP6RL-ZbMo-rTlYiyPo-hZAXAhknFca2dOyH5GS8e2Q51mKeeuE/s1000/new%20thread%20cone%20start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aurifil thread cone start | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrSk3OikmuhHALfyTTMyhlakhSsFifTZwQ9FxK88I5Dz1PnJyhp05B5mYojeGvGNpLuDTmvNPR2KQxBT0GQC-Xdzwjk4yMfi2wxYTq2YL4Hwz4YU7z8UBLiC2yzV5SvZKLTSyrGPRpP6RL-ZbMo-rTlYiyPo-hZAXAhknFca2dOyH5GS8e2Q51mKeeuE/w640-h640/new%20thread%20cone%20start.jpg" title="Aurifil thread cone start | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I usually try to avoid piecing backs, but I decided to put in the extra time on this one. I used three different blue solids, plus a fun strawberry fabric from Island Batik. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mx8fxeu60HtZ46Mz6PoYHG-xpIurR2RNgPerWSDUSwvg7ZX4dsMWXhPWe11u3pS5-yKr2NBuRIwwORpGU7xWdSxBoiecumFlHkgDbd3JQTJa6FuqjRXkAQrOsxRIh1dbGk6B3n_WjJQtYpkoEb76inrHkWW6WLLetRPPQQKz2aPkuUaIvSSkioqtj6I/s1000/Pieced%20quilt%20back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pieced quilt back | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1000" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Mx8fxeu60HtZ46Mz6PoYHG-xpIurR2RNgPerWSDUSwvg7ZX4dsMWXhPWe11u3pS5-yKr2NBuRIwwORpGU7xWdSxBoiecumFlHkgDbd3JQTJa6FuqjRXkAQrOsxRIh1dbGk6B3n_WjJQtYpkoEb76inrHkWW6WLLetRPPQQKz2aPkuUaIvSSkioqtj6I/w640-h630/Pieced%20quilt%20back.jpg" title="Pieced quilt back | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvHq-am55Kp9GP876aePabSImiT_AaOFAEtfuQU_fQx-2lw_1kAcM0AGlwZ9HW4WIoTh2tjUWztPs6m0nQMJaeU0q9538m7q8SUjqQ9Ap2OyR_m-MxJPXAf3xGXSY6mFxIACh41yryF2cDSixpPMMfkP2M0QOdzD-Q0HmSs6ti9_jvSLoKq57sjetnJM/s1000/Strawberries%20from%20Island%20Batik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pieced quilt back | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvHq-am55Kp9GP876aePabSImiT_AaOFAEtfuQU_fQx-2lw_1kAcM0AGlwZ9HW4WIoTh2tjUWztPs6m0nQMJaeU0q9538m7q8SUjqQ9Ap2OyR_m-MxJPXAf3xGXSY6mFxIACh41yryF2cDSixpPMMfkP2M0QOdzD-Q0HmSs6ti9_jvSLoKq57sjetnJM/w640-h640/Strawberries%20from%20Island%20Batik.jpg" title="Pieced quilt back | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And, of course, there's a label on one corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutA-M2w856I4_FdcuIYeS3o1pyQIDyFzJ_zv-lyOXFxNivDEWmDS52PtZ5T0vLz_4VoN9T476eFIxmNMIbSannrkn72bDI6Hc3OV-2SWW8sNicEf3ERaSjhUVsS6E0v2PHA-BpvWRTSCk4pa-yaPgVMNPfvxde7-bRtwGVxrAiGW1Y1DVwMAVjuWtH5w/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Devoted Quilter quilt label | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1000" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutA-M2w856I4_FdcuIYeS3o1pyQIDyFzJ_zv-lyOXFxNivDEWmDS52PtZ5T0vLz_4VoN9T476eFIxmNMIbSannrkn72bDI6Hc3OV-2SWW8sNicEf3ERaSjhUVsS6E0v2PHA-BpvWRTSCk4pa-yaPgVMNPfvxde7-bRtwGVxrAiGW1Y1DVwMAVjuWtH5w/w640-h582/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%207.jpg" title="Devoted Quilter quilt label | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">When it came time for the binding, I knew I wanted a scrappy binding, but couldn't decide if it should use all the colours or only blues. I put the question out on social media, where the responses were split pretty evenly, with a few people suggesting either a stripe or a single colour. One person asked if I wanted the binding to draw the eye (in which case use all the colours) or blend in with the Irish Chain (in which case use just blues). I found that so helpful! I decided I didn't want the binding to draw the eye, so I went with the blues, and I'm very happy with the result.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH3XnB1q4LCMksuoawycuNhz6x13QMqTVXhKZS-57sxvjSuO4cYDweqP2hyphenhyphen_ZngV9yzGPFEHeiOsjm58zlfbnsciY5gat43vBIXvU5eslAbWSae86Vy0IUileXs9ybUmB5tJ_n34zBoWma_dcbXtvI9obfg1Pf57L2DQJ1F3cpFKhLz1lCj5xRSwonOw/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scrappy blue quilt binding | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1000" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH3XnB1q4LCMksuoawycuNhz6x13QMqTVXhKZS-57sxvjSuO4cYDweqP2hyphenhyphen_ZngV9yzGPFEHeiOsjm58zlfbnsciY5gat43vBIXvU5eslAbWSae86Vy0IUileXs9ybUmB5tJ_n34zBoWma_dcbXtvI9obfg1Pf57L2DQJ1F3cpFKhLz1lCj5xRSwonOw/w640-h500/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%204.jpg" title="Scrappy blue quilt binding | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>Now when people ask if there's a pattern for the Pinwheel Irish Chain, I can finally say yes (and invite them to <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/stashartistswaitlist" target="_blank">become a Stash Artists member when the doors are open</a> 😉).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q95kPLdn0mO_joKjeEECgfTqT-JM4yRfGAoKM70CYHlWjBrAtToqLJJURAZ0L8x7Z5Jgo6zWcb74vFxaUxMAfAfJIPlOW0oUtZIur3IV2ArUfryhj1_qbOurn54UJZ7KLD7_6LZ4Jm4X9r4Y2zMsCTQzwXSYV8A4BiIfBJoTjnwUWJoIGE6p1f2SFxs/s1000/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strike><img alt="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q95kPLdn0mO_joKjeEECgfTqT-JM4yRfGAoKM70CYHlWjBrAtToqLJJURAZ0L8x7Z5Jgo6zWcb74vFxaUxMAfAfJIPlOW0oUtZIur3IV2ArUfryhj1_qbOurn54UJZ7KLD7_6LZ4Jm4X9r4Y2zMsCTQzwXSYV8A4BiIfBJoTjnwUWJoIGE6p1f2SFxs/w640-h640/Pinwheel%20Irish%20Chain%205.jpg" title="Pinwheel Irish Chain quilt | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></strike></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-51707359048421555122024-03-12T21:23:00.002-02:302024-03-12T21:23:32.792-02:30Paper Piecing with Freezer Paper Workshop<div style="text-align: left;">Do you love the precision of paper piecing, but hate ripping out the papers when you're finished? I hear ya! That was me, until I started using freezer paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwGnFVE0tRsDFJjuLAvGdN7422y4Kerv2dPP-RhqLZWnfRz-cV4Tp0du-5ChYe0A6I_zhzN7PHu0ndsHvTXTkk7k3HFsWN8JWIXgEEeTow6tSTsPbB6pZfLb20qPEEedBQOVLoH3SjuSkrXJQlmSYfJ4Y1MAd2yMpvbhYAxuUIz683RcPC7nirFL8mX4/s1000/Burst%20units.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Burst quilt blocks | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwGnFVE0tRsDFJjuLAvGdN7422y4Kerv2dPP-RhqLZWnfRz-cV4Tp0du-5ChYe0A6I_zhzN7PHu0ndsHvTXTkk7k3HFsWN8JWIXgEEeTow6tSTsPbB6pZfLb20qPEEedBQOVLoH3SjuSkrXJQlmSYfJ4Y1MAd2yMpvbhYAxuUIz683RcPC7nirFL8mX4/w640-h480/Burst%20units.jpg" title="Burst quilt blocks | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The freezer paper method is like magic! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>My favourite advantage is that you can simply peel the freezer paper off the back of the block when you finish it. A second or two and it's done, instead of tediously removing each little piece of paper. I'll never go back to using regular paper for this reason alone.</li><li>You can reuse the templates (saving so much paper and ink if you're making repeats of the same blocks). I've used templates up to 16 times before, and even then, they were still good to use, I just didn't need more blocks.</li></ul><div>If you'd like to learn this magic, too, join me for a <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/paper-piecing-with-freezer-paper-march-23-2024-tickets-853189170777" target="_blank">Paper Piecing with Freezer Paper workshop</a> on March 23rd. In the 2 hour virtual workshop, we'll use my Burst pattern (included in your registration) to learn how freezer paper lets you keep the precision of paper piecing, but without the hassle of removing the bits of paper at the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyJcHhRcc4JvIQ84usg4L5ufxjVtb94TrzmUS6fSYx6n1pW7r4F3ggqoVMJZKqAZt1MZDEL46IBOIu7f0YBTPrnKdW3SpTkWlqEkVzD1UgzboLGWdc1Zl59UO6ij_NLMoVGBWCeA0XMc39w0dSQxe6aKNSbkp0wJNQo6UgFB71U3Fw_8iSq07T00lGZk/s940/Paper%20Piecing%20with%20Freezer%20Paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paper Piecing with Freezer Paper workshop | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyJcHhRcc4JvIQ84usg4L5ufxjVtb94TrzmUS6fSYx6n1pW7r4F3ggqoVMJZKqAZt1MZDEL46IBOIu7f0YBTPrnKdW3SpTkWlqEkVzD1UgzboLGWdc1Zl59UO6ij_NLMoVGBWCeA0XMc39w0dSQxe6aKNSbkp0wJNQo6UgFB71U3Fw_8iSq07T00lGZk/w400-h335/Paper%20Piecing%20with%20Freezer%20Paper.jpg" title="Paper Piecing with Freezer Paper workshop | DevotedQuilter.com" width="400" /></a></div>The workshop is suitable for paper piecing pros who want to ditch the hassle of removing the papers AND for paper piecing newbies. I love hearing the gasps from everyone when they see how simple the process is, whether they've tried paper piecing before or not!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/paper-piecing-with-freezer-paper-march-23-2024-tickets-853189170777" target="_blank">Learn more and register here</a></h3><div><br /></div><div>I hope to see you in the workshop!</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-63760491051224261632024-03-11T07:00:00.001-02:302024-03-11T07:00:00.134-02:30No Record of Wrongs<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>When you’ve done wrong in the past, have you ever been blindsided by the person you hurt bringing it up again, long after you thought you were forgiven? It doesn’t feel good. Even worse, after that happens it’s hard to not worry it will be used against you again in the future, so you feel like you always have that hanging over your head.</div><div> </div><div>God doesn’t do that to us. He doesn’t hold anything against us after we have been forgiven. He doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs so He can remind us of how we hurt Him before and He doesn’t use those past wrongs to make us feel bad about ourselves today. We know this because Paul wrote, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). </div><div> </div><div>God could heap condemnation on our heads for all the wrong we’ve done, but He chooses not to. He could remind us of our sins, but He chooses not to. He could make us feel guilty every day, but He chooses not to. Instead, He tells us that, once we belong to Jesus, He doesn’t condemn us at all. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99ST9D0NAlUhvqw5y84A73gAF29z2uXCVtXbnEdx2GbUrOP_dU8NW_0yg1BlsLFk5PC_r8SFpzaqyl8WBmlxnNnfJKT17B6FAvbxSGeI_ReYgogbGxpk9NMP2YTnEtdxnhaspohQwEXnci5t-VwkGG99E3pxLtClhiQNwwFKo3GR2sbpADraJOAX3k10/s1080/instead%20of%20condemnation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Instead of condemnation, God offers us grace; freely given and without limit | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99ST9D0NAlUhvqw5y84A73gAF29z2uXCVtXbnEdx2GbUrOP_dU8NW_0yg1BlsLFk5PC_r8SFpzaqyl8WBmlxnNnfJKT17B6FAvbxSGeI_ReYgogbGxpk9NMP2YTnEtdxnhaspohQwEXnci5t-VwkGG99E3pxLtClhiQNwwFKo3GR2sbpADraJOAX3k10/w640-h640/instead%20of%20condemnation.jpg" title="Instead of condemnation, God offers us grace; freely given and without limit | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>Instead of condemnation, He offers us grace. Freely given and without limit, He gives us grace to cover all the wrong we have done and will ever do, with no chance of those wrongs being thrown in our faces at some point in the future. How amazing is that?</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-79357518744078514142024-03-04T07:00:00.004-03:302024-03-04T07:00:00.233-03:30A Day's Wage<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>I worked at Tim Horton’s (a Canadian coffee and donut chain) for a few summers in university and our hours worked were, of course, carefully tracked. While I loved the evenings we weren’t busy and I got sent home early, I didn’t love that my next pay would be smaller because of it. Not that it ever motivated me to say I wouldn’t leave early, though!</div><div> </div><div>Jesus told a parable about a man who owned a vineyard. He went out early one morning and hired some people to work for the day. "He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work" (Matthew 20:2). Later, he went out again and hired some more people, "telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day" (v. 4). Then he went out two more times and hired people for the day. Finally, an hour before quitting time, he hired a few more people. </div><div> </div><div>When the work was done for the day, the workers went to the foreman for their pay, starting with those who had been hired last. They were given a full day’s wage, which made those who had been hired first think they would be paid more. When they weren’t, they got angry and "protested to the owner, 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'" (vv. 11-12).</div><div> </div><div>I’ve always found the owner’s answer interesting: "I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?" (vv. 13-15).</div><div> </div><div>Since this is a parable, it’s not about money at all, but rather about the kingdom of God. Someone who serves God only briefly before their death doesn’t get less salvation than a person who served Him for decades (remember the thief on the cross next to Jesus?). This makes perfect sense, since it’s not our work that earns our salvation, but His generosity that bestows it upon us.</div><div> </div><div>The question is, though, are we jealous of people who will receive the same salvation we received? What about if they serve God only for a short while? Or what about if they were horrible people, who did horrible things? How do we feel about them receiving the same salvation? </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mVjbhOgTgWclTsINdw3heK3LV__fIg-PiRkv5e4gs1H9CJL1aKczhZHikzEdvxU7-XVIwDPjC-ldKl99a11WP_TpEsAmOPgNyR2Gjwto8LobfszVW1rEIDat95CxeuJCOkmtotJyf8qIxdyq87Mr_HLJbjO8m7hC9vYVR_TQ1UwhAKGV6mY_WP5hFUs/s1080/Because%20of%20His%20mercy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Because of His mercy and love for us, God gives us all the same salvation | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mVjbhOgTgWclTsINdw3heK3LV__fIg-PiRkv5e4gs1H9CJL1aKczhZHikzEdvxU7-XVIwDPjC-ldKl99a11WP_TpEsAmOPgNyR2Gjwto8LobfszVW1rEIDat95CxeuJCOkmtotJyf8qIxdyq87Mr_HLJbjO8m7hC9vYVR_TQ1UwhAKGV6mY_WP5hFUs/w640-h640/Because%20of%20His%20mercy.jpg" title="Because of His mercy and love for us, God gives us all the same salvation | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>Because of His mercy and love for us, God gives us all the same salvation, regardless of how long we serve Him or what we did before accepting Jesus as Savior. We have to be careful not to feel we deserve more if we have served Him longer.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-53048523532785304052024-03-02T07:00:00.001-03:302024-03-02T07:00:00.142-03:30Hot and Cold Pattern Release, Plus an Anniversary Sale<div style="text-align: left;">It's a big day here at Devoted Quilter headquarters - it's a pattern release day <u>and</u> it's my 11 year blogging anniversary!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_pyhhd1afZb_PYcWfC0HMj_DluY5rgKhZzfwLbMwZ8Ls5HFKO3ktGrnobvAKqjKsizxdoRRrVjV6-d99sLr9jFMcsor9vqWuW3x_aBdtQdp4VLrpx-j-AIOcHlaW4bFmBFKPN18oJwqSv7Fwi_QhRPX6pkHxHqkpJ5VSJDoHhvbW1v7Tiy5ci9N1jmo/s1080/It%E2%80%99s%20my%2011th%20blogging%20anniversary!.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_pyhhd1afZb_PYcWfC0HMj_DluY5rgKhZzfwLbMwZ8Ls5HFKO3ktGrnobvAKqjKsizxdoRRrVjV6-d99sLr9jFMcsor9vqWuW3x_aBdtQdp4VLrpx-j-AIOcHlaW4bFmBFKPN18oJwqSv7Fwi_QhRPX6pkHxHqkpJ5VSJDoHhvbW1v7Tiy5ci9N1jmo/s320/It%E2%80%99s%20my%2011th%20blogging%20anniversary!.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided this was a good time for a logo update. I created my first logo by myself in 2019, using Canva. I didn't know what I was doing, and it showed. This time I used Looka, an AI driven logo design website, where the AI knows what it's doing so I don't have to. I'm so happy with the new look!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A lot sure has changed since I published that first post in 2013. Back then I knew almost nothing about working on the computer beyond basic word processing; Paul had to teach me how to transfer pictures from the camera to the computer, and I had no idea how to edit or resize the pictures! While I'm still no computer expert, I have learned to do so much because of the blog and pattern writing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The biggest change, though, is this incredible online quilting community I connected with through the blog and then Instagram. I love you, my quilty friends! I love seeing the things you're making, discussing fabric choices or quilting designs, and learning tips from you. You are a constant source of inspiration and one of the reasons my to-make list never seems to get any smaller. I enjoy my quilting so much more because I get to share it with you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To celebrate 11 years of blogging, my annual Anniversary Pattern Sale is on now through Friday, March 8th. Visit <a href="http://devotedquilter.etsy.com" target="_blank">my pattern shop</a> to save 25% off all patterns, no coupon code needed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm also celebrating the release of my Hot and Cold pattern today. Hot and Cold was originally published in Make Modern magazine back in 2022, and I finally have it ready for release in my own shop. And yes, it's included in the Anniversary Sale!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGr2ZF-_yA-Y80nY1sco7aRJBguUQFfSs7Ed1YIPAJl7Zauz8Qzm8PNgCtzUxRaslkz3USdc3Ow60WqPaE-gG8mvL8dhCvvxXqKeSkQh3kgbJdbTL1ff3FdyB0Z8xUjr8DD8hQrfBpLGP56mdCCOo6X3sd2Rtl8Kmqz4YTRO83lnvMQ9UVCYzTK3ywq8/s1058/Hot%20and%20Cold%20cover%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="942" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGr2ZF-_yA-Y80nY1sco7aRJBguUQFfSs7Ed1YIPAJl7Zauz8Qzm8PNgCtzUxRaslkz3USdc3Ow60WqPaE-gG8mvL8dhCvvxXqKeSkQh3kgbJdbTL1ff3FdyB0Z8xUjr8DD8hQrfBpLGP56mdCCOo6X3sd2Rtl8Kmqz4YTRO83lnvMQ9UVCYzTK3ywq8/w570-h640/Hot%20and%20Cold%20cover%20image.jpg" title="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="570" /></a></div>Hot and Cold makes a 60" x 72" throw size quilt (my favourite size!) using the classic pineapple block in a modern setting.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KD_u6z7nnMBp8Ppyj1oYRkK5vOWriBaKOtSbQmUKJ65gYk7ht3oPRk8R_tn4FDCyMbiGVvLvckJPxxIHOSArhw5UgneAQNbiBRNM5twmujHIrVCMHS810QWIXhJTzUiVTBF1x7dWqug0d2T8rmiRTGUY85Ph3HdZAWuP0ZeSNOnvbcpAGbfpRHFuKro/s1000/Hot%20and%20Cold%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KD_u6z7nnMBp8Ppyj1oYRkK5vOWriBaKOtSbQmUKJ65gYk7ht3oPRk8R_tn4FDCyMbiGVvLvckJPxxIHOSArhw5UgneAQNbiBRNM5twmujHIrVCMHS810QWIXhJTzUiVTBF1x7dWqug0d2T8rmiRTGUY85Ph3HdZAWuP0ZeSNOnvbcpAGbfpRHFuKro/w640-h360/Hot%20and%20Cold%209.jpg" title="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>The pineapple blocks are paper pieced, and the pattern includes what size to cut each piece of fabric, so there's no guessing whether the piece you've cut will fit or not. This is an advanced beginner pattern, and assumes knowledge of how to paper piece.<div><br /></div><div>Hot and Cold has lots of negative space, which lets those pineapple blocks shine, and provides a canvas for some fun quilting. I quilted swirls in the negative space for fabulous texture, and to add curves to all the straight piecing lines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOo7iqMwmA2Zel8cH0s4lIJtkFvigfuA4D5Ps1sjrnIwFniaYwP1CqqdKlnP6rY7Uqw1MmsicEDhruqGIT6FQgLDXIDXeOcd3rDPfciJabPKwTVHJCcucgiMySMS-D6n0lNSkbEMu2oF7W1jpWF_C6WjlX0yDdgOv0hp8vCYeJLtrG8tYq1cOi8fV_hI/s1000/Hot%20and%20Cold%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOo7iqMwmA2Zel8cH0s4lIJtkFvigfuA4D5Ps1sjrnIwFniaYwP1CqqdKlnP6rY7Uqw1MmsicEDhruqGIT6FQgLDXIDXeOcd3rDPfciJabPKwTVHJCcucgiMySMS-D6n0lNSkbEMu2oF7W1jpWF_C6WjlX0yDdgOv0hp8vCYeJLtrG8tYq1cOi8fV_hI/w640-h360/Hot%20and%20Cold%202.jpg" title="Hot and Cold quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>For now Hot and Cold is only available as a PDF pattern. I'm thinking about redesigning the look of my print patterns, so I'm holding off on printing new patterns until that's done. The logo redesign was kind of a 'if you give a mouse a cookie' thing, as that has prompted the pattern redesign. Trying to figure out how I want them to look is the hardest part!</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't forget to <a href="http://devotedquilter.etsy.com" target="_blank">shop the pattern sale</a> now through March 8th 😊</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for being part of my quilting, blogging, and designing journey! I'm looking forward to seeing what we make and learn next!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-5621328064368763292024-03-01T00:30:00.065-03:302024-03-01T00:30:00.129-03:30Split 4 Patch in Romance Garden Fabrics<div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to my stop for the Romance Garden blog hop, hosted by Sherry Shish of Powered By Quilting! Romance Garden is Sherry's signature fabric line with Island Batik. It has butterflies and dragonflies and gorgeous colours, oh my!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGEmx7QWTcVk4JtxrspdKAIaIUo6Jy8uUNeL2HyuHPBD5tiXqqi7t2qL209aq3B-XP0Cz8XxNWOe8cljUwINdtY_4yrMK7v2ZONGYxeSpk1TjptRTYSEK7mjwNLX9kVOQMgW2LcLPHoJI_O1RMkmMly3vyHlyDwQPRqo0tM7XhL4yYWDATEYDeOPdBU4/s1000/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGEmx7QWTcVk4JtxrspdKAIaIUo6Jy8uUNeL2HyuHPBD5tiXqqi7t2qL209aq3B-XP0Cz8XxNWOe8cljUwINdtY_4yrMK7v2ZONGYxeSpk1TjptRTYSEK7mjwNLX9kVOQMgW2LcLPHoJI_O1RMkmMly3vyHlyDwQPRqo0tM7XhL4yYWDATEYDeOPdBU4/w640-h640/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%205.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I decided to make a Split 4 Patch baby quilt, using the <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/02/split-4-patch-block.html" target="_blank">free tutorial</a> I wrote last year. It's almost as simple as making a regular 4 patch block, but the angles make it look so much more interesting. As a bonus, the tutorial uses 10" squares, so it's perfect if you're looking for a project for a layer cake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zWgyfN7XPTnWvnhyphenhyphenzLd8iL6FQD1yICaYpuzHK9w0zBUuaokOZfSE_Rhel-c10yEhKxSk5goTwJqyDMPfBWyuDfyHg6wIKfl5kSJCRYVX9plB91YbmjVptvME49MRhsQvsYeEaZdqylG38uW2AraeTbM2jXniJokz5yWQ8RykB_y90_8P44Ak6F2zXMI/s1000/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zWgyfN7XPTnWvnhyphenhyphenzLd8iL6FQD1yICaYpuzHK9w0zBUuaokOZfSE_Rhel-c10yEhKxSk5goTwJqyDMPfBWyuDfyHg6wIKfl5kSJCRYVX9plB91YbmjVptvME49MRhsQvsYeEaZdqylG38uW2AraeTbM2jXniJokz5yWQ8RykB_y90_8P44Ak6F2zXMI/w640-h640/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%201.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>Here's the full baby quilt top. These colours were such a joy to work with when our outside world is still snow, snow, and more snow.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOapQbu_bVPiHfW89xpWiAj3LamFG40h9CwLnoBoqELrAA6uQdH9BqcQ_4tKvHbh_KbTjSm5XkjuOs1KxRkD1EzHT4Yr6a21LE6PVMGvvLfb5sN05VqYmPPe2GlENIKSb5VUuomfHoi04Wl4FUKDh5PVr2z0HKwMDINVPpaaQDlxIPjhmeiidpf1vwm4/s1003/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOapQbu_bVPiHfW89xpWiAj3LamFG40h9CwLnoBoqELrAA6uQdH9BqcQ_4tKvHbh_KbTjSm5XkjuOs1KxRkD1EzHT4Yr6a21LE6PVMGvvLfb5sN05VqYmPPe2GlENIKSb5VUuomfHoi04Wl4FUKDh5PVr2z0HKwMDINVPpaaQDlxIPjhmeiidpf1vwm4/w638-h640/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%203.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="638" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I think this pink with butterflies is my favourite fabric in the line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9-zMNVvjBKaq7YR62sY9pOu5lMyNdNENlphofEFWI8rFSC7qNIsG5udhWy57yA1Eu3zlf5HIlUoo66qis-yasG83IrBBU6fBnYVeWUkTGy0-yo8fInA2HJiwFUmUTlwQVnNoWsRYK-uCXO8YRp8f1FBAttwX2InCCzUgLLxHtejzFkKCXNpBmapOgKQ/s1000/Butterfly%20batik%20pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9-zMNVvjBKaq7YR62sY9pOu5lMyNdNENlphofEFWI8rFSC7qNIsG5udhWy57yA1Eu3zlf5HIlUoo66qis-yasG83IrBBU6fBnYVeWUkTGy0-yo8fInA2HJiwFUmUTlwQVnNoWsRYK-uCXO8YRp8f1FBAttwX2InCCzUgLLxHtejzFkKCXNpBmapOgKQ/w640-h640/Butterfly%20batik%20pink.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Those same butterflies look good in purple, too, though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw838kaLjMAMtLCyxJR_j1SbdJVEO_6UR0N-jWCUGUISCPAmyZjn6GCNts47yumrUu5OzUOHCMrlX_h2ximUdGSKJBByiYa4vLnfIzuBATcV1-ybjprWT0QfsR2RUF1V2QPG1m2L5IDwzs0YPVRphbtn9qSZ_L4iSrnxub87RszlT2Bta902Ur_MR2yw/s1000/butterfly%20batik%20purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1000" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw838kaLjMAMtLCyxJR_j1SbdJVEO_6UR0N-jWCUGUISCPAmyZjn6GCNts47yumrUu5OzUOHCMrlX_h2ximUdGSKJBByiYa4vLnfIzuBATcV1-ybjprWT0QfsR2RUF1V2QPG1m2L5IDwzs0YPVRphbtn9qSZ_L4iSrnxub87RszlT2Bta902Ur_MR2yw/w640-h418/butterfly%20batik%20purple.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the dragonflies are fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwhp6nd9qwdNoe_vXB2Df6So8uz20qIawltMHUqt8GcV0Vjf018mB209uYxAiCzgfm94BOZ0KEJ1FrcF74lKf5bGXOC8yUphXVUUa21m5W40oGzTXzyTFqz4RYlxJWuaPzAhGTf8at3THhPMAIyMnh8ivyFWK13-RLhtesnEyg4VwflPSIgUuzHZvDso/s1000/Dragonfly%20fabric%20purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1000" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwhp6nd9qwdNoe_vXB2Df6So8uz20qIawltMHUqt8GcV0Vjf018mB209uYxAiCzgfm94BOZ0KEJ1FrcF74lKf5bGXOC8yUphXVUUa21m5W40oGzTXzyTFqz4RYlxJWuaPzAhGTf8at3THhPMAIyMnh8ivyFWK13-RLhtesnEyg4VwflPSIgUuzHZvDso/w640-h540/Dragonfly%20fabric%20purple.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made a slight mistake when cutting for the first inset strip in the first set of blocks, lining up the ruler 2 1/2" from the corner on one side instead of 3 1/2". Rather than recut the squares for those blocks, I cut a second set the same way (the blocks are made in groups of 4), and the other two sets are cut at the 3 1/2" line. Then when I made the cut for the second inset strip, I cut them all at the 3 1/2" line as the tutorial says. The difference is pretty subtle, but you can see it if you look at the shape of the bottom right fabric of these two blocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDp-LWFvswyso5fGUsoItucAwDGJM5kdCCoRC3215OQ1oE_chycQUGftziKTFGrYQOYsC8tQ1BoQ40cOs0T4niI3wFk-SfR_n8-havRgYMtVMFQMl3_O4SycVmWo76avSmbbqd6LLIxEwO8qYqQZW0SEX5RTQP68Fb4uiFP6LwkNRql3hBRzChqGBM4o/s1000/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1000" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDp-LWFvswyso5fGUsoItucAwDGJM5kdCCoRC3215OQ1oE_chycQUGftziKTFGrYQOYsC8tQ1BoQ40cOs0T4niI3wFk-SfR_n8-havRgYMtVMFQMl3_O4SycVmWo76avSmbbqd6LLIxEwO8qYqQZW0SEX5RTQP68Fb4uiFP6LwkNRql3hBRzChqGBM4o/w640-h328/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%206.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had three of the four rows assembled when I went to my friend Michelle's house to sew on Monday evening. When I packed everything up to go, I grabbed the strips for the sashing between rows off my cutting table, or at least I thought I did. When it came time to sew the rows together to finish the top, I discovered I had actually grabbed the pieces leftover after cutting the shorter sashing strips. There was enough length there, it would just mean having a seam in each of the long sashing strips. I debated for a moment (piece the strips and go home with a finished top, or no seam in the sashing, but not have a finished top that night) and decided to piece the strips. It's a baby quilt, after all, and will never be entered into a show where it might matter. In the end, the seams are barely noticeable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9MBbJrkLxPIZjz47gROHyeNQIaVX0WMGRh_LPc4wnyGlhIqw4kqnVloEINB5ygaLmhlQkbdI2ZvcikYTDcBpY-QG1SQBGg9xz8nejPMmNUF1lmocC8F2bz3WExN2h2b0zWX2tpGrFuMBFS7GaHnQR5ESL-YHDlq6Z0ASxlgO2A6oAJuDWax1KW_oEEo/s1000/Pieced%20sashing%20seam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9MBbJrkLxPIZjz47gROHyeNQIaVX0WMGRh_LPc4wnyGlhIqw4kqnVloEINB5ygaLmhlQkbdI2ZvcikYTDcBpY-QG1SQBGg9xz8nejPMmNUF1lmocC8F2bz3WExN2h2b0zWX2tpGrFuMBFS7GaHnQR5ESL-YHDlq6Z0ASxlgO2A6oAJuDWax1KW_oEEo/w640-h454/Pieced%20sashing%20seam.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I guess the moral of this story (quilt) is that sometimes it works to just roll with the mistakes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp0BE2pA9a-1pW_X43XD2u9Lng9OYHqrLWF6zs2-GXb29Dvithu3i3UsumHVq9mwNruz3VmG9Z7dkdzaJhNAwWIlVgTOJHIyUjY0QY54Eh1E6Q9cwmhHahRMML1BEd-gIESO1E0tWN_6hBczFpvY1WOhKnYr6pnRnNE3Q639CcxRcQ9cMD8zkBKoMfCs/s1000/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1000" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp0BE2pA9a-1pW_X43XD2u9Lng9OYHqrLWF6zs2-GXb29Dvithu3i3UsumHVq9mwNruz3VmG9Z7dkdzaJhNAwWIlVgTOJHIyUjY0QY54Eh1E6Q9cwmhHahRMML1BEd-gIESO1E0tWN_6hBczFpvY1WOhKnYr6pnRnNE3Q639CcxRcQ9cMD8zkBKoMfCs/w640-h598/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%202.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm thinking I'll quilt either a flower meander (like on <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2020/03/anniversary-sale-and-formal-garden.html" target="_blank">this Formal Garden quilt</a>) or a curvy flower (like on <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/tilted-flowers-baby-quilt-finished.html" target="_blank">my Tilted Flowers quilt</a>), using Aurifil 1231. While I wouldn't normally call myself a fan of lime-y greens, I do love this one they call Spring Green, and it fits these fabrics perfectly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsJIcmrHoFMzLNeQNtng-h_7Tf1RvrpQR9urj7l2dX7CYamB1NIUMOXUxRraajLV4C0-GphSe5P_EPOjiJypbO3VVg8b_SCbv_689BAWOSZbh2SP1iO6C2stg99j-IfyIXvx2UywtBk0JzCm77RXeNh9-RFQYA6tEPWeNZGAf-7lHui-J95EzpLEbSsc/s1000/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsJIcmrHoFMzLNeQNtng-h_7Tf1RvrpQR9urj7l2dX7CYamB1NIUMOXUxRraajLV4C0-GphSe5P_EPOjiJypbO3VVg8b_SCbv_689BAWOSZbh2SP1iO6C2stg99j-IfyIXvx2UywtBk0JzCm77RXeNh9-RFQYA6tEPWeNZGAf-7lHui-J95EzpLEbSsc/w640-h640/Split%204%20Patch%20quilt%204.jpg" title="Split 4 Patch baby quilt in Romance Garden fabrics | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>Now the only question is, will this baby quilt be quilted before this year's WIPS-B-GONE challenge starts in October? 😅 I guess we'll have to wait and see!</div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of quilty friends are sharing projects made with Romance Garden over the next couple of weeks. Here's the full schedule so you can hop around and see them all.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 1: Sherry Shish at <a href="http://www.poweredbyquilting.com/" target="_blank">Powered By Quilting</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 1: Leanne Parsons at <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2024/03/split-4-patch-in-romance-garden-fabrics.html" target="_blank">Devoted Quilter</a> (you are here!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 2: Kate Starcher at <a href="https://www.katiemaequilts.com/blog" target="_blank">Katie Mae Quilts</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 3: Jen Strauser at <a href="http://dizzyquilter.com" target="_blank">Dizzy Quilter</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 4: Elizabeth DeCroos at <a href="https://www.epidastudio.com/blog" target="_blank">Epida Studio</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 5: Sally Willams and Sally Jewell at <a href="http://www.sallyssewingcircle.com/" target="_blank">Sallys' Sewing Circle</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.3333px;">March 6: Brianna Roberts at <a href="https://www.quirkyb.com" target="_blank">Sew Cute and Quirky</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 7: Jennifer Fulton at <a href="https://www.inquiringquilter.com" target="_blank">Inquiring Quilter</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 8: Anja Clyke at <a href="https://anjaquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anja Quilts</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 9: Tammy Silvers at <a href="http://tamarinis.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Tamarinis</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 10: Kathryn LeBlanc at <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/emails/6538820845112f82d3a08360" target="_blank">Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 11: Sarah Vanderburgh at <a href="https://www.sewjoycreations.com/" target="_blank">Sew Joy Creations</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">March 12: Sherry Shish at <a href="http://www.poweredbyquilting.com/" target="_blank">Powered By Quilting</a></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-56912364576585367152024-02-26T07:00:00.002-03:302024-02-26T07:00:00.131-03:30Catch the Little Foxes<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>In Song of Songs, the young women caution the lovers to “Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!” (Song of Songs 2:15). Apparently in Bible times, foxes that got into the vineyards could ruin the harvest and the writer used this imagery to represent the little irritations that can crop up in a relationship. If we let them, those little irritations can grow into big problems in our marriages or in any other relationship.</div><div> </div><div>Peter once asked Jesus, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). Peter thought he was being generous, since the Jewish tradition at the time was to forgive a person three times, but Jesus went even farther. “No, not seven times,’ [He] replied, ‘but seventy times seven!” (v. 22). </div><div> </div><div>Some translations say 77 times rather than seventy times seven, but either way the implication is that we are to forgive and forgive and forgive and then just keep on forgiving. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W1fbrE2BRDXYOQFCK5n3GW61qDSE2K0Lmwep_X1eh8JQEkIuSov4TmGmgRMRGZKVDlSCKrM0ctbnMzn-M4r8XGKqwIdElZ3mltkmselfqdPJuthYGnsgRN92aicEG6jQUwmWurrjvv1a_F0qINRMgeFhbAfMuPJ95fLE9heCFU9sYalkogO-S_IyVV0/s1080/Grace%20and%20forgiveness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grace and forgiveness take away the potential destructive power of little irritations | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W1fbrE2BRDXYOQFCK5n3GW61qDSE2K0Lmwep_X1eh8JQEkIuSov4TmGmgRMRGZKVDlSCKrM0ctbnMzn-M4r8XGKqwIdElZ3mltkmselfqdPJuthYGnsgRN92aicEG6jQUwmWurrjvv1a_F0qINRMgeFhbAfMuPJ95fLE9heCFU9sYalkogO-S_IyVV0/w640-h640/Grace%20and%20forgiveness.jpg" title="Grace and forgiveness take away the potential destructive power of little irritations | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div></div><div>In any relationship, there can be things that get under our skin. Sometimes it’s a little habit the other person has that bugs us. Or maybe it’s things they don’t do that we wish they would do. We have to decide to extend grace every time so that those little things don’t ruin the relationship. </div><div> </div><div>Grace and forgiveness take away the potential destructive power of those little irritations.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-42084796924978067882024-02-23T07:00:00.001-03:302024-02-23T07:00:00.133-03:30My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser<div style="text-align: left;">It's the last Friday of the month (say, what???), which means it's time for our My First Quilt interview! This month Shannon Fraser is sharing the story of her first quilt with us. Shannon is a pattern designer and self-proclaimed "colour and textile lover who accidentally stumbled into quilting!" 😊</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lV8nXqx1ip72mSU2TT9OsVSKs3IUhk2MD0KiuFBgaWQ7oq9WD_pCupwl39HlutedLFjiRCvGZBMV3kFbIz4kCzD92f-uKrKyD_aaEp_iiyT-8dFghM1KN5sUi2P2XWEjMrnMMKUorExoS9CptebrP3ZcZkd0LOmCC1utm70y4wfR_c-05YKmBXe4_O0/s1350/Shannon%20Fraser%20graphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lV8nXqx1ip72mSU2TT9OsVSKs3IUhk2MD0KiuFBgaWQ7oq9WD_pCupwl39HlutedLFjiRCvGZBMV3kFbIz4kCzD92f-uKrKyD_aaEp_iiyT-8dFghM1KN5sUi2P2XWEjMrnMMKUorExoS9CptebrP3ZcZkd0LOmCC1utm70y4wfR_c-05YKmBXe4_O0/w256-h320/Shannon%20Fraser%20graphic.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can connect with Shannon at <a href="https://shannonfraserdesigns.ca/" target="_blank">her website</a>, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shannonfraserdesigns/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShannonFraserDesigns/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/shannonfraserd/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, and <a href="https://bit.ly/sfDFDNews" target="_blank">by signing up for her newsletter</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, here is Shannon's first quilt! It's so fun!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtD6DllTFXtu3hFAbVukwuM4Qum0ND-MS5LOgd-rl5SAFdzwXvY8QUFf5ReuF-U9BXP73eUUAJaySQoz2jIo-t2d-R_dgIr8k10Dig_Ve0hImtMepO4C0xtcJdDCFRp1YpfshNEsKR75Rm23j_k338Naq4FKu2DniP5qrOHAPJOHoA-lY_q5Sjyp6aJo/s359/sfD.FirstQuilt%20-%20Shannom%20Fraser.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtD6DllTFXtu3hFAbVukwuM4Qum0ND-MS5LOgd-rl5SAFdzwXvY8QUFf5ReuF-U9BXP73eUUAJaySQoz2jIo-t2d-R_dgIr8k10Dig_Ve0hImtMepO4C0xtcJdDCFRp1YpfshNEsKR75Rm23j_k338Naq4FKu2DniP5qrOHAPJOHoA-lY_q5Sjyp6aJo/w350-h400/sfD.FirstQuilt%20-%20Shannom%20Fraser.png" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All photos in this post courtesy of Shannon Fraser</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What year did you make your first quilt? What prompted you to make it?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">2015. I'd discounted quilting as something I'd be interested in until I stumbled on a HST tutorial, got curious, made one, then 2 and, before I knew it, I was well on my way to making my first quilt!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What techniques were used in that first quilt? Did you quilt it yourself?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a deep dive in all things half-square triangles. I didn't know anything about what I was doing. I didn't know I was supposed to trim my dog ears or even trim down the HSTs! I learned about quilt sandwiches, cried while I quilted it on my tiny domestic sewing machine and then figured out all about binding. The latter eventually had me committing to learn how to hand sew, so that I could nail my blind stitch on my binding!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtLkydDXJPyu589ksv_U4zB4tDUT14VE2GPHp-B7UncUJdR7uchhw0btcHWagvrDNGx_23VxjAZh7CNOc597bsf40NNCD56W0rU4Ue0sTiHUlb0VfGpXqQ_7my6munrgCBMQrKcTEKFBBEtvY4SlP5VxEuYCzH7I0HMsjaSfxjWZ0k6I3eLVQIWkYeKo/s1000/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%20-%20units.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtLkydDXJPyu589ksv_U4zB4tDUT14VE2GPHp-B7UncUJdR7uchhw0btcHWagvrDNGx_23VxjAZh7CNOc597bsf40NNCD56W0rU4Ue0sTiHUlb0VfGpXqQ_7my6munrgCBMQrKcTEKFBBEtvY4SlP5VxEuYCzH7I0HMsjaSfxjWZ0k6I3eLVQIWkYeKo/w640-h390/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%20-%20units.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Who taught you to make the quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div>YouTube, trial and error, and some lovely guidance/suggestions from my Montreal Modern Quilt Guild Members!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d33fA83s-rmzth-cIqDyypN2IQtce2UesmwG5VPTWIAsMU6MpboDtRRMNDARCV6SyptsRSWwRS8HLX9TXLcRIW5NQZ4QqYjqyMMcYyocUk2WRaOja7pfx4EUacUba9lVH2OdE0o50fAATzgl0x4uosiaLQoJDP4dDh9Hvw-qPF3k7gOCTHLSkI_oJI0/s1920/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%20-%20blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="1920" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d33fA83s-rmzth-cIqDyypN2IQtce2UesmwG5VPTWIAsMU6MpboDtRRMNDARCV6SyptsRSWwRS8HLX9TXLcRIW5NQZ4QqYjqyMMcYyocUk2WRaOja7pfx4EUacUba9lVH2OdE0o50fAATzgl0x4uosiaLQoJDP4dDh9Hvw-qPF3k7gOCTHLSkI_oJI0/w640-h452/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%20-%20blocks.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Are the colours you chose for your first quilt ones you would still choose today?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes! Surprisingly my taste is bold colours and textures hasn't changed!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs7Rjwmrn1WLWePwP0wMRFwdJxKsu_QHicV4wkFWkFVijZMifL0on_w5UjeYMi1F2RAjDmxuR4ImXtRCpLIBopIuyZNAcPV9f0e_QSgIDJi8CqR0yWM97hQgOmIRwcnkNMoJsp3ATnFaQ4maSz_Tck43l2rotcp-26Lo9Q9nHh6Tk0vLhJz0WzPvzjXs/s1000/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1000" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs7Rjwmrn1WLWePwP0wMRFwdJxKsu_QHicV4wkFWkFVijZMifL0on_w5UjeYMi1F2RAjDmxuR4ImXtRCpLIBopIuyZNAcPV9f0e_QSgIDJi8CqR0yWM97hQgOmIRwcnkNMoJsp3ATnFaQ4maSz_Tck43l2rotcp-26Lo9Q9nHh6Tk0vLhJz0WzPvzjXs/w640-h430/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Did you fall in love with quilting right away? Or was there a gap between making the first quilt and the next one?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fell hook line and sinker in love from my very first HST. It was as though I'd found my creative home and I haven't looked back since! That was almost 9 years ago and I'm so thankful I didn't stick with my initial thought that quilting wasn't for me!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Where is the quilt now?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sitting in my ever expanding pile of completed quilts!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ_auwX_DdAODmVeUen2gr6_1mwbkvS4818yYvV0A-828XAGKq0t54qsEk0CBTmM0HRLay10wK8e3jXTUxwQqvkiCwa-UVarAzBZGNDeWuTRUkFcUR3uak4k91OhVhfE75akSPedLwnJ5P9AUXz_G3cRrgOywTnVe7dJmQkmxkLjB7MBKRBRqnKiNJk8/s1000/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ_auwX_DdAODmVeUen2gr6_1mwbkvS4818yYvV0A-828XAGKq0t54qsEk0CBTmM0HRLay10wK8e3jXTUxwQqvkiCwa-UVarAzBZGNDeWuTRUkFcUR3uak4k91OhVhfE75akSPedLwnJ5P9AUXz_G3cRrgOywTnVe7dJmQkmxkLjB7MBKRBRqnKiNJk8/w640-h426/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%202.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell yourself as you made that first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">That I was about to embark on the most creative period of my life, and that it would teach me not only how to reconnect and trust my instincts, but also connect me with a community that is near and dear to my heart.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxQC5f9RYoUGsku0XhWRWg_qMQUkKLaubgF2c0zlOlFIiaEeLRcdP7ktfw015dQIBCinBM-McJ4DTnHq58FIkv1tN37MzqTZ7cU5K8UcuCL1NnGXk1fVvFi48UAFu-4u6XmxqY50_1NUs78KbdyJFyg6FvBKsxxDPnTECuLVziawBD0Zbpb61hjQ_eiU/s1000/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxQC5f9RYoUGsku0XhWRWg_qMQUkKLaubgF2c0zlOlFIiaEeLRcdP7ktfw015dQIBCinBM-McJ4DTnHq58FIkv1tN37MzqTZ7cU5K8UcuCL1NnGXk1fVvFi48UAFu-4u6XmxqY50_1NUs78KbdyJFyg6FvBKsxxDPnTECuLVziawBD0Zbpb61hjQ_eiU/w640-h426/Shannon's%20first%20quilt%203.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Shannon Fraser | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love going back to my quilt and seeing all the 'imperfections'. They remind me of just how far I've come in my quilting journey. Plus, that quilt with all its 'imperfections' brought me hours of comfort as I snuggled under her!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for sharing your first quilt with us, Shannon! I love that HSTs were your gateway into quilting 😊</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-72333696767977300392024-02-19T07:00:00.004-03:302024-02-19T07:00:00.129-03:30God Permanence<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here in Newfoundland, most people try to avoid driving on the highways after dark as much as possible because of the danger of hitting moose on the roads. This past week, though, we've had to drive home after dark twice. Saturday evening as we drove, I found myself looking off to the side a couple of times, where I knew there were pretty views, if only there was enough light for me to see them. Then I remembered this devotion I wrote back in 2015, so today seemed like a good time to share it again 😊</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">___________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>Last weekend we spent a day out of town visiting Paul's family and drove home after dark. As we drove down the familiar highway, I thought of all the things I wasn't able to see because of the dark. There were places along the road where I knew I should have been able to see a pond or a hill off in the distance, but instead I could only see what was illuminated by the headlights.</div><div><br /></div><div>The experts say that babies have to learn 'object permanence' - the concept that people and things still exist even when they are hidden from sight. That's why peek-a-boo is so exciting for babies. They think we disappear and they are genuinely surprised when we reappear, until their minds begin to understand that things still exist even when they can't be seen. Understanding object permanence is why we don't panic when we go out in the dark and can't see past our lights, or why a thick fog doesn't make us think the world has vanished, even though it looks like everything is gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think sometimes we would do well to focus on 'God permanence' - the concept that God continues to exist even if we can't see Him or hear Him, that He is there even if we can't pinpoint His hand working in our lives. When things go wrong, we can feel like God doesn't care, or that He's not paying attention, or we may even start to wonder if God is real at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>It makes me think of 1 Corinthians 13:12, which says, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xyK6hooznIcM_oxYfVShyphenhyphenTG6Ac5L7x3PQtZ1avlIf4GvseU18uFvKFlzDlH9Caf6lXehabBDnPqRK_1P49UVpLYzMn4eGYtH2cu4RZDwrjE91i3waM35QA8j3doUxJfao7CoNYVXKkhTqWFordxwm9YX5pJoVuki9HyOECTUgysaZRT5CIOdpElFOA4/s1080/God%20is%20still%20there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="God is still there, even if we can’t see Him or hear Him | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xyK6hooznIcM_oxYfVShyphenhyphenTG6Ac5L7x3PQtZ1avlIf4GvseU18uFvKFlzDlH9Caf6lXehabBDnPqRK_1P49UVpLYzMn4eGYtH2cu4RZDwrjE91i3waM35QA8j3doUxJfao7CoNYVXKkhTqWFordxwm9YX5pJoVuki9HyOECTUgysaZRT5CIOdpElFOA4/w640-h640/God%20is%20still%20there.jpg" title="God is still there, even if we can’t see Him or hear Him | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>Mirrors today are really clear. I can look into the mirror and see every little hair on my head, including the grey one that likes to stand straight up at the top. I can see the room behind me; everything that is within the scope of the mirror is reflected back to me just as clearly as it would look if I turned around and looked at it straight on. But the mirrors in biblical times were not quite so clear. The mirrors then were made of metal, polished so that it could reflect the image of the person using it. Though it could reflect, it wasn't like looking in mirrors that we have today. That explains why Paul wrote that now we see only as in a mirror...the reflection wasn't as clear as seeing face to face would be. What was close to the mirror (the person using it) would be most clear. Everything else would be indistinct, if it could be seen at all. In the same way, what was in our headlights was clearly visible, while what lay beyond them was invisible, even though I knew there was more out there. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't see God. I know that He exists, that He is there, but I can't see Him with my eyes. He isn't within the scope of my mirrors or my headlights. I can't always see what He's doing in my life, either, but that doesn't mean that He has stopped caring for me. Now we are seeing only a partial, dull reflection, but one day we will see as clearly as God sees. Then we will understand it all. And while we're waiting, we remember that He is there. That He exists and cares for us, even when He is out of sight.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-84969602552755852902024-02-12T07:00:00.019-03:302024-02-12T07:00:00.138-03:30Strengthening Their Faith<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we're going to consider another of the many women of wisdom whose stories were recorded in the Bible for us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>In the days of the book of Judges, the Israelites were prone to a cycle of following God for a time under the leadership of a person called a judge, then when that person died, they abandoned Him and suffered oppression because of their evil actions. Eventually they would cry out to the Lord for deliverance and He would again send them a judge, beginning the cycle all over again. Only one woman is recorded in the Bible as a judge, and she is our woman of wisdom for today. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment" (Judges 4:4-5). We aren’t told much about Deborah, but we know the Israelites respected her and would come to her when they needed to hear from God. She was truly a woman of wisdom!</div><div><br /></div><div>"One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.'" (v. 6-7). Sisera had "ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years" (v. 3), so gaining victory over him would be a big victory, indeed, and now Deborah was telling Barak to head out to battle with the assurance, straight from God Himself, that he would win. </div><div><br /></div><div>Barak’s response? "I will go, but only if you go with me" (v.8). </div><div><br /></div><div>God was going to go with him; why did he need Deborah? What was she going to do in the battle? She could contribute nothing to the battle. She wasn’t a warrior or a military leader, she was a prophet and a judge, but still Barak trusted her more than he trusted God.</div><div><br /></div><div>Deborah didn’t hesitate, though. "'Very well,' she replied, 'I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.' So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him" (vv. 9-10).</div><div><br /></div><div>Deborah didn’t have to go. It wasn’t her job and it wasn’t her battle. She knew, though, that if she refused there probably wouldn’t be a battle because Barak wouldn’t be able to go without her. She went, not because she could do anything in the battle, but because Barak needed her support. His faith in God, whom He couldn’t see, wasn’t strong enough to carry him through; he needed Deborah so he knew he wasn’t alone as he went out to fight. Maybe she represented God to him, or maybe he just trusted in her word more than His. We can’t know which it was, but he needed her, so she went with him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Zs4_69MA7r8tSptRH-9VbFcPq6dBVmERp9N1bYIHUREuIjURQTD2_XQ_JDxJUDsB_XTFYDg4weQtajLhezpzGOaYcv6QlwNUuYK9-lQmQaMdjc8bBWDMqSpQE9D7mqRjQTtqQE7DNb7BhThyphenhyphenW3WGKMxB51KN5zmy_Uhl6z0OwkGMRfy5Om_eUHxaY4/s1080/whose%20strength.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Whose faith might be strengthened by our presence, so they don’t feel alone as they go out to fight their battles | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Zs4_69MA7r8tSptRH-9VbFcPq6dBVmERp9N1bYIHUREuIjURQTD2_XQ_JDxJUDsB_XTFYDg4weQtajLhezpzGOaYcv6QlwNUuYK9-lQmQaMdjc8bBWDMqSpQE9D7mqRjQTtqQE7DNb7BhThyphenhyphenW3WGKMxB51KN5zmy_Uhl6z0OwkGMRfy5Om_eUHxaY4/w640-h640/whose%20strength.jpg" title="Whose faith might be strengthened by our presence, so they don’t feel alone as they go out to fight their battles | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>Who needs us today? Who can we stand alongside and support, even if we think they don’t need us? Whose faith might be strengthened by our presence, so they don’t feel alone as they go out to fight their battles?</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-77380097382407433532024-02-05T07:00:00.010-03:302024-02-05T07:00:00.346-03:30Having An Answer<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm that stereotypical person who thinks of the perfect answer for a conversation three hours too late. In the midst of any debate all the things I could say to prove my point fly right out of my head and I'm left floundering. Can you relate? Or are you good at thinking quickly? If you are, then I'm a little jealous.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is why I've always preferred writing. With writing I can mull things over, try out different ways to say what I want to say, and come back later to read over the whole piece to make even more edits so it's cohesive and clear. You can't do that in a real-time conversation!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is also one reason I talk about God much less in 'real life' than here on my blog. Here I'm in my comfort zone, talking to you through my computer, where I have the time to pause and choose my words carefully, delete entire paragraphs, rewrite them, and take two days to write a page or two.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Because of my preference for writing, there's one verse that has always made me a little nervous. Peter wrote, "if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it" (1 Peter 3:15). Please, can I just require that anyone who wants me to explain my hope as a believer has to be okay with a written response in a few days? Obviously, that's not going to work, even if it would make me more comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I take comfort in knowing we don't have to be perfect in how we answer people who ask us about our faith. Peter tells us to be ready to explain our hope, but there's no requirement that we never trip over our words or need to correct ourselves. Being ready to explain it means knowing what we believe and why, but it doesn't mean we have to be smooth in our delivery. In fact, Paul wrote "my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:4). Whew! Even if the best we can do is halting and imperfect, God can still use it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvnXtbufvKmsyaoXunMMM54k5vuYoBLzVtzcWVgV2pTBEMgS0UoCNE7AHpnIly3npw77N5HQTeyr0QDvTed7TqUoauFjnURXxbn_sMUV_3jnI3cB-IfCEEFLaBwJZIzlvp_wbrKgqUkNrJ1vH8Xwr7vS-8hooQ92B4PVmwBhvSMpDUBnsTajwMOvFh7o/s1080/Halting%20and%20imperfect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Even if the best we can do is halting and imperfect, God can still use it | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvnXtbufvKmsyaoXunMMM54k5vuYoBLzVtzcWVgV2pTBEMgS0UoCNE7AHpnIly3npw77N5HQTeyr0QDvTed7TqUoauFjnURXxbn_sMUV_3jnI3cB-IfCEEFLaBwJZIzlvp_wbrKgqUkNrJ1vH8Xwr7vS-8hooQ92B4PVmwBhvSMpDUBnsTajwMOvFh7o/w640-h640/Halting%20and%20imperfect.jpg" title="Even if the best we can do is halting and imperfect, God can still use it | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also love that telling someone about God is often a team effort, with God directing the whole thing. Someone may ask me a question today and I answer them, however imperfectly. Then next week, or next month, or even next year, they talk to someone else, and that person shares something that, when put together with what I said, helps that person to believe in Jesus as their Savior. Though he was writing to correct the Corinthians for fighting amongst themselves about who they followed, Paul explained this concept of the team effort like this: "I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers" (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). That's reassuring because it means my answer isn't the 'be all and end all' when it comes to someone else believing in Jesus. I do my best, you do yours, and God will do the rest.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-1008582320545288132024-01-29T07:00:00.008-03:302024-01-29T07:00:00.130-03:30All His Children<div style="text-align: left;">Before we get into this week's devotion, did you see that registration is open for the Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey? You can get all the details in <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2024/01/moments-with-jesus-qal-and-devotional.html" target="_blank">this post</a> or <a href="https://youtu.be/RsEvbXq5J6Y" target="_blank">this video</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we first moved here, the women of the various churches in town would meet a few times a year for prayer breakfasts. It's a small town, so there's only one church per denomination, and women came to the prayer breakfasts from the Catholic, United, Anglican, Pentecostal, and United Pentecostal churches, and we would pray together for our families, our community, our province, and our country. We were from different denominations, but we believed in the same God. Our church services looked different, with different customs and traditions, but we prayed to the same Father who loves us all. Our denominations have different teachings (like one saying alcohol is completely forbidden, while another has no such prohibition), but we all put our trust in the same Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Historically, people from different denominations haven't always gotten along so well (that's quite an understatement). There are famous, and very bloody, examples from around the world, but there are also smaller and more insidious examples. Things like when we lived in Igloolik, Nunavut where I helped out with a Brownies group and some of the Protestant families wouldn't allow their girls to attend because the meetings took place inside the Catholic church. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Such divisions must grieve God. Paul wrote, "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div>There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,</div><div>one God and Father of all,</div><div>who is over all, in all, and living through all" (Ephesians 4:3-6).</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One body, one Spirit, one glorious hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's human nature to notice our differences and separate ourselves along party, or in this case denominational, lines. We prefer to be with those who think and act like we do, and so we prefer to group ourselves accordingly. Problems come, though, when we allow those preferences to create divisions. After all, denominations are a human invention. God simply sees us all as His children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlaXUQL9YB0iVudCRXPovqKRbrk1jPmTOvWPFS2ofRaFYkOT3XPJmGGeAk1Yx3ht8GOZrMlk4eCdQB58KWU8V9se4fGZb1xgCJPEp96RDXLN0648TzEmJJP09FxAKtJsUg2l3-QLNcy3Zy_akUzgNGhO2rEBG8xYiWK_-TQ_JxeYPtVRbqIl1zr8WRb4/s1080/God%20simply%20sees%20us%20all%20as%20His%20children..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="God simply sees us all as His children | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlaXUQL9YB0iVudCRXPovqKRbrk1jPmTOvWPFS2ofRaFYkOT3XPJmGGeAk1Yx3ht8GOZrMlk4eCdQB58KWU8V9se4fGZb1xgCJPEp96RDXLN0648TzEmJJP09FxAKtJsUg2l3-QLNcy3Zy_akUzgNGhO2rEBG8xYiWK_-TQ_JxeYPtVRbqIl1zr8WRb4/w640-h640/God%20simply%20sees%20us%20all%20as%20His%20children..jpg" title="God simply sees us all as His children | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He calls us to unity and to peace, telling us through Paul to make every effort towards binding ourselves together. I'm grateful there seem to be fewer deep divisions between denominations today, though I don't think they're gone completely. What efforts could we make to bind ourselves together with the people of other denominations in our communities? It might be as simple as sharing a meal and prayer time together.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-1624312591810439892024-01-26T07:00:00.001-03:302024-01-26T07:00:00.140-03:30My First Quilt with Paul Leger<div style="text-align: left;">Yay, it's time for another My First Quilt interview! Today we're going to learn all about Paul Leger's first quilt 😊</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Paul is a Canadian quilter, teacher (in both English and French), pattern designer, and Bernina ambassador. He is also a veteran (thank you for your service, Paul!), which figures into the story of his first quilt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhPda0KWaLry6QBItNQNGyNdDJ07v-3vWJodDKKQu9pjLx1E1_x6FRbjWgVatSMj-T37Un5DqF2f-qx2H4jAIOP_wEWikrBWDOwTqmcCwaL-3GM3fFrtFlbU2oEZSHZ99UdUUr2tega_TudA04nKJ7lV-ohxWhGxnn8XS555heYeih_1Z2GmYYLqZTfU/s1350/Paul%20Leger%20graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhPda0KWaLry6QBItNQNGyNdDJ07v-3vWJodDKKQu9pjLx1E1_x6FRbjWgVatSMj-T37Un5DqF2f-qx2H4jAIOP_wEWikrBWDOwTqmcCwaL-3GM3fFrtFlbU2oEZSHZ99UdUUr2tega_TudA04nKJ7lV-ohxWhGxnn8XS555heYeih_1Z2GmYYLqZTfU/w256-h320/Paul%20Leger%20graphic.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can connect with Paul at <a href="http://PaulLegerQuilts.com" target="_blank">his website</a>, on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/paullegerquilts" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paul.leger.758?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@paullegerquilts" target="_blank">TikTok</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, here is Paul's first quilt! Isn't it fun?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6vi-na1IPx6IC9GuhoH_M0ei6sCel-tc-ZzmJjy5_yRPo2VZidjRT7eqIg766o423YXXC-aO_O_eLZ5IO6hMIhfCWaZ9WTi1PjJY_iHsn_du-HZOHL1gREtTOtMewo-21bldCSYx9zGzlFC57w1nUlnK9iv4tdDZWtHrUdIEk5RkWeklFdfr5vOCXv4/s1000/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6vi-na1IPx6IC9GuhoH_M0ei6sCel-tc-ZzmJjy5_yRPo2VZidjRT7eqIg766o423YXXC-aO_O_eLZ5IO6hMIhfCWaZ9WTi1PjJY_iHsn_du-HZOHL1gREtTOtMewo-21bldCSYx9zGzlFC57w1nUlnK9iv4tdDZWtHrUdIEk5RkWeklFdfr5vOCXv4/w640-h480/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What year did you make your first quilt? What prompted you to make it?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">May 1990, I was in the Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Victoria, British Columbia when I started. When one of my Air Force shirts was too thread bare to be worn I knew it was time to replace all my shirts. It would never fail within the first month of my getting the new shirts, I'd stain or rip one or more. I would therefore not be allowed to wear them anymore. As I strongly believe any and all uniform clothing should not be donated, I would throw them away, but not before removing all the buttons. I followed my mother’s example, remove those buttons before throwing away clothing or turning them into cleaning rags. I still do it to this day. Normally with the buttons removed I'd throw the shirts away, but this time for some reason I did not. The next day it occurred to me, the shirts, well the fabric, was still new, I therefore decided to dissect those shirts and recuperate the larger pieces of fabrics. I had no ideas what I'd ever do with those fabrics, if anything. then two days later I remembered, "quilts use to be made using old clothing". </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I designed a block; it was supposed to give me a 10" x 10" block when finished. Well, everyone of my blocks were anything but 10"x 10". They measured anything from 8¾” x 8¾” to 9⅜” x 9⅜”, most were not even square. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I must have enjoyed the process as 33 years later I’m still enjoying the whole process.</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8XwOTxg4fnXFM4tHZLuhs7KHMrpb0_ww1uORvUdwfMjQX7GK2fTpiNaySs5VqTRvtOB1rEFZfdFs_6QmKKQzPUpBLjJAtFAfQXTWpmKU3UbckSdIZzk5d2vRgY3WWHyDto0fPpC6glpVXGY-6m5wYvRCZKSw20JnmjeHfcxPRq9-CBHbwwI7CsN8PHU/s1183/Paul%20Leger%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8XwOTxg4fnXFM4tHZLuhs7KHMrpb0_ww1uORvUdwfMjQX7GK2fTpiNaySs5VqTRvtOB1rEFZfdFs_6QmKKQzPUpBLjJAtFAfQXTWpmKU3UbckSdIZzk5d2vRgY3WWHyDto0fPpC6glpVXGY-6m5wYvRCZKSw20JnmjeHfcxPRq9-CBHbwwI7CsN8PHU/w540-h640/Paul%20Leger%202.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" width="540" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What techniques were used in that first quilt? Did you quilt it yourself?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Was I suppose to use techniques? I just sewed as I thought I was suppose to, remember this was my first quilt. It was also only the 2nd time I used the machine. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was quilted by my mother, Doris Leger.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Who taught you to make the quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1994, while stationed in Barrie, Ontario, I took my first quilting class. The class was for beginner quilters and the teacher's name is Joan Winter. The class took place in her basement. What I learned in the class became the bases for my being where I am today. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember the first thing I learned in the class; Seam allowance. Remember the 1st block I designed and made? It was anything but 10” x 10”, now I knew why, I’d never considered seam allowance in any of the quilts I’d designed. The class fee was the BEST money I ever paid for a class, even to this day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m still in touch with Joan to this day.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Are the colours you chose for your first quilt ones you would still choose today?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd use some of them but not all. I'm really drawn to bright saturated colours. They make me happy.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA7OPsxv4QB8f3vondu0vWerpsuk9M1e0rEv0bd5S8zkD5NRJy1hjWBbaUcm8-NbNdhIAlpXHRxiefeG7qggQqhd3GNIwEQgV4z0Uc0Rw39RptIp-GXE4O8jMaPBNtg6MkDVVoS8T7Mau1luSUE1zn6R5fvjE4tGrxQVhj12PhzzYrWFd-gGeiI3dM7I/s1000/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1000" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA7OPsxv4QB8f3vondu0vWerpsuk9M1e0rEv0bd5S8zkD5NRJy1hjWBbaUcm8-NbNdhIAlpXHRxiefeG7qggQqhd3GNIwEQgV4z0Uc0Rw39RptIp-GXE4O8jMaPBNtg6MkDVVoS8T7Mau1luSUE1zn6R5fvjE4tGrxQVhj12PhzzYrWFd-gGeiI3dM7I/w640-h390/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%202.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Did you fall in love with quilting right away? Or was there a gap between making the first quilt and the next one?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started my second quilt within days of completing the first. Over the years there are a few gaps where few quilts were made but I'm still going strong.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Where is the quilt now?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Folded away on the top shelf of my closet along with the 2nd quilt I made. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell yourself as you made that first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes. To enjoy the process and worry less about all those rules. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ExwpiDPXnn-vTodoRaHB7Yog1Hhjow_CpKBZzTIOdpVga-2EKqSZ52c5aW4Jxu3fwZVjwMO-MdIuSnDBH0ywJWzdv7hlE0XRkBoogdoGhXC0kcyinrl64CU-P10KIu9fGQ5rVjWURiKIbC9qxwp7Y-1xB3fCu8jBIOkm8cE2Yzr6Bkqrlc4Cl-oYAQU/s1000/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1000" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ExwpiDPXnn-vTodoRaHB7Yog1Hhjow_CpKBZzTIOdpVga-2EKqSZ52c5aW4Jxu3fwZVjwMO-MdIuSnDBH0ywJWzdv7hlE0XRkBoogdoGhXC0kcyinrl64CU-P10KIu9fGQ5rVjWURiKIbC9qxwp7Y-1xB3fCu8jBIOkm8cE2Yzr6Bkqrlc4Cl-oYAQU/w640-h518/Paul%20Leger's%20first%20quilt%203.jpg" title="My First Quilt with Paul Leger | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd do it again.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for sharing your first quilt with us, Paul! I love how you repurposed those unwearable uniform shirts!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-58542598092108324782024-01-22T07:00:00.014-03:302024-01-22T07:00:00.132-03:30Whose Opinion Matters More?<div style="text-align: left;">Before we get into this week's devotion, did you see that registration is open for the Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey? You can get all the details in <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2024/01/moments-with-jesus-qal-and-devotional.html" target="_blank">this post</a> or <a href="https://youtu.be/RsEvbXq5J6Y" target="_blank">this video</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This week we're looking at the story of another woman from the Bible, but this time for an example of what not to do. Her name is Sapphira and she and her husband set out to do something good, but it turned bad quickly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>Sapphira and Ananias were believers in the early church. At that time, "there were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need" (Acts 4: 34-35). What an amazing community that must have been!</div><div><br /></div><div>Our couple make their appearance at the beginning of Acts 5: "there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest" (vv. 1-2). Did you notice how quickly their good deed went south? They sold the property and brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount! </div><div><br /></div><div>Ananias went to the apostles on his own to make the presentation and Peter confronted him. "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!" (vv. 3-4). Ananias dropped dead and some of the men who were present carried him out and buried him.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Sapphira arrived, she had no idea her husband had died. Before telling her, Peter gave her the opportunity to set the record straight: "Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?" (v. 8).</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, Sapphira was fully committed to the lie. "Yes," she replied, "that was the price" (v. 8). </div><div><br /></div><div>How sad that must have made Peter. I can imagine him shaking his head as he says, "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too" (v. 9). Immediately, Sapphira died and was carried out, just like Ananias.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first time I read this story, I thought Sapphira and Ananias were punished for keeping some of the money back. But then I read it again and really took in what Peter told Ananias: the property was theirs. They could choose to sell it or not. They could choose how much to sell it for. Once the property was sold, the money was theirs, too. They could choose what to do with it. They were under no obligation to give any of the money to the apostles. It would have been fine if they decided to keep all of the money. It would have been fine to give all of the money to the apostles. It would also have been equally fine to give some of the money to help the needy and keep some of the money for themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>The problem wasn’t how much money they decided to donate, it was their decision to lie about what percentage of the money they were donating. We don’t know for certain what motivated their lie, but it’s generally accepted that they wanted to be recognized for their generosity. Donating some of the money wouldn’t have sounded as grand or as generous as donating all of it, so they decided to make themselves look as generous as they could.</div><div><br /></div><div>The obvious lesson here is Don’t Lie. It’s a good lesson and one we should certainly take to heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAcx_6uW2KRGz-ZGE1708j8AZgTyFmBY8PLKqH1GP-OlId6LC54JbThU3pEhaAKdMPCw1yTmS43JOVeTHoCOVzKrjVqWbGbhaLi6Ih2Msk0tvrr2mnoUkFMj7u3r4tHqcVRYIuloyAxEKz8UrArfLhh2vlpeDfuTVAsirEd3TR8BzQKvQ3AhBt68qkwg/s1080/Sapphira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Are we more concerned with what God thinks of us or what people think of us? | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAcx_6uW2KRGz-ZGE1708j8AZgTyFmBY8PLKqH1GP-OlId6LC54JbThU3pEhaAKdMPCw1yTmS43JOVeTHoCOVzKrjVqWbGbhaLi6Ih2Msk0tvrr2mnoUkFMj7u3r4tHqcVRYIuloyAxEKz8UrArfLhh2vlpeDfuTVAsirEd3TR8BzQKvQ3AhBt68qkwg/w640-h640/Sapphira.jpg" title="Are we more concerned with what God thinks of us or what people think of us? | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>There’s another, deeper lesson, too, though. We should be more concerned with what God thinks of us than with what people think of us. Sapphira and Ananias wanted people to admire them for their generosity, even if they had to lie to make it happen. They didn’t bother to consider what lying would do to God’s opinion of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we certainly want people to think well of us, it’s unwise to make that happen by sacrificing God’s opinion of us.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-6810042710382083522024-01-18T19:00:00.002-03:302024-01-19T08:24:38.342-03:30TGIFF - Blooming Beautiful<div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to this week's TGIFF party! Before I get to my finish, though, I want to let you know that registration is open for my Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey. This is a 40 day event leading up to Easter, and it's one of my favourite parts of the year 😊 Go to <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2024/01/moments-with-jesus-qal-and-devotional.html" target="_blank">this post</a> or <a href="https://youtu.be/RsEvbXq5J6Y" target="_blank">this video</a> for all the details.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And now, on to my most recent finish!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVxPWbU6oho3e-MPpYq3vKpJy7DfdXAuk54yKAA58yDrDciu2KUuop9fSGiwzmxkasxjml-cLASYo6gFi75RxUJTLGHjAQ_RHvRPN8Bkcc8riBuq6U4wmifQqCJF3R47tIn05mWYlondXpnWjAYTmUK-LyudfEC_Uoxso0TX_BUCnSel4Ib64gMBEh0s/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVxPWbU6oho3e-MPpYq3vKpJy7DfdXAuk54yKAA58yDrDciu2KUuop9fSGiwzmxkasxjml-cLASYo6gFi75RxUJTLGHjAQ_RHvRPN8Bkcc8riBuq6U4wmifQqCJF3R47tIn05mWYlondXpnWjAYTmUK-LyudfEC_Uoxso0TX_BUCnSel4Ib64gMBEh0s/w640-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%202.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Stash Artists pattern for January is Blooming Beautiful. I had so much fun choosing fabrics for this quilt!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-2jpGSvhX5be0LKkwZYHaRPu418aFB50B6qvMPxk_Pw_0g14Uen0YSfd91i_LDWI1uZafrpeuv9LV4XQS2gor2K4AgzmZioROMbKa0K5MMFScwjUQzJ8TjS4plBsWq-zmzobUC3-KAktWJ7EtgWqg7ORNrUy7oAX0a3IIjd5_Z-bEB-SwqO9_6jnbKw/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1000" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-2jpGSvhX5be0LKkwZYHaRPu418aFB50B6qvMPxk_Pw_0g14Uen0YSfd91i_LDWI1uZafrpeuv9LV4XQS2gor2K4AgzmZioROMbKa0K5MMFScwjUQzJ8TjS4plBsWq-zmzobUC3-KAktWJ7EtgWqg7ORNrUy7oAX0a3IIjd5_Z-bEB-SwqO9_6jnbKw/w640-h636/Blooming%20Beautiful.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Each flower has seven fabrics for the petals, plus one for the center. A couple of fabrics are featured in two flowers, but most of them are only used once, meaning there are over 120 fabrics in this baby quilt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclkmkgRcY1z2mqI2rhqVd3kqPjdJc0L8C2mJU9cnkOE6b13i173H9aeCa9pFHLH-aYW0eZr8j4XFCvfGUb5-f04flDkpnmJgxUXL8SqsdIYy2UZteUENaIwq7LkJulAe52G5owyQY3yuPCjcHYueyAEcL27tkD8bxtlxXFU7mFygm_GdG05vytvsmJ8o/s1333/Blooming%20Beautiful%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclkmkgRcY1z2mqI2rhqVd3kqPjdJc0L8C2mJU9cnkOE6b13i173H9aeCa9pFHLH-aYW0eZr8j4XFCvfGUb5-f04flDkpnmJgxUXL8SqsdIYy2UZteUENaIwq7LkJulAe52G5owyQY3yuPCjcHYueyAEcL27tkD8bxtlxXFU7mFygm_GdG05vytvsmJ8o/w480-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%205.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">With that many fabrics, it seemed only right to use an abundance of thread colours, too! I used these 12 Aurifil colours, plus a couple more I chose after taking the picture, to zig zag stitch around the applique shapes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yEzoTFemSe3wjRc0nhkchGYeNaHlenHRkODc3fsWzhMUZgV3qKJ10unOK9A8wG5v1rEinZdMCn8bFkFkYdWavsVZS-FizRp-xNbehPHhIf5qFfjsUym61GcQFxBZHg8xSgfvixkSx8uD78u-4fbcHRLZIA4AWqAAL7N1gwqA_th3kgMLyb6LlqtRmQ0/s1000/Thread%20choices.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An abundance of thread colours | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1000" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yEzoTFemSe3wjRc0nhkchGYeNaHlenHRkODc3fsWzhMUZgV3qKJ10unOK9A8wG5v1rEinZdMCn8bFkFkYdWavsVZS-FizRp-xNbehPHhIf5qFfjsUym61GcQFxBZHg8xSgfvixkSx8uD78u-4fbcHRLZIA4AWqAAL7N1gwqA_th3kgMLyb6LlqtRmQ0/w640-h522/Thread%20choices.jpg" title="An abundance of thread colours | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">When it came time for the quilting, I chose Aurifil 1125 (medium teal) for a loopy meander. I also stitched around each applique shape once as I came to it. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stitching between the flower petals and the centers really showed how inconsistent I was with the space between them when I positioned the applique pieces. No one other than me (and you because I showed you) will ever notice that, though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJvmJaqMLGPpHT5y8NIlQ0xXKLVk6qW_xEap8u8HqDRZtMbKOcVAYHXbL9NEA_gwBYcKXFnsqjs_vHF-6qXMGcsqMLkqJsOVWThorrW-1TXGHhRqaDlViDbQ3x_qaxI6i8eiY6z7Q2a_qvGqfSADbvFspcXwLeN1xIDy-CVJdHgU4dx0lJsUpjXjFvwY/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful%20detail%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJvmJaqMLGPpHT5y8NIlQ0xXKLVk6qW_xEap8u8HqDRZtMbKOcVAYHXbL9NEA_gwBYcKXFnsqjs_vHF-6qXMGcsqMLkqJsOVWThorrW-1TXGHhRqaDlViDbQ3x_qaxI6i8eiY6z7Q2a_qvGqfSADbvFspcXwLeN1xIDy-CVJdHgU4dx0lJsUpjXjFvwY/w640-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%20detail%201.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnBEgsyYJJIfMoz4vrQe3molVZd0f5AseYyETKEAkNrL-MpiQht_NNI58dbG4leb4GZ15El_X5yZmNiSt5lcNmu3LI1Z2rSqORlg3T2J6M6mfLTjkUFbcX6FPQxtqCn0aoZvqRYmgH29J-OOdT1_GHxNN_ZdZNs6X7qMeLqXv0VBthmUl_Mq4Tw6mr_I/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful%20detail%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnBEgsyYJJIfMoz4vrQe3molVZd0f5AseYyETKEAkNrL-MpiQht_NNI58dbG4leb4GZ15El_X5yZmNiSt5lcNmu3LI1Z2rSqORlg3T2J6M6mfLTjkUFbcX6FPQxtqCn0aoZvqRYmgH29J-OOdT1_GHxNN_ZdZNs6X7qMeLqXv0VBthmUl_Mq4Tw6mr_I/w640-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%20detail%202.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">With a solid white for the backing, the blue quilting shows up so well!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnarGJ7Oha78g4qzSov6S4M4RmmPdkieJjk5YRJ4Hp_CYBd8f-jT73NN81PuyfosX1g7Kt2l-ZDE7VYhMEyd35zub6byAZsuCBSeVaLLDR5VkK-scQ1dZk1fiCNNF_pTRk_NJZVaqcXONB1RDzzzHlIC6R-3X66a3Z1v1hjkDvTvO4DbnObe_w2XNxAI/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful%20back%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1000" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnarGJ7Oha78g4qzSov6S4M4RmmPdkieJjk5YRJ4Hp_CYBd8f-jT73NN81PuyfosX1g7Kt2l-ZDE7VYhMEyd35zub6byAZsuCBSeVaLLDR5VkK-scQ1dZk1fiCNNF_pTRk_NJZVaqcXONB1RDzzzHlIC6R-3X66a3Z1v1hjkDvTvO4DbnObe_w2XNxAI/w640-h636/Blooming%20Beautiful%20back%201.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_5OwrOiaf4Kc93tUy1ux19E-ZOLqLLIRSfVpFAmACxVDakiUF7oi_UCNCpmDiiaSjqC8_aMwu2Ff3PeQq_gQpkZ2QgHKi87HLdV2f1VrgduBcLN3h8jZNmpJDu2w4Pm0Eh4VR7gm532qCK-GSQPguTY9x-BhJZAmqXHEph1ZP-g9t0vGUO64kHxRDvI/s1001/Blooming%20Beautiful%20back%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_5OwrOiaf4Kc93tUy1ux19E-ZOLqLLIRSfVpFAmACxVDakiUF7oi_UCNCpmDiiaSjqC8_aMwu2Ff3PeQq_gQpkZ2QgHKi87HLdV2f1VrgduBcLN3h8jZNmpJDu2w4Pm0Eh4VR7gm532qCK-GSQPguTY9x-BhJZAmqXHEph1ZP-g9t0vGUO64kHxRDvI/w640-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%20back%202.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">With Aiden and Zachary both home for Christmas, sewing was moved back down to the kitchen for a few days, so that's where I attached the binding. My grandmother gave me that white ceramic Christmas tree when I was in high school (the same grandmother I made the <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/merry-mini-pattern-release.html" target="_blank">Merry Mini quilt</a> for).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfy7XyfpFkUslfWOqCFBqP5pVsNO4t8eZkfbUJXQExRUWy28UNrfYOXeKN-iXfWIqM31iH0xVDOYnAVESmzEzCEoE7CDpJqf4MP23Fo6eiCYRSmQxKrDkeDEBnPl3LF5idrCid3vLHtn3QaNHU1kawkNe_iimK9Aii6i609HzkToDqblgmLvbG_H2g6k/s1269/Blooming%20Beautiful%20binding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfy7XyfpFkUslfWOqCFBqP5pVsNO4t8eZkfbUJXQExRUWy28UNrfYOXeKN-iXfWIqM31iH0xVDOYnAVESmzEzCEoE7CDpJqf4MP23Fo6eiCYRSmQxKrDkeDEBnPl3LF5idrCid3vLHtn3QaNHU1kawkNe_iimK9Aii6i609HzkToDqblgmLvbG_H2g6k/w504-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%20binding.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Between the short days, the windy weather, and my own lack of interest in doing it (let's be honest here 🤣), I didn't get outdoor pictures for this post, but I'm really loving this space in our dining room for indoor quilt pictures. It ma not be as inspiring as a beach photography session, but it's much more appropriate for January in Newfoundland!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wczikBOft137uqM_KNwp7A-unW9lQV6fUnhZgOdu5cDKZJYR-iUB9W5znpOxDh7K8Cnf96l8042PQW3gNiNA0JD-VCsmiIhk430UmoboUfhEFcxqxbek7vedmNkBoJc7aqO1ET4nb3xqMm595Ce_x4-p94-EycaZ8wkpVgAs_leNlpagbxY8PYG5ep8/s1043/Blooming%20Beautiful%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wczikBOft137uqM_KNwp7A-unW9lQV6fUnhZgOdu5cDKZJYR-iUB9W5znpOxDh7K8Cnf96l8042PQW3gNiNA0JD-VCsmiIhk430UmoboUfhEFcxqxbek7vedmNkBoJc7aqO1ET4nb3xqMm595Ce_x4-p94-EycaZ8wkpVgAs_leNlpagbxY8PYG5ep8/w614-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%203.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="614" /></a></div>If you like scrappy, stash-friendly quilt patterns like Blooming Beautiful, join the <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/stashartistswaitlist" target="_blank">Stash Artists waiting list</a>. The membership doors open twice a year, and members get access to 6 new scrappy patterns a year, plus 6 virtual Sew Together Sessions, and more.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIryf6xM9eX5v6gkrtzeoYCwMh0nyaxAPqTGaIE0FzyFh6fho62dtFbymCf4IJgK0Cimw9o2eCcFrwv8d01UDN2iPcIhPbz9VK5naxyd6YVT7mjjmT4F0XyBiAzweKtAl0HSOVarJlZD-_jVsR-BVa7_CJHzaeq7hWdMGJpAa4QeRSqZMTZ1pKR_yLhk/s1000/Blooming%20Beautiful%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIryf6xM9eX5v6gkrtzeoYCwMh0nyaxAPqTGaIE0FzyFh6fho62dtFbymCf4IJgK0Cimw9o2eCcFrwv8d01UDN2iPcIhPbz9VK5naxyd6YVT7mjjmT4F0XyBiAzweKtAl0HSOVarJlZD-_jVsR-BVa7_CJHzaeq7hWdMGJpAa4QeRSqZMTZ1pKR_yLhk/w640-h640/Blooming%20Beautiful%204.jpg" title="Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's my finish! What have you finished lately? Link it up below and be sure to visit a few of the other links to celebrate their finishes with them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm also linking to <a href="https://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2024/01/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-making-headway.html" target="_blank">Can I Get A Whoop Whoop</a>, <a href="http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/2024/01/sewing-memory-quilts-and-ntt.html" target="_blank">NTT</a>, and <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/lightening-streak-1-yellow-and-finished.html" target="_blank">Finished (or not) Friday</a>.</div><br /><!--start InLinkz code-->
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<!--end InLinkz code--><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-77144651919830101722024-01-17T07:00:00.003-03:302024-01-19T13:05:45.917-03:30Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey<div style="text-align: left;">Today's the day!! I am excited to say<a href="https://payhip.com/b/fDMPU" target="_blank"> registration is now open</a> for this year's Easter quilt along and devotional journey! (<i>Stash Artists members, login to your account for a discount code.) </i>This 40 day event is one of my favourite parts of the year, and I've been working on it behind the scenes for months, so it's wonderful that today I finally get to share it all with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHo0wutfrMZ7CcMZQQufRvO3t2Xkm80cZze017SVmr8kjuJV2ej_-Q8bGHjo3s4TIkfr2DS_YYMSOCnDLDdi49Om6BieiLJ-wWS_kJe7-QWKuM64gIMrfv9m51sb74frGZriJduqVIPX3tC8Lpyvw48U3rcR-5o4POaa3EWqULumzMWhviZQsYzpFrpU/s1000/Moments%20with%20Jesus%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHo0wutfrMZ7CcMZQQufRvO3t2Xkm80cZze017SVmr8kjuJV2ej_-Q8bGHjo3s4TIkfr2DS_YYMSOCnDLDdi49Om6BieiLJ-wWS_kJe7-QWKuM64gIMrfv9m51sb74frGZriJduqVIPX3tC8Lpyvw48U3rcR-5o4POaa3EWqULumzMWhviZQsYzpFrpU/w320-h320/Moments%20with%20Jesus%201.jpg" title="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you may have guessed, this year it's called <a href="https://payhip.com/b/fDMPU" target="_blank">Moments with Jesus</a>. I made a video to tell you all about it, so you can click on the video to watch, or keep reading for all the details. Fair warning, I talk with my hands a lot, lol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RsEvbXq5J6Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="RsEvbXq5J6Y"></iframe></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://payhip.com/b/fDMPU" target="_blank">Register here!</a></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The devotional journey consists of 40 daily devotions sent directly to your inbox, beginning on February 14 (that's Ash Wednesday) and continuing until March 30, the day before Easter Sunday. In the devotions, we're going to be looking at the stories of people who interacted with Jesus - people like the disciples, Pilate, the woman at the well, the Pharisees, and the woman caught in adultery. We'll look at each of their stories to see what their moments with Him then can teach us today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While we're learning from those stories each day, we're also going to be making a beautiful quilt! I've had such a hard time keeping this design secret because I really, really love it. There have been some sneak peeks on social media, but this is the first time I'm sharing the whole quilt top. Allow me to introduce These Three, which is based on 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." My quilt top is made with beautiful blenders from Northcott Fabrics, along with that gorgeous royal blue Colorworks solid for the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrp2p9iYcthcSP96HXzIm3W0ED8YGtUoef76UVQKE8yJAdMtiLyBT40qHA5iPG42jMPWHaWKB-SxwB1g5976rNg5pRACXYklZ7cDDrogkUNllE7g39uMPB1PwFQf37F0VhYG19fZOv5HkXuSI_FWRsm8CHrFW7kwUdrkKBMj2KcAARhrvw1S3CfT4e90/s1195/These%20Three.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These Three quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrp2p9iYcthcSP96HXzIm3W0ED8YGtUoef76UVQKE8yJAdMtiLyBT40qHA5iPG42jMPWHaWKB-SxwB1g5976rNg5pRACXYklZ7cDDrogkUNllE7g39uMPB1PwFQf37F0VhYG19fZOv5HkXuSI_FWRsm8CHrFW7kwUdrkKBMj2KcAARhrvw1S3CfT4e90/w536-h640/These%20Three.jpg" title="These Three quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="536" /></a></div>Though it's not as frigid here in Newfoundland as some parts of North America lately, the weather still hasn't been conducive to outdoor quilt photography, especially of only a top, so indoor pictures will have to do. To those of you experiencing the crazy cold, I hope you are staying warm and cozy inside.<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://payhip.com/b/fDMPU" target="_blank">Once you register</a>, you'll receive an email with the Fabric Requirements PDF so you'll have plenty of time to shop your stash or visit your favourite LQS or online shop before our February 14 start. I can't wait to see what fabrics you choose!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWj1bDZ2FHWY4vPSOPMKHVK2-GwW8wpuy1CffJFMJdtbaG7fGP_IMQ1Thaz8j82obKNxi3iodp3UKUVsYoyf5N4i0FiXp9RjLjb-IZKdnU_Z4sPNohgKhmdx9N14_kbXO_NMc4m5NKnIUVQZuL63ubVH0dDtTz2h1lxKyG3w_aF6FNCPt-KkCIHajF4c/s1000/These%20Three%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrWj1bDZ2FHWY4vPSOPMKHVK2-GwW8wpuy1CffJFMJdtbaG7fGP_IMQ1Thaz8j82obKNxi3iodp3UKUVsYoyf5N4i0FiXp9RjLjb-IZKdnU_Z4sPNohgKhmdx9N14_kbXO_NMc4m5NKnIUVQZuL63ubVH0dDtTz2h1lxKyG3w_aF6FNCPt-KkCIHajF4c/w640-h434/These%20Three%205.jpg" title="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>These Three includes traditional piecing, a little bit of paper piecing, and raw-edge machine applique. If you've never done paper piecing or machine applique, I will have video tutorials included during the QAL to take you step-by-step through those techniques, so this is a wonderful time to learn something new!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is a relaxed quilt along, suitable for a confident beginner quilter. There's plenty of time for catching up if life gets in the way (something always happens, right?), and there's time included at the end for the assembly of the quilt top. Hopefully by Easter Sunday you'll have a These Three quilt top ready for quilting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2REOHD-6rI7ScCl6bp7zzUOpu27jx9LLgLuaNhyvk_QRcGWxcnLiEa0ziSsU1dx2jwCNH9XYQ3zETzts9yCwgUsXZFOoPN7G6ZOYz_rlncQOR35lDqjSuKihj3nXiWeGZvp5XCWq0BvVWcIXKlH-0KzFxetwU3Tseezpyat6SKfTkgwFiMxVl5qMhfkQ/s1000/These%20Three%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2REOHD-6rI7ScCl6bp7zzUOpu27jx9LLgLuaNhyvk_QRcGWxcnLiEa0ziSsU1dx2jwCNH9XYQ3zETzts9yCwgUsXZFOoPN7G6ZOYz_rlncQOR35lDqjSuKihj3nXiWeGZvp5XCWq0BvVWcIXKlH-0KzFxetwU3Tseezpyat6SKfTkgwFiMxVl5qMhfkQ/w640-h480/These%20Three%207.jpg" title="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">What if you just don't have the bandwidth for another QAL right now, but you'd still like to prepare for Easter by focusing on stories about Jesus? Don't worry, I've got you covered 😊 You can choose to <a href="https://payhip.com/b/qXx40" target="_blank">register for the devotional journey on its own</a>, without the quilt pattern included, and the daily devotions will arrive in your inbox starting on February 14.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSfgsiXHpTQRjLt055v6cZmSs6a78QzhCbKl45WjkdlOmgM8AmkYlsmvhgGo-PMC3tvqqKClnBP2ufp_ybPn-GV4m0ffy153vYqmjrhY1PVYIKdx0UYjOZtxsKpwTmtBlFbEqv1ah41Z0WxztGdX1_pN_0Spy8GaJSF72eAtKuujTEAOgRT2hm2WdlF0/s1000/These%20Three%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSfgsiXHpTQRjLt055v6cZmSs6a78QzhCbKl45WjkdlOmgM8AmkYlsmvhgGo-PMC3tvqqKClnBP2ufp_ybPn-GV4m0ffy153vYqmjrhY1PVYIKdx0UYjOZtxsKpwTmtBlFbEqv1ah41Z0WxztGdX1_pN_0Spy8GaJSF72eAtKuujTEAOgRT2hm2WdlF0/w640-h480/These%20Three%204.jpg" title="Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>If you'd like to spend the days leading up to Easter focusing on stories about Jesus, while also making a beautiful quilt, join me for <a href="https://payhip.com/b/fDMPU" target="_blank">Moments with Jesus</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm linking to <a href="https://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2024/01/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-making-headway.html" target="_blank">Can I Get A Whoop Whoop</a>, <a href="http://www.myquiltinfatuation.com/2024/01/sewing-memory-quilts-and-ntt.html" target="_blank">NTT</a>, <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/lightening-streak-1-yellow-and-finished.html" target="_blank">Finished (or not) Friday</a>, and <a href="https://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/2024/01/fun-with-selvages-beauties-pageant-243.html" target="_blank">Beauties Pageant</a>.</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-77050931052526318612024-01-15T07:00:00.009-03:302024-01-15T07:00:00.142-03:30Helping By Sewing<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>I'm deep in writing devotions for the Moments with Jesus QAL and Devotional Journey, while also doing all the prep work required to open registration for it on Wednesday, so here's a devotion from last year's Women of Wisdom devotional journey.</div><div><br /></div><div>______________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>Today’s woman of wisdom makes a very short appearance in the Bible. In Acts 9 Dorcas is the focus of only 6 verses and for most of them, she’s dead! The memories of the other people in the story give us a glimpse of her wisdom, though.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was first introduced to Dorcas years ago, when our church asked the kids to come to an event dressed as their favourite Bible characters. One of the leaders, a talented seamstress, came carrying a basket of fabric and sewing notions, with her measuring tape draped around her neck. When the kids asked who she was supposed to be, she explained that Dorcas was a seamstress who helped people by sewing for them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here’s her story:</div><div>“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, ‘Please come as soon as possible!’</div><div><br /></div><div>So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, ‘Get up, Tabitha.’ And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive” (Acts 9:36-41).</div><div><br /></div><div>From these few verses, we don’t know anything about Dorcas’s family or financial situation. All we know is that she died suddenly and a crowd of widows came together to mourn her, carrying or wearing things she had made for them. Her kindness had meant the world to these women who likely had very little material goods. From verse 36, we know that Dorcas was in the habit of doing kind things for others and helping the poor however she could.</div><div><br /></div><div>Problems like poverty can feel overwhelming. Our efforts to help can feel more insignificant than a drop in the ocean, so what’s even the point? And in the face of so much need, sewing doesn’t seem like much of a solution.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbBben3MhCulPSLVHTDmcHAURS8cws9tzF891QBIj25jUgD8_-_xHTAOlu1d_dVhiQumoc2deqoKSRQ3zjMeIFq1z2PY-CuZPEW-IAPnC2lLEAcYEp47BSmITwcZAAkQD10cJSDY3_jqfaSWJqh0tAMPcSgalS8CDA35UECVwVcr14ppZpUYfiShCuyE/s1080/helping%20someone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Using the skills we have to help someone always makes the world better | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbBben3MhCulPSLVHTDmcHAURS8cws9tzF891QBIj25jUgD8_-_xHTAOlu1d_dVhiQumoc2deqoKSRQ3zjMeIFq1z2PY-CuZPEW-IAPnC2lLEAcYEp47BSmITwcZAAkQD10cJSDY3_jqfaSWJqh0tAMPcSgalS8CDA35UECVwVcr14ppZpUYfiShCuyE/w640-h640/helping%20someone.jpg" title="Using the skills we have to help someone always makes the world better | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>But Dorcas, and the widows who mourned her, show us the truth. Using the skills we have to help someone always makes the world better. Sure, making a coat (or quilt) for someone won’t lift them out of poverty, but it will make an impact. It will help keep them warm, while also being tangible proof that someone cares.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rather than letting ourselves be overwhelmed by the big problems of the world, we can be like Dorcas and use the skills we have to help, one person (and one quilt!) at a time. </div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-52415646668110714562024-01-08T07:00:00.004-03:302024-01-08T07:00:00.125-03:30Don't Forget Him<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope 2024 is off to a good start for you, and that the year continues to bring good things your way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We always wish prosperity, health, and joy for our friends and family, and those wishes are especially prominent at the beginning of anything - a new year, a marriage, the birth of a child, a new job, or a move to a new home. Oddly enough, though, the Bible contains a pretty strong warning about the dangers of living with ease. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Deuteronomy 6, Moses spoke to the people of Israel before they entered the Promised Land, saying, "The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant" (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). The fields were already cleared for planting, the houses were move-in ready, fresh water was readily available. Life was about to get so much easier!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But then Moses continued, "When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. You must fear the Lord your God and serve him" (vv. 11-13). Moses knew, and more importantly God knows, the tendency of people to cling to God when times are rough, and then let go when times are easy. Despite the thousands of years since Moses spoke his warning, people are no different today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's easy enough to understand why we cling to God when times are rough. During those times we are constantly aware that we are not capable on our own. We see how much we need Him to sustain us, to strengthen our spirits, and to provide for us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When things get easy, though, we don't have that constant reminder of our dependence on Him. We start to forget that He's the one providing every good thing, "Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens" (James 1:17); that even the breath in our lungs comes from Him, "He himself gives life and breath to everything" (Acts 17:25); and that without Him we can't do a thing, "For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead, we start to feel a sense of '<i>I got this!</i>' We stop leaning on Him, because we mistakenly feel like we're standing just fine all on our own.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Because He knew what could happen, Moses reminded the Israelites not to forget God even before they entered the Promised Land. We need that reminder just as much today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLCiJTJ-VNT7DFhe6-Y5r2i81m2_2kg-JhZ-3vWLpj9be7Vb_YBRA6lyB_AMu4rr-dzTF0k1Hoz_fLYwrGXTtc4hly180YuwmUcitpwXWE9AmItEliIjwONJR0Vs9LSGFTPwCjpg8kYcHkH4VsZionmK-hC3RLMphTZExIUE73r02rXbgmLI0kQAyGE/s1080/Lean%20on%20God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="May we lean on God in the good times just as much as we do in the hard times | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDLCiJTJ-VNT7DFhe6-Y5r2i81m2_2kg-JhZ-3vWLpj9be7Vb_YBRA6lyB_AMu4rr-dzTF0k1Hoz_fLYwrGXTtc4hly180YuwmUcitpwXWE9AmItEliIjwONJR0Vs9LSGFTPwCjpg8kYcHkH4VsZionmK-hC3RLMphTZExIUE73r02rXbgmLI0kQAyGE/w640-h640/Lean%20on%20God.jpg" title="May we lean on God in the good times just as much as we do in the hard times | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Through all the good that is hopefully coming our way in 2024, and beyond, may we always remember how completely we depend on God. May we lean on Him in the good times just as much as we do in the hard times, and may we serve Him through it all.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-13520945607637248432024-01-04T19:00:00.001-03:302024-01-04T19:00:00.142-03:30TGIFF - Quilted Cushions and Nathan's Ornament<div style="text-align: left;">Welcome to the first TGIFF party of 2024! I have a couple of small finishes to share today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc9oAkEZAunlC_X5FdzW4omU96VpZ2R0p8Np7-Txo81FD2RrwQbCiJHgAMlDp97a6_CJ-rSeIZXI0kEr1ISlhq1tnIfzG3buaWq6ejjaMdYNn3-KIgiZl0m67r5OktANpqWl18KKDd0dTOhtIeomFdLDShC0nB5_1WHBdA3YG4NfR84JuNH6yY3CWoAo/s1000/Quilted%20cushions%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilted cushions | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="1000" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisc9oAkEZAunlC_X5FdzW4omU96VpZ2R0p8Np7-Txo81FD2RrwQbCiJHgAMlDp97a6_CJ-rSeIZXI0kEr1ISlhq1tnIfzG3buaWq6ejjaMdYNn3-KIgiZl0m67r5OktANpqWl18KKDd0dTOhtIeomFdLDShC0nB5_1WHBdA3YG4NfR84JuNH6yY3CWoAo/w640-h382/Quilted%20cushions%202.jpg" title="Quilted cushions | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">When the childcare littles first arrived in September after the summer break, the now 3 year old immediately started telling me all about the purple unicorn birthday party she was soon going to have. She talked daily about that purple unicorn party until the end of October, when she finally had her birthday. Long before the birthday happened, I had decided her Christmas present from me would be a purple unicorn cushion, or 'scushion' as she calls the ones I have.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZxEOnB33lLNqFkqEQDxp8JEuJqUWuTfccOxKRKXCDGd2chgszMq27L3eYIW29yEFPI6PhzXR1bWU8h1OY9N-957vaF1UVPlxvBchSDfoiQD30N1I9P4Wrx21NhKkGYnHxECCg3NnEU0EitqXjLKYpo-HdwanB7IAds4p0aI9Lv_yAO-PVn-GKx9s48U/s1000/Unicorn%20cushion%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilted unicorn cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZxEOnB33lLNqFkqEQDxp8JEuJqUWuTfccOxKRKXCDGd2chgszMq27L3eYIW29yEFPI6PhzXR1bWU8h1OY9N-957vaF1UVPlxvBchSDfoiQD30N1I9P4Wrx21NhKkGYnHxECCg3NnEU0EitqXjLKYpo-HdwanB7IAds4p0aI9Lv_yAO-PVn-GKx9s48U/w640-h640/Unicorn%20cushion%201.jpg" title="Quilted unicorn cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found a free clipart unicorn outline and printed that to use for my applique shape. I worried it would be too fiddly to stitch around, but most of it wasn't bad. It was really only the horn that was too narrow to stitch well, but I did the best I could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t0YfXzp4j2-Ilf4rdG8FE5qbJjLEly_CcYEKOIsIZY16AiYlDnem_QtoHdrue2FDEMiiRs0i-b_n4nnWh1ecyA9Uhzt5gEXqfXNVrXqSgi_MdX6k-uhxG0E0tyNdOdww-1_NbeyeXKIqDKJPeLL-EnVJhhRcreC-McOLF8AQWDkX5PlwIBCebXuR0Bk/s1000/Unicorn%20cushion%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilted unicorn cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t0YfXzp4j2-Ilf4rdG8FE5qbJjLEly_CcYEKOIsIZY16AiYlDnem_QtoHdrue2FDEMiiRs0i-b_n4nnWh1ecyA9Uhzt5gEXqfXNVrXqSgi_MdX6k-uhxG0E0tyNdOdww-1_NbeyeXKIqDKJPeLL-EnVJhhRcreC-McOLF8AQWDkX5PlwIBCebXuR0Bk/w640-h640/Unicorn%20cushion%202.jpg" title="Quilted unicorn cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>The 1 year old little is only just starting to talk. She gets so excited whenever there's a duck in a book, and calls them all, "Quack quack! Quack quack!" so she got a rubber ducky cushion, also using a free clipart design.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9wjpp6vzepjQczvxYNVgXl2xC-HSSUA678qv2VbrpCQyuoSclkRDr7Br2IhDixaYm6bQYEUeIaowVmVeiHvgrm1BWIEqfjjvWWUWD-vizjYC6kTJLL0ddwLewnSYQucpXB91zEunEHVsX0oAkzUMwq_bP9Ob7mcoMsnzFg5bAu2Jk_FbVuLW6FTSuHc/s1000/Duckie%20cushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilter rubber ducky cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9wjpp6vzepjQczvxYNVgXl2xC-HSSUA678qv2VbrpCQyuoSclkRDr7Br2IhDixaYm6bQYEUeIaowVmVeiHvgrm1BWIEqfjjvWWUWD-vizjYC6kTJLL0ddwLewnSYQucpXB91zEunEHVsX0oAkzUMwq_bP9Ob7mcoMsnzFg5bAu2Jk_FbVuLW6FTSuHc/w640-h640/Duckie%20cushion.jpg" title="Quilter rubber ducky cushion | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>For both cushions, I quilted around the applique shapes, then did a dense stipple for the rest of the cushion, all in matching colours of Aurifil thread. Then I added a label and an envelope style back. I got the label upside down for the unicorn cushion. Turning things right side out always messes with me, no matter how much I think I got it right when layering all the pieces to be stitched together. Oh well, I doubt the little unicorn lover will care.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyZurUUWPm23sb5tEiCXvoRVsDYMOyxGskYgwchDYNFrp5jUrsIoXSRT4TbB5z53Z9l6v7nKPqmLgmy18d4tcl-Gik6zdtWOq1MDgtfXS4cVBER-MNQ1iks4e7GruJ_wXtozLeHGw4BZKKBVevhO9NVqJueZVKrpTN0WPW1ov9T-7T0DwMQqj0JP0zu4/s1000/Cushion%20labels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="quilted cushions with labels | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1000" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyZurUUWPm23sb5tEiCXvoRVsDYMOyxGskYgwchDYNFrp5jUrsIoXSRT4TbB5z53Z9l6v7nKPqmLgmy18d4tcl-Gik6zdtWOq1MDgtfXS4cVBER-MNQ1iks4e7GruJ_wXtozLeHGw4BZKKBVevhO9NVqJueZVKrpTN0WPW1ov9T-7T0DwMQqj0JP0zu4/w640-h582/Cushion%20labels.jpg" title="quilted cushions with labels | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>I made my own cushion inserts, too. I used solid fabric from my stash, then stuffed them with the innards of a pillow I bought a year or so ago. When I bought it, I thought the pillow would be nice for sleeping, but just went super flat as soon as you lay on it, so it never got used. It had just enough stuffing for two 12" cushions, though.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE81n77qclATMWhm27Pgyi-2WonOxllqc-urt3Up-nnedINEGKf2c2nJdW5la-eCipYkUreAugEP2gl11DjzhvmzinV9BBB-cDggkEC1tB0JmzplqglggCeAx0969AqlH16gEnb3o2dh4cyFyLMFNkWAtpfiNLGY12RRvRUMXPSHFzytFgrJhwA_92nc/s1000/Quilted%20cushions%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quilted cushions | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1000" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE81n77qclATMWhm27Pgyi-2WonOxllqc-urt3Up-nnedINEGKf2c2nJdW5la-eCipYkUreAugEP2gl11DjzhvmzinV9BBB-cDggkEC1tB0JmzplqglggCeAx0969AqlH16gEnb3o2dh4cyFyLMFNkWAtpfiNLGY12RRvRUMXPSHFzytFgrJhwA_92nc/w640-h398/Quilted%20cushions%203.jpg" title="Quilted cushions | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div>Aside from the <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/merry-mini-pattern-release.html" target="_blank">Merry Mini quilts</a> I made, the cushions were the only Christmas gifts I made this year. <div><br /></div><div>I also made Nathan's annual ornament, of course. I started this project in 2002, for Aiden's first Christmas, and each year I made an ornament for him, then one each for him and Zach, then for all three boys, featuring something special from their year. Aiden and Zach have since 'aged out,' since my plan was always to continue until they graduated high school, so now I only have Nathan's ornament to do. Last Christmas, Nathan asked for money to put towards a telescope, which he got in March, with the addition of his birthday money. We've taken it out quite a few times since then, and it's amazing to look at the moon through it, and to see the rings around Saturn. I found this <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1321942415/cross-stitch-pattern-telescope-solar" target="_blank">telescope cross stitch pattern</a> by EmbroDIY, but realized after starting it that it was much too big for an ornament. The same pattern also included this planet with rings, which was a much better size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrXU_xkdXQezQDtuSVhwe7HukanXPRtpHPrhTfUIc2UixqNEAGhNmt1o0uU9GHBD4kltdhrHeBVGHWfM-ps-HFWUJljms0wcrclqO3aW-YOXNznZXVXfAW6_iCcOPTtnhcUtYk3oh14HyCaG_Obx5PJSyzbx7MDEsjUJ5wjmFhxczAaTHWQ26XBGagYE/s1000/Nathan's%20ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cross stitch planet ornament | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrXU_xkdXQezQDtuSVhwe7HukanXPRtpHPrhTfUIc2UixqNEAGhNmt1o0uU9GHBD4kltdhrHeBVGHWfM-ps-HFWUJljms0wcrclqO3aW-YOXNznZXVXfAW6_iCcOPTtnhcUtYk3oh14HyCaG_Obx5PJSyzbx7MDEsjUJ5wjmFhxczAaTHWQ26XBGagYE/w640-h640/Nathan's%20ornament.jpg" title="cross stitch planet ornament | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>I chose colours to imitate pictures of Saturn, but I should have gone with something darker than the pale yellows. When it's hanging on the tree, you can hardly see the planet from a distance. I can't believe there will only be three more ornaments to make for Nathan (Christmas 2024 and 2025, and his graduation).</div><div><br /></div><div>In case you want to make some ornaments yourself, I wrote a tutorial in 2018 for how I <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2018/12/how-to-finish-embroidery-or-quilt-block.html" target="_blank">finish small cross stitched or embroidered designs into ornaments.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Those are my finishes 😊 What have you finished lately? Link it up below, and be sure to visit some of the other links to celebrate their finishes, too.</div><div><div><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><!-- start InLinkz code -->
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<!-- end InLinkz code --><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-26396636841706248632024-01-01T07:00:00.002-03:302024-01-01T07:00:00.124-03:30A Prayer for 2024<p>Devotion for the week...</p><p>As has become my tradition, I'm letting the apostle Paul speak for me for the first devotion of the year. This is my prayer for all of you for 2024.</p><p>"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.</p><div>"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:16-21).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvmEZGsHRoZiJjVYSwnDT63TyTa-Mp_t5b66tv2OvzIQqfHr2XxQsVgbgA2Nc3z6ZB1F3AxfnXCa1AoKQClQ1UVnFu_3KMqkCnP4B0alz05q7AMOayYFxj3YFBfHNzN1zoiJr9bSx7tzCKGILZcOvgukdqkRRZKDCRimpY2H6dZEk169LgZLLBMgZeF4/s1080/Prayer%20for%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A prayer for 2024 | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvmEZGsHRoZiJjVYSwnDT63TyTa-Mp_t5b66tv2OvzIQqfHr2XxQsVgbgA2Nc3z6ZB1F3AxfnXCa1AoKQClQ1UVnFu_3KMqkCnP4B0alz05q7AMOayYFxj3YFBfHNzN1zoiJr9bSx7tzCKGILZcOvgukdqkRRZKDCRimpY2H6dZEk169LgZLLBMgZeF4/w640-h640/Prayer%20for%202024.jpg" title="A prayer for 2024 | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-72787873749144243242023-12-29T07:00:00.001-03:302023-12-29T07:00:00.146-03:30My First Quilt with Hilary JordanCan you believe it's the last Friday of December and of 2023? The year sure has flown by! Since it's the last Friday of the month, that means I get to share another My First Quilt interview with you 😊 Today's interview is with Hilary Jordan, of By Hilary Jordan. Hilary is a quilter, quilt pattern designer, cross stitcher, Youtuber, and more.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2YfH_emxfZgZuVJfEyKPccN-W_9OwsyBBxsF0QxjJUhNlTGGMX-KjSla1ApnTaA8SaffrFR9J6cZ_WmTGPTUXOrwrkuu87htHVoS5akKouodm1y0_xT34cw_3A3icGw05q2x_GZi1-GgKPUDajTLHB8-b4NFZfdP4ABJhbuqD2wrttzMgFdwjSYW-QQ/s1350/Hilary%20Jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2YfH_emxfZgZuVJfEyKPccN-W_9OwsyBBxsF0QxjJUhNlTGGMX-KjSla1ApnTaA8SaffrFR9J6cZ_WmTGPTUXOrwrkuu87htHVoS5akKouodm1y0_xT34cw_3A3icGw05q2x_GZi1-GgKPUDajTLHB8-b4NFZfdP4ABJhbuqD2wrttzMgFdwjSYW-QQ/w256-h320/Hilary%20Jordan.jpg" title="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" width="256" /></a></div><div>You can connect with Hilary on <a href="https://byhilaryjordan.com/" target="_blank">her website</a>, on <a href="https://twitter.com/byHilaryJordan" target="_blank">X</a>, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/byhilaryjordan/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ByHilaryJordan/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfF_PAqz-hZFWx9tQnAI0A" target="_blank">Youtube</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@byhilaryjordan" target="_blank">Tiktok</a> and, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ByHilaryJordan/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now, here is Hilary's first quilt! Don't you love a good recycled denim quilt?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJGsrMvyC-vy2_9N2RhET-dCapmOP9JDvqWvPQ834w4YtedrhcfMBL_6yuE-ZBHVnlPvtuJhvaCjTYQs8ClLLfLhnxjU4TTumqjwPaKaEGhF79WnjFrMg77fIuPThErFbEjJmqntYxKjOl48nhmpaddV5uD913v21ZFju4SM65gTMh57zAU6KyQiEtlc/s1000/Hilary%20Jordan's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1000" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJGsrMvyC-vy2_9N2RhET-dCapmOP9JDvqWvPQ834w4YtedrhcfMBL_6yuE-ZBHVnlPvtuJhvaCjTYQs8ClLLfLhnxjU4TTumqjwPaKaEGhF79WnjFrMg77fIuPThErFbEjJmqntYxKjOl48nhmpaddV5uD913v21ZFju4SM65gTMh57zAU6KyQiEtlc/w640-h316/Hilary%20Jordan's%20first%20quilt%201.jpg" title="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What year did you make your first quilt? What prompted you to make it?</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I made my first quilt back in 2008, I don't remember exactly why I wanted to make the quilt but I know I wanted to make it as a gift for my Dad. My Granny Opal was a quilter but she passed away in the Fall of 2006 before I got into quilting. At that time I had been sewing on and off for about 4-5 years, but I mainly made little crafty projects or garments. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">What techniques were used in that first quilt? Did you quilt it yourself?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">My first quilt was a blue jean quilt made from old jeans, plus some denim I bought at the fabric store because I ran out of jeans. I remember making a template out of cardboard to cut out some of the pieces and all the pieces were cut with scissors. I didn't even know what a rotary cutter was at that point in time. The quilt just had basic piecing and I quilted it myself on my tiny Brother sewing machine. I think the throat space was only 5 inches or so and I outlined each block at 1/4". Trying to force it through that little machine was a workout. I made my life even harder by using a high loft polyester batting in it too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Who taught you to make the quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">No one, I followed the pattern from a magazine, read a few sewing/quilting forums, and kind of made it up as I went. This was the time before the convenience of YouTube. I was in college at the time so I didn't really have anyone to show me what to do. My Granny Opal was a quilter and it was something I always wish I could have learned from her, but she passed away in 2006.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Are the colours you chose for your first quilt ones you would still choose today?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably. The quilt was made from recycled blue jeans, and I actually have a blue jean quilt top sitting waiting for me to quilt it. I love the idea of using reclaimed textiles in quilts and I want to try and do it more. My Granny Opal (If you can't tell she's my quilty inspiration 😇) made many of her quilts out of old shirts and dresses, and 9 times out of 10 the quilt back on a quilt was an old sheet. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Did you fall in love with quilting right away? Or was there a gap between making the first quilt and the next one?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There was a bit of a gap between my first quilt and the next one. Since I was in college at the time, crafty endeavors happened sporadically. Especially when I did a semester away for the Disney College Program in the Fall of 2009.When I moved into an apartment my senior year I did make a little Halloween table topper. It wasn't until I was pregnant with my oldest son William a couple years later that the quilting bug really bit. </span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Where is the quilt now?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Dad still has the quilt since it was a gift for him, and he uses it all the time. He and my Mom are retired and travel around in their RV part of the year, as you can imagine space is limited when they're on the road, but the quilt is always along for the ride. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Is there anything you wish you could go back and tell yourself as you made that first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">No. I'm really thankful that I jumped into sewing and quilting at such a young age. I started sewing at like 13/14 and I made this quilt when I was 19. There was this freeing mindset that I just wanted to make, I didn't have any preconceived notions about how it should look, or if there was a right or a wrong way to do something. There was just the determination and excitement to do it. I honestly only tell myself to take more pictures of the process. 😆</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.72px;">Anything else you want to share about your first quilt?</span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 18.72px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I really wish I had more photos from when I was making this quilt, back then I posted it on a site called Craftster.org but it has since shut down. I have one photo from back then before I gifted it to my Dad, and thankfully my Dad sent me this adorable one of him with the quilt a couple years ago. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjewOSs2fF2s6_3ZuMVIN5olMMA9415LPnruKPzXPkCguDfo-dWFw2JcTTEgZc6Hunes4PTa7hO5NmxAkimlcyDspmTLQ2zpa4olI4oggCsnDvP7CSGknjFCSmw-CJUWTL2xqYp2tWzGgp9elLjV6-Em59ii-4rGup2ncthlalAnuRqRWDTWH874WpDHA/s1080/My%20Frist%20Quilt%20-%20Hilary%20Jordan%20-%20Hilary%20Jordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjewOSs2fF2s6_3ZuMVIN5olMMA9415LPnruKPzXPkCguDfo-dWFw2JcTTEgZc6Hunes4PTa7hO5NmxAkimlcyDspmTLQ2zpa4olI4oggCsnDvP7CSGknjFCSmw-CJUWTL2xqYp2tWzGgp9elLjV6-Em59ii-4rGup2ncthlalAnuRqRWDTWH874WpDHA/w512-h640/My%20Frist%20Quilt%20-%20Hilary%20Jordan%20-%20Hilary%20Jordan.jpg" title="My First Quilt interview with Hilary Jordan | DevotedQuilter.com" width="512" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for sharing the story of your first quilt with us, Hilary! I especially love that your Dad still takes his quilt on his travels ❤</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-52489368248505359112023-12-24T07:00:00.001-03:302023-12-24T07:00:00.134-03:30Advent 2023 - Love<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm posting this week's devotion a day early, so it actually falls within Advent, rather than on Christmas Day. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's the fourth week of Advent! For this Advent season, I'm sharing devotions first published in 2017. So far we've looked at <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/advent-2023-hope.html" target="_blank">hope</a>, <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/advent-2023-peace.html" target="_blank">peace</a>, and <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/advent-2023-joy.html" target="_blank">joy</a>. Today we'll take a look at love.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">____________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we love someone, we often sacrifice things for that person. Maybe we sacrifice time doing something we want to do in order to do something they want to do. Or maybe we don't buy something we want because we need that money in order to buy something they need or want.<br /><br />If you are a parent, you understand this concept of sacrifice quite well. For our kids we give up everything from nights of unbroken sleep to the keys to the car, depending on the age of our kids. We give up hours and hours of our time to help with homework or taxi them to the places they want to go. We buy them new jeans every couple of months because their legs just.won't.stop.growing and we can't have them walking around with their ankles showing.<br /><br />Now, just for a moment, think about what Jesus sacrificed in order to be born in Bethlehem. Paul wrote, "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7). Think about this for a moment: Jesus was not limited by a human body until he came to earth for us.<br /><br />Imagine what it would be like to never be limited by fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain or sickness. That is just part of what Jesus gave up to come here.<br /><br />I have been sick with a head cold all this past week. It has been driving me crazy because there are so many things I want or need to do, but I just haven't had the energy to do much. Then it hit me: Jesus probably suffered head colds while He was here.<br /><br />We don't often think about Him putting up with the problems caused by sickness, but I can't see how He would have avoided it for all of His 33 years.<br /><br />Sure, a head cold is a small thing to put up with. But Jesus left heaven, where there is no sickness, pain, death or crying, and came here to earth where He had to deal with all of those things.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Because He loves us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UgjfWd_i0jkiBWHMTz_jGJvO8hJeA8LK0M9wGUP1ItvMF0XBsBWt9G0gN5Ym6H2gkSSCJQzXnB1doEeSDTp5OlYqqhkRORBG-jqSo6cFFckGZoL8x8WgJ2TJ0lCabJm3URmGXAQCrcorIg_2OI38ByxExQ7hxg2eNAqtnnp_NwaLZCFxcygU41PEDnE/s1080/Advent%20-%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jesus loves you enough to give up all of heaven so He could come and save you | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UgjfWd_i0jkiBWHMTz_jGJvO8hJeA8LK0M9wGUP1ItvMF0XBsBWt9G0gN5Ym6H2gkSSCJQzXnB1doEeSDTp5OlYqqhkRORBG-jqSo6cFFckGZoL8x8WgJ2TJ0lCabJm3URmGXAQCrcorIg_2OI38ByxExQ7hxg2eNAqtnnp_NwaLZCFxcygU41PEDnE/w640-h640/Advent%20-%204.jpg" title="Jesus loves you enough to give up all of heaven so He could come and save you | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So in your worst moments, when you feel lonely or like no one cares, know this: Jesus loves you. He loves you enough to have given up all of heaven and to have taken on all the infirmities of these human bodies, just so He could come and save you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />That is the true reason for this Christmas season!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-63405887761968039062023-12-21T10:04:00.004-03:302023-12-21T10:06:14.881-03:302024 Goal Planning<div style="text-align: left;">It's that time of year again...time to look back to see how I did on my 2023 goals and look ahead to what I want to do in 2024. Yvonne, at Quilting Jetgirl, is holding her <a href="https://quiltingjetgirl.com/2023/12/15/2024quiltingplanningparty/" target="_blank">annual planning party</a> again this year, so you can write a post of your own and link it up there. The extra accountability of sharing goals publicly really helps with motivation!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy1QgjnNh5bg6RQDyElXCY3LCkK6fKwkZqlJVi74EyyxfkeKfTdoHHSOl2JjvcetaikJ_Ip1PgsFgVa9IJRnhUYt-wV44ZXkhN296BH5gdEA0vkUcDCSpYbcdtef6QI7j9Wj1VOk7n_NLC1gqfstMjsxrMts2E8fDsxs05sR3IJSbT97zK_FynHfK5Hs/s1080/2024QuiltingPlanningParty.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="2024 Quilting Planning Party" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCy1QgjnNh5bg6RQDyElXCY3LCkK6fKwkZqlJVi74EyyxfkeKfTdoHHSOl2JjvcetaikJ_Ip1PgsFgVa9IJRnhUYt-wV44ZXkhN296BH5gdEA0vkUcDCSpYbcdtef6QI7j9Wj1VOk7n_NLC1gqfstMjsxrMts2E8fDsxs05sR3IJSbT97zK_FynHfK5Hs/w320-h320/2024QuiltingPlanningParty.webp" title="2024 Quilting Planning Party" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, how did I do on my 2023 goals?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3>1. Keep making small quilts</h3><div><br /></div><div>In my mid-year review at the end of June, I said I had made 5 quilts that were baby size or smaller. Since then, I've made another 9 small quilts, for a total of 14 small quilts this year! Woo hoo! I think my two <a href="https://devotedquilter.etsy.com/ca/listing/1615164086/pdf-quilt-pattern-merry-mini" target="_blank">Merry Mini quilts</a> might be my favourites of them all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDLerhrojvCRsm0l91hoHKoLQZPSCdxSsWcwcuIdD-ua1JYDMlhfPsJ1OlPmcJUGekLWZjvtVvMXeKKhl7Dokt4j7_1EL8hDKoiJUa_kefxCgs-oQMhf_jNWuF_qL_vmuwNFGuD9uupvnLjEQ3Nyg4IhnaPLwz2xXpAf79olnf8Vpq5pFRJa34axiLxc/s1333/Merry%20Mini%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Merry Mini quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDLerhrojvCRsm0l91hoHKoLQZPSCdxSsWcwcuIdD-ua1JYDMlhfPsJ1OlPmcJUGekLWZjvtVvMXeKKhl7Dokt4j7_1EL8hDKoiJUa_kefxCgs-oQMhf_jNWuF_qL_vmuwNFGuD9uupvnLjEQ3Nyg4IhnaPLwz2xXpAf79olnf8Vpq5pFRJa34axiLxc/w480-h640/Merry%20Mini%202.jpg" title="Merry Mini quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><h3>2. Make new placemats</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Oops. I still haven't done this.</div><div><br /></div><div><h3>3. Learn to sew pants</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Nope. In fact, I don't think I made any clothes at all this year.</div><div><br /></div><div><h3>4. Release 4 new patterns</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Close! I added three new patterns to my shop this year. They were the <a href="https://devotedquilter.etsy.com/ca/listing/1615164086/pdf-quilt-pattern-merry-mini" target="_blank">Merry Mini pattern</a>, plus <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DevotedQuilter?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&search_query=scrappy+playground" target="_blank">Scrappy Playground</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGgbZey2PrtgiSQfLxDDYVqIHTbfOUHmJRXTDnY44-ZXgggZ8KR7tbHA-03z9wzOfkwAdkhlPcOsNlzgJfPfvObdRPdoWU5qJP56WlIdjQYpq0FwayIcJAu288B3UyOud_JEoRCj3G_AUkPj55voaernNO5Xuix_ZK5eW3t4tiTojz4IdROtlFkFzLL8/s1185/Scrappy%20Playground%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scrappy Playground quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGgbZey2PrtgiSQfLxDDYVqIHTbfOUHmJRXTDnY44-ZXgggZ8KR7tbHA-03z9wzOfkwAdkhlPcOsNlzgJfPfvObdRPdoWU5qJP56WlIdjQYpq0FwayIcJAu288B3UyOud_JEoRCj3G_AUkPj55voaernNO5Xuix_ZK5eW3t4tiTojz4IdROtlFkFzLL8/w540-h640/Scrappy%20Playground%201.jpg" title="Scrappy Playground quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="540" /></a></div><div>and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DevotedQuilter?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&search_query=scrappy+playground" target="_blank">Illusion</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMYgW8wbYOkVF1TzKVzB2Zh6SfKIvVQtJqfIE9hof8PNDvUQYkXrplKOlvhdUISzEWu6qfpWJG3twCr0HVTEjx0nCZz7hHrM-gI0iFr9UGxW7RwlPU0Dz-IJJnt-5pdGETlF6YERvebHut6aEhxmndg_bJ-4-EEGCV0c5VV6LFzmQyDbXJPmvQ-Y4GU0/s1156/Illusion%2011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Illusion quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMYgW8wbYOkVF1TzKVzB2Zh6SfKIvVQtJqfIE9hof8PNDvUQYkXrplKOlvhdUISzEWu6qfpWJG3twCr0HVTEjx0nCZz7hHrM-gI0iFr9UGxW7RwlPU0Dz-IJJnt-5pdGETlF6YERvebHut6aEhxmndg_bJ-4-EEGCV0c5VV6LFzmQyDbXJPmvQ-Y4GU0/w554-h640/Illusion%2011.jpg" title="Illusion quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="554" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>5. Women of Wisdom Easter QAL</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, and it was one of the highlights of my year! I love connecting with you over a quilt and devotions as we get ready to celebrate Easter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90UJKK0KOtDBURHyfj7_Pn3R2eAceiDb3xxFNUXboKP6I8hY_dyA2vctCT8AR17wbU5aAT0AxWf6hGC8Z0SrW-sLb_X9T1KZu1afusWG-KCNN4Np8GYBKms3GamPHWejC_k-wG_iUjx9gEljpTTTBIHYyjSDtI0ff136C6KaNUty2Si1vDct030FLlDM/s1024/Women%20of%20Wisdom%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Women of Wisdom QAL | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90UJKK0KOtDBURHyfj7_Pn3R2eAceiDb3xxFNUXboKP6I8hY_dyA2vctCT8AR17wbU5aAT0AxWf6hGC8Z0SrW-sLb_X9T1KZu1afusWG-KCNN4Np8GYBKms3GamPHWejC_k-wG_iUjx9gEljpTTTBIHYyjSDtI0ff136C6KaNUty2Si1vDct030FLlDM/w626-h640/Women%20of%20Wisdom%201.jpg" title="Women of Wisdom QAL | DevotedQuilter.com" width="626" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>6. WIPS-B-GONE 2023</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes! We wrapped up the third annual challenge at the end of November. There were soooo many great finishes again this year! I had three finishes, one of which I still haven't blogged. The other two were my <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/11/proverbs-3113-mini-quilt.html" target="_blank">Proverbs 31 mini</a> and my <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/tilted-flowers-baby-quilt-finished.html" target="_blank">Tilted Flowers baby quilt</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AawfG7nCQRB_LDoDVzsb4pgaCe2dljecI0-JriWvnLamgvTf67ZIMxtq0BwDND3ultgg-srRZTRzrPDlHfx_Q5eHgnuqEhLMbLI0vr3hTAgEQY-g_wwxY9Y_0VPkRlHUnMO8h_1IiRLcfP4HogA42m8ZSKLdm4VSpYdmKaUhqE0xfiJekRXMdK031ZM/s1014/Tilted%20Flowers%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tilted Flowers quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AawfG7nCQRB_LDoDVzsb4pgaCe2dljecI0-JriWvnLamgvTf67ZIMxtq0BwDND3ultgg-srRZTRzrPDlHfx_Q5eHgnuqEhLMbLI0vr3hTAgEQY-g_wwxY9Y_0VPkRlHUnMO8h_1IiRLcfP4HogA42m8ZSKLdm4VSpYdmKaUhqE0xfiJekRXMdK031ZM/w632-h640/Tilted%20Flowers%201.jpg" title="Tilted Flowers quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="632" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>7. A secret project</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>The secret is out, and the Stash Artists membership opened its doors for the first time in June! Sewing over Zoom with members has been wonderful, and I've shared four stash-friendly patterns in the membership so far, including <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/10/tgiff-scraps-take-flight.html" target="_blank">Scraps Take Flight</a>. If you'd like to be notified when the Stash Artists doors are open again, <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/stashartistswaitlist" target="_blank">join the waitlist here now</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sSQ6caLsEf3SK5Hz7whVbDJVNGTLup9mjblSbqoaXREwKurg8d6TnQ2VcHP-6Ctd1dFqG79fz_4BSEQSMOoevHvtufbIZNgayoGpT6nvb03s9Yupq1SWUL6hG5X9ocoGE_aEPq0xfSngaUS2bJOxjsTZzevZ4UHC_zk2PNGAkof_RFgR2KM-m5jz6iA/s1117/Scraps%20Take%20Flight%20quilt%20folded.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scraps Take Flight quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sSQ6caLsEf3SK5Hz7whVbDJVNGTLup9mjblSbqoaXREwKurg8d6TnQ2VcHP-6Ctd1dFqG79fz_4BSEQSMOoevHvtufbIZNgayoGpT6nvb03s9Yupq1SWUL6hG5X9ocoGE_aEPq0xfSngaUS2bJOxjsTZzevZ4UHC_zk2PNGAkof_RFgR2KM-m5jz6iA/w572-h640/Scraps%20Take%20Flight%20quilt%20folded.jpg" title="Scraps Take Flight quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="572" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I'm very happy with how I did on my goals this year. Of course, I'm always thinking about the next quilts I want to make, so I have no shortage of things planned for 2024. Here are the goals I'm setting for the coming year.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. Keep making small quilts</h3><div><br /></div><div>Using up those smaller scraps of batting feels great, plus small quilts are fun to make. Maybe a set of placemats will finally make an appearance, too.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Sew some clothes</h3><div><br /></div><div>I love wearing the clothes I've made, but some of them are starting to look worn, so it's definitely time to make new ones! I have the patterns and the fabric, I just have to pause the quilt making sometimes to make the switch to garment sewing. As a bonus, making clothes is much faster than making quilts. Well, that's true once I get the fit right at least. I'm not setting any specific goals for what I'll make, just that I will make clothes throughout the year. Will I attempt making pants? Your guess is as good as mine 😂</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Moments with Jesus Easter QAL</h3><div><br /></div><div>Of course there will be a 2024 Easter QAL! The quilt is designed, and I'm planning to make the test version over the Christmas break. This year the devotions will focus on the stories of people who interacted with Jesus, and what their moments with Him then can teach us about our moments with Him now. <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/easterqal2024" target="_blank">Join the waitlist now</a> to be sure you don't miss it when registration opens in mid-January! Here's a sneak peek at part of the quilt design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zH1UM9UOp4OHabDRwgEiKI0Mgc_Ihy7daXm61FmAeKgXxoURY68weEMHFHrWrrP0YZPUOI-6ZdOZfd8l9NpJe_8Fdh0VYXhO0eJLi3Vd5NCXDsguxin-6V3bS5ZTwK6l6e5IY80bH4_RxV0rtNvK0MKs-NjkoO3HcaZEN9YZkX1h2hKXjvXb5uB7cYo/s1000/Sneak%20peek%20at%20Easter%20QAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Easter 2024 QAL sneak peek | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="1000" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zH1UM9UOp4OHabDRwgEiKI0Mgc_Ihy7daXm61FmAeKgXxoURY68weEMHFHrWrrP0YZPUOI-6ZdOZfd8l9NpJe_8Fdh0VYXhO0eJLi3Vd5NCXDsguxin-6V3bS5ZTwK6l6e5IY80bH4_RxV0rtNvK0MKs-NjkoO3HcaZEN9YZkX1h2hKXjvXb5uB7cYo/w640-h120/Sneak%20peek%20at%20Easter%20QAL.jpg" title="Easter 2024 QAL sneak peek | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. All things Stash Artists</h3><div><br /></div><div>In 2024 there will be 6 new Stash Artists patterns (the first one is almost ready for its January 1st release!) and 6 Sew Together Sessions. I can't wait to spend the year sewing with members and making scrappy quilts together! Here's a little sneak peek at the January pattern, Blooming Beautiful, and yes, I did use all those threads - and more! Remember, you can <a href="https://devotedquilter.myflodesk.com/stashartistswaitlist" target="_blank">join the waitlist</a> so you don't miss it when the doors are open next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHvy7Xk_eb1vMi-V3nCqQNR6wANP2rerwYkeXz9kHLzBvU7eLEb_97FzUTZ8sP4Va2qidjBnd48lXfK-7elen69jD4AihjPoZzMdCOeSAUqfXyaLM7fht8Z1BFzmN7gX0IRl88TrN2jzCxfcvTcQzL0lDynDJ2p2qe3x2NgHnUpGgjhTGDJPzX5Pe0LM/s1000/Sneak%20peek%20at%20Blooming%20Beautiful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sneak peek at Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1000" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHvy7Xk_eb1vMi-V3nCqQNR6wANP2rerwYkeXz9kHLzBvU7eLEb_97FzUTZ8sP4Va2qidjBnd48lXfK-7elen69jD4AihjPoZzMdCOeSAUqfXyaLM7fht8Z1BFzmN7gX0IRl88TrN2jzCxfcvTcQzL0lDynDJ2p2qe3x2NgHnUpGgjhTGDJPzX5Pe0LM/w640-h530/Sneak%20peek%20at%20Blooming%20Beautiful.jpg" title="Sneak peek at Blooming Beautiful quilt pattern | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. WIPS-B-GONE 2024</h3><div><br /></div><div>This is just a given at this point. I love connecting with the people who participate in the challenge, and I love putting the focus on my own WIPS for two months.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">6. Finish my Hexie Rainbow top</h3><div><br /></div><div>I started my Hexie Rainbow in 2016, and here's what it looks like right now. It's about 63" wide and 71" long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuHgwHyR-eTBlhyphenhyphenIfD9pmuNQGpUb0A0k3SbGV4CskTw2WnRFSwCpgmrdi8RxrBwVXB2_oeEohLHpIdh_7VU1dvp2m98iSly7XZq1tFH7un5Z9sVoRGRknCi5efyP9mqF5XTwp-9I7cX2t5YvqBKzeU86Txq4bvxwJyh6CwpDXu4lhF-dUj12iDP6myWc/s1000/Hexie%20Rainbow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hexie Rainbow quilt progress | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1000" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuHgwHyR-eTBlhyphenhyphenIfD9pmuNQGpUb0A0k3SbGV4CskTw2WnRFSwCpgmrdi8RxrBwVXB2_oeEohLHpIdh_7VU1dvp2m98iSly7XZq1tFH7un5Z9sVoRGRknCi5efyP9mqF5XTwp-9I7cX2t5YvqBKzeU86Txq4bvxwJyh6CwpDXu4lhF-dUj12iDP6myWc/w640-h630/Hexie%20Rainbow.jpg" title="Hexie Rainbow quilt progress | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>The bottom right corner is finished, and I'm working on squaring up the bottom left corner. There are still hundreds of hexies to go, but I think it's within the realm of possibility that I'll have the top finished in 2024. Then I have to decide if I'm doing big stitch hand quilting or machine quilting. Right now I'm most tempted by the hand quilting, but we'll see what I'm tempted by when I actually get to that point.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Regular workouts and 300,000 steps a month</h3><div><br /></div><div>I definitely feel better when I move more, so I'm making that an official goal for 2024. I've been trying to get 300,000 steps a month for a few years (an average of 10,000 a day), but not hitting it as often as I would like in 2022 and 2023. Time to step up the commitment (see what I did there? 😉😅). As for the workouts, I've been enjoying Yoga with Adriene and Nourish Move Love's strength training workouts, both on Youtube. For 2024, I want to do 2-3 Youtube workouts per week, and since they're usually 20-30 minutes each, that should be doable. With the walking that will be needed to reach 300,000 steps a month, that will have me enjoying some kind of physical activity most days.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One thing's for sure: I won't be bored in 2024! What are you hoping to accomplish in the next year? Do you set goals, or do you just follow your interests in the moment?</div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3647398646594937688.post-12902590120767462192023-12-18T07:00:00.001-03:302023-12-18T07:00:00.144-03:30Advent 2023 - Joy<div style="text-align: left;">Devotion for the week...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's the third week of Advent! For this Advent season, I'm sharing devotions first published in 2017. So far we've looked at <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/advent-2023-hope.html" target="_blank">hope</a> and <a href="https://www.devotedquilter.com/2023/12/advent-2023-peace.html" target="_blank">peace</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">______________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we are looking at the joy we have because of Jesus.<br /><br />I want to start by saying that joy is not the same as being happy all the time. No one can be happy all the time. There are seasons of grief and trouble in life and there is no way to avoid them, as much as we would like to. Joy sits deeper than happiness, below our circumstances and it isn't affected by what is going on around us.<br /><br />When I was thinking about what to write for today, I kept thinking about the old hymn "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHe_qmo3gX4">It Is Well With My Soul."</a> The first verse says:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,</div><div style="text-align: center;">When sorrows like sea billows roll;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is well, it is well with my soul.</div><div><br /></div><div>The part that really resonates with me is "Whatever my lot." Whatever comes my way in life, whether it is good or bad, it is always well with my soul. </div><div><br /></div><div>Why is it well with my soul through everything? Because of Jesus! Because of His sacrifice for my sins, I know that, no matter what happens to me, God's grace covers me and I will spend eternity in heaven with Him.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is the source of our joy. Even when we're grieving the loss of a loved one, or dealing with a diagnosis that has us reeling, we can know that we are secure in Jesus. That doesn't mean we won't cry in our grief, and it doesn't mean the diagnosis won't scare us, but it does mean that even in the midst of those things we can have joy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Independent of our circumstances, our joy comes from Jesus. This is really important for us to understand. If we only associate joy with being happy, then we'll assume we can only have joy when things are going our way. But if joy is something deeper, if it is caused by the security we have spiritually because of Jesus, then our joy can be our strength through those hard seasons.</div><div><br /></div><div>When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T-uCrUjtygU1WjqTEtC0NTxalu9tmOR6WaoI0xv942Tw6EAP4npdIkzUqRPhuz7wRwmMxHKT8-wQwRsy1sP15Zhp3MxIO_iZnHD-hpJUJkdJnczWHpnzoeJb5bilXaPeqHzha28mPtGjN7WvuxAzvCIP10262VKQTIkYNIhhlr5pGddHudTobdcx8LA/s1080/Advent%20-%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="We have joy through Jesus because it is well with our souls | DevotedQuilter.com" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T-uCrUjtygU1WjqTEtC0NTxalu9tmOR6WaoI0xv942Tw6EAP4npdIkzUqRPhuz7wRwmMxHKT8-wQwRsy1sP15Zhp3MxIO_iZnHD-hpJUJkdJnczWHpnzoeJb5bilXaPeqHzha28mPtGjN7WvuxAzvCIP10262VKQTIkYNIhhlr5pGddHudTobdcx8LA/w640-h640/Advent%20-%203.jpg" title="We have joy through Jesus because it is well with our souls | DevotedQuilter.com" width="640" /></a></div><div>The news didn't cause great joy for all the people because their circumstances were suddenly and forever made perfect so they'd never have trouble again in their lives. Not even close. The angel proclaimed great joy for all the people because of the birth of Jesus. Because He had come into the world to bring us back into relationship with God and set us free from sin.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever our circumstances this Advent season, we have joy through Jesus because it is well with our souls.</div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">This post was originally published on Devoted Quilter. If you are seeing this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.</div>Leanne Parsonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07944797294783593234noreply@blogger.com1