Thinking of you....

Just quick "HELLO" to let you know that I may be absent from my blog for awhile as I am having a 3 level spinal fusion surgery this coming Thursday!  Each and every prayer whispered for me is so appreciated.
These lyrics have been floating through my mind so often as this is a song I learned as a young girl.  Alison Kraus sings it so beautifully........

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said;
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what lies ahead

(chorus)
Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb; ev'ry burden's getting lighter,
Ev'ry cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow, Where the mountains touch the sky.

 {written in 1950 by a traveling preacher named Ara Stanphill}

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand!!!

My husband captured this photo of me today so I share it with you as I am delighted that I have the blessings of life and love!
May you know the hand that holds yours through ALL of life's up and downs!!
Joyfully.....~Sandie

Rag Quilt For My Grandbaby, Harrison

What a delight to cut, piece and stitch this rag quilt for my new grandson, Harrison!  His mama and papa  helped to choose the patterns and colors of the high quality flannel.  Each square has three layers of flannel which makes the quilt ever so soft and cozy!

Many pieces were stitched together to form the larger squares.
 

 

 This photo shows the front side of seams before laundering frays them.
In the following photo the reverse smooth side is displayed.

The seams were then clipped at 1/4 inch intervals, being careful not to cut through the stitching!

After being laundered just once the seams have frayed quite well giving the front side ruffled looking frames.

The quilt bears a label I designed, printed on the computer, then added just a bit of embroidered French knots before being handstitched to the quilt with a small bordering frame.

This GRANDMA is excited to share this captured image of Harrison!   He melted my heart with this expression while I was holding him!!! 

Mama and Papa are so delighted to have Harrison in their lives!  This photo from Easter morning warms  my heart.  It is my heart's desire that Harrison grows up in the knowledge that his family loves him and more so that God loves him!
How grateful we are that his mama had a healthy pregnancy and a safe birthing.  His Papa is so loving and caring.  What wonderful parents!
We are all so blessed!!

How grateful this GRANDMA'S heart is for so many fabulous blessings!

Please know that if I am absent that I must spend time with this precious gift from above before my spinal surgery date!!  It may be a while before I can hold him afterwards.

With hopes that your Easter was touched with Christ's priceless love and grace!  Because He arose from the dead we are able to have LIFE and live it more abundantly!  Live your life in a most ABUNDANTLY joyful way, my friends!      ~Sandie

Baby Harrison Has Made Me A Most Happy Grandma!!

Baby Harrison is the newest addition to our family!  What a little sweetheart!
His Mama and Papa are so pleased to have their wee babe with them since 11:31 this morning.  He weighed in at 7lb &1oz, with a length of 21 inches.  He is beautifully formed!  How blessed we are.  THANK YOU, Lord, for your loving kindness and goodness to us.  May Harrison grow up to love and serve you with a grateful heart.


More photos to come as I get to know my wee grandson better!
Soon I will share photos of the quilt I made for him.
Joyful blessings on your new week ahead, dear followers.....
Sandie (OH!! That's GRANDMA Sandie!!  smile)

Baby Shower For Mich & my son, Isaac

How fun it was to make this baby shower invitation for our celebration of Mich, Isaac and their soon-to-be-born baby boy!

(Click On Photos For Larger Image)

This past Saturday I welcomed the guests to the baby shower for my son and his wife in expectation of their new wee babe!  HOW VERY EXCITED I AM TO BECOME A GRANDMA!!  OH YAY!!

I used this arrangement as a focal point on my dining room table as  I featured a  brunch buffet.

So fun to use soft Spring infused colors along with the lacy parasol!

Here I am with the soon-to-be-parents ~

my sweet son, Isaac, and his lovely wife, Mich.

Along with the many useful gifts they received it was so fun to give Isaac this 

"motorcycle"!! 

"See you later..." it says!

This motorcycle is "built" from diapers, soft receiving blankets, bibs, baby socks, and a baby bottle!  So CUTE!!  Found very helpful instructions by Erica (Icky) on her blog http://ickymadeit.blogspot.com. My son is already riding his motorcycle here in Minnesota this month!   No complaints though, unless we totally miss Spring!

This cuddly little bear needed a new label on his overalls, so I tea dyed a piece of muslin and simply stitched it onto the bib area.  Worked well!


Life seems to have picked up the pace for me lately so I have not had the time to post.  A fun happening was to have my family surprise me with a party to celebrate my 60th birthday!  How grateful I am for family.

Also, my thoughts have been distracted by an upcoming event that has me calling on my Lord daily for encouragement.  In all my years I have never had to have surgery performed on my body, but now I find it shadowing my days.  To me it is a major development that has set me aside from a job I so enjoy, and activities that add to my life, and I find that my thoughts get easily distracted.   I guess it's just the fear of the unknown.  Therein comes to mind these Bible verses...
Isaiah 12:1-3  Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

Psalm 139:1-4  "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."

John 14:1  "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.

Proverbs 3:5-6  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."  (My LIFE'S verse!)

Along with God reaching out to me through other people, that he sends my way to encourage me, I can't help but feel HIS presence!  OH MY!!  God is so good!
Sweet blessings on your daily moments......~Sandie


 

My Very First Card Submission!!!

(Click On Photos For A Larger View)

How EXCITED I am that I was able to participate in Rochester Scrapbooking Company's First Mojo Monday Design based on Julee Tilman's blog mojomonday.blogspot.com. This being my first card submission I am so happy that I was able to accomplish this in just a couple of hours with supplies I had on hand. The kraft-colored round scalloped card base was provided free by RSC and I layered the remaining items from my "stash"!

My background papers: My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 6x6 pad

The angel "postage stamp": Kaisercraft "Sweet Nothings"

Bias Tape Ribbon: My own coloring with Tim Holtz Distress Inks ~ Fired Brick & Vintage Photo

For my flower I used 8 scalloped punch layers of ivory cardstock spritzed with Tattered Angel's

Coral Reef & Burnt Red Glimmer Mist

The punched scalloped oval leaves were colored with Olive Vine Glimmer Mist

& highlighted with Crushed Olive Distress Ink

The small tag was stamped with Stampin' Up! Botanicals script

My beaded embellishment came from my stash.

The leaf vine ribbon is from May Arts(I think)

What a fun way to celebrate my birthday ~ being among creative friends!

Weekend blessings to each of you.........~Sandie

Sapphire Gold Hoop Earrings

Here in Southeastern Minnesota we are delighted today with the sunshine that is radiating more warmth and the billowy white clouds floating lazily across an azure sky!  The wind is a bit brisk, but invigorating if properly dressed.
OH JOY!!  We are one day closer to SPRING!!  My heart thrills to know that God has deemed there to be seasons that come one after the other!  Just as "seasons" come to be in our lives.  There is always a possibility of change for the better when one's outlook might look dismal!  Does that not give you HOPE??





Needing a gift for a friend a few months ago I used one of my favorite earring patterns.  This design can be changed depending on the size of the hoop you like, the color of the center beads along with the smaller side beads.   I used 8mm round sapphire Swarovski crystals, 14k gold filled 20g& 22g wires along with the 3mm round gold plated beads.
What fun to use the printed muslin bag, that I purchased from a local artist ~Joan Herzog ~ for my gift wrap.  Joan was a delightful person to meet while we were attending the Lanesboro, MN  "Art In the Park"  Craft Fair this past summer.
Carry On and CREATE!      ~Sandie  

Sweet Valentine Blessings

What a delight to think of all the family and friends that have blessed my life with their love and kindness!
I wish I had a song to add here, but just imagine the sweet little bird singing to you to brighten your day and let you know that you are loved...WITH ALL MY HEART!

This is a tag card I made awhile back, but I do remember that I used Crafty Secrets Cotton Scraps for the center.  The background paper is from K & Co with my own bias tape dyed with Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress Ink.  The golden feather is from my own chickens!  The stamped sentiment is from Studio G. 

Hope you have a sweet and happy Valentines Day with those you love!
~Sandie