Songs of Faith: This Little Light of Mine

 Written for children in the 1920's by Harry Dixon Loes.  

Straw Art in Mt Morris

 I was in Mt Morris for a funeral last week.  We were surprised to find this wonderful display in town!

Songs of Faith: Jesus Loves Me

 The poem was written by Anna B. Warren in 1859 to comfort a dying child. In 1862 William Bradbury put the song to music.  Very soon, Jesus Loves Me became the first hymn taught by missionaries to converts and became the first hymn learned in Sunday School by little children across the world.

Something totally different!

 Last spring I ordered a paint by numbers kit for my niece and one for me!  My thought was that we would work on them together. That hasn't happened.  She got a job for the summer and then a boyfriend and now my sweet niece has no time for me. 😞

I took my supplies to my mom's and have decided that each time I spend the night, I will work on my masterpiece!  It is nice to work on something that I don't have to think about what I am doing.

Natural dyeing: coreopsis

 I am thrilled with the colours I am getting from the Dyer's Coreopsis that I grew this year.  I only planted one small packet of seeds and have already added more to my order list for next year!

Songs of Faith: This is my Father's World

 The actual assigned song/block was, "I'll Fly Away".  I hate to admit it, but it is not a song I am familiar with, so I changed it. 

This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

The poem, My Father's World, was written in 1901 by Rev. Maltbie Davenport Babcock from New York.

Songs of Faith: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

 Henry Van Dyke wrote this poem in 1907, reminding us to stop and smell the roses and to take time to find joy in each day.

Songs of Faith: Just As I Am

 The altar call song for the Billie Graham crusades, this song was written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835.  The night before a church bazaar fundraising event, Charlotte was unable to sleep, wondering if she was worthy of God's love and His saving grace.  Her thoughts were written and continue to comfort so many years later.

Songs of Faith: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

 Block 3:  What a Friend We Have in Jesus

The poem of comfort was written by Preacher Joseph Scriven in 1855 for his mother.  Scriven lived a tragic life.  On the eve of his wedding, his fiance drowned.  Difficult family relations drove him from his homeland (Ireland) to Canada where he met Eliza Roche. Soon they were engaged to be married, but Eliza fell sick and died shortly before their marriage. I can understand why he suffered from depression.

Songs of Faith: Holy, Holy, Holy

 This is the block as assigned:

I'm doing a small block for each week, as well as a slightly larger.  It is time to decide how to pull this quilt together.  Just waiting for a light bulb moment!

August Mandalas

 I had a little time to play before lunch today...

VanGogh: Graphing it out

I don't always design on paper when building a quilt, but this time since I'm a little nervous about the quantities of fabric, I'm planning more.  I certainly don't want to do any more ripping!

Anytime I pull out a pad of graph paper, it reminds me of my dad.  He was an engineer and always had plenty of graph paper, in many sizes, on hand.  As a child I would enjoy using a piece and colouring in the squares with crayons or colored pencils. Fond memories.

I was thinking about construction when I drew columns on the paper.  My blocks are approximately 7" wide, so my columns represent 7 inches also:

Using our "rule of thirds", the last placement is the one I will go with (today).  

Next to play with some of the larger blocks, adding them in a pleasing design.  I have more of the VanGogh selfies if I need additional large blocks to break up the mosaic background I have in mind. For now I need to let it rest a few days, as this is (1) how I like to work on designs, and (2) the tomatoes are overtaking my kitchen counters.