Framing Inspiration

I love old frames.

I found this one at an antique shop a few years ago.

It's been sitting empty the whole time.

It's a smaller frame measuring about 4"x6".

I have many projects lined up to be done and this was one of them.

But what to put inside it???

My problem is I think too much about things

 and then of course nothing gets done. (...Sigh...)

I've been thinking about the hymn. "It is Well with my Soul",

and I need to see that reminder everyday.

So today I made it. Yeah!!

I used Pic Monkey and went to the Design and chose 4x6.

 I then cropped it to 4x5 under "no fixed proportions".

I went to the Text for my letter styling.

I chose a thinner font because I would be copying it onto fabric to stitch.

I saved it and then printed it.

 

I chose a piece of cardstock that I thought would look nice

 as a background for the stitchery.

It is almost the right size.

 I love these booklets of cardstock because there are

 so many projects you can do with these.

This is what it looks like inside the frame.

I found a scrap piece of osnaburg to stitch on (could use muslin)

and flannel as a backing. (I did iron them!)

I taped the osnaburg over the words, held it up to a window

and traced the letters with an erasable or dissolving marker.

It helps to put the fabric in an embroidery hoop for stability but you don't have to.



I used the backstitch to stitch the words.

 You can find out how to do that by googling it,

 but you come up from the bottom side of the fabric and then down again.

When you get to the curves of your letters your stitches will be a bit smaller.

This is what the back will look like when you are done.

 I like to have a backing so that I can weave the ends of my threads

 in and out and you don't see the line of threads on the front side.

Now to decide on a piece of lace. I love lace! This looks OK, but not too sure.

This looks cute too. It kinda matches the design on the cardstock

and it lightens things up a bit.

A piece on the top as well as the bottom.

I just used a thin line of glue to the cardstock.

Here is the finished product. What do you think?

The edges of the fabric were pulled apart to give it an unfinished look.

It's a reminder to me that in life there will always be rough patches,

but in the midst of everything

we can say as the writer of this hymn did,

"It is well with My Soul".



The colours work well here. I was going to put in on my dresser.

Is it well with your soul?

I'm going to be sharing the story behind this hymn with the ladies tomorrow night.

I made cards for each of the ladies using Pic Monkey

 and printed out four at a time on perforated cardstock

 and wrote out the hymn for them on the backside.

I wanted them to know that while they are struggling to deal with their addictions,

 that whenever they saw this card

they would be reminded that, "It is Well with My Soul".

I also made Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins for snack time

 while I have devotions with them. But I'll share the recipe another day!

 

Blessings, Diane 

 

Sharing this at:

Project Inspire(d) at An Extraordinary Day, Cupcakes & Crinoline,

Yesterday on Tuesday, The Silly Pearl

 Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

 Give Me the Goods Monday at Maison de Pax

Inspire me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

 You're Gonna Love it Tuesday at Kathe with an E

We call it Junkin

Treasure Box Tuesday at Memories by the Mile and Yesterfood

 Adorned from Above

Work it Wednesday at Savy Southern Style

Wow Us Wednesday

Create it Thursday at Lamberts Lately

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Beyond the Picket Fence

 Embracing Change

The Charm of Home

Jennifer Rizzo

 

Hans Brinker and the Canadian Olympics

It's been awhile since I've posted.

Not that I didn't want to.

I haven't had the time or the energy.

It's a good thing I don't make money doing this!

While I enjoy it, it is time consuming.

 

 I've been busy working, keeping up with family duties, volunteering,

and watching the Olympics.

Go Canada!!

 

How about our Canadian Women's Hockey Team eh?

So proud of them!

All of Canada is eagerly awaiting Sunday morning for the men's hockey team against Sweden.

Alarm clocks are set for 6:30 am to be awake when the puck hits the ice.

The only time I watch sports is during the Olympics or FIFA which is coming up soon.

There is something special when nations come together to compete and root for their teams.

Besides Canada, I also root for the Netherlands, home country to my parents.

They have dominated the Speed Skating sport this year.

 

The Dutch have always been known for their love of skating.

There were and are so many canals that skating is easily accessible.(When it freezes!)

This is an antique picture of a pair of skates. They were tied onto the shoes or boots they were wearing.

This is how my parents skated when they were young.



 

Vintage picture of a Dutch couple skating arm in arm. (and one on his tush)

This reminds me of the story of Hans Brinker.

I found a copy of the book in an antique store a few years ago,

and being Dutch, I had to get it.

 

 

There is no copyright date in this book, but was probably in the 1930's.

 The first book was published in 1865. (Sorry for the glare)

The pages are nice and dark and stained and smell old.

I had to chuckle when I read the first few lines of this chapter.

 

We've lost some of our snow with the rain and sunshine.

Looking so forward to Spring!

 

Blessings to you!

Diane

 



Thoughts of Heaven

Today while driving to work I was listening to a CD by Mercy Me.

When the song, "I Can Only Imagine", came on

I turned up the volume and put it on repeat so I could hear it over and over.

 

Over the years I have often pondered what that day would be like.

The words to this song expresses what my thoughts have been.

The day that I see Jesus face to face and walk by His side.

How would I respond?

Probably like I do here when I think about it.

Tears rolling down my face, unable to speak.

 

I have a son from a miscarriage that I am so looking forward to seeing.

I have read and heard many people share their story of visiting heaven.

I can never read or hear enough about it.

There is a  movie coming out shortly about a little boy who went to heaven.

I'm sure many of you have already read the book, "Heaven Is For Real".

I heard his story and cried, especially when he tells his mother about his other sister.

Here is the trailer to the movie.

 There is a mansion waiting for us designed to our liking!

That's how much God cares about what your tastes are!!

How cool is that?!!

 

There are places to go and many people to meet.

I don't think that I have a specific person from the Bible that I would like to talk to, because I would like to meet them all.

Each person had a unique purpose.

Just like us!

 

While I look forward to that day, I am quite willing to wait a little longer.

A glimpse sure would be nice though!

So for now I will purpose in my heart to view my life here and the people I meet in the light of eternity.

 

What a wonderful day that will be!

 

Do you ever think about heaven?
I hope I get to see you there!

Blessings, Diane

Sharing this at:
Grace-at-home at Imparting Grace

Being Neighbourly and Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

We got more snow today.

A lot more snow!

I left for work but turned around.

Had a SNOW DAY!

 

 I saw the neighbour lady shovelling her driveway so I went out to help her.

We've lived here almost 10 years.

When we first moved here we talked quite a bit.

Then a couple of years in there was an "incident".

 It was not my son's fault but he got the brunt of it.

 A couple of years later, she needed help with something and asked Doug if he would assist.

 Of course he went and helped.

Bit by bit she would wave when waved to first.

 

I knew she had a few health issues so got my winter paraphernalia on and helped her shovel.

She told me she was wearing a heart monitor and was supposed to return it today.

 I advised her to bring it back another day and to go back in the house and I would finish for her.

She asked me what my name was, introduced herself, and gave me a hug.

That was the highlight of my day.

Later two guys came with their snow blower and cleaned out her lane and walkway!!!!

 

When I was considering if I should go out and help, God reminded me of the verse by John Wesley

An hour after I came in from shovelling, a car was spinning its tires for 10-15 minutes.

I called my son to get dressed cause we were going out to help.

After some shovelling, again, putting some salt around the front tires, and a third person coming to help we got the poor guy out.

"Do all the good you can!"

 

All that shovelling creates a hearty appetite!

And a hearty appetite calls for meatloaf and mashed potatoes!

The church that I belonged to before I got married had put a cookbook together.

In it was a recipe for Sweet and Sour Meatloaf from our Pastor's wife.

It is one of our favourites!

 

Here is the recipe along with the pictures.

 

Mix 1 & 1/2 lbs. of hamburger

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

I add a couple of teaspoons of Montreal Steak Spice and some Italian seasoning

1/2 tin of Tomato Soup

 

Form into shape and put in corning ware dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60  minutes

A few minutes before the meatloaf is ready, prepare the sauce.

1/2 tin of Tomato soup (the other half)

2 Tablespoons of brown sugar

1/2 cup of white sugar

2 Tablespoons of vinegar

2 teaspoons of dry mustard

Mix together in a small saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring.

Pour over the meatloaf and cook for another 10 minutes.

It turns out so moist. You might need a spoon after you slice it to scoop it up as well as some of the sauce.

It is so good with mashed potatoes and a vegetable.

Definitely a delicious and hearty meal after a good workout of snow shovelling!

 

If you're surrounded by that cold white stuff drive carefully and remember, Spring is around the corner!

Looks just like a blanket doesn't it?

 

Blessings, Diane

Sharing this post at:

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop with Katharines Corner, Over 50 Feeling 40, Vintage Mama
Home andGarden Thursday  at A Delightsome Life
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
Grace at Home at Imparting Grace
Be Inspired at Common Ground