Monthly Archives: February 2010

Faith & Inspiration

“Wisdom”

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Another installment of “101 Prayers and Promises for Busy Women”

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Prov 2:1-8
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
NIV

Do you hear the word “wisdom” used much in day-to-day conversations?  I don’t hear it as much as I would like to.  The book of Proverbs is a book filled with portraits of both wisdom and foolishness.  The Hebrew style was to use illustrations of both good and evil, to teach from.  We need to be able to recognize both wisdom and foolishness in order to be successful in leading the life God wants us to have.  Sadly, much of what passes in our world today as “wisdom” could be better classified as foolishness!

God is wisdom.  God loves wisdom and loves to share His wisdom with us.  In fact He tells us in James 1:5-6  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (or her!) NIV

He has built a world that functions around principles that cannot be violated without consequence.  Those principles are wise.  Following those principles lead to wise decisions that in turn lead to a successful life.  Ignoring those principles can often lead to great heartache and pain.  When we make foolish decisions we complicate our lives and make everything more difficult.  Can you think of one or two foolish decisions that you wish you could make all over again?  I sure can!

Rather than giving in to regret and depression when you think of them, try talking to God about them and asking Him to set you free from their consequences and restore wisdom to its rightful place in your life.  You might be AMAZED at how eager the Lord is to answer that prayer.

Thinking about your past decisions is a great place to begin if you are crying out for a lifting of your burden of busy-ness.  Usually there are decisions at the core of life’s getting out of control.  Cry out to the Lord for wisdom.  Tell him honestly where you have been foolish and made foolish decisions.  Ask Him to show you any area in your life that you aren’t aware of but that is being governed by foolishness and not wisdom.  He will not lecture you, nor will He “chastise” you.  You will find that He has great compassion and understanding for your circumstances — He’ll also make a way out of them for you if you ask!

PRAYER:  Lord, when I look back on my life, too often I have chosen what seemed to be the easier way only to find that it was a foolish choice.  I have rushed into decisions without considering what the wise course of action would be.  That choice has led to pain, difficulty and a life filled with busy-ness.  Please give me a love and a hunger for your wisdom.  Teach me your ways.  Fill me with your wisdom and show me the wise way to change my life.

Show me any areas where I am blind to my own foolishness and give me the courage to do something about it.  Lead me.  Teach me.  Give me wisdom liberally and abundantly that in all my choices I might honor you.  AMEN

If the Senate were to use the reconciliation process top pass health care reform, this would set a dangerous precedent. Reconciliation is a process that is primarily concerned about getting budgets into line, not a tool to pass major pieces of legislation.  In 1993, President Clinton attempted to use the reconciliation process to pass his version of health care reform, but this maneuver was roundly rejected by senior Senator Robert Byrd, who said that this Clinton strategy amounted to a “prostitution of the process” by pushing through “a very complex, very expensive, very little understood piece of legislation.” Last year, Senator Byrd, stood by his view that reconciliation was “a process intended for deficit reduction,” and using it for health reform and cap and trade “is an outrage that must be resisted.” Many Democrats claim that President Bush used reconciliation on numerous occasions to pass proposals, including tax cuts. This line of argument is inaccurate, however, as the metric for whether reconciliation can be used is whether it passes “the Byrd Rule prohibition that no reconciliation bill can make the deficit worse outside the budgetary window.”
Prov 1:7

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

NIV

Daily Life with Audrey Jeanne

Free Crafting Patterns For Sewing

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I bought a new sewing machine about 6 months ago and FINALLY pulled it out to learn how to use it.  My previous sewing machine is an Elna circa the 1950s.  My new one is computerized and I think I should have had a few hours of pilot’s training and a pilot’s license to “fly” it!

Once I got the hang of it, I pulled out my stash of fabrics and went looking for ideas to make out of them.  I wanted to make an apron out of my “Chocolate Love” fabric collection.  I found the most delightful pattern on Susan Branch’s blog site.  LINK TO PATTERN HERE Susan has graciously allowed her pattern to be used for personal use only and her instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

This project is not for a beginning level, I would say it has a medium to advanced level complexity.  I created my own bias tape to use with it, and my bias tape folder makes it wider than the 1/4″ that was called for, so I ironed the tape flat and stitched it down.  Here’s the link for instructions to create your own bias tape out of any fabric: LINK TO BIAS TAPE INSTRUCTIONS

I am going to be making more retro-style aprons in the future and I’ll post them when I do.  They’re easy, quick and delightful projects to make for gifts.  For those of you that love quilting, a quilt pattern block can be a beautiful apron top.  If you’re also a digital crafter, you can make some wonderful goodies such as recipe cards, matching food packaging for home made cookies and treats and create your own elegant gift baskets.

Here’s a free pattern for a place mat and napkin combination using my Deja’ Brew Collection fabrics, but with a little imagination any of these patterns can be used with any fabric combination.  So if you’re a fabric-a-holic like I am pull your sewing machine out and see what beautiful creations you can put together out of the fabrics you already own!  LINK TO PLACE MAT PATTERN HERE.

Crafting, New Product Previews, New Releases, Products Available

New Fabric Collection “Garden Tea Party” is Available Now

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I realized that I have never posted my “Garden Tea Party” fabric collection from Studio E Fabrics!  The collection is based on my Antique Victorian Pansy collection, but with a contemporary twist for fabrics.  Those of you digital crafters will recognize quite a few of the fabrics and see some new coordinates that were created to complete the collection.  LINK TO GARDEN TEA PARTY

The first fabric shown is a stripe that can be cut in many different ways to help add great pizzazz to your quilting or fabric projects.  Each length of fabric has 4 repeats of each stripe per yard so it is as economical to use as possible.  The second is a panel fabric that can be used to create place mats, tea cozies, aprons, pillows, curtains or other fun projects.   If you’re a quilter or love to sew home crafts or clothing I hope you’ll really enjoy the blend of contemporary and classic that we tried to accomplish in this collection.  Also, with the digital clip art kits that are available and ink jet printable fabrics, the sky is the limit in what you can create with the combination!

Overall there are 8 fabrics offered in 2 or 3 colorways to make your projects easy to customize to your own style and taste.  If you create something with my fabrics, I would LOVE to see it.  Feel free to leave your information in the comments section and I’ll email you personally.  I’d love to feature any projects that have been made (Cheryl, that’s a hint!!!)  I have another collection that will be releasing at the Spring Quilt Market and will bring that to you as soon as it is released.

Daily Life with Audrey Jeanne, Faith & Inspiration

Prayers and Promises for Busy Women

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“Prayers and Promises for Busy Women.”  I have written a great deal on this subject in my journal over the past few years.  Much has been written out of my own searching for a life that is in balance — one that is eternally productive without being exhausting and draining.  Perhaps one day I’ll put it all together in a book, but in the meantime I thought that I would share some of what I’ve written with all of you.

I hear from many of you who have found the pace of life accelerating and the joy and satisfaction of life diminishing.  We share the same dilemma.  Life is overwhelming and we know we need to make some changes, we just aren’t sure what those changes should be. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE what I do.  There are parts of my life where I know I am absolutely in the center of God’s will.  In those places there is such joy and satisfaction, that I’m realizing every area of my life could potentially produce the same results if they were all given over to Him.

Over the years I have found only one thing to be truly helpful in the process of getting control in my life.   I have to slow down enough to spend time with the Lord and His word.  Then I need to pray, asking God for his wisdom and direction for my life.  Every time I do, He is so faithful to answer.  But then the harder part begins — doing the things the Lord speaks to my heart in answer to my prayers.  The first step is pretty easy, the second?  Not so much!

I am excited at the prospect of giving the Lord the areas of my life He wants to change.  I really do trust that He wants to make my burden light and my yoke easy.  Did you know that God delights in helping us find joy and satisfaction in life?  Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that more abundantly!  His goal is that I have more time, energy and emotional strength to be a blessing to my family, friends and community.  Do you believe he wants the same for you?  If so, perhaps together we can discover a new way of living that will leave us filled up rather than constantly tired and drained!

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6 NIV  Show me Your ways, O Lord, guide me in Your truth.  Ps. 25:4-5 NIV

DEVOTION:

A lot of our busy-ness comes as the result of wrong decisions we have made in our past.  Wrong decisions often lead to pain, chaos, confusion, over-commitment and exhaustion.  Where one wrong decision can quickly lead us far afield, returning sanity to our lives often takes a long, consistent series of right decisions.   Are you ready to make that long series of right decisions and trust God for His help in making your path straight?  I sure am!

How can I know what God wants me to do?  When life presents me with a myriad of choices to  make, how do I know which is the right path to follow?  It is easy to race off on a wrong path that looks easy and attractive.  Only God knows which path will lead to a rich and full life, and which will lead to heartache.  I’m learning to trust that He really does want the best for me.

PRAYER:  Lord, some of my busy-ness is a natural part of life, but I have to confess that a large part of it is because I’ve taken some wrong turns along the way.  I bring my situation to you and ask for your leading, your correction and your direction in the next steps I take on the path ahead. Please show me how to get back on your path in every area of my life — large and small.

Please show me the mistakes I’ve made along the way.  Make plain to me the way you want to me to go to overcome those mistakes.  Give me the courage to seek out your direction and then to consistently follow it day-by-day.  Help me to realize that a life that has become out of control over the span of years won’t be brought into control in just days or weeks or even months.  Help me to trust that you will be faithful to restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew my joy in life!  AMEN.

New Product Previews, Products Available

“Mostly Memories,” Candles and Personal Care Products

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Part of why I have been so remiss in posting to my blog this past six months is the incredible volume of design work I have been doing for a wide variety of manufacturers.  Today I get to announce one of those projects.

I had the privilege of designing several lines for Mostly Memories.  Their products smell utterly amazing!  For 3 or 4 months now, every time I enter my studio I am greeted by the sweet smell of chocolate.  That is very, very dangerous for this girl!

We designed a couple of personal care lines featuring intensely scented candles, lotions, and lip balms.  My daughters are anxious for the finished samples to arrive, LOL!  One daughter doesn’t even like chocolate and totally fell in love with this line.  I have linked to their web site, and I believe that they sell retail if you are looking for some special treats for Easter Baskets or Mother’s Day.

The final grouping we worked on were “Sweet Treats” votive candles.  These are a visual as well as fragrance treat.  Each is designed to represent a dessert in a cup.  There’s Cinnamon bun, Blueberry Muffin, Apple Pie, Lemon Bar, Peach Cobbler, Pineapple Supreme, Strawberry Shortcake and Vanilla Cupcake!

Here are the links to their products:

SWEET TREATS CANDLES

MILK CHOCOLATE INDULGENCES

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY

I hope you’ll swing by their site and look at all the amazing goodies they have available.

Crafting, Holidays, Products Available

“Christmas Wishes” Fabric

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I happened to pop by my Fabric company’s website today and my newest collection is up and will be in stores beginning in April 2010.

This is a classic Christmas Red and Green collection with a contemporary twist.

Here’s the link to the site: STUDIO E FABRICS

There is also a Panel Fabric for making pillows, aprons, quilt blocks or other creative goodies with.  The image is not terribly clear as it is 44″ wide and reducing it to 72 dpi does not give you the depth of detail that the original design has.

Additional fabrics include peppermint candy stick stripes, some elegant tone-on-tone patterns, the elegant snowflake pattern as seen in the panel fabric, the plaid that is shown there as well.  I can’t wait to see the printed fabrics!

I could not believe just how long it has been since I posted here.  I have slapped my own hand for being so naughty and will do my best to start picking up the pace on posting.