Just a Hello..

We are in some strange times here. I need to keep my political opinions to myself. But I do feel a little cramped.

Mind you I am getting older, just had my 57th birthday and that is only 3 years from 60 for those of you who are like me and can’t believe you are this old!!

The year or number doesn’t really matter.  We are just ourselves right?

Enjoying this beautiful spring weather in Northeastern Ohio.

Enjoying the Thankfulness this pandemic, and all its changes have caused me to reflect on..

Time with my children, don’t take it for granted!

God’s provision for our small businesses through this time.  We are so thankful that we haven’t had to use the government money at this time.  That is amazing!  We did use our stimulus check, but I mean other agencies and services.  With what happened to my husband, my brain has resembled overcooked oatmeal, I couldn’t imagine all the forms I would have had to fill out.

My husband is alive after a fall from a three story barn roof on April 9, 2020 (the day of infamy!)  He actually slid from the third story down and off at ONLY 2 stories..sailed 20 feet from the barn and landed on his feet! Which promptly both broke.

The outcome of that fall could have been very different, extremely thankful for his life being spared.

Yesterday I had two private sewing lessons, and my little 10 year old student was so fun! She talked more than she sewed, it was so cute!!

The riots that are breaking out all over our country are very sad, shameful how we are capable of treating each other, but a bright spot was today at the Ohio BMV we stood in line and just chatted around with all the others waiting for services..one on one we look at each other, we are also equally capable with God’s love to love each other. Share a smile, a laugh, a joke.  All walks of life can be found at a BMV we all bleed the same color, and we all need to follow the rules to drive our cars in Ohio.

Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God, he that loveth not knoweth not God for God IS love …God is love..God is love..if we want to imitate God..let us love.. I could talk about how love isn’t always gushy..but I think I may just say that love does include respect for our neighbor and their property. One last wise truth from God’s Word..

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..Some know it as the golden rule..But it is originally from our Creator.

Just musing, just full of thankfulness for the light of the sun and the light of the Son..

 

Stan Hywet, Birthday celebration/home education field trip…

On Thursday the 15th of this month, my youngest/aka the baby of the family turned 10 years old.  One of his gift requests was to go somewhere cool on his birthday and to have the whole family there.  Well, with 6 of our family working outside the home that was no small feat.  But the “glue” sister asked all and all made a way to get off work! Yay!  We chose Stan Hywet Hall. Near enough to get home in time for the birthday dinner! Beware..lots of pictures to follow! View from the back we were down in the japanese garden.

This day was special in many ways. As a mom of many and a home educating mom, I am always on the job. I have visited Stan Hywet on a couple of occaisions but realized that this was the first occaision I could really see things, because there weren’t little ones to keep me busy with crowd control, and to keep their hands off of the museum’s property! I show you the next picture cause the guys were just thinking this wood elevator was so cool, and “mom this would be so fun to ride on!” 🙂
The music/ball room was also a hit. We sing together and some of the older children play various instruments.  I thought the chandeliers in the music room were unbelievable! I am a chandelier fan!

 

Home educating mom/teacher asked if we could sing a tune, just to let the children hear the acoustics and they were not disappointed! Moms can be so embarrassing :-).  You will see that the mansion was decked out for Christmas which was an unexpected bonus!

All the family has had their chance working with Dad in his carpentry business, so the architectural details, the different species of wood, the craftmanship, the attention to details, none of this escaped the children. It was a warming of my heart to see how much they have learned and retained and taken as their own over the years. Below is a picture of the secret bookshelf door passage.

the telephone booth

See the hand carved linen-fold wall paneling? The hand carved detailed border?

This picture is priceless to me, we are all looking up in awe at one thing or another. Learning, exploring, BEING together, a mom’s bliss!

The dining room was glam and glitz the silver plated everything was shining it was inspiring!

 

These chairs each had a different animal tapestry, we (the seamstresses of the house thought they were cool)

I have always had a love for butlers pantries, it was fun to see a lot of my children, not just the girls ooh and aah over this and the kitchen and pantry!  Cooking for 13 people on a consistent basis gives you an appreciation for these kinds of things!!

O.K. so time for confession, I know I should be content and not covet someone else’s kitchen, but, I’m telling you this was an extreme test!…I really can’t imagine what it would take to clean this place (energy) but to work without running into people???? 🙂 Then there are bedrooms and showers and guest rooms…You gotta go see this place.

A pool in the lower level, as long as our house!!

 

Did I mention it was sleeting and cold?? Did I mention we had to see the grounds and the garden, and the conservatory???

The birthday boy!

We ended up in the horse stalls turned cafe for a family picture!

 

 

Some things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Family, time spent together. Museums and field trips to help us learn from the past and grow from what we have learned. Thankful for beauty and craftmanship. Thankful for a change of scenery to gain perspective… Thankful for God’s grace to walk and continue on life’s journey…

Thankful for Olivia, who took all these pictures to help us remember the day! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Victoria has been sewing some new creations..

This was one of my favorites to design..When this fabric came it was exciting. I started and Victoria came up with the details on the bodice and sleeves.  She has an eye for detail.

Here are some peeks at others we have done this fall.  Been incorporating more knits this fall.. Organic knit from Monaluna..with a little lace splashed on..

Then, a full skirt with lace and a lined lace knit top, identical to the mommy’s top in above photos

We also did a little Christmas dress..

It has been so long..6 months..so much has happened..Babies born at church, summer travels, and now home schooling in full swing..

This year I am more intensely a teacher at our school.  More involved sharpening the children’s skills..

Victoria is doing the bulk of the sewing and Olivia the bulk of the book work and customer relations..

But, we all get a chance in the sewing room, and we all have our hand in the design and the decisions..It has been a journey.. We have been at this since my Ezra was 3 months old and in November he will be 7!! That is a long journey.. Not over yet, the girls have the equivalent of a college education in fashion design, garment construction, textiles, merchandising, self-employment, and home economics..

It amazes me what hard work and perseverance can accomplish..

Our family is taking a different direction, and it is good to see how in all labor there is profit..as the Lord says in His word.

Not always monetary, but surely lasting..

Here are a few custom dresses, designed and made for a little mother up in Michigan

So thankful to God for His precious Son, Jesus Christ, who saves us from our sin and ourselves and gives us gifts and talents to share with others..So thankful for the never ending work of the Holy Spirit in our lives..refining us..and growing us..and giving us the desire to be more like Him..

Always want to give God the honor and credit..So many verses in the Bible are key to my heart..But one stands out today..

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing…With out Him, we can do nothing..He is the beginning and the end of everything.. John 15:5 in the Bible.

Too much to comprehend, but so beautiful and comforting..

Looking forward to having a little more time to do some more blogging! 🙂

Pillow shams and covers…

 

I visited with an old friend recently and she had covered her pillows in her living room.  They were so fresh and cheery,  she inspired me to get to work on mine!  I’ve had some pillows on my wicker chair for 5 years and they were looking tired!  I went to our fabric store and picked out some Rachel Ashwell prints for the covers… Just a nice dove gray paisley…

 An easy envelope cover, that comes off for washing…

 Then I chose this rose print with purples, greens and grays…  Next our bedroom…My husband and I are approaching our 25th anniversary.  We used to every so often on our anniversary, spruce up our bedspread, or something in our room…  So, I’m starting a little early, I made these shams for our bed…

 I chose the purple rose fabric again and trimmed it with a lavender damask print…

 I am so pleased with the shams! But now I see how much I need to make a bedspread! 🙂  I’m contemplating a quilt with these and other prints we have from Rachel Ashwell.  All I need is a little time 🙂  I think I’ll just use this ecru quilt for the batting, so, that will save money.  We’ll see what comes together!

Tis the season to remember what we are thankful for and the list is very long, but I am thankful for the time and energy to be able to do a little home decorating!  Seems like I’ve just been too busy and or tired to do simple things like that!

I am thankful for simple pleasures!

I am thankful for a few minutes to reflect!

I am thankful for the Sabbath day, the Lord’s day, to rest from labor, and refresh with His word, and fellow believers…Truly, I am blessed.