Spring multi-colored top in time for Easter

Hi everyone, I’m into making some Spring/Summer clothing now! We are finally starting to see the signs of Spring!! I would say that it’s about time! It seems to have been a long Winter but now hopefully it’s over and we can have a little warmth for those of us who live with snow for 4 - 6 months out of the year. I do not mind a bit of Winter around Christmas time but I have to say that I do NOT like the cold and am very thankful Spring and Summer is finally arriving although it hasn’t been too warm yet, we are getting a lot of high winds….Ohhh how I long for Summer!!

Here’s my Spring top with a peplum bottom

Bright Easter colors of yellow, teal, purple,black and white

This is a fabric I bought at Fabricville, Halifax NS. I saw it from across the room and it called to me. Lee Anne you have to buy me now!! and so I did ;)

The style is a cowl neck with a peplum bottom. Here in this picture I am wearing it with a tie through the shoulder and armhole for a more asymmetrical look which I really like. Makes the style more trendy.

Here are some different ways I can wear it. Two ties around the shoulder and armhole for a square neckline.

This one I dropped the shoulder, I think this looks so nice this way! I just slid my arm out and twisted the fabric under the armpit and tied it with an elastic and then turned the knot  inside under the arm. Instant one shoulder top!!!

Hey, I’ve got my lighting but I don’t have my backgrounds yet!!! Give me a break!! lol

My father-in-law laughed at me when we were building this room because I wanted too many plugs in the room…well in this case he was right (don’t tell him!!! lol ) But as you can see I am using them and still there are some places that I have to have power bars for more plugs!! hahaha We are in a generation of electronics!! :)

Here is another way that we can wear a cowl neck. Those hair clips can go on your tops too to make a V-neck!! How cool is that??!! 

I did not use a pattern for this top. I just used a top that I had already as a guideline for this one.

Hey, did you have your green drink today??? I did!!!

What’s in it?  Kale, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, carrots and a pear, not bad at all! Slightly sweet, not much green taste.

Cheers!!! Here’s to health! I hope!! I’m not quite there yet but I am better than I was as I am trying to eat healthy FOR ME which is very hard to do as I am sensitive to a LOT of different food. But I’ve lost a few pounds and loosing a few pounds is always a plus!!! :)

Here are some props I had hanging around

 
 

I know some of you are probably freaking out right now because I have an umbrella open in the house!! lol  I am not superstitious, I do not believe in bad luck or good luck which is a good thing because of all the mirrors I have broken!!! Like seriously, I don’t know what my problem with mirrors is?? I’m sure I break one every week!! hahaha I believe in God and I believe He blesses me as He sees fit ……and I am blessed! :)

Eeeek!!!! I’m in my underwear!!!! lol  Good thing they are nice Sunday ones!!! ;)

I made some matching underwear with the left-over fabric!!! Waste not, want not!!  and this is all you are seeing of them!!! :P

I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, life in plastic, is fantastic!

I am not sure what I was doing here but it turned out pretty cool!! lol Yes I know I’m not blonde or skinny, I would be considered a human obese dark haired Barbie doll at least in this society but who cares, my husband loooooooves my curves and my dark hair!!! ;)

Just saying…. because I have so many problems with food I have thought about joining that blonde human Barbie doll who thinks she can live on air and light…..LOL ….  NOT but I have been so discouraged with my food sensitivities that I’ve thought I should just stop eating ANYTHING…….. but if you have even half a brain you know that THAT is not an option…

Pretty sad that there would be people like that influencing the young minds of this generation :(

That’s it for now guys and gals and everything else in between ;)

P.S.  Life is sometimes hard with all it’s twists and turns. Sometimes it makes you feel like giving up and other times it goes on, smooth as butter. When it lets you down,
fight the good fight and finish the race! God cheers you on and so am I!!! xox :)

P.S.S. I finished quilting my bedspread!!! Wooo hoooo!!! Now I know why I don’t make too many of them!!! I don’t have the patience to keep at something for that long…. :/  It did turn out better than I thought it would. Imagine trying to put a King size quilt into a queen size frame!!? Not fun!! lol It was going on there crooked and I had to pin it everywhere with lots of pins that would bend with the weight of it! I had borrowed the quilt legs from my aunt who needed them back soon, and the frames from my cousin. Leon was nice and made me some “legs” from wood he found in the backyard and so I got my aunts back to her. Anyway, I finally got it all quilted and it seems to be fairly straight considering. Now I have to bind the darn thing!! lol  But it will be great once it’s finished and the fruit of my labour will be forgotten and I’ll have a nice bedspread that I can keep for myself (I’ve given away most of the quilts I’ve ever made)
I have my beautiful (or at least it will be once I paint it) roll top desk that this great and nice lady GAVE me!!! I’m so happy!!! She wanted it out of her living room and so someone else’s junk is someone else’s treasure!!  I’ve turned it into my sewing/craft station!! Love it, Love it, Love it!!! I have it in the bedroom…yes I do EVERYTHING in my bedroom (sheepish grin) There are some days I hardly leave my room lol Sewing, crafts, eating,photograaphy,… well you get it, I don’t want to have to name everything. hehehe

I am going to paint it white with a black trim and on the inside I’m going to paint it in teal which are the colors of our bedroom.
Ok, I’ve rambled on enough now….but I could keep going, once I’m on a roll, I’m on a roll! but I’ll spare you, this time!! ;)
Do you know that gardening is just around the corner…or actually here?? Time to do some gardening soon!!
We shall see you again, later! 

Deep pink with black velvet jacket

This jacket is not mine, it is for my daughter Cara. She saw my other jacket (queen of hearts)http://www.leeanneonlife.blogspot.ca/2014/01/queen-of-hearts-jacket-for-february.html and she decided she wanted one too and asked if I could make her one and so since she is the same size as me (on top anyway) I can make her one without needing a fitting. We Skype quite often as she lives in Alberta and I showed her the jacket and she LOVES it!! Yay!!  This is my favorite that I’ve made so far! I’m going to probably be making one for me with this fabric!! This jacket is not as warm as the other ones I’ve made. More of a transitional jacket between winter and spring. I lined it with kasha lining but the outside fabric is thin and so it makes it just right.

I found this fabric on sale at Fabricville in Halifax NS, buy one get 2 free!! I just love it!! It is bright and rich looking with that black swirl pattern in velvet! The fabric is just as comfortable as it is beautiful with a little stretch to it. I decided to use my left-over fake leather to go with it. I also has an old pair of velour sweat pants that I did not wear anymore(I think they shrunk in the dryer) and so I used the legs of the pants for my patterns in back and on the sides.

The collar is fake leather also. I used the same pattern as my queen of hearts jacket so it go put together pretty quickly since I didn’t have to do any designing.

We actually had a day where I could go out to take pictures and it was warm enough to have my jacket unzipped!      Oh spring where are you??? Please come soon, I miss you!!

peek-a-boo double welt pockets with my leftover bedspread fabric!! gotta love it!!!

The color you see here is actually closer to the actual color of the jacket. Taken with a flash. It’s almost an orangy deep pink. Such a pretty color.

Yes I have roots!! I need to get my hair done! Actually I tried to dye my hair in a nice dark purple-red but only my roots grabbed the color and so I’m a little multi-colored and faded now but oh well… I’ll get it done eventually

Played around making collages :)

P.S. I had a good conversation with my sister today. We talked about how your past experiences can come back to haunt you even when you know better and it can make you feel just awful. When something has hurt you deeply, it is something that stays with you the rest of your life, you learn to deal with it but it doesn’t take much to resurface. We have to remember that we are not our past and those things can only hurt us if we believe them or let them hurt us. Some people LOVE to bring up things that are hurtful and treat you in ways that are degrading, somehow they think it makes them feel better about themselves by putting someone else down to raise themselves up but in reality it doesn’t, it just makes them look bad. I try to remember that those people who would try to hurt me are people who are hurting themselves. You usually don’t love yourself and treat others bad, it just doesn’t work that way.  A warm heart is tender and will not purposefully and coldly hurt someone else but in fact will go the opposite way and try to encourage and make someone else feel good about themselves.  I try to stay away from people that will only put me down all the time. I can do that just fine myself I really don’t need help! thanks but NO thanks!

Whenever I am feeling bad about myself I try to remember what God says about me.

1. I am a child of God. I have been adopted by the most high God, the creator of the world, into His royal family. It does not get better than that.

But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children … (John 1:12).

2. Jesus says, I am a branch in his vine. I belong there with him.

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me--and I in him--bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).
 

3. Jesus is my friend. I have the best friend I could ever want and He is always available even though others may not be.

I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).

4. Because of the free gift of grace(grace is getting something you do not deserve) I no longer have to feel guilty about anything to do with my past. If I do feel guilty and I have asked God’s forgiveness it is the devil trying to deceive me into thinking wrongly so that I am kept under bondage to the past. God convicts He does NOT condemn. Convicts means he gently shows you your sin but does not accuse. You have every right to refuse a guilt trip of anything the devil may bring your way. Stop it right in it’s tracks by saying NO to it!

But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
 

5. God says, I can be who I really am inside. I do not have to be afraid of what others might say if I don’t join in to what everyone else is doing. I have to do what I feel is right in my heart according to what He has taught me through the word of God. I have been freed from who I was and the sin in my life does not need to dominate. I have to and should refuse it. I would like to say I always do it but I can’t say that. My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. I am not perfect but I do my best to strive for perfection and I ask forgiveness when I fail and If I fail I get right back on track and forgive myself for messing up.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin
⁴¹ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26: 41)

6.  I have been set free from the law of sin and death. I no longer NEED to follow the ten commandments because they are there to show you what a sinner you are BUT I want to do it because I know it is good for me and because of my love for my father God.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
 

7.As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ. Oh yes an heir!! Woohoo!! I will inherit eternal life in heaven because of my knowing that I am a sinner and because of the belief in the works of Jesus Christ on the cross!

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)--if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17)
 

8. I am accepted by Christ, He looooooves me!!! :)

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God's glory (Romans 15:7)

9. God says I’m a saint! :O  Oh yes He does!!! I’m not the one saying it HE is! I just accept it.

… To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). (See also Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, and Colossians 1:2.)
 

10.  I am set free in Christ. Free I say, FREE!!! Free to live life properly, free to live by what I know is right, Free to show love more, free to relax and breath. Free to be who I am, free to help others, free from fear of what others will think, free to forgive, free from sins traps, free to go to heaven when I die!  And I DO NOT want to go back to the old way of doing things when I only had one way of thinking. Free I say, Free!!! Oh and it feels soooo gooood!!! :D

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1)
 

If this doesn’t encourage you, nothing will

The Father’s love letter

My Child,

You may not know me,

but I know everything about you.

Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.

Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.

Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.

Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.

Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.

Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.

Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,

for all your days are written in my book.

Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth

and where you would live.

Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.

Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented

by those who don't know me.

John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,

but am the complete expression of love.

1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child

and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.

Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless

as the sand on the seashore.

Psalm 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.

Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you

with all my heart and all my soul.

Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.

Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,

you will find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you

the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.

Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you

than you could possibly imagine.

Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you

in all your troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,

I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,

I have carried you close to my heart.

Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away

every tear from your eyes.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain

you have suffered on this earth.

Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you

even as I love my son, Jesus.

John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.

John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.

Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,

not against you.

Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression

of my love for you.

1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved

that I might gain your love.

Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,

you receive me.

1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you

from my love again.

Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party

heaven has ever seen.

Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,

and will always be Father.

Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…

Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.

Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

Almighty God

 

 

Until next time, good night

Queen of hearts jacket for February!!!!

 

 

Hello everyone!!! I’ve got it done!!! My February jacket!!!

Uhm hum…. I’m seeing that I missed my R in February in my drawing below….shame shame shame(blush)

I can spell, really I can!!!! hahaha

Some of you may have seen my illustration already!! I wanted to design it as an illustration and then make my pattern and sew it up and I did!!! I’m excited about this because it is so cool to be able to do this!!! Take a drawing and make it come to life, very exciting!!! This is my first time going from illustration to finished product! So did I tell you that this is exciting!!!?? Well it is!!!!

I changed it a bit to suit what I had available to me as fabric, this is what it looked like before

You can see from the picture above that I added a belt in the back and instead of the black front, I opted for a red front and black trim since I had more red fabric than black.

Below is my pattern which I draped right on my dress form. I used some old magazine pages taped together to make some of the pieces and then cut it out of some old lining.

I marked my order of fabric on my pattern to make it easier to remember what color fabric goes where.

Changed my mind after the pattern was done when I realized that I wouldn’t have enough black fabric for the whole jacket

I traced out my heart on the back. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to insert the heart directly in the jacket or appliqué the heart on top. I decided appliquéing it on top would be by far easier for this time, maybe next time I’ll try my hand at inserting a shape. Lots of fancy sewing to do that!!

Stitching it up

I used eyelash yarn to go around the heart on the back of the jacket. The heart was first appliquéd with thread and then the yarn was applied by machine using a zigzag stitch across the yarn.

I think I need a manicure! :)

The pieces ready to be sewed

I decided to use this black and white print fabric that I had left over from my bedspread that I made for the front, sleeve and neck bindings. I’m glad I did because I think it looks better than just a plain black.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Deciding where to put the pockets. Note to self: Don’t wait until the jacket is almost done to make the pockets!!! Hard work!!! lol

I lined the inside of the jacket with a thin lining as the outer fabric is warm enough.  I found the fabric at a used clothing store. I didn’t have quite enough of it and so I found a remnant of the black velvety fabric that I had on hand and added it in. I think it gives the lining interest.

Close up of the neck and front, 100% cotton binding, left over from my bedspread, cut on the bias (that’s cut from corner to corner so it will stretch for you non-sewers)

This is my slanted double welt pocket With a flap!!! I searched the internet trying to find something like this to look at but I couldn’t find one and so I figured it out on my own! Maybe I should make a tutorial!

I added a silver zipper. See that jacket, perfect match for my bed!! Gosh, I’m so sickening with my matchy matchy!! hahaha

Close up zipper, Sorry about the stray thread!!

Front princess seam and arm seams.

Neck shape

Back belt

back jacket and under sleeve joining

Sleeve hem

The finished queen of hearts jacket!!

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

And Jesus said

Mark 12:33 to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

note: burnt offerings and sacrifices were done in the old testament to be forgiven from sins and to worship God, thank God that is over!!

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer

awwwww look at these shoes?? How cute they would be with my jacket….or a new dress queen of hearts style!….I suppose I could paint some black shoes and add a piece of white lace and a red ribbon,that would work!!! ;)

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart

Alice in wonderland and the queen of hearts

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

Psalm 9:1

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

Psalm 26:2

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind

Psalm 24:4

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false

My cats are always in my pictures somewhere :) This is Kalie

I put my hair up so you could see the theatrical effect of the collar, which for me is the best part of the jacket.

Brrrrr too cold to stay outside for pics!! Snows starting to come down!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

.

Proverbs 23:26

My child, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

This scripture was made into a song and I have to sing it…

”Caste me not away, from thy presence oh God…Take not thy holy spirit from me…restore unto me the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.”

“And yes there is joy in salvation, and if you are not experiencing it then you are doing it wrong! Go back to the beginning of your journey with God and remember what it was like those of you who know the Lord! Remember how beautiful, how special, how it brought you to a high above anything you could ever imagine,even in your worse times. Remember what He did for you? Remember where you were and where He brought you. Remember His love for you…How He died to free you of all kinds of things… Remember how beautiful his grace was when you came to realize what it meant and that you could rest in it? How you didn’t have to do anything but accept it…Remember His power… Remember how He held your hand and wrapped His fatherly arms around you and held you and never left your side and you never left His… Remember this!! Oh such bliss!!! Never forget your first love with the Lord!!! His heart is the best!!!”

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life

 

• Matthew 6:21

  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

That’s it guys, my new February jacket!  I think I need a hat and mitts to go with it… what do you think? Yes? That would take care of my left over fabric… :)

My favourite heart scripture

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.^[a]37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. ³⁸ Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

*Pharisees were teachers of the law who made people follow the law when they themselves did not! They were also very judgmental. Do you know any Pharisees and do you have any Pharasitical ways?

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”

“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

⁴¹ Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver^[b] to one and 50 pieces to the other. ⁴² But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, cancelling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

⁴³ Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the larger debt.”

“That’s right,” Jesus said. ⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.

⁴⁷ “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” ⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”

⁵⁰ And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

NO it doesn’t have the word heart in this scripture but this speaks of the heart for itself without having to use the word.

Later, 

with all my heart