The deep freeze of 2014

Oh MyGosh, is it cold out there! The thermometer says -10 and winds are about 35 miles an hour (doing the wind chill math, it is about -45)
I remember the blowing and drifting snow from the late 70's and early 80's were higher and more than now, the temps weren't always so brutal though. I remember sitting at the dining room table with old hurricane lanterns and playing board games... we were lucky and had natural gas space heaters (hooked up as perm. heaters) in the dining and living rooms, so heat was never a real issue. We learned to find something to do. We had battery operated radios for news... mine was a round yellow one from Panasonic... Loved that radio!

I found this photo of one just like mine on eBay. 

oh, the good old days....

These conditions make me think back on the pioneers and those who had to live in these conditions without benefit of internet, tv, no indoor plumbing, no electricity, limited telephone (remember party lines??)... those were the days!

Over all... BE SAFE, take lots of photos to show your grandkids,,, and stay warm!

No energy...

Have you ever had that day (or days, weeks, etc) that you just Can't. Get. Going???
Yep, that's where I am today (and yesterday)...
I have a mile high list of "To Do's" and just can't muster up the energy to do anything...
I DID help cut and re stack some wood in preparation for this next round of Artic Cold weather coming from the North Pole to my back door, laundry, shower, dishes, dinner (warmed up left overs)...
However, I am going to TRY to do some required sewing and some additional items (yes, I will post how to's and what for's)... I am also trying to decide on a "change" ...
Prepare taxes, real estate, or something else... not sure. I do love to teach and 99% of the time LOVE LOVE LOVE my students!!
So, stay tuned and please consider commenting and/or sharing my blog with others...
Love to all,
Momma Karen

Stitching things together...

When you feel at a loss, loose ends everywhere you turn, what to do seems to be the question I ask myself... do you do the same??
Well, today was one of those days...
I began working on a few special items, I can't say what they are for, just know this... every stitch, every cut of the cloth, every inch of these projects give me an opportunity to pray for the final recipients... will share the basics, the issues I find myself in (I have never made these particular patterns before.... and they are a challenge!)

This is the base pattern, however, I have never been known to follow a pattern completely... because I get started, and then I say to myself... "This would be cool..." and go off and change things!

The cutting of the pattern pieces was my first challenge. Trying to find something I could use as a template. I thought I knew the size I wanted; I was wrong!! I also thought it would be like this 8 point star (also called the Texas Lone Star) However, it ended up being a 6 point star... ( I don't know the actual name of the 6 pointed star block) It doesn't really matter, the purpose is not the name, it is the end product.

Have you ever made a quilt? How did you start? How did you choose the design? To be truthful, I looked on Pinterest and I searched on Bing.com

I was lucky to find templates for a large star, a small star and a really, really small star!!

A pillow sounds like an awesome idea for the small star template, the really really small star is a hand sewn type, which I am not up to at this time!! 

I am also doing another stitching idea on the one quilt (I can tell you that is what the end product will be) will have a meaningful poem hand stitched around the outside. I first thought I would just stitch it to one of the blocks, however, I have my best ideas when I am sleeping... sounds a little weird, but it is the God's honest truth!! Anyway, I thought I would just start in the bottom left corner and stitch the poem around the outside border of the quilt... I think it will look awesome (hoping my mind's eye and reality are on the same page!)

If you are interested in seeing some of the quilts I have looked at, just go to Pinterest and follow me... 

Good things always come from the heart... and from the hands... handmade and homemade make it worth the wait, don't you think?

What am I?

What am I?
I have physical issues that keep me from doing things I have always enjoyed... does that make me Disabled? Handicapped? Lazy? Something else??
I am not sure why society must place labels on people. My mind is as sharp as a tack. I have dreams, hopes, wishes and ambitions... I may or may not achieve them, but I will not stop having them.
I want to show and teach others that even though our bodies may no longer cooperate the way it used to, there are still ways we can be productive. I just also wished those productive ways were ways we could take care of ourselves financially. For some, they can. For others, well, life has never been promised to be easy~ only worth it.
So, today, I had an appointment to be proactive in my own life... I attended an appointment with an agency that assists people like me (some with more and severe disabilities, some with less... all with something that challenges their livlihood). I have another in 10 days or so, to determine if I qualify under their guidelines.
My point is... I refuse to sit back and wait for life to happen. I am single, I am closing in on the last years of my life, but I refuse to wait for life... I must reach out and find my place again... I lost my way, I have become comfortable with myself and no longer love being in large crowds... I am who I am, It is what it is... However, with God, all things are possible...

The Military Mom... Yep, that's me...

I am a military mom. Yep, I have a soldier in the United States Army and am proud of him, the unit he serves and the choices he made to protect the country and the family he loves...
In saying this, I have a face book page that has many of the items I make (hense the name of my blog~ Loving Stitches by Karen)
I began selling my handcrafted items (sewn and crocheted) mainly in military materials (camo, etc) and to support those who serve as Brother's and Sister's in Arms with my son. However, I began receiving requests to make items not military based, however still for military family members (generally fellow moms and wives).
Recently, I was asked to make several very very special items, of which I will not go into detail, as they are surprises!!
I WILL tell you that I have found a great peace in  making items by hand. I find that I can pray with each stitch, with love and care, for the end user~ even if I don't know who that person is....
I have made tote bags and duffle bags for miltary sons and mommas, with American flags flying in proud waves across many of my items. I hand cross stitch names and sayings with pride and honor.
I look forward to showing and teaching through my blog several of my items... this way, you can try your hand at the "old" ways of doing things... gift giving... repurposing... and just generally being able to say with pride, "I made that!!"
I will begin next month offering a raffle of sorts, each month. Something I made/make with directions on this blog... the funds will assist with several of my favorite organizations; USO, Cup of Joe for a Joe through Green Beans Cafe, and sending packages to our deployed soldiers... I hope you will help me by sharing my blog as well as my face book page...Become a friend so you don't miss a single entry!! And please share what you have  made, either by watching and following me~ or something else!!

Hello

Hello~
Who am I and why am I blogging??
First things first. My name is Karen and I am a long time single mom of 6 children (all grown and moved out; yes, there is hope for sanity and stability before you are too old to enjoy it!) I also have 11 grandbabies with 1 more soon to make an arrival (God gives us grandbabies to pay back out kids for the stress they gave us as they were growing up I do believe). I have worked many different and varied jobs/careers throughout my life, beginning at age 10 and continuing today... which brings me to the "why" blog...
I do believe and I have decided that I have a lot to share, to say, to teach, and yet to learn...
There you go in a nutshell...
I hope you will come along with my journey; sometimes it will be reflective, sharing, ranting, and more... however, the most important is a continuing of the learning process... life has much to teach us, here is hoping that my ears and heart are open to the possibilities that await me....