Lady.

A few weeks ago there was a notice in our church bulletin about a puppy that needed to go to a good home. I knew my sister and brother in law had been looking around for a puppy – either a Labrador or a Red Cattle dog.

Well I just had to let them know about this puppy because it was a cross of both. Perfect!
She called the people straight away and picked it up the next afternoon. Her name is Lady. I love her for many reasons – especially the fact that I get to love her without the potty-training, chewing and barking that comes with actually being the owner of an animal. Yay, me!
She loves running around the backyard and chasing after her squeaky toy, and also laying on the carpet having a cuddle.

Half Apron

I just had to show you what I made today!!
I decided last week that I wanted to make an apron instead of buying one from the shops. I was going to make it up and maybe look online for a bit of guidence. But I came across this and couldn't resist giving it a go! For a beginner sewer I found it extremely easy to follow and am very happy with my brand new apron. Even if I didn't quite understand what the tutorial was saying there were so many pictures which showed every single step of the way which I was very grateful for!
I bought the black and bright blue fabric last week for the apron, but only used a really small amount of it. The ruffled fabric is left over from the cushion covers I made last week. I made the adult size but have a few friends with little girls that I might make one for for birthday presents. Next time I think I'll  make the sash a bit longer because i can't tie it into a bow but just a small knot. 
I also added a few buttons to mine for decoration!

Sorry for bad quality photos – I took them with my iPhone

I know – I only have 1 ugg boot on! The pedal was a bit hard to use with both

Sewing Machine

The other day Jeffrey and I were looking at different things on ebay and I decided to look up sewing machines just for the fun of it. Well, there was a really good Singer machine, perfect for a beginner like me, brand new for a really good price. We quickly looked around at the other machines to see if there was anything better but with 30 seconds to go on the auction we bid and won!! 
I have been waiting patiently all week for it to come and then finally yesterday a slip was in the mail to say it was here! 

Isn't it pretty!

I read the instruction manual straight away becasue the only machine I've used in probably 8 years was Jeffrey's mothers a few weeks ago to make the cushion covers. I was very proud of myself for winding the bobbin and threading the machine all by myself! (I was a little bit scared about it, but the machine actually has lines on in to path it right out for you – dotted to show where the bobbin thread goes to wind it and solid to show where to thread the machine. Very easy!)

The other day I saw this advice from a 1949 Singer Sewing machine and it made me laugh lots! 

But this morning I've decided it might actually be true. OK, so I'm not going to put on a dress, or make sure my hair is perfect or lipstick on, but I do have a sink full of dirty dishes and I haven't made my bed this morning. I don't think Jeffrey would appreciate coming home from work and the house still messy and all I've been doing all day is sewing, so to keep my 'mind free' and so that I can enjoy sewing on my brand new machine, I'm going to clean the house first and then I'll be able to enjoy my sewing!


My sister from Canberra just called to say she's almost in Bathurst and she's going to come visit. Yay!! Better start cleaning the house!! Oh and maybe powder my nose??

Soul Detox

I've been doing a bible reading plan off the YouVersion app on my phone called Soul Detox. It's been really good to get into a routine of reading lately. I get a reminder on my phone in the morning to read it and then an email later in the day (it's American so it comes later than I would like) that has a paragraph to go with the day's reading which kind of explains it and has a question at the end to help apply it to your life.
I'm spending a week in Sydney for my TAFE studies for my Graphic Pre Press apprenticeship.  I don't really enjoy my class, and I don't like being down here cos it means being away from Jeffrey for the week. It feels very lonely. But I know that I am not alone, but that God is here with me, looking out for me and He is good. But sometimes it's hard to remember that. This morning's reading was Psalm 27. What a good reminder that God is my light and Salvation and that I have nothing to fear! 

Psalm 27

 The Lord is my light and my salvation —
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—    
of whom shall I be afraid?

 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall. 
 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear; 
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord    
all the days of my life, 
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
 For in the day of trouble 
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

 Then my head will be exalted 
    above the enemies who surround me; 
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; 
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me. 
 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek. 


Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger; 
    you have been my helper. 
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior. 
 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.














Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path 
    because of my oppressors. 
 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord     
in the land of the living. 
 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Cushion Covers

This morning I decided I wanted to make some pillow covers for the cushions on our lounges. Jeffrey and I went to Spotlight and we chose some different fabrics and then I had to get some sewing basics because I've never really sewn before. I got a starters kit which had pins and needles and a pin-cushion/tomato, scissors, a tape measure and a roll-cutter. I also bought a cutting mat and a better roller cutter and a big bag of buttons.

We went home and I watched a YouTube video on how to make cushion covers and then I got measuring and cutting. Once I had it all ready to go we drove out to Jeffrey's parent's house so I could use his Mum's sewing machine. She sat with me and helped because I was a bit nervous about using the machine as I hadn't used one since year 8 sewing! By the 3rd and 4th cushions I was doing it all on my own and am really happy with the results. 


The blues and greys in the fabrics match the blue leather lounges really well. I'm thinking about adding some buttons to them but will see in a few days how I feel about it! 

The End Result
(I should have taken a photo of them before I started to compare)

This Life

There's no special reason for me starting this blog, except that I've started a few before for different purposes and they've never really come alive, and I keep thinking about writing and am always reading other people's blogs and I keep thinking to myself 'I could do that...I could write like that or share what I've been making or doing' and so finally today I did it. I have a blog, and at the moment I'm not going to give a huge purpose or try to make it sound any good. I'm just going to write. I'll write about what God has been teaching me and about my designs and about my life. The life that isn't my own but is Christ's because He loves me and gave Himself up for me. 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20