surrender... (D)

My devotional for this year is Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. It is a wonderful, old classic book just full of wisdom and spiritual truths. Right now he is talking about surrendering all to give your utmost to Jesus. He says it takes..."a surrender of will...without reasoning, just out of pure obedience...shut out every other consideration...not the good of others, not the pain or sacrifice, not the embarrassment...only my utmost for His highest." So that has become my word for this year...Surrender...of my children...my grandchildren...my husband...my parents health...my finances...my very life.

"For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And trust that my life will bring honor to Christ whether I live or die." Philippians 1:20


Something sweet and full of love...
The beautiful image on this card is from Heartwarming Vintage...the paper is by Pink Paislee...the cute pick is from Michael's...the flower is EK Success and the ribbon is PTI.

I've read somewhere that envelopes are highly overrated and since my cards keep getting thicker and thicker I can certainly see why. Guess this will just have to be hand delivered!

Blessings,
Patty

dinner rolls...

My mother in law made the most delicious dinner rolls from scratch...they never looked perfect to her...sometimes they didn't rise enough...sometimes they rose too much...sometimes they didn't brown on the bottom...sometimes they were a little too brown...but to us they were just delicious. I remember the smell...the way the butter she melted over the top soaked into them just as they came out of the oven...exactly how it felt as you tore one apart and of course the taste as you popped that first bite in your mouth. We always ate family style and the choice as you got to the rolls was not should I take one...but should I take one...or two?

This is the next page of the recipe book I am making...the paper is from Basic Grey, Nook and Pantry...

The sentiment and cut-out heart are from ADORNit...

I typed up the recipe for dinner rolls and tucked it inside...

This recipe book started out as a gift for someone else but the sweet memories it is evoking have turned it into such a beautiful gift to me.

I've already finished the next page but I have to find the perfect recipe and memory to go with it...I think I have something in mind...

Sweet memories,

Patty

couldn't wait...

Okay, I am so loving the way this is turning out that I have to share it even before it's finished and given away. I don't think the recipient will mind...hopefully it will just make her more excited to receive it...

I have been seeing the neatest mixture of fabric and paper for journals by very creative people out in blogville. It really got me excited to create one (or two or three) of my own. They could turn into journals...scrap albums...or even recipe collections...the possibilities are endless.

I made a couple of pillows as a gift with this great retro fabric and knew it would be perfect to mix with paper into a recipe book. The images are large and very distinct and it just lends itself to this type of project.

Don't you just love this image from Crafty Secrets...the edges were distressed and then I went over them with Colorbox chalk ink Chestnut Roan.

The Moda fabric is full of these great retro kitchen images...

To start the project I painted the chipboard book in Spring Green by Apple Barrel. It was the closest color I could get to the jadeite look I was going for. I used the Chestnut Roan chalk ink around all the page edges.

Then I soaked all the fabric in a pot of black tea to give it a more distressed look, after rinsing it in water I threw it in the dryer to fray the edges a bit...I inked up the red and white polka dot paper from October Afternoon as well. I did all the stitching in layers and sewed on the buttons before adhering it to the chipboard book page.
Can't wait to start on the next page...I think I will make a pocket with a passed down recipe to tuck inside. You know I'll share it with you as soon as it's done!

Enjoy the day...do something creative...it feeds your soul.

Patty

happy new year...

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to look in on me from time to time. This blog journal has come to mean a lot to me...not only sharing with you what I'm working on but sharing with you a small part of me.

I'm excited about the New Year but then I always am...it's just part of my nature...new seasons...new school years...and a brand, spanking new decade. I don't know if your out there...I try not to obsess over it...whoever you are, I pray you have a blessed, abundant New Year!

Blessings,
Patty

family memories...

Just a quick post tonight...I am off to spend the day with my mom and sister, who is visiting from Texas. It will be a day for just us girls...Before I go, I wanted to share with you the plaque I made for my SIL...

These adorable little ones are her son and new baby granddaughter...

The paper is from Cosmo Cricket, the lace is a tea-dyed piece from Melissa Phillips, the sentiment is from tattered angels and the rest of the embellishments are from my stash.

I was lucky enough to get a new camera from my DH for Christmas but have yet to figure out how to use it...be patient with me as I learn to edit photos. I know I'm gonna love it in the long run.

Blessings,

Patty