Scarf Love

I've been loving scarves lately. Here in the south I find it rarely gets cold enough for my winter coat. Most days I will just throw on a jacket or sweater and wrap a scarf around my neck.

Before Christmas I decided I wanted to find some scarves for Sweet Girl. Because of Rett Syndrome she drools quite a bit. I hate for her to have to wear a bib - she is 7 years old. I decided a scarf would help keep her shirt dry and be stylish at the same time. Unfortunately, when I started looking for scarves it was hard to find much that was cute, easy-wash, soft.....

I wondered what I could make so I did a little Googling and came across this T-shirt Memory Scarf. Perfect!

Here is my version for Sweet Girl. (She isn't mad. She just refuses to ever smile for the camera.)

This scarf works great for the intended purpose. It catches the unfortunate drool. It keeps her warm and dry. And it is soft and easy to wash.
Sweet Girl gets lots of compliments when she wears it and people enjoy looking at the "memories" from the shirts.

I recently made a fun scarf for myself. Last week I was sorting some things to put in my antique booth when I came across some old quilt squares. I was about to tag them and try to sell them when I had a thought - "These would make a unique scarf." Off I went to my sewing machine.

I cannot believe I am showing you this picture. I absolutely despise pictures of myself. To make matters worse, this one is blurry, off-center and just plain yuck. But I did want you to see what the scarf looked like "in action."

All I did was sew the squares end-to-end, fold the whole thing in half, right sides together and stitched - leaving one end open. I turned it, pressed it and stitched the end closed. I probably should have (and may still) top stitch around the whole thing.

There are so many colors that it goes with just about anything. I also like that it is light-weight and will still work on cool spring days.

I'm linking up to Make Your Monday over at Twice Remembered. Head on over to see what others are making today.

{Good friend, follow your father's good advice; don't wander off from your mother's teachings. Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck. Proverbs 6:20}

Fingerprint Friday - Snow Day!

I am linking up to Fingerprint Friday over at The Rusted Chain.

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?
We currently live in South Arkansas. Snow is rare here, but yesterday God sent us snow!

I actually heard on the radio this morning that there is snow on the ground in all 50 states right now. Isn't that amazing?!

Oh, how refreshing it was to hear the squeals of delight as the children played in the snow. School was closed today "due to inclement weather." We probably don't even have 2 inches. And, actually, most of it is melted already. It is a snow day, nevertheless!

I know that many of you are probably praying that God would make it quit snowing. You have had enough. But down here we are enjoying every bit of it. I am, anyway.

God's fingerprints are certainly evident in each tiny snowflake - intricate, unique, creative, beautiful!

Thank you, God, for this snow day!

Be sure to head over to The Rusted Chain to see other's interpretations of God's fingerprints.

{He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed - who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter—suddenly it's spring! Psalm 147:16-17}

Repurpose

re·pur·pose (rē-pûr'pəs)
tr.v. re·pur·posed, re·pur·pos·ing, re·pur·pos·es
To use or convert for use in another format or product

Today I wanted to show you a couple of my recent repurposing projects. Please forgive the bad photography. I know that most of the issue is me, the photographer, but I really do need a new camera. Mine is just worn out, I think.

Several months ago I bought this old aluminum lunch box at a garage sale. I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but for $1 I figured I could come up with something.

It is now my new recipe file box. Before, I had my recipes in an ugly plastic file box that was overflowing. I like this so much better. Inside the little jar with the "quilted" top I have some paper clips, mini post-it notes, etc. Handy for when I need to mark a recipe or make notes about it.

The tab files are some I had picked up from Target's $1 Spot a long time ago.

I love my new recipe box and it looks really cute sitting on top of my refrigerator!

One more repurpose project before I go....

Did any of you see these in the Christmas section at WalMart? I spotted them before Christmas, but didn't want to pay the price. But I immediately thought of all the fun things I could do with that container.

• a picture frame and photo storage
• a gift tin filled with handmade cards
• a fun display piece filled with a collection of buttons, marbles, etc.
• a gift tin filled with homemade goodies
• craft supply storage

After Christmas there were a lot of these left. There were also other varieties with plain tins (without the "window"). It took WalMart awhile to mark these way down. Even 50% off was too much for me - and everyone else, obviously, considering how many were still on the shelf. Finally, they went to 75% off and I snagged several. I think they ended up being around $1 each.

Okay, I have to admit that the snacks inside were worth the $1. Yummy!

For now, I have two of them holding some Memory Makers foam stamp sets. Eventually they may be repurposed (again) into something else.

What is your most recent or favorite repurpose project? I'd love to hear about it!


{Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21}

Bloom....please!

Hmmmm.... I wonder if God finds it humorous that I named my blog {Bloom Right Here!}? When I chose that name I was in a good spot; growing and thriving in my comfortable little world. How many times since then have I found myself withering instead of blooming?

Sometimes I think God is saying to me, "This is where I planted you. Bloom....please!" If only I were a better listener. I am trying.

In turn, I hope my bulbs grow and bloom. I have paper whites in the milk glass pedestal and the boots and an amaryllis in the other white container. Paper whites are new to me and I am not sure how quickly they usually grow. Have you ever grown an amaryllis? Especially if you have children, you really should try it. They grow so fast! It is fun to put a ruler in the soil beside it and check the height each day.

I always buy my bulbs on clearance after Christmas. Of course, these containers came from the thrift store. The itty-bitty black boots were my boys'. When I came across them recently I started to get rid of them, but decided I couldn't part with them. Do you know how many pair of these "muddy boots" my boys have had? They have been a wardrobe essential for them since they were toddlers. At 9 and 12 they are still wearing them.

Just before Christmas I received a package in the mail from Jill of Jill Ruth & Co. Inside was this beautiful piece of art. I wish I would have taken a better picture. Hand stitching. Free-form machine stitching. Old buttons. Bent wire. It is absolutely wonderful!

Jill also sent these little "word nuggets." So fun!

Thank you, Jill, for reminding me to bloom! And thank you, Lord, for sending me friends to remind of this!


{...the desert will bloom with flowers. It will be very glad and shout with joy. The glorious beauty of Lebanon will be given to it.... Everyone will see the glory of the Lord. They will see the beauty of our God. Isaiah 35:2}

Just a Little Something

Lots going on in my head and in my heart right now, but I'm not sure any of it is blog-worthy. I don't have much time today. Just thought I would show you a little project I did recently.

In the February issue of Country Living I saw this little tray. It is not exactly my style, but it still caught my eye.

I decided to use some of these little black trays I've had for a long time and make something a little more to my liking. I have 8 of these and I'm sure I paid less than $1 for them at the thrift store a few years ago. First I primed them and then painted them with my favorite red paint.

Then I used Mod Podge to adhere some old reciepts. The store-bought version is okay, but I like mine better! I think these would be good to put in the laundry room or on your dresser to catch the "pocket change." Or set it on a table next to your door so you will always have a place to drop your keys when you come in. My version is also metal, so that adds some magnetic possibilities.

See that quilt the trays are sitting on? That is one of my newest thrift store finds. I will have to blog about it soon.

I am linking up to Becky's blog again today. Just click on the button below to see some fun projects.

Saturday's Psalm

{"O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things." Psalm 98:1}

A Thought for Thursday

This is all I've got for you today....

{Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10}

I'm linking up to "$100 Ideas Under $100" over at Becky's blog.

A Look Back

Hello! I hope you haven't completely given up on me - or just plain forgot about me and my little old blog. We traveled some (and by some I mean from Arkansas to Kansas to Colorado, back to Kansas and home to Arkansas) at Christmas. Since we have been home I have been trying to come up with some great, inspiring blog post to start out the new year. I am still trying to come up with it.....

Until then I thought I would share some photos from the past year. I just went through my pictures month-by-month and picked a favorite for each month.

Well-dressed chairs for January.

February's beautiful bloom!

Hope springs eternal in March.


Sweet Girl's April Easter dress.


A latch from an old leather suitcase I sold in May.


June was canning season. {wink}

It was not I who turned 40 in July!

An August prayer.

And a September prayer.

Lovin' my clothesline on an October day!

November is family picture time.

December's simple tree decorations.

That is my quick year-in-review. I wonder what my pictures will be like a year from now? I know that God has good things in store for our family. Waiting on (and recognizing) those "good things" is sometimes difficult. My January 2010 prayer needs to be one of patience and surrender.

{Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer. Job 11:13}

{We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. Romans 5:3}

Hope

I'm sorry that I have been "away" for so long. I won't go into all the reasons or excuses. You know how life is - especially this time of year. I will say this, right now the blog world is full of Christmas decor. Everywhere I turn I see beautiful photos of stockings, trees and wreaths. Don't get me wrong, I usually love to decorate. I have boxes and boxes of decorations. But this year I guess I am having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit.....

....Until this past weekend when I had a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Many of you have likely had the privilege of watching your child perform in a Christmas Pageant. You know the excitement of seeing your child re-enact the Christmas story. Unless you are the parent of a child with "special needs." Then maybe your child has been left out. Or possibly worse, he or she has been included, only to stick out like a sore thumb. You are proud of your child but you know the hurt of them not fitting in.

Now imagine a stage filled with smiling children; all with differing abilities.

The angels are there.

And so are the shepherds and stable animals.

The wise men have brought gifts.

And of course Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus are present. And the bright star. And the innkeeper. And narrators.....

Yesterday, with tears streaming down my face, I witnessed the most beautiful portrayal of The Nativity that I have ever seen. "Labels" and "syndromes" were forgotten. Wheelchairs and walkers didn't matter. Perfection took on a new meaning as some of God's very special children shared His very precious story.

Fancy decorations don't matter. Neither do expensive toys and gifts. What does matter is this.....Over 2000 years ago a baby boy was born in a stable, bringing the gift of Hope to the world. Thanks to Hope Landing, that gift of Hope is being shared with children and parents who desperately need it.

{But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11}