It is amazing--incredible--unbelievable--how much longer a simple project takes when you have an infant. Well, okay. This isn't exactly the most simple dress I've made. I did have to actually read the pattern. And then read it again. And then squint at the tiny diagrams until I decided they must be wrong. So I can't blame everything on the baby. But we are just a few hand-stitches away from completion around here.
Some people don't like hand sewing. A lot of people don't like it. But I enjoy the pace. When I first got engaged to Donnie, I had grand notions of actually hand sewing my entire wedding dress. But then we set the date--only 3 months later--and I figured it would be alright to use a machine!
But I love that when you hand-sew an item you are able to contemplate--really think about why you are making this thing. So here I sit, with some great music on pandora (Nora Jones station!) thinking, hoping, and praying for the little girl who will soon wear this dress.
I love graphic design. I am a sucker for good packaging and a clever ad campaign. I've played around with it a little here and there, but I'm leaving the design careers to the real artists.
I did have a little time last week to whip up some design-y paper products for ROPE, though.
I have been hand writing my packing slips for a long time, so these will come in handy.
And earlier this year I started sending special discount codes in all of my packages--good for an entire season. So if you buy some fabric, look for one of these if your package:
Yesterday I was able to get to my sister Abby's house for our first project day in a long time. She has this (infuriating) way of starting an finishing a project in a single session.
I don't know how she does it. This is a ticker-tape doll quilt. She didn't get it finished before I had to leave, but she is well on her way. Adorable, right?
With my new-momma brain I could barely even think of a project I wanted to take, so I took some fabric to process for the shop.
I mostly go for the conversation. My sister-in-law Emily was there working on some invitations, but I forgot to take a picture. Next time!
I am humbled. When I decided to donate some money to Davis' adoption fund last week, I hoped that maybe maybe I'd be able to squeeze out 50 bucks from the week's sales. But with the help of customers who chose to shop during our fundraiser, we were able to raise the 50 PLUS another $20.35!
I don't always share the details of our family's giving, but when I ask for the help of readers and customers, I like to show that the money went where I said it was going. So here it is!
It says, "Thanks Anna" but it should say thank you to all of you. Thanks for coming by the shop, and thanks for helping make a difference in this family's life. It is truly an honor when He lets us see some of His work, isn't it!
And we were just a tiny bit of the efforts. The Jupin family has raised over $6000 from donations, and I can't wait to see that number climb higher and higher. Remember, until little Davis is home with his new family, 5% of sales will go to this project. So, thank you in advance for that!
Oh, and that melty-bead heart with the initials in it up there? That was the souvenir my husband brought me from camp last week. LOVE him!
pur·pose -- the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
There are few questions in life that will keep a person awake at night the way these will:
What is my purpose?
Why am I here?
Why do I exist?
If you are a believer, you may have been told that your purpose is to glorify God--to make Him known. But what does that mean from day to day?
If you are a parent, you know that your purpose is to prepare your children for adulthood. But that is a seriously long-term goal. Is there something you can complete now, accomplish in a shorter amount of time, that gives you purpose?
It's funny that this question has come up several times in the last few weeks.
And in my life, the answer is always the same: Serve others.
One of my favorite projects is a fund-raiser. I don't have a lot of money to freely give, so if I want to give BIG, I have to find a creative way to do so. A couple years ago it was for Heifer International. (We raised $500 for that one!) And then it was breast cancer research. ($325 and still climbing!) And there have been a few little projects in between.
I have to say, there is nothing like the feeling of giving. There is nothing like the way I have felt when I finally am able to sign over that big check for someone in need. To give without the promise of getting anything in return. The feeling of purpose is enormous.
I know I'm not the only one out there continually asking myself, what is it I'm supposed to be doing with this life, so I feel compelled to share this with you. For the next couple of days, I'm dedicating 25% of the sales from ROPE to the Jupin family fund-raising effort. If you have not read their story, please do so now. But in short, they have decided to adopt a little boy from Russia who has down syndrome--the same age as their birth son, who also has down syndrome!
Their story is about doing something BIG for His kingdom.
Something you cannot do of your own power.
Something WITH purpose, ON purpose.
Something that might even hurt a little.
And I'm fired up and inspired to do the same. And at the very least support them in their efforts!
Through Wednesday, I'm giving them 25% of the sales from ROPE. But I want to do more than that, too. So! Every time you buy something from ROPE or LASSO THE MOON, I'm going to give 5% of that sale to YOUR CHOICE of the Susan G Komen foundation, OR the Jupin family! They have a huge amount to raise ($25,000!) before they'll be able to bring home their little boy, and until he's home, I want to help out. Thank you in advance to all my customers who will help me do this. And please also consider donating directly to the cause. Imagine how quickly their financial burden would be lifted if each of us pitched in 10 bucks. Who doesn't have 10 bucks?
Here's the link.
Where do you find your sense of purpose?
**the photos from this post are all links to The Adopt Shoppe. The jewelry is beautiful, and all of the proceeds are going toward their own adoption!**
Ethan:Poor daddy has a sunburn. He's so cute. Me: You are such a sweet, loving boy. Ethan: I love everybody. But not bad people. Me: Jesus wants us to love bad people, too. Ethan: LOVE bad people?! Me: That's right. Jesus loves bad people. Ethan: Did he even love those bad people who put him on the cross and made him die? Me: He did. Because really all of us are bad, and that's the reason Jesus died on the cross. Because he wanted us to be able to go to heaven if we trust in him. Ethan: Daddy, did you trust in Jesus? *Daddy nods and smiles. He's leaving this one to me.* Ethan: Was it sad when he died on the cross? Me: Yes. Very sad. His mommy was there when he died. Don't you think she was sad, too? Ethan: Yeah. Is Mary his mommy? Me: Yep. Ethan: Mommy, look how fast I can get out of this bed. But not as fast as Jesus. He can do it faster than anyone. Me: Oh, really? Ethan: Yeah, and Mary can fly. She's a fairy.
In all the vintage sheet excitement of my previous post, I forgot to show you another great find at the thrift store last week.
I was heading for the register to pay for my last load of sheets, at the last store of the day, when this little beauty caught my eye. I almost let it go, but then thought even if it's a little beat up, I can still use it outside for picnics, right?
Turns out, it's not even a little bit beat up. And it was only 12 bucks!
Does anyone know what store this came from originally? Did she have a line at Target? I don't know, but I'm happy I looked twice on my way out the door. Yay for thrifting!
If you don't know about this designer, you need to. She is one of the top modern quilt designers of the decade. She uses simple fabrics and simple designs to make stunning works of art. And while you're at it, check out her book
It's one of the first quilt books I bought, and what I used to make this!
Hello! I'm so glad you found me! I believe in living life with purpose and creativity, and I want to inspire you to do the same with project tutorials, craft ideas, and funny stories of real family life. Follow me as I strive to find the joy in every day!
