It's Been HOW Long???

OH MY!! I can't believe it has been almost an entire year since I have posted on my blog. It's funny how sometimes you get so busy, that you forget about other people and things that you should be doing.

I ended up having to get a new laptop. The screen on the first one cracked in the middle. I was able to take off the screen and connect a monitor to it, so it is still useful as a desktop. Most of my patterns are still on it and most of my pics and music too. So grateful that I didn't loose all that again like when the laptop's hard drive gave up.

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas holiday. I also hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year in 2013.

My oldest son (T) is getting married at the end of March, to a wonderful young woman (N). I have been asked to make her wedding dress!! I feel so honored. My kids and I have known N for several years and actually lost touch with her for a little while, but it sure is great to have her become a part of our family. We will be traveling to WV for the wedding, because that's where the majority of her family is. That's OK, I'm ready for a road trip, I think. I have been a home body for so long.

I have a couple of pics a preview of fabric for the wedding dress and a sneak peek of the quilt I am making for them. The quilt is a Scrappy one, although all the fabrics were going to be made into something else when I bought them. I'm glad they are now made into a quilt top.

This will be the top of the wedding gown I am making for N.
 It is going to be absolutely awesome!

I did tell the happy couple that this quilt was partly their Christmas and partly their wedding gifts. They were OK with that, considering all they got to see was a few fabric swatches sewn together as a representation of their quilt.

Can you tell if these pics are any better than the other pics here on my pages? I hope that these last few look tons better. I got a new camera and I am learning how to use the different settings so I can take great pictures of everything. Kevin laughs at me because I am always talking picturess. I guess he thought I was bluffing all the times I said "I wish I had a good camera."  Here's a pic of the inside of the windshieild on my Grandpa's truck...it was softly raining while we were eating hot dogs at a place called "Weiner Works" after a recent short road trip we went on...

Here is what was outside the truck...

I realize it is still a bit blurry, but I was so excited about using my camera, that I didn't use the manual focus. Could have been much worse looking. At our family Christmas dinner, I took 8 or 10 pics of my youngest son D before getting one that was not blurry. He was sitting still and being a good sport about my having to take so many pics to get a good one. I sure love that baby boy of mine.

I still haven't finished redoing the inside of my house yet, but it still moving along. Maybe 2013 will be a more productive year here around the house.

Many prayers and blessings, Michelle~~Agape Stitches

Myrtle Beach in January

Kevin and I went to Myrtle Beach over this past weekend 

with a lovely couple from our church. 

They are wonderful people and we all had a great time! 

Here are a few of the pictures I took of our trip.

You really put me on the 14th floor?

Looking south down the shoreline

poor jelly fish

Kevin trying to decide what to do with the jelly fish...the tide took care of it.

I never wear shoes when walking on the beach. I hate the feel of sand in my shoes...

....but I do love how it feels between my toes!!!

 The wind was blowing so hard that I couldn't keep the camera strap out of the way!!

This ferris wheel was two blocks away! Its said to be the largest in the world.

Kevin, Me, Brenda, and Clarence

Thank you to Clarence and Brenda for taking us with you to the beach.

We had a great time and enjoyed making new friends with your 'old'. friends!

Thank you to Pastor Micah Hucks, his wife Donette, and everyone at Bread of Life Church for making us feel so welcome and for the wonderful dinner.

Hope that everyone is having a blessed time!!

I'm Gonna Try a Block Of the Month among other things...

I've decided to try the free BOM from Craftsy, using only fabrics that I already have...it should be interesting to say the least. If you like quilting, or want to learn quilting, this would be a great place to start.  You can join in any time, and work at your own pace.

Here's the link to Craftsy:   http://blog.craftsy.com/2012/01/bomstartsnow/


Hopefully I'll be able to work this BOM into my daily remodeling projects around the house. I'm so looking forward to getting the house finished. I'm tired of the dust and dirt flying around (allergies--on high alert!!) and the critters in the attic (squirrels and birds--yuck...they belong in the oak tree in the front yard)!

Hope everyone is having a greatly blessed day!!!

Finally...got to take a break from all the work!

Sorry, I have been absent once again. The remodel on the house is moving along slowly...the master bedroom is almost done....that means I'm 1/2 done with the house...yipppie!!  I have had computer issues too and am finally getting it sorted out again. I did however loose all of my pictures, patterns, documents and everything else. Yes I had a back up but it was messed up too! Now I have to hunt all those wonder patterns back down and find all those amazing blogs and websites again....joy, joy.  Hope every one is have a greatly blessed day!

Our new logo...Kevin described it and I drew it up on the computer!

Miles of Stitches and Lots of Pictures

Sorry for the long absence....been busy sewing lots of different things. Guitar Straps, Baby Shoes, Bibs, Burp Cloths, Changing Pads, Purses, a Blouse and mending a few clothing items.

Guitar straps -- fitted to each person

 Purses of all sizes, shapes, and colors

Bibs for the new little ones

 Burp cloths

 Shoes for those tiny feet.

 Matching Sets (bibs and burp cloths)

 Changing Pads

 More shoes

 This is a gift package I sent to friends of mine in GA. They just had a beautiful little girl on July 24. She was  7 weeks early. She is doing great and will be going home from the hospital soon. Congrats Brooks Family!!

 This is the changing pad for the Brooks family...this pic is on its side, so the big letter in the middle is a Z instead of an N

I made this wallet for myself.

I made this bag for my sister...it has a removable organizer inside.  

Can you tell that Purple is her favorite color?

removable organizer

*********Please note that all the patterns that I have used to make these items were found free on the internet, except for the little green bag (my own design) and the Guitar Straps (I used my hubby's leather one as a guide) and the Changing Pads are mine design as well.*********

Take a look at the sites listed below to find the patterns for the items shown above:

the removable purse organizer:

www.liaspace.com

My sister's purse:

www.jcarolinecreative.com

My new wallet is called Cash Keeper:

www.studiokatdesigns.com

  Bibs and Burp cloths -- petal bib pattern (enlarged for burp cloths): 

http://madquilter.blogspot.com

another Bib pattern I have used: 

PrudentBaby.com

 Baby shoes:

www.fleetingthing.com

www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com

The two bucket style purses (polka dots and purple with vine/leaf)

came from Kwik Sew # 3248 which I found as a free download here.

There are a lot of great patterns available for free on the internet if you take the

time to search them out. I have also found that there are some great people out there

that have already searched for lots of things and have compiled lists and made them available 

to all of us for free, so if you find a link to long list of what you maybe looking for, take

a minute or two and go thru the list...like this one for dress patterns. You will be amazed at what you will find.

Hope that every one is having an abundantly blessed life!!!

Wonderful Wedding

My cousin got married on Friday to his "perfect" girl. They are such a great couple! I hope they will enjoy many great years together.  Yes, these are the dresses that I made. They look great on everyone!
Glad all you gals liked them.  :))

Granny's new "DO"....Married to Papa for 62 years this year.  They talk eveyday and never go to bed angry at each other.
GOD is also number ~1~ in their lives (major key to good marriage and family)

Flower Girl Madison and Bride...matchig "DOs"

 Actually, everyone got a new "do" except for me, but that's ok, I'll get mine later.

Nikki

Kayla

Ashley

Amy.....I know I forgot the new "do" pic of her, but you got the idea from everyone else's pics.

Ring Bearer and Flower Girl.....Samuel and Madison

Bride and her Dad...He looks a bit too happy don't you think?...just kidding
He is happy that his "little girl" found the right guy.

Talk about a sugar rush....ssswwwweeetttt

Jon and Tab.......Congrats you guys!! Lots of Love!!

Kevin and I will be celebrating 5 years this year....wow....5 whole years that we have spent together....amazing to me that he is still here with me.....I'm not always easy to get along with.
I love you Kevin!!

Happy Birthday!!

I just wanted to say a quick hello and Happy Birthday to my friend Dorian...love you girl and hope you are having a wonderful day!!!!

something close to her heart and worth supporting

This is Dorian (in the center) and her family!!