Sheet Curtains.

Alright, so here it is. My very first Do-it-yourself post!! For my Birthday I got a sewing machine!! Something I have been wanting for years and I was thrilled! Problem was, I have never touched a sewing machine in my life. Well through much research and watching videos of basic sewing knowledge I embarked in my very first project- curtains. Now, let me tell you curtains probably aren't easy peasy in the rank of sewing projects but it wouldn't be Abby like if it wasn't a challenge. 

So here it goes- I found two pairs of twin sheets at Goodwill for $4.50, I was in love with the pattern and colors and figured even if it didn't go as planned I only wasted $4.50.

Materials:

2 flat twin sheets

sewing machine

iron

*How much you need will depend

Step 1: Fold the fitted sheet in half (hot dog style) and cut down center. 

2: Cutting down the center. (Ironing a straight line helps keeps each side pretty even in size)

3: Then I trimmed the bottom. I cut about a 10inches off so that the extra fabric I didn't need wasn't getting in my way.

4: Creating clean cut edges. Fold the rough edge about 1cm and iron flat.

5: Next, fold over again to create the clean cut edge. (No fraying fabric pieces flying around) 

6: Sew the clean cut edge. My tension was set on 2 and I used just a basic straight stitch. 

7: I work better when i iron where I want my straight lines to be, rather than pinning. Eventually I'll have to get over this cause I won't be able to do it for all projects but I'll use it until it no longer works :)

8: Where I am going to sew. I left about a 1 1/2 inch border at the top. 

9: Then I hung the curtains on the window that is going to become their new home and pinned where I want them to fall. Cut off the extra fabric and sew a straight stitch across the bottom. 

Final Product!

I think they look great, especially for my very first sewing attempt! :)

Ab

Empty hands.

This line of the song Fall Apart by Josh Wilson always sends my mind racing.


"Blessed are the ones who understand 
We've got nothing to bring but empty hands"

How true is this though! We have nothing that would ever amount to anything in God's book. We can try and try to please him and live a life worthy of Him, but we are all still sinners and still all fall short so the best thing we can do is run to him with our hands empty and hearts full. So here I sit, Lord, with my hands empty and praising and thanking you Lord for your unfailing mercy and grace. Thank you that you love and see the beauty in empty hands. Beauty in the broken and fallen. You are the healer and fulfiller of everything, so why would I or anyone else ever need anything else? My prayer for me and everyone that reads this is that we will all realize we are all broken, troubled, fallen people and we need to come with open hearts and empty hands to a Father that loves us through everything. AMEN. 

Stay encouraged,

Ab

Smiling heart.

So, for Christmas Henry got a new camera. The funny thing is that I'll probably use it wayyyy more than he does. Here are a few snapshots of two of my kitties and also a squirrel that I was chasing around the yard using his zoom. 

Not professional pictures, but they offer a tiny glimpse into my world and what makes my heart smile. 


<3 Ab

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

I'm normally not the type to get excited for a new year, make unrealistic goals, or even recap the past but like I've said before-I love change. So here it is, my recap of 2011.

Things that I did in 2011-
-Didn't go to school for the first semester in my life
-Completed my first rubix cube
-Turned 21
-Shot my first gun
-Owned Justin Beiber nail polish
-Missed my college roommates
-Got a twitter
-Drove to West Virginia and back twice in one day
-Watched the 1st and 2nd season of Glee
-Perfected my british accent
-Took summer classes for the first time
-Yelled at a professor for the first time
-Failed a class (on purpose cause of the stupid professor!)
-Hated a professor with a passion
-Had to cancel my trip to Costa Rica
-Took care of 10 kittens and 5 adult cats
-Watched kittens be born
-Had a pegleg kitten
-Lose a cat to being run over by a car
-Laughed so hard I cried (not over the cat ^ :(  )
-Sang over the headset at work
-Was on the news
-Took crazy photo booth pictures with some of the most dearest people to my heart
-Became a team leader
-Survived my first health inspector while being the only leader in the store
-Yelled at the comcast people...4 times.
-Went to my first Bachelorette party
-Watched the entire series of 7th Heaven
-Moved into a cute new duplex
-Rode the public bus
-Watched one of my best friends get married
-Saw wild billygoats on the parkway
-traveled to NC with work to learn more about CFA
-Helped our Drive-thru team do over $1000 in one hour
-Was in the Christmas parade
-Played Words with Friends
-Spent Christmas morning with Henry's family
-Had the best Christmas I've had in years
-Spent New Years eve with 2 great friends playing Taboo and Scattegories
-Loved with all my heart

Here's to hoping 2012 is even better. <3

change.

Alright, I'm just going to go ahead and put it out there- I LOVE CHANGE. I love the mystery of starting over and making something different. Not only do I love change concerning my room layout, hair color, or favorite color. But to the more complicated things such as jobs, school, and my faith. If you were to ask any of my college roommates they would tell you "Yes, Abby rearranged her room about once a month." My poor husband, is going to come home to the house completely flipped upside down. :) I just can't help it though. Change is wonderful, it gives me the sense that any thing, any situation, and person has the potential to be great. Some times that just takes some: change. Its all about perspective. Take for example the room scenario. All of the stuff in the room is the same, you're just seeing it in a new and different way.


Change is great in faith, too. Throughout college I learned SOO much about the Mennonite culture and the little world they are all connected to. I loved it. Since I've graduated high school I have regularly attended so many different churches. It has been a great experience to hear or experience things I had never come into contact with. I've attended my home church, United Methodist, then 2 Baptists church, all the Mennonite churches in college, and my most recent-Pentecostal. All of these churches have given me something new to "chew" on and digest. From sitting down to sing hymns in the Mennonite churchs all the way to seeing people speak in tongues at the Pentecostal church- the change is wonderful and great for forming my own, unique faith and relationship with my unique and amazing creator. How wonderful though, really?? Having certain things He says that are nonnegotiable, but others that are free for interpretation to help form that deep and meaningful relationship. :) 


"Christians are supposed not merely to endure change, nor even to profit by it, but to cause it."

Harry Emerson Fosdick


I'm gonna change the world.


Ab

"Like" round 2

It's time for another "like" post. So here we go--
Some things I like===>


*Chick-fil-A (as a job and as a restaurant) 
*Cameras
*Polo's
*Internet at my house
*Friends
*My coworkers <3
*Purple
*Christmas lights
*Sharpies
*Pictures
*Scrapbooks
*Organizing
*New beginnings
*Letting go of the past
*Bible verses 


To end on that note, this has become my favorite Bible verse:


Phil 2:14- "Do everything without arguing or complaining."
         Help me do that if I fail.


Humbly,
Abby

First of many.

So lately I've been working on my bedroom and trying to "cheaply" make it more grown up. I initially was going to go with an earthy toned room-darker blues, greens, and deep purple. That didn't go too well. I realized that I need bright colors in my room otherwise its just sad and it's not really me. It's still not complete but it has come a long way, and it has bright colors! :)

Before

"Set your mind on things above, not on earthy things." Cor 3:2 reads the green wall decoration.
The blue reads:
"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed for His compassion's never fail. They are new each morning." Lamentations 3:22-23


This is one of my favorite things about my room so far.

My .50 coke glass to hold all my necklaces. :)


Stay encouraged! <3