Tutorial: Sewing a tag blanket!

My baby brother loves to rub tags. Whenever we give him a stuffed animal, he immediately goes for the tag and he's been known to reach inside clothes to find the tags! So, I made him a "taggie" blanket like this one:
It's very easy to make and it makes a great gift! I made up this pattern as I went, but I think it turned out pretty cute, don't you?

So anyway, here's how I did it.

Step 1:
We're making this for hugging and playing with, not for covering with so you can make it pretty small. I used one yard of fabric for two blankets. This is a charming polka-dot flannel. :)

Before you start, you'll want to wash and iron your fabric.

First, I folded it twice and cut across the seams to get four same size pieces of fabric.

Step 2:
Next, I took some satin blanket binding and measured it around the fabric loosely, you want some extra when you cut it, just in case.

Step 3:
Now, since we're putting tags in-between the fabric pieces I cut down the crease of the blanket binding so I could use it for both sides of the blanket.
Step 4:
Take one piece of blanket binding and one piece of your fabric and line them up for sewing. I wanted a pretty skinny edge so I let a lot hang off, you can adjust it to fit your preferences. Sew all the way down to the corner.I didn't use pins for this particular project, I prefer to "eyeball it" by pulling it tight to see if it's straight. Feel free to use pins if you'd like.Step 5:
When you get to the end stop and spread out the fabric and binding. I'm going to show you how I fold the corners.Bunch up the fabric and turn it so it lays straight across the next edge.
Like so:
Sew straight up the seam to hold it in place.Step 6:
Continue sewing and doing the corners just like that until you reach the end. Then, just fold the remaining binding under and sew it like the other corners. Cut the excess off.Step 7:
Voila!
Now make another one just like that for the other side.

Step 8:
Set out your tags and place them around the edging in the proper places and work out the spacing until you're happy. I used various types of ribbon and ric-rac for the "tags," you only need two inches or so of each kind.Step 9:
Once you're happy with the placement of the tags, turn both sides of the blanket inward (good sides together) and pin the tags in place. You'll want the loop of the tags facing inward.
Leave a little space (about 5 inches) un-pinned so that you can turn it right side out before you sew, just to check and makes sure everything looks right. This is where you'll need to adjust things like how far the tags stick out, making sure they're all flush.

Step 10:
Flip it back to it's inside-out state and sew right about where you placed your pins. Watch the seam that you made when you attached the binding to make sure your binding is the right width and your seam is straight. Don't forget to leave a space open for turning it right-side out!

Step 11:
Flip it right side out. To close the open edge, fold the fabric and binding inward so that it lines up with the rest of the blanket. Sew straight across (adding any extra tags in) and continue to sew a line all the way around the edge to finish it!

It's done!

You want to be careful ironing it, because satin binding and some types of ribbon will melt very easily. ;)

I hope this has been informative! I'm not the best at sewing, and I usually make up my own techniques, but I love it!

I'd love to hear about your sewing projects, leave a comment!

The Service Of The Lord

The Service Of The Lord





I love being in the service of the Lord.

I may not be a missionary, a Bible study leader, or a prophet.

but, I love being in the service of the Lord.

My ministry consists of my home and neighbors,

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

I may not be a minister to the poor or the mentally distressed,

but I love being in the service of the Lord.

I love to encourage others as they walk along the same path.

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

I thrive from moments spent in His loving word,

and I love being in the service of the Lord.

Wherever He places me, I shall go, joyfully pondering each monent along the way.

And, I love being in the service of the Lord.

--Ellie Arnatt

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."



~*~Courtney~*~

A Few Brief Thoughts on Hospitality

Many people I have come into contact with believe that the best place for a women to use her talents is out on the mission field. What they don't realize is how effective a girl can be in sharing the gospel from her home! This is why hospitality is so important for a stay at home daughter, as well as a stay at home wife and mother.

Being hospitable is not just the outward actions of entertaining guests and strangers, but it's also a matter of the heart. The home reflects the actions and attitudes of it's inhabitants. If you are cross and unfriendly, no one will find your home warm or inviting! If your house is God-centered, your home will be warm and comfortable to outsiders. This is one of the best ways a young girl can minister to the lost! It's also an indispensable tool for discipleship. Your home is not a place to hide away and block out the world. If you act like someone is imposing on your time or space, you will have lost your opportunity!

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging." 1 Peter 4:9

I've had many wonderful chats with friends and neighbors about our lifestyle and such at various parties and gatherings. If you are shy, or nervous about answering difficult questions the best way to become more at ease is to practice! Don't worry about what others think of you. Simply speak from your heart and rely on the Lord.

When done with the whole heart, homemaking is an art form! Cooking, cleaning, and decorating either for guests, or just your family can be a pleasure if you choose to see it as such! Sometimes, hospitality is simply helping with these things rather than actually interacting with the guests.

Hospitality is not always done from the home. The ministry of your home can also be doing things like cooking for invalids or new mothers or helping at your church. It's not necessary to be confined to your house, just as long as your family is centered from your home, which is centered on God.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2

Do you have anything to add? Leave your thoughts in a comment below!

Image from Allposters.com

Being Productive during your Single Years

Today I thought I'd share some ways that a single girl can live a fulfilled and productive life at home!

Sometimes it's easy to be unproductive or fall into slothfulness. I struggle with this from time to time. My natural self is lazy at heart and it takes a lot to conquer this fault! Some things I do to get motivated, particularly in the morning during chores and school are:

• Do your quiet time - When you start your morning with quiet time, the whole day goes better. It's much easier to be pleasant and productive when you have had your morning Bible reading and prayer time. Asking the Lord for help being productive is so very important.
• Get dressed - This may seem very obvious, but when you are homeschooled and don't leave the house as much, it's convenient to stay in your pajamas all day! It makes me feel much better and much more productive if I'm dressed and matched, with shoes, jewelry and makeup. It's truly amazing what this does to one's disposition.
• Put on some music - Music helps everyone feel peppy and happy! Singing is so much fun when working and Snow White was right, whistling while you work helps too!
• Wear an apron - Whenever I wear an apron I feel so much more feminine and productive. It's amazing what a little piece of cloth can do. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Plus, it's harder to get your clothes dirty! ;)
• Just get to work - When all else fails and you just aren't feeling very productive, just start working. Chances are, once you are in the middle of the chore it will be easier to get motivated to finish!
• Find a quiet place - When doing schoolwork, it's essential to find a quiet place to work. It's near impossible to be productive when so many distracting things are going on around you. I usually go outside, in my room, and I've even been known to do my schoolwork in my closet! Anywhere that you can concentrate.

Just remember:

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

Another thing I'd like to discuss, along the same lines, are some things other than schoolwork a girl can work on, particularly after high school graduation. These are things like:

• Homemaking Skills - It's very important for a girl to use this time in her life to learn the things that she, Lord willing, will need in the future as a wife, mother, and homekeeper. These include cooking, cleaning, all kinds of needlework and sewing skills, gardening, canning, making gifts, shopping, managing money and other various life skills.
• Helping your younger siblings with their schoolwork - This can be a great help to your mother, as well as a blessing to your siblings. It's also wonderful practice for you if you one day have the privilege of becoming a homeschooling mother!
• Reading and Writing - After graduation, this is the best way to further your education on your own. All you really need to be thoroughly educated are good books and a willing mind. Writing is a wonderful way to express yourself and what you've learned. You can write on a blog, which is the easiest way to publish your thoughts, or you can be adventurous and submit an article to a magazine or a popular website. This allows you to share your talent and passion with many others.
• Investing your time in your family and your church - This is perhaps the most important area of a girl's life. What a wonderful way to spend your single years! Instead of focusing on yourself, share your energies and talents with those around you. Doing for others is extremely rewarding and lots of fun!
• Journaling - I quite enjoy journaling. There's no pressure for me to write exceptionally well or collect my thoughts. I simply write what's on my mind or what's happened during the day. It's very nice to have that recorded for later use. I can come back years from now and see exactly what day this happened, or what I was thinking about when I was thirteen. I've kept a multitude of journals over the years and it's really a fun activity!
• Running a Home Business - This is a great way to start saving for your future. I run a very small graphic design business from my home computer and I'm also going to start teaching piano lessons to beginners. Just take some time to think about your strengths and use this time at home to expand those skills or learn some new skills that could one day be marketable. You can be such a blessing to others by running a home business. These are skills that can help you be a helpmeet to your future husband as well.
• Have fun! - This is a wonderful season of your life! Play with your family, get together with friends, socialize at church and use these years without the responsibility of a family of your own to the fullest. Never take any of it for granted. The Lord has been so good to me! I have no reason at all to be anything but thrilled.

May the Lord bless you during your years as a stay at home daughter!

--Flibby