Wednesday 13 May 2015

Yarning Along and Living Virtuously

Linking today with Small Things for Yarn Along.

Peppa Pig is finished! (Ravelry notes are here). I love her - and I think Cuddlepie will love her too.



I love her little dress with the button up back.



I love her curly tail (that took three days of being wrapped around a knitting needle hidden in the bottom of my wardrobe to get curly enough).



I love her rosy cheeks. I wasn't sure about the chain stitch method for doing the facial features but phew, they worked well. Faces are always scary. I have seen too many toys that end up looking quite sinister due to the face not working out!



It is always a bit tricky to make gifts for the littlies without them seeing. I really need to do the details like the face in daylight - it makes such a difference. I have done finishing details at night before and they just don't look right come the morning! But how to do that without be spotted?! Peppa's details were done in the bathroom! (I promise I kept her hygienic!)

I have now moved on to my latest Adventures in Stitchcraft project, which I am calling the Shoulders Jumper. I am making it without the shoulder rolls though!



I posted here about re-sizing the pattern - first time I have tried to do this! Unfortunately, my figure does not look QUITE like the lovely lady in the magazine, so I have had to size the pattern up. This is one of the reasons why I wanted to start Adventures In Stitchcraft. I tend to stay in my knitting comfort zone and knit projects that I know will succeed. But I am already trying something I would never have bothered with previously. I hope it will succeed; but even if it doesn't, it will be a learning experience and hopefully will lead to improvement and learning new skills.

I have knitted the gauge swatch and I love the pattern. Really simple too - I shared it in the previous post. Definitely needs blocking to bring out the definition though.




I am reading a book that I just knew I would love! I have longed to purchase this book since it came out, but held off for a while as I had already spent my 'pocket money' for the first few months of the year. No superfluous spending allowed! It was quite expensive, as it is not available in Australia, and shipping from the US is not cheap. But I have the homesteading DVD set which I just love to watch over and over as they are just such a lovely family.



The book is Living Virtuously  by Erin Harrison. I haven't read much yet, but it is just wonderful so far.
I find Erin to be so inspiring, mainly because she is so honest. This book is so down-to-earth and Erin is happy to admit to mistakes, hard times, desperation and loneliness, and that is not easy. This book won't leave you feeling that you can never measure up to the Proverbs 31 woman - it will simply inspire you to strive harder.

This from the introduction really resonated with me. 

'Woman was not only meant to be a help meet and mother, she was meant to be a person who had dreams, challenges and drives. She was meant to be a Proverbs 31 lady who was full of enterprising adventures and money-making ideas.'

I have read numerous books about being a godly woman that seem to say that a woman should be completely fulfilled being a help meet and mother, and only that. Now, don't get me wrong; that is, of course, our main role and should always be given priority. But I just do not feel that women need to be so meek and submissive that they lose all their hopes and dreams entirely. I have always dreamed of having a home business and these two sentences of Erin's have really given me the boost I need to know I am not neglecting my family and my God-given role as a wife and mother if I pursue a dream of mine as well.

I can just tell I am going to love EVERY word of this book! I would love to hear from anyone else who has read it.

We were at the funeral parlour this morning, saying goodbye to our little angel. I know I will see her again, but it is very hard to say goodbye.

When I arrived home, this was on the back doorstep. 


A dear friend felt that we needed this today. She had seen what she calls a 'God-sky' this morning, where the sun is rising behind a cloud and you get rays of sunlight beaming down onto the green hills and up into the heavens. It made her think of our little angel in heaven. She did not know that the service was this morning, but God did and put this loving gesture in her heart for us. 

And this is what I saw out my kitchen window when I got home.



God's promise indeed - that He has our little girl safely with Him and we will see her soon.


20 comments:

  1. Peppa came out darling! And there is nothing sinister about her face :) Thank you also for sharing a bit about the book. I also have Erin's DVD's and love them all. Her book sounds wonderful too. Have a lovely week Jayne~~

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    1. Thanks - I think she is cute. Yes, I think I will really enjoy this book,as I just love the DVDs and the blog.

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  2. Thank you so much for taking the time to write a piece about my book. My dear friend from France told me about your post and it was lovely. I feel so special! My life is a miracle because I was a total mess. By the grace of God I was able to find joy, peace, and integrity! If I could find virtue and keep my home, anyone can! There is hope for anyone! One stitch at a time!

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    1. You are so welcome! Thanks so much for visiting me. I have been saving for your book and was so happy to finally purchase it. I just know it is going to be a real blessing to me, just from flicking through and reading a few pages here and there. I cannot wait to have the time to sit down and really concentrate on your words. I feel so special that you came to visit - thanks!

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  3. Hello your pig came out so cute and you did a great job making her! I am here from the yarn along blog party!
    Julie

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    1. Thank you! I do love making toys and I was happy with the way she turned out.

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  4. A beautiful piece of work, the Peppa pig is a delight. The flowers were stunning and so thoughtful. God bless.

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    1. Thank you. I was so overwhelmed by my friend's thoughtfulness.

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  5. Jayne, my heart aches for your family over the sweet baby, and I am so thankful we can mourn wih hope in Jesus. <3 hugs to you.
    Peppa turned out darling and I so agree about faces making or breaking a cuddly- yours is perfect!

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    1. So true, Sarah. I don't know how people cope without the knowledge that their loved ones are with Jesus.
      Peppa now has to hide in the wardrobe, without being dicovered until 24 June. This is the first time I am not rushing to a birthday deadline!

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  6. I'm so sorry to read about the loss of your precious grandbaby. Bless your hearts.

    Peppa Pig is delightful. I think my favorite part is her curly tail. :^)

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    1. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
      I am having trouble keeping the tail curly though. I think I may have to thread something through it to tighten it up. Have to think about it!

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  7. The knitted Peppa Pig is so whimsical. I know my little toddler would love it. My thoughts are with you. The same sadness endures my dear friend. xx

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    1. Thank you. It certainly is more prevalent than you would think. All the best to your friend as well - it is a hard time.
      Peppa is cute. Now I am on the lookout for a Shaun the Sheep pattern! It was printed a while ago and is virtually impossible to find!

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  8. Beautiful post! Am sending you lots of high fives and encouragement for the knitting adventure you are challenging yourself with, resizing a pattern. Please keep us informed on the progression, highs and lows of this project.

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    1. Thank you, it is a bit daunting but fingers crossed! I post every Sunday about my Stitchcraft adventures - would love to have you visit!

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  9. Jayne,
    What a delightful visit I had with you here. Love the knitted piggie and the vintage sweater. I hopped over to that post; isn't it fun to read those old handicraft books? I will look forward to seeing your sweater. Thank you for commenting about my post.

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    1. Thank you for visiting! I do love all things vintage. I just love how the ladies always looked so lovely, even just to do the housework! The jumper is a daunting prospect, but let's hope it turns out.

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  10. Peppa Pig is delightful. Those flowers are such a lovely thought and arched colourful prisms reaching from one end of the sky to another are always a reassuring hug from God. Thinking of your lovely lady. xx

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    1. Thank you. Rainbows are my favourite - they always make me stop in my tracks and just thank God.

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