January | 2007 | Archaic Inspirations

Archive for January, 2007

Fabric Finds

January 28, 2007 · Filed under Crafting

I just discovered that Goodwill is a wonderful place for fabric finds! I got these four treasures there in the last couple weeks and picked up a few more today. You can really happen upon some screaming deals being that they are all “second-hand” items. I plan to make a skirt out of the blue and peachy-green-gold pattern. I want to make some cute blouses like those below out of the two on the right.

I picked up 13 linen napkins today that I may use for other projects. Since one of the sets of napkins was actually 5 napkins rather than an even number I will probably use that one to make the strips for my curtain panels that I will hand on the patio door. The bottom fabric in the photo below will make up those panels. All of these were another Goodwill find! These are all already sewn and tailored curtains except that I am altering the design of the bottom, as I mentioned. The blue flowers will go in our five-year-old’s (and soon to be baby’s room). If it is a boy then at least the flowers are blue – but his sister IS the oldest so she will get to have her choice of curtains before he does. The fabric in the middle will go up in our family room. I am still looking for fabric for our kitchen and school room.

My mom and aunt came into town on Wednesday the 17th in anticipation of the new arrival and my aunt knows how to sew, knit, and crochet so I am looking forward to learning! I bought this fabric in anticipation of their visit. However, my first sewing project will probably be diaper covers for the baby. Of course, those require elastic and that is very intimidating to me! Nonetheless, I am so motivated to learn while I have the chance that I am up for anything! Now, if only this little bugaboo in my belly would do a somersault. A birthing center birth and a breech baby don’t go hand in hand so we are praying for some acrobatics in the next day or so – or hour or so!

Waking From Winter Dreams

January 14, 2007 · Filed under Christmas, Faith, Hope In the Midst

This was the week to gaze upon the Christmas tree fondly one last time before packing it up with all the fond reflections of the season. This year our tree gained some precious family memories for me that can be represented solely by the simple strands of popcorn that adorned it. Originally, families would string popcorn, cranberries and other food as a symbol of “plenty”; a representation of the Garden of Eden and God’s abundant provisions. Our family endured many a financial trial this year with my husband being without a consistent paycheck for approximately six months and no paycheck at all for about two months. However, in the midst of all of this, God’s provisions were ever-present and we were able to keep our home, feed our babes and end the year with the blessing of a new job!

As I was taking the ornaments off our tree this week, I reflected on the funeral of a dear friend and his son that was occurring nearly simultaneously. Prayers of a teary-eyed sister-in-Christ rose with great effort above the cemetary of ornaments that decorated my floor. I imagined my dear friend mourning over the tragic loss of her husband and five-year-old son and the day she would take down her own Christmas tree this year, pack away ornaments that could bring no joy at a time such as this, and the process of beginning to sort through the memories she is only now beginning to unpack in her mind. There is a wonderful peace in knowing that her beloved husband and son are with the Lord, a pleasure we can only imagine in their absence, but the ache in my heart for my dear friend and the two sons she will now raise as a single mother is tremendous. The ornaments appeared almost dream-like through my teary gaze and I thanked God that our trials of this year were so minute in contrast.

The origami balloon light covers are the only remnant of our Christmas that remain. I am so thankful to have happened upon this brilliant idea over at Alicia’s. She never fails to share such loveliness as this. I intend to leave them up year-round as they bring me a wonderful sense of calm and contentment and they add such a warm element to our home. Our home blessed with two lovely little girls, a husband who adores me in spite of myself, a beautiful miracle of our very own to be born any day now and a hope that there will be many more days ahead upon which we can reflect in our golden years – years that are now only a possibility, yet a possibility some will only experience with their beloved in dreams. Dream well, my precious friend Deanna…dream well.

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I didn’t know THEY were homeschooled

January 11, 2007 · Filed under Homeschooling

With school back in session I thought this to be a very appropriate post. Our oldest had a great week – must have been a well deserved Christmas break she was enjoying!

Do you know what Sandra Day O’ Connor, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Edison, Pearl S. Buck, C.S. Lewis, Albert Schweitzer, Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver, and Cyrus McCormick have in common?

They were all homeschooled either for a period of time or for the duration of their schooling!

One of two thoughts probably just ran through your mind if you’re a homeschooler…

Encouragement: “Wow! I KNEW I made the right decision to homeschool. He/She really CAN become anything they want to be.”

Inferiority: “What was I thinking?! I don’t even know who half of these ‘prominent people’ are.”

Just a few tidbits…

Sandra Day O’Connor: Homeschooled at the family cattle ranch in Duncan, Arizona. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the first woman justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Woodrow Wilson: Born in Virginia in 1856, he graduated from Princeton (then known as the College of New Jersey) and the University of Virginia Law School, followed by a doctorate at Johns Hopkins University. He was our 28th President.

Franklin Roosevelt: Born in New York in 1882, he attended Harvard and Columbia Law School. He was our 32nd President.

George Washington: Born in 1732 in Virginia, he became our first President on April 30, 1789. “As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent,” he wrote James Madison, “it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”

Abraham Lincoln: Born in 1809 in Kentucky, he declared forever free the slaves within the Confederacy on January 1, 1863. He was the 16th President.

John Quincy Adams: Born in 1767 in Massachusett, he graduated from Harvard College. He was our sixth President.

Thomas Edison: Born in 1847 in Ohio, he was removed from school by his mother at age seven after she learned of his teacher’s dislike for his behavior problems (probably diagnosed as ADHD today). He invented the incandescent electric light and the electric lighting system that made it practical, safe and economical. He said, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”

Pearl S. Buck: Born in 1892 in West Virginia, she graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1910. She established the first international, inter-racial adoption agency, and called it Welcome House.

C.S. Lewis: Born in 1898 in Northern Ireland, he was arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day. A few of the books he authored are The Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, The Four Loves, The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity.

Albert Schweitzer: Born in 1875, he was known as a humanitarian, theologian, missionary, organist, and medical doctor. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952.

Mark Twain: Born in 1835, he published more than 30 books, hundreds of short stories and essays and gave lectures around the world. He penned such books as The Innocents Abroad, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Diary of Adam & Eve.

Alexander Graham Bell: Born in 1847 in Scotland, he invented the telephone at the age of 29. He began experimenting with propellers and the challenge of flight in the 1890s and he contributed to the production of four powered aircraft of his own by 1909.

George Washington Carver: Born in 1864 in Missouri, he was kidnapped as a child by the Confederate night-raiders but found and reclaimed by his father after the war. He was an agricultural chemist who discovered more than 300 uses for peanuts, and hundreds more for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes.

Cyrus McCormick: Born in 1809 in Virginia, his goal was to earn a million dollars when the average worker earned a nickel an hour. By age 50 he had done just that by inventing the reaper. His company became the International Harvester Company in 1902.

Well, I learned a lot just putting this post together! Does your daughter love to yack on the phone? Assign a report on Alexander Graham Bell. Is your son an aspiring entrepeneur? Have him check out Cyrus McCormick, who attained wealth but also gave it away. Does your child love to eat like mine? Have her do a report on George Washington Carver who had his hand in a lot of yummy inventions! Is your child struggling through behavioral problems? Encourage them with a report on Thomas Edison. Is your child a born leader? Direct them to investigate George Washington’s integrity. Here’s your chance to assign a report that they may actually enjoy! They are sure to be inspired. I was.