She opens her arms to the poor, she extends her hands to the needy

Proverbs 20 states that a Godly woman opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

Of course there is always the practical need to give to charities, and and to church programs, but I think this goes further than that.

I think we need to look deeper into the people that are around us, and see their needs with God's eyes. Poor does not always mean without money, it could also be someone without family or friends.

Needy people are all around us, a need to feel accepted faults and all. A need to be loved, even if they are quite unlovable. A need to be resepected and appreciated.

I feel like a proverbs 31 woman not only sees to it that those around her are fed and clothed, but also respected, honored, and appreciated...

On the note of my clothing store-Sweet Home Boutique-I have listed several new things including a little red riding hood dress with a little pointy hood. This morning I listed this top made using Joel Dewberry fabric. This top is now available in my Etsy shop!

I hope you have a blessed Wednesday!!

cinch belts and ideas...

I have completed and listed 2 cinch belts recently

I am really liking these, and will also list one in navy blue with a ruffle soon.

I am also getting excited for the fall wardrobe coming up. One thing I have in mind to create is a little red riding hood dress (for little girls) with a pointy hood. Another thing I will start working on is lightweight coats to wear when the nights get cool in the fall. Hopefully they will be a success, and I can offer them for sale in my shop!!

What types of clothing do you like to wear in the fall?

old photo, new photo...

We made better photos of my clothing today. I am working on photos for my etsy shop-Sweet Home Boutique-most of my pictures either my daughters took (3 and 4 at the time), or  I took them myself....Since my husband is now home on shore duty he is my new photographer. He use to not be into it, but now that he sees that I actually make money, he is a lot more willing to take pictures.

This picture was snapped right after construction. Andrew took it, but I had to get him to take it before he went to work. There are many flaws with this picture. Notice he BIG string hanging from the bottom, and the door and door stopper in the background.

This is the picture we re-did today. Fence in the background like most of my pictures. I have also made a bit more effort with my hair than the original (a little bit). Despite the bad picture of the original I sold 2 of these so far. It has also something like 38 hearts,and been in at least 2 treasuries. I am hoping the improved pictures draw more attention to the beautiful dress, and less to "that string" and the door.

not a totally bad picture of the dress, but the quality of the photo is what is flawed (and the distracting background). I took this one myself on the deck



this is the new picture taken today. The colors are a lot better, and the quality of the photo itself is great. Unfortunately the belt should have been ironed before this dress was photographed, but still an improvement from the original.

 So, what do you think? Do you think the new photos are much better, or do you think they still need a lot more work?

Sewing for the King...

As I was sitting at my machine last night feeling for not having for not having the same amount of sales as last week I began to pray. I realized in the zeal of building my business again I have not stopped to listen to Him..

                                        "Be still, and KNOW that I Am God'   (Psalm 46:10)

He spoke to me in that still small voice and told me to be patient. He impressed upon me that I am sewing for Him. He slowed down my business a to show me that each garment is made for His purpose, and that I am to construct each piece as is I were making a robe for the King.
Thank you God for God for always being so loving and patient with me in my walk with you.

more fireworks, and another new dress...

We were able to get out and see some real fireworks last night...
 We had a lot of fun...


we danced...

                                                       

we twirled



we laid in the grass (plus toes)

  Life was not all leaping and twirling over the holiday though...I also made this fancy dress for my Etsy shop

fancy dress



fancy because there is all of this detailed work right here, with the ruffle and such...stay tuned for more like this.
My inspiration behind this dress was early 1940's summer picnic in Germany...(not that I did that, but that is what I was thinking of)


Oh, and I am also selling my work on Art fire now too...It seems like a pretty neat artisan venue, though I also LOVE etsy!

                                                                         Happy Tuesday!!

fireworks and a new dress....

We did have big plans for going the local lake for the 4th, and watching the fireworks, but silly us, they were on Saturday...Fortunately some places still have fireworks tonight so we are going to drive to the next town over, and watch them tonight...
We also had some firework fun at the house last night as well

daddy set off fireworks

mommy held back baby from touching the fireworks showed baby the fireworks

the little girl saw the fireworks



It was all great fun.... I also constructed a new dress for my shop

The inspiration behind this dress was my desire as a teenager to become a flight attendant. As I was making this dress, I was thinking how fun it would be to design a flight attendant line (seriously, these things use to be high fashion)

see what I mean?  (photo courtesy of trip cart)

Happy Monday!

Her children arise and call her blessed, and more on the shop...

One of the verses in Proverbs 31 is that her children arise and call her blessed. My children do arise and call me blessed. Yes, they are 5,4,3 and 17 months, but I think that I am on the right track with keeping it that way. Here is what I have learned about mothering successfully up to this point.

---Respect their father, even if you are no longer together, respect him. Even if he is not respectable, respect him. They learn how to treat you by the way that you treat others. Especially if it is someone as important as their dad.
They will honor you for your love, respect, kindness towards others.

---spend time with them doing things that they love...It's tying strings. The time that you have with them is sacred, precious, and will build and nurture a loving and trusting relationship that will last a lifetime.

---teach them to work---My children even at their tender ages do many chores around the house because they are capable of doing them. I don't put too much on them and be sure to balance it with play, special trips, and relaxation. A child who works has respect for property, respect for themselves, and will be content in a house that NEEDS their contribution.

---nurture them---listen to their heart, and pray about the things that you hear

----pray for them---daily, all day, without ceasing. Pray that their hearts would be soft, pliable and teachable..Pray for them, this is a mothers most powerful asset.



ceremony where I pinned my husband Lt in the Navy, and yes I am wearing the most popular dress in my shop.

 Sweet Home Boutique is going well. In one week I have made 7 sales so far. I am also going to have the opportunity to make my first cinch belt. A customer in Switzerland asked if she could have the above pictured dress with a cinch belt instead of a bow (and specialty fabric as well). I have ordered several yards of 3 inch elastic, and will make hers. I am very excited to make them, and if I really like them, stay tuned, they will be in my shop...I particularly like the style, and love getting new ideas from my customers...

Right now I am working on several orders to construct and ship out. I am in the process of restocking all of my fabrics that I am out or low on. I like having all of my fabric ready, so when an order is placed I can construct it and ship it out. Right now I am waiting on several different types of fabric to come in so my turnover time is not as quick as I like, but by next week all of the kinks should be worked out, and I should be operating again as a well oiled machine...

Here are some new tops that I have sold in the past, and will re list again as soon as I can order the fabric. I love this fabric from Moda, their fandango collection.

Happy Friday!!