Shabby Acorns and Leaves

Hello, my sweet and lovely friends!

I hope you are well on this very last day of August.

Can you believe September is about to arrive?

By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

with summer's best of weather

and autumn's best of cheer.

- Helen Hunt Jackson -

I am starting to add some autumn decor to my home

and the other day I spent some time at my sewing machine

creating these shabby fall accents.
The acorn can easily be used as a mug rug.

Here is what you will need 

to make your own acorns and leaves, sweet friends.

Supplies:

lace

burlap trim

scrap fabric

fusible fleece

Iron on a piece of fusible fleece to the backside of a piece of fabric

that is about 8-inches in size.

Sew strips of lace onto the right side of the fabric.

Use the burlap trim for the acorn top

{ I used three rows of burlap }

This is what you will have 

once the lace and burlap has been sewn onto the fabric. . .

Here is the acorn template, my friends.

Simply click on the photo to enlarge.

Pin the template onto the layered lace

and cut out the shape

{ also, cut off the stem }

Pin a piece of lace onto the top of the acorn

as this will be the stem.

Place the acorn right side down onto a piece of  scrap fabric

and pin into place.

As you can see the scrap fabric doesn't have to be fancy :)

Sew along the edges with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Make sure you leave a small opening 

so that you can pull your acorn right side out.

Trim the scrap fabric.

Turn right side out,

press with a hot iron,

close up the small opening,

and voila!

You have a darling little acorn.

My acorn is about 7 1/2-inches long and 5-inches wide.

From little acorns

mighty oaks grow. . .

Now. . .

how about a shabby leaf to go along with your shabby acorn.

For my leaf I used yellow and cream lace

along with some gold sequins trim.

The "veins" in my leaf were made with cream ribbon.

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,

fluttering from the autumn tree.

- Emily Bronte -

Autumn is a second spring

when every leaf is a flower.

- Albert Camus -

Happy creating, dear friends!

May this last day of August be simply delightful

and may your September be extra lovely.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just a reminder. . .

today is the last day to use the end of summer coupon code at 

Rose Petal Blessings.

Some new items have been listed in the last few days.

Mother/daughter apron sets

Sweet Kleenex holders

just in time for the cold season

Thanksgiving note cards

with lots of lace loveliness

{{{ hugs }}}

Wonderful Grace Of Jesus

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was grace that taughtmy heart to fear,

and grace, my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come.

T'was grace that brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years,

bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we've first begun.

-  John Newton -

This past Friday I attended the funeral service for my great uncle Spike.

He served in the Marines when he was younger

so his service was held at the Fort Logan cemetery.

As I looked at the many, many headstones 

of the men and women that served our country

I was overwhelmed with an incredible sense of gratitude 

for their willingness to serve and fight for the USA.

What love they had for our country and the people living here. . .

As I looked at the names and words engraved upon the marble slabs

I couldn't help but wonder who they were,

what they were like,

how they lived their lives. . .

I also wondered how many had known the amazing grace of Jesus Christ.

After the service my husband and I took a different route home

and as we drove through the mountains I kept thinking back to the cemetery

and the people buried there.

I couldn't stop wondering how many were spending eternity in heaven

with their precious Heavenly Father. . .

Grace! 'tis a charming sound, 

harmonious to the ear;

heaven with the echo shall resound, 

and all the earth shall hear.

'Twas grace that wrote my name 

in life's eternal book;

'twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,

who all my sorrows took.

Saved by grace alone!

This is all my plea:

Jesus died for all mankind,

and Jesus died for me.

- Philip Doddridge and Augustus M. Toplady -

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

- Ephesians 2:8, 9 -

As we continued on our journey home

I kept thinking upon the grace that Jesus Christ so freely gave to us.

Grace that is truly greater than all my sin.

 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 

we shall be saved, even as they.

- Acts 15:11 -

 Being justified freely by his grace 

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

- Romans 3: 24 -

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, 

that we may obtain mercy, 

and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:16 -

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun,

Sing praise to the Father and praise to the Son,

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

The angels rejoicing because it is done;

A child of the Father, joint heir with the Son,

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

The Father He spake, and His will it was done;

Great price of my pardon, His own precious Son;

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

All hail to the Father, all hail to the Son,

All hail to the Spirit, the great Three in One!

Saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

Chorus

Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!

My sins are all pardoned, my guilt is all gone!

Glory, I’m saved! Glory, I’m saved!

I am saved by the blood of the Crucified One!

- S. J. Henderson -

Saving faith is much more than a commitment 

to a creed, church, or a doctrinal system.

It must be a commitment to a person - Jesus Christ.

- Kenneth W. Osbeck -

My faith has found a resting place-

not in device nor creed;

I trust the Everliving One-

His wounds for me shall plead.

Enough for me that Jesus saves-

this ends my fear and doubt;

a sinful soul I come to Him-

He'll never cast me out.

I need no other argument,

I need no other plea;

It is enough that Jesus died,

and that He died for me.

- Lidie H. Edmunds -

These men and women have passed on,

but we are still alive and well, my friends.

Have you placed your faith and trust in the one true living Savior?

Contemplate the forgiveness and love of Christ

as He stretches out His hand to you. . .

Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Greater than all my sin;

How shall my tongue describe it,

Where shall its praise begin?

Taking away my burden,

Setting my spirit free;

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Reaching to all the lost,

By it I have been pardoned,

Saved to the uttermost,

Chains have been torn asunder,

Giving me liberty;

For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus,

Reaching the most defiled,

By its transforming power,

Making him God’s dear child,

Purchasing peace and heaven,

For all eternity;

And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,

Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;

Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.

Broader than the scope of my transgressions,

Greater far than all my sin and shame,

O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.

Praise His Name!

- Haldor Lillenas -

 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. 

But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

That as sin hath reigned unto death, 

even so might grace reign through righteousness 

unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Romans 5:20, 21 -

Much love to you on this Lord's Day!

Without Warning - Book Review

INTENSITY. SKILL. TENACITY.

The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.

Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, 

stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. 

Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, 

only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target 

of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, 

but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. 

A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. 

He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--

before a would-be killer strikes again.

My Thoughts

Without Warning is the second book in the Elite Guardians series.

You are more than welcome to read my review for the first book Always Watching

by clicking here.

While the first book introduces you to several of the characters in this series

I think you could read Without Warning as a stand alone

though I would recommend reading the first book before this one

simply because you can follow along on the journey of the Elite Guardians

as each character is brought into the storyline.

Daniel Matthews and his chain of restaurants seem to have a red X on their backs

because with every turn of the page they are the targets of something sinister,

but Daniel is at a loss as to why someone would attack him.

With his background in military he's determined to figure out this puzzle.

Bring in Elite Guardian Katie Singleton, who is one well-trained woman, 

and the two of them make quite the team

as they try to discover who is trying to end Daniel's life and why.

Without Warning has a lot of energy and intense moments. . .

moments that make you grip the book and hold your breath in fear 

of the next threat that comes Daniel's way.

Lynette Eason did not hold back with the suspense

and you will find there are twists and turns that you don't expect.

I have always admired Lynette Eason's writing

and her gift for being able to write a believable romantic suspense novel

and that is exactly what she did in Without Warning.

** I was given a free copy of this book from Revell Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of

the Women of Justice, the Deadly Reunions, and the Hidden Identity series.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers

and Romance Writers of America.

She lives in South Carolina.

Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com

"One more chapter..." She whispered hours ago

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! 

How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! 

When I have a house of my own, 

I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.

- Jane Austen -

Happy day to you, my friends!

I hope your day is indeed happy.

Today I thought I would show you some fabric bookmarks

that I made after being inspired by Kelly-Anne from The Diary of a Country Girl

and Elizabeth from The Daisy Fields

These two delightful blogging friends of mine 

made similar bookmarks around the same time and shared them on their blogs.

When I saw them I knew I had to make a couple since I always have my nose buried in a book

and I am always losing my bookmarks {{smiles}}

Maybe by making some that are extra pretty I won't lose them. . .maybe.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; 

they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, 

and the most patient of teachers.

- Charles William Eliot -


Some books should be tasted, some devoured, 
but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.
- Francis Bacon -

Tell me, friends. . .

what kind of books do you enjoy?
As many of you know I love to read

and every night I find myself drifting into another time and place

as I read a satisfying tale.

Often I will read until midnight or two in the morning.


A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, 
because somebody will always be in it, 
taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them.
- Lemony Snicket -

Many people, myself among them, 
feel better at the mere sight of a book.
- Jane Smiley -


Fill your house with stacks of books,
in all the crannies and in all the nooks.
- Dr. Seuss -

A little bit about the bookmarks I made. . .
I used cotton fabric and fusible fleece.
The one has delicate lace sewn onto it
while the other has a vintage doily along the side.
Both have been embellished with tiny lace hearts.

I am so thankful for  Kelly-Anne and Elizabeth
and the inspiration they shared as I would not have made these little lovelies
if it had not been for them.
Please stop by their blogs as these sweet ladies will show you
how to make your own bookmarks.

The perfect bookmark for holding your place in any kind of book
whether it's a historical fiction like the one I'm reading by Shelley Shepherd Gray
or a Victorian cookbook that has helpful canning tips
and recipes for tasty jams and jellies.

Happy sewing and reading, my friends.

You know you've read a good book 
when you turn the last page
and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.
- Paul Sweeney -

* * * * * * * *

And before I end this post
I thought I would show you a few new items that have been listed at
Rose Petal Blessings.

Sweet new mug rugs with matching fabric baskets
that are perfect for holding tea bags.

Reversible aprons
with delightful vintage doilies sewn onto them.

New and improved tea bag wallets.

I made these with fusible fleece which makes them more sturdy. . .

why didn't I do that before??

Mug rugs, doilies, candle rugs, snack mats,
or whatever you want to use these little pretties for :)

Glittery snowflake ornaments

And more autumn pumpkins

with lots of sweet shabbiness.

With autumn being just around the corner
I am having an end-of-summer sale in my Etsy Shop.
Simply use the coupon code:
ENDOFSUMMER15
for 15% off your order.
This offer is good until the 31st of August.
And please don't forget that all US orders ship for free :)

Rose Petal Blessings.

All Your Anxiety

Is there a heart o'er bound by sorrow?

If there a life weighed down by care?

Come to the cross - each burden bearing,

all your anxiety - leave it there.

No other friend so keen to help you;

no other friend so quick to hear;

no other place to leave your burden;

no other one to hear your prayer.

Come then at once - delay no longer!

Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;

you need no fear a disappointment -

You shall find peace at the mercy seat.

Chorus

All your anxiety, all your care,

bring to the mercy seat - leave it there;

never a burden He cannot bear,

never a friend like Jesus!

- Edward Henry Joy -

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith,

and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

- George Muller -

Casting all your care upon him; 

for he careth for you.

- 1 Peter 5:7 -

You cannot read the book of Psalms

without sensing the deep cloud of emotional gloom

experienced at times even by King David,

this man after God's own heart.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted within me? "

- Psalm 43:5a -

But David also knew the right answer for these dark times.

First, he honestly admitted his feelings to God.

Second, he reestablished his confidence in God.

Third, he determined to praise Him-

"hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, 

who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

- Psalm 43:5b -

{ Kenneth W. Osbeck - Amazing Grace }

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: 

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; 

he shall set me up upon a rock.

- Psalm 27:5 -

Commit thy way unto the Lord; 

trust also in him; 

and he shall bring it to pass.

- Psalm 37:5 -

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, 

and he shall sustain thee: 

he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

- Psalm 55:22 -

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, 

thou wilt revive me: 

thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, 

and thy right hand shall save me.

- Psalm 138:7 -

In the rifted Rock I'm resting,

safely sheltered I abide,

all secure in this blest refuge,

heeding no the fiercest blast.

Peace which passeth understanding,

joy the world can never give,

now in Jesus I am finding;

in His smiles of love I live.

Now I'm resting, 

sweetly resting in the cleft once made for me;

Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

I will hide myself in Thee.

- Mary D. James -

Have a blessed and restful Lord's Day,

sweet friends!

A Heart Most Certain - Book Review

While Lydia King's reasons for joining the Teaville Moral Society 

might be suspect to some members, her heart is in the right place. 

Because of her father's debts and her mother's persistent illness, 

her best chance at a secure future and curing her mother 

is to impress the politician courting her. 

Her first task--to ask the town's wealthiest man to donate--

seems simple enough . . . until he refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas Lowe wants to help others, 

but prefers to keep his charity private. 

When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, 

but Nicholas still intends to do things his own way. 

Neither predicts what they'll learn about true charity 

or foresee the complications their actions will bring to the town, 

forcing Lydia to decide where her beliefs and heart truly align.

My Thoughts

A Heart Most Certain has found a very special place in my heart.

This book is one of the best that I have read this year

and after just turning the last page

I am ready to reopen it and lose myself in the lives of Lydia and Nicholas.

Melissa Jagears is a fairly new author to me,

but from the few books that I have read I can already say she is amazingly talented

and puts a lot of hard work, detail, and love into her writing.

Lydia is a feisty young woman who isn't afraid to say what is on her heart.

She has passion, integrity, and a desire to help those less fortunate.

When she approaches Nicholas Lowe 

{the man the community has labeled as the richest but most selfish man}

for a donation and he says no she is determined to change his mind.

She will do whatever it takes

and when Nicholas agrees to help under certain terms and conditions she gladly accepts.

Very soon Lydia realizes she may have signed up for more than she bargained for.

When these two begin to work together 

Nicholas shows her the truly desperate needs of the people in her own town.

Lydia's convictions are pushed to the limits

and her faith is tried in the fire. . .

will she come forth as gold?

And along the way Nicholas will learn some things that will change his view 

on what he has built his life on. . .

things that will bring him to his knees as he realizes he can't do everything HIS way,

but rather he needs to do it God's way.

This book shows you that often times we don't know much about others.

It's so easy to look at someone and in 5 minutes think we know everything about them

simply by how they act, dress, talk, etc.

Many, many times we are wrong.

A Most Certain Heart

has so many wonderful layers and the farther you get in the book

the more you will learn through the lives of Nicholas, Lydia, and other characters.

While it's a Christian Historical Romance fiction book 

it will cause the readers to look within themselves

and question their motives for doing things.

It will cause you to stop and truly see the people around you. . .

the woman that is hurting,

the man that is buried under guilt,

the child that is sick,

the stranger on the street with nothing to his name.

It will make you wonder if you can help them

and it will cause you to care. . .

to care for the hurting, the sick, the less fortunate, the needy, the unloved.

It will cause you to see people through God's eyes.

I highly recommend A Heart Most Certain

and if I could give it 10 stars I would.

There is light humor mixed in with tender romance

and a touch of suspense.

The Christian aspect of this book is top notch

and incredibly refreshing.

Like I said earlier in the review,

this book is one of the best that I have read this year

and I have an idea it will remain one of the best for quite a while.

Well done, Melissa Jagears!

** I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for an honest review.

All thoughts and opinions are my own. No other compensation was received. **

About the Author
Melissa Jagears is a Carol Award-winning author,
a homeschooling mother to three, and an extreme night owl.
She lives with her family in Kansas.
Find her online at www.melissajagears.com.

Frilly Little Pumpkins

I never met a pumpkin

I didn't like.

- Unknown -

Happy day, my friends!

Last Friday I had a giveaway for the Organic Rosemary Sea Salt

made by Cecilia and today I will be announcing the winner. . .

at the end of this post {{smiles}}

* * * * * * * * * *

It would appear the autumn bug bit me 

as I have been dreaming of pumpkins, cardigans, scarves, and golden leaves.

For the last week or so the mornings have had a fall chill in the air

and I can smell the sweet scent of the season that is to come.

Here in the mountains I have already seen some trees starting to change 

from their luscious green to hues of yellow and orange.

Its hard to believe how quickly summer has gone by,

but I am anticipating the arrival of autumn.

Each season holds such unique and glorious beauty.

With the anticipation of autumn's arrival I have been making some shabby pumpkins.
You know me, I like lots of lace and pearls {{smiles}}
I thought I'd show you how I made these little darlings. . .

I cut out a round piece of cotton fabric that was 8 1/2-inches in size.

I placed a strip of lace on the outside of the top edge

and sewed a basting stitch so that I could gather the fabric.

Continue the basting stitch until you get to where you started.

Pull and gather the fabric as you sew.

Fill the "pumpkin" with batting,
pull the basting stitch to tighten the gather
and then knot to hold together.

Tuck some dried Spanish moss into your pumpkin

and make sure it's secure. 

And now the fun part. . .embellishing!

For the stem I used a wooden spool

and tied lace, tulle, and satin seam binding around it.

I made a small hole in the moss and hot glued the spool down.

 On top of the spool I added a gem and some pearls.

I added some pearls,

paper leaves,

and a pretty little feather.

A stunning bead sits in the center of the pumpkin.

And voila!

An oh-so-sweet-and shabby pumpkin.

I couldn't make just one so I made two more
that were slightly different.

A black and white pumpkin that has a look of elegance, don't you think?
I added black shabby flowers to the outside of the pumpkin.

And for the last pumpkin I went for some soft blush colors.

I tucked some soft pink flowers into the spool

and a little sign that says "Love Always"

was placed in the pumpkin.

These certainly aren't your "traditional" pumpkins,

but that's the beauty of creativity. . .

you can make every little project your own

and you have the joy of making things exactly how YOU like them :)

These delightful pumpkins are listed in my Etsy shop

though the cream and black pumpkins have already sold.

The little blush pumpkin is available which you can find here.

I am hopeful to have some more listed by the weekend,

but we shall see. . .

The winner of the Organic Rosemary Sea Salt is. . . 

ANITA

from Anita Pelayo Rivera Photography.

I will have the sea salt shipped directly to you from Cecilia's shop.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway.

Love, hugs, and joy to you,
sweet friends!

I will be sharing with this post with these lovely parties.