Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary

The tragedy in Newtown, CT has been on my heart as I'm sure it has been on yours. One of the children who passed away used to live in my town here in New Mexico.  I'm joining in on the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary movement to help welcome the children back to school.  Below is a quote from the North Canton Patch.

“Snowflakes for Sandy Hook” is one of several nationwide assistance movements spearheaded by the Connecticut PTSA on behalf of the Sandy Hook Elementary PTA. The National PTA joined in, sending out emails inviting PTA members across the U.S. to start crafting.
“When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible,” the National PTA posted on its website.
 

Many crafters are making snowflakes from various media.  A number of machine embroidery designers have offered free snowflake patterns for enthusiasts like myself to stitch out.  I personally chose this free design offered by Lindee G. Embroidery.   I thought the design with the hearts in it truly spoke to me.


I love the music by Donna Cori Gibson. Here she sings the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or the 3:00pm prayer. Jesus is our rock even in times of sorrow such as this. Jesus I trust in you.

If you would like to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary, you are asked to get them in the mail by Jan. 12th.  The address is below.

Want to make snowflakes for Sandy Hook Elementary students? If so, have them in the mail by Jan. 12 addressed to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514
 

Warm winter blessings from my house to yours,
~Nancy

 

Merry Christmas from Basketmaster's Weavings

Dear Friends,
I want to wish each of you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.  Like the wise men, may we too follow the star, follow the light, live in the light that leads us to our Lord and Savior.
With Love,
Nancy

ps.  Friends, if you would like to see what I have been doing lately, hop over to Embroidery It.  Machine Embroidery has become a new passion of mine and I'm fortunate that it is turning into a business.  The Christmas ornament above is one of my creations.

A couple of Endearing Moments During 2012

Dear Friends,

Sometimes we just need a dose of happiness, a shot in the arm to know that there is some wonderful goodness in humanity.  The picture above is a little boy in a wheel chair.  His parents made it into a Halloween costume.

 

Below was a picture taken during hurricane Sandy.

 

Love,

Nancy

Basket Weaving - A Woven Angel

Enjoy this video friends.  Our weaving doesn't have to be a basket.  What a sweet angel with a woven body.

Blessings,
Nancy

Victorian Christmas Sleigh Basket Weaving

Dear Friends,
Today I deconstruct the Victorian Christmas Sleigh basket that I wove.  It is a treasured basket of mine.  Take some of the ideas I present and incorporate them into your basket weaving to create a truly one of a kind woven piece of art.

I hope you are having a peaceful and joyful Christmas season. 

Blessings,
Nancy

SHINE

 

On September 30th of this year I had one of those "God Moments" in which I feel the Holy Spirit's presence in my soul and feel he is truly speaking to me.  What came upon me was SHINE.  YOU ARE TO SHINE NANCY.

The word shine has filled my thoughts since that date.  How do you want me to shine God, I ask.

I've come to discover that I am to Shine in all I do, shine in my thoughts, my words and my actions.  God's love is light and his love shines to keep us from darkness.  I am to shine with God's love.

You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house.  Let your light so SHINE before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16.
 

And so I pray, "Dear God, May my light always shine with your love.  First God, may it illuminate the narrow and difficult path that leads me to you and may I stay on that path without stumbling or straying.  Should I stray on the wrong path, I pray I don't go far and realize my mistake so I may turn immediately around.  Then Lord, may my light shine more for others to see.  May it start in my home and with my family.  Finally, may my light reach far and deep to help bring others out of the darkness and onto the path of righteousness that leads to you.  Dear God, I ask to be blessed with wisdom to know what to do and say and that my light always always be illuminated and shining brightly. ~Amen.

SHINE is my word of the year.  I know many of you pick a word or phrase of the year to focus on.  SHINE is mine.  One year I had the word "simplify" and another year I had the phrase "keep ahead of the game."  This year, "shine".  At least I will keep it as my word until I feel God is placing something else on my heart.  I can't wait to see all the ways I can shine this year.  Starting today!

With love and God's Blessings,
Nancy 

Miniature Woven Sleigh

Taking Your Basket Weaving to the Next Level

Dear Friends,
In today's video I show you how color can create some neat effects in doing a braided rim as well as weaving with something other than reed.
Enjoy and Happy Weaving,
Love,
Nancy

How to Weave a Basket - Basket with Spindle Handle and Crows Feet

Hi Friends,
Here is video #2 in taking your basket weaving to the next level.  Here I show you how a spindle handle is used, what crow's feet or chicken feet are and embellishing your baskets.
Enjoy and happy weaving!
Nancy

How to Weave a Basket - Jack-o'Lanten Basket

Dear Friends,
I am pleased to bring to you the first in a series of videos to help you take your basket weaving to the next level.  These videos are intended to build upon what I have taught you in those basic step-by-step video instructions in How To Weave a Basket.  Just look over at the right hand sidebar.  You will see a little cartoon guy holding a video camera.  All my basket weaving videos are listed in order below that little guy. 

Once you have woven a handful of basic baskets, try tweaking things a bit and coming up with some creative weaving combinations.  You will come up with a beautiful basket for sure!

It is my intent that this series of videos will give you some creative ideas and inspiration of ways to weave and new things to try.

Baskets of Blessings,
Nancy

My Goals - Written and for the World to See

(Our sweet Katie and fiance Eric)

Good Morning Friends,
Hope you are having a beautiful day no matter where you are in this world.  Fall is approaching quickly.  So good to not have the air conditioner running and instead be able to open up the house and let some fresh air in.

I've been reading and hearing quite a bit about the importance of writing our goals down on paper and announcing them to the world.  There is something about doing this that sets us in motion for achieving them.  Call these resolutions, goals or whatever, I'm writing my list here for the world to see of things that I truly desire.

1. I am going to have some of my own time to be creative.  It is so easy for me to give of my time to others, especially my family.  I am now reclaiming a bit of my time for myself.  I'm going to be specific by saying I would like to have 2 hours, 2 times a week to work on crafting.  Just in case you are interested, I'm writing it on my calendar for Tuesday and Friday afternoons. 
2. I am going to go to bed with the kitchen clean each night.  This has always been hard for me.  I get up at 5:30 and I'm on the run.  When I finally have supper made and on the table I'm tired and I find the dishes make it only to the sink.  I'm also going to have the kids help me with this one.
3. I am going to consistently meal plan each week.  I'm going to do it on Friday mornings.  I've had it penciled on my to-do list as a Sunday task, but we get busy with family activities on Sunday so I'm moving it to Fridays and I'm GOING to do this!
4. I am going to lose 25 pounds.  Emily has put herself on the Paleo diet which eliminates refined sugar, wheat and processed food, along with a few other things.  She has done this to help eliminate the pain she deals with.  I'm going to cut out processed food, refined sugar and much of the gluten I normally consume to help me lose the weight.  (confession, I have a huge sweet tooth and have an overwhelming desire to have something sweet after meals.  Just a bad habit, I know)  I'm going to lose this weight by June as our Katie is getting married then!
5. I'm going to do purposeful exercise for 20 minutes every day.  I really HATE exercise, but I know for a fact I feel better when I do it.  I feel I'm pretty active in general and up on my feet most of the day, but I'm going to do something physical, be it go to the gym or go for a brisk walk outdoors.
6. I am going to drink a minimum of 6 - 8oz glasses of water each day.
7. I'm going to write a book and self-publish it.  This book is for our Katie, who is currently in the air force, about being a new wife and I am going to have it written by her wedding date.  I have missed her so much since she left last May.  I have many things I want to tell her, so I'm in the process of writing it!  Along with reclaiming some time to craft, I'm reclaiming some time for me to write.  I have a goal of writing for a minimum of 45 minutes a day.
8. I have one more thing I would REALLY like, but I don't quite have it defined yet.  I think it is something that God will help evolve with time.  I REALLY want my own business.  You all know I sell Scentsy, but that is Scentsy's business, I want a Nancy Jacobs business.  I want a business all my own.  I have prayed and prayed about this desire for a l...o...n...g time.  I've made a list of things I want my future business to turn into.  ~~I want it to be something that will make God smile, that will bless others and improve the world.  ~~I want to be happy.  ~~I want it to bless and benefit my family.  ~~I want to find it interesting and not become bored with it.  ~~I want to be creative.  ~~I want flexibility, hours, days so forth.  ~~I want to travel with it 4 - 6 times a year and I want world travel.  ~~~~~I would really like to do something with being a mentor for new wives.  I am sickened by the breakdown of families in today's society.  Family relationships need to be strengthened and the words "till death do us part" need to be taken more seriously.  This business may start out with the book I'm writing, I just don't exactly know.  I don't know what type of business I could have being a mentor for wives.   (I'm open to suggestions here!)  I will start first at our own church.  This goal is more open ended and I pray with time God will give me direction and define it more.

So here it is, my written list of goals.  I must say, it does make me feel hmmm...more empowered, or should I say more determined to do them now that they are out there for everyone to see.  I can do them.  I WILL do them. 

I'd love to hear of goals you may be working on right now.

With love and blessings,
Nancy

What I'm Weaving - A Woven Scrap Fabric Rug

Dear Friends,
I thought you might enjoy seeing my current project.  It is a woven rug!  Or it could be a wall hanging.  It is created on a loom using cotton string and 2 1/2" strips of fabric.  See my basket full of strips at my feet.  The rug is approx. 2' x 3'.  It's a fun way to use up scraps of fabric and it was an easy technique for me to learn.  It's twining!  The same twining like we weave our baskets! 

Our local quilt shop was having a class on learning how to weave these rugs and I was ready to learn something. new.  Only confession here, this is taking a long time, much longer than to weave a basket and I tend to like quick projects.  Therefore, I've had a tendency to start and stop this project many times and set it aside for days until I pick it up again.  The nice thing is that I CAN easily stop the project wherever or whenever I need to and pick it right back up again.  I'm on a mission right now to get it finished.

Hope you enjoyed,
Love and Blessings,
Nancy
ps.  Emily had her tonsils out.  Dr. said when they came out they were even bigger than he thought, and they were full of bacteria.  Right now she is on heparin therapy with the thought that this things the cell walls so that her own immune system can kill those little lyme bugs.  Overall though, I feel most days are pretty good right now for her.  Thank you Jesus. 

Emily has also put herself on the Paleo diet which is eating no processed foods as well as gluten free and dairy free.  She's doing this with the belief that it will help her feel better.  She has been on it for the last couple months with the exception on when she had her tonsils out.  She went off of it then.  I'm proud of her for sticking with it and anything that helps her feel better I'm all for.  Plus we can all use fewer processed foods in our diets!

Thanks again so much for your prayers.  They are truly uplifting and appreciated.  God is Great!!! 

Thank You for Your Prayers - They are Working

Thank you everyone so much for your prayers for our Emily.  Not only has her stomach pain stopped, but she has felt better this past week than she has in a long time.  Thank you precious Jesus!  and Thank You to all of you!!!!  I wish I could hug each and every one of you.  Please pray that this healing continues.  I love you all so much!!!!!!!
Nancy

Please Include Our Emily in Your Prayers

Hi Friends

As you know we've been dealing with Emily and her pain for some time now.  It will be three years this July.  Initial diagnosis - fibromyalgia.  Second diagnosis - Lyme's disease.  We've been seeing a doctor out of state who specializes in Lyme's disease.  So far none of the treatments have done a thing.  We continue to search for answers.  Over this time we have gotten used to what normal pain is for Emily.  The pain and the static in her ear have become her normal.  It is yesterday and today though that she has developed a new pain in her stomach that has me concerned.  It is almost noon and she is still sleeping.  I've checked on her and when I awaken her she still has this stomach pain.  When something new happens to Emily it sends me into hyper concerned mode for her.  So if you would add her to your prayer list we would be ever so appreciative.  Thank you all.
Love,
Nancy

How Great Is Our God

We often sing this song in church. (English version) It truly warms my heart to know that all around the face of the earth are believers of Jesus. Believers who have put their trust in Jesus for the payment of our sins. We are united. I may not meet you here on earth but I look forward to seeing you in heaven. I hope you enjoy. Love, Nancy

Scentsy's Wellington the Duck and Sunlit Morning

Hi Friends,
I just want to show you the newest Scentsy Buddy Wellington the duck and the upcoming scent of the month, Sunlit Morning.  If there is anything I can do for you with Scentsy, please visit my website at www.nancyjacobs.scentsy.us  Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Nancy

I L-O-V-E This!!!!

Dear Friends,
I hope you will take 2 minutes to watch this video.  I think you will love it as much as I do.
Hugs and Blessings,
Nancy

Scentsy's January 2012 Bring Back My Bar Review

Dear Friends,
In today's video I review the 20 Bring Back My Bar scents from Scentsy.  These are 20 retired scents that are brought back just for the month of January.  I hope you enjoy this video and if you are interested in any of them, please visit My Scentsy Website. 

Thank you everyone.  I appreciate you!
Blessings,
Nancy

This Year Will Be Different

New Year Blessings to You

Photo from DaySpring E-Cards