Bracelet made by Hannah Smith

Bracelet made by Hannah Smith

Earrings made by Hannah Smith

Bracelets made by Hannah Smith

Bracelet made by Davonne Parks

For instructions on how to make your own beaded jewelry, search online, visit your local craft store, or go to beadage.net.

Coming Up

If you’ve gone on a beach vacation, or just played in a sandbox this summer, please submit a photo of your sand creations to Info @ PierceMyHeart . com (remove spaces) by August 29 for use in our Gifted Girls column next month!

By Hannah Smith

If you don’t know how to tie-dye, you can look for instructions on a search engine or ask at a craft supply store. About.com also has helpful instructions, including a list of needed supplies and step-by-step instructions. They even include instructions for tie-dying beach towels!

Hover over the images below to read instructions.

Try your hand at making something tie-dye this month and enjoy your garment of many colors (Genesis 37:3).

Next month

If you’ve ever made jewelry, send us photos of your handmade creations by July 29 to be featured in our Gifted Girls article next month. You can e-mail all entries to Info @ PierceMyHeart .com (remove spaces).

By Davonne Parks

Latch hook kit pillow made by Hannah Smith

Next Month

We’re going to feature tie-dye items next month, so if you’ve made anything (t-shirts, pillows, etc.) using a tie-dye pattern, please send us a photo by Friday, June 29, 2009, to be used in next month’s article.

By Davonne Parks

Things we’ve made
Click on photos to be directed to recipes.

Baked Apple Pancake - Made by Davonne and Lily Parks

Ultimate Brownies – Made by Davonne and Lily Parks

Sugar Cookies – Made by Carol Gartman and Davonne and Lily Parks (recipe not available)

Peanut Butter Cookies – Made by Nathan and Lily Parks

Your turn

Click on a link above, browse our Cooking Corner, do an online search for a recipe you’d like to try, or open up a recipe book. Once you find something that strikes your fancy, check to see if you have most or all of the ingredients, shop for what you don’t have, then start cooking! You may just discover a skill and interest you didn’t even know you had (1 Corinthians 7:7b).

Next month

Next month is the start of our special summer edition of the magazine, and in honor of that, we’re going to feature bedroom and household decorations. If you’ve made something for your home (picture frames, pottery, pillows, wall art, paintings, etc.), send us a photo! You can e-mail all entries to Info @ PierceMyHeart .com (remove spaces).

By Davonne Parks

Today we’d like to share a few photos of things other young women have sewn, also similar to the Proverbs 31 woman. Proverbs 31:22 “She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Blanket made by Michelle Jane

Dress made by Michelle Jane

Pillow made by Lily Parks

Coming up

Gifted Girls is featuring cooking next month, so please send recipes or photos of baked goods to Info @ PierceMyHeart . com (remove spaces) by April 28 for use in next month’s article.

By Davonne Parks

These items will be made with a sewing machine and involves very little money. We will be making stuffed bears for children in hospitals (or anywhere), and bibs and lap blankets for elderly people in nursing homes. Several congregations in my area make the bears and donate them to the local children’s hospital. They bring comfort to the little children in the emergency room or those who have longer stays in the hospital.

Getting Started

One idea is to get together with some of your girlfriends and make these items as a girls’ night activity. Meet at the friend’s house––preferably one who owns a sewing machine, or someone else needs to bring one––and get a production line going. Someone can cut out the patterns, another can sew, and others can stuff the bears, if that is your project. You could also do one or more of these projects with your mom or grandma, a sibling, or by yourself since none of them are difficult.

My sister’s congregation made the bibs and blankets for the elderly in the nursing homes. The bibs help the men’s and women’s clothes to stay clean while they eat. Sometimes as people age, they get cold easily, so the lap blankets that tie onto their wheelchairs are very helpful. The bibs are easily made out of new bathroom hand towels. The towels that I purchased were only $2.50 at the neighborhood superstore. The lap blankets are made out of cotton material.

The little bears can be made out of fabric remnants that you may have at home––any material can be used, but cotton works best. I have used fluffy material before, which makes really cute bears. I suggest avoiding silky material as it is difficult to work with.

Project materials and instructions
(Click on photos to enlarge images)

Material needed for the bears:

Bear Pattern
Two square pieces of material, 12 inches x 12 inches
Small pieces of felt to make eyes, nose, and tongue (you can also draw them on with permanent markers)
Ribbon, optional for hair bow or neck tie
Stuffing (Polyester Fiberfill)
Thread to match the materials used
Straight pins and a sewing needle

Instructions:

Pin the bear pattern onto two pieces of material, wrong sides together. Cut out around the pattern. Cut out eyes, nose, and tongue from the felt material. Sew the colored part of the eye to the white of the eye. Sew the tongue and nose onto a rounded, triangle shaped piece of felt. Then sew all facial parts onto the face of the bear. For safety reasons, I recommend sewing them on securely and not using buttons or anything that a small child could choke on if it fell off. Make a small bow out of the ribbon and secure by hand- sewing it onto the bear.

With right sides together, machine stitch around the edges of the bear, leaving part of the outside of one leg not sewn so that you can stuff it. Turn right-side out, and using an eraser end of a pencil, stuff with the Polyester Fiberfill. Then hand stitch the opening.

Material needed for bibs:

1 new hand towel
bias tape
thread to match
Velcro

Instructions:

Cut a deep circle from one end of the towel, being sure to keep the two ends large enough to attach the Velcro (see picture). Pin bias tape to area just cut. Machine stitch in place. Sew Velcro onto the loose ends, making certain to put the Velcro on opposite sides so it will fasten easily.

Material needed for lap blankets:

2 pieces of material, 1 yard x 1 yard; can be a different color or pattern on each side
thread
yarn – optional

Instructions:

Put the right sides together and machine stitch all 4 sides of material, leaving an opening to turn it right-side out. After turning it right-side out, press with iron, making sure that the seam is turned inward. Machine stitch, width of presser foot, from seam edge. Press again.

Optional: Throughout the blanket, pull pieces of coordinating yarn through with a large sewing needle, tying ends on just one side of the blanket (you will want to do this especially if you make a patchwork blanket). Sew a piece of material or yarn to one end of the blanket so it can be attached to a wheelchair.

A pretty, alternative way to make a blanket is to make it a patchwork blanket on one side. Just cut out whatever size squares you want, and sew them together; proceed as above. You will tie the yarn to each edge of the squares.

If you can’t sew…

These are really simple projects that can make a big difference to someone. And don’t worry if you don’t have a sewing machine––you could make a no-sew tie blanket. Check your local Jo-Anns or other sewing/craft store for kits, or ask an employee for help.

This month, let’s focus on caring for God’s creation––specifically the sick and elderly. No matter how young or old, sick or healthy we are, we all appreciate thoughtful things others do for us. Let’s lovingly give to the ones He loves so much who are often unable to give back (Matthew 25:34-46).

By Carol Gartman

Gifted Girls is featuring cooking next month, so please send recipes or photos of baked goods to Info @ PierceMyHeart .com (remove spaces) by April 28 for use in next month’s article.

My Child, Do You Remember Me?

My child, do you remember me?
We met so long ago.
You were formed inside my womb,
yet never allowed to grow.

I never got to see your face,
or hold you in my arms.
I pray someday you’ll understand–
I never meant you harm.

I missed playing peek-a-boo
and going to the park.
I missed holding you in my lap
when you were afraid of the dark.

I missed your pretty pictures
of rainbows in the sky.
I missed the cards on Mother’s Day-
the kind that make you cry.

I missed you learning to ride a bike
and your first dive into the pool.
I missed your every summertime
and your every first day of school.

I missed your every birthday
and watching you grow each year.
I missed saying “I love you”
and showing how much I care.

My child, will you forgive me
for the life I stole from you?
Will you know the tears I’ve shed
for that child I never knew?

I know you’re in a better place,
and someday, I’ll meet you there.
For Jesus has forgiven me,
my sin, I no longer bear.

My child, will you remember me
on that day we meet again?
Will you even know my face
or wonder where I’ve been?

“Yes Mother, I remember you;
we met so long ago.
Why I could not stay with you,
I really do not know.”

“Come with me and meet the Lord,”
my child will smile and say.
“I’ll take your hand and lead you there,
for He’ll wash your tears away.”

Finally, I’ll approach His throne,
my sins as white as snow,
and He’ll hold me tight and say to me,
“My child, welcome home.”

Vicki Courtney ©1995

My Spineless Power

Sometimes I’m honest, but I usually taint my words with lies
At some point, every person has been affected by me
I will make you doubt the character of innocent people
And I will make others doubt the character of you

I am often colored with the green of envy
And I usually thrive on creating drama
I refuse to look into the heart of a person
But, instead, I strive to find their faults

Some people believe me, but nobody trusts me
Even though I act tough, in reality, I am spineless
Because of this, I will try to break up relationships
And tear down friendships, all in a single day

I don’t care about age or nationality
Gender and financial status mean nothing to me
I seek to devour everything in my path
I long to destroy the spirits of those nearby

If you allow me,
I will someday destroy your spirit, too
It’s up to you to learn to rise above.
I am Gossip

By Davonne Parks

His Plan
Psalm 139:13-18a (NASB)

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in our book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand

- King David

Blue-Eyed Girl

A million tears run down her face
with all the fears that have yet to fade.
She wanted him to know
but she hasn’t yet to show.

Sitting in the sun, blue eyes crying.
Trying so hard to fake all her smiles.
She finally breaks down,
can’t move, all frowns.

Crying her heart out,
she has no where to turn.
With no one there to help her,
no one to care.

People walking by
looking her into the eyes.
Stopping, staring,
they don’t know what she has to hide.

Morning to night,
she puts up the fight to be strong.
Trying to move along with life
but it seems so hard.

Finding a new faith in God,
from day to night she prays.
She holds her head up high, thinking of the hope she has,
knowing something better will come her way.

The days go by and all the tears are gone.
She looks up into the sky thanking Him for all that He has done.
New tears of freedom and happiness run down her face, all the pain is gone.
All things happen in His time.

By Michelle Jane