The Life Beyond

Cozy Up

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:58:44 +0000

I really enjoyed working on this project. I knitted with Alpaca Big Wool using size 50 knitting needles. It was fun. It was quick and easy! It only took 4 hours to make this throw! It required 2 Bumps of Yarn (280 yds. of wool yarn in total).

There’s Nothing Like It

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:52:03 +0000

Although we know that death is a part of life, there has been too much of it going around. If I were to line up 10 people on the street and ask them if they lost someone in their life recently, they would probably say yes.

Apart from the personal account of loss, there has been many celebrities connected to the music industry that have died. I recall a few in 2011 such as: Nick Ashford, Amy Whinehouse, Heavy D, Etta James, Don Cornelius and now in 2012, Whitney Houston.

I’m sure you can name many more. It is with sadness that the world mourns its icons. Their voices will undoubtedly stand out in their absence.

Life is at best very brief, like the falling of a leaf; one hymn writer puts it. The value of a life is priceless! It should be guarded and handled with care.

The world celebrates, praises and awards those who are gifted and talented, but where is that same world when they are in trouble? Who are the talented accountable to? Who even cares? They are regular people with the normal and not so normal struggles in life.

And so…we go from shock…to following every news reel…back to shock…and then life moves on as it always will, leaving a trail of memories, videos and recorded music behind.

And life gets to do it all over again with the next one. Death seems to win once again.

It all sounds senseless, but there’s hope! There’s a peace that the world knows not…There is joy…There’s purpose! When God takes control of a person’s life, they get to live in the great there after that supercedes anything that this world can offer!

Stay Tune….

Just For Me!

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:20:09 +0000

The other day I had many errands to run and things to do at home. I started my day very early so that I could get everything done, or at least try to. A few months ago, I purchased some kitchen curtains and forgot to get one to cover the back door. I figured that by now they would no longer have any panels left at the store.

I stopped in at Bed Bath & Beyond any way. I looked at the samples for kitchen curtains. “There it is!”, I exclaimed! As I looked on the shelves for my curtains, to my dismay, there were no more! ”It wasn’t the most attractive print, I thought, so how come the better looking ones are still on the shelves?”

I went over to one of the young men working that department and asked him if there would be any in the back room. He said no. In my disappointment, I told myself that – that is what you get for not buying it sooner.

As I was walking away from the curtain area, yet looking at the various fancy draperies, I spotted my kitchen curtain tucked in between the others! It wasn’t with the kitchen curtains which meant that someone stuck it back on the shelf after deciding not to buy it. I was so happy! It was one of those moments that wreaked of the watchful eye of God!

Now you might be thinking, “Come on, that is so insignificant. You were just lucky!” No luck about it! God directed my eyes to the exact spot those curtains were in before I left that department. No coincidence there! You know when you’re having a “God Moment!” A real obvious, just for you moment!

With all the things that I had to do that day, it was so encouraging to know that God was along for the ride. I have had those moments on other occasions, but I really appreciated it that day!

Sometimes it’s those moments that do more for your faith than anything else!

Stay Tuned…

Going Around In Circles

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:42:53 +0000

In the midst of the busyness, I’ve managed to create an original scarf pattern! I enjoyed the process! I will be listing this pattern this week on http://craftsy.com where my pattern store will open soon!

Model: Channel Stuart Circle of Warmth Scarf

Stay Tuned….. You may want to check out some music!

A Good Hiding Place

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:58:12 +0000

One day, my husband and I decided, or rather, I decided to move the sofa on the sun porch and clean thoroughly. In the process of moving the sofa, my husband turned it up side down. To my surprise, this is what fell out of it! It’s been 20+ years since I’ve seen these items.

We searched high and low for that calculator! My daughter and I thought it got stolen in school! Hmmm……………..

Anyone remember these???

We kept loosing barretts! Some were in the car in between the seats! I couldn’t keep up with those things!!

So…the next time you loose something in the house, and you’ve searched all over, try the sofa!!!!

Keep Tuning In………………………….

Never Give Up On Your Dream

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:54:23 +0000

Here comes that dreamer . . . let’s kill him. Genesis 37:19-20 TM

Joseph was a dreamer. His life teaches us the following lessons:

(1) Don’t give up on your dream, though you didn’t start well. At 17 Joseph dreamed that one day his family would bow down to him. But he made the mistake of sharing that information with them. And it got him into a lot of trouble. But it didn’t stop him. The beginning of a dream often generates more enthusiasm than wisdom. We say and do things we shouldn’t. But Joseph encourages us to recapture the dream we abandoned.

(2) Don’t give up on your dream, though others don’t support it. Joseph’s brothers said, “Look, this dreamer is coming . . . let us now kill him.” It’s hard to keep your dream alive when others are trying to kill it. But when your dream comes from God it holds you, even when you’re unable to hold it!

(3) Don’t give up on your dream, though your journey is full of surprises. Your dream will invite attack; don’t let that discourage you! Attack is a sign of respect. It means you haven’t been defeated. Five times we read: “The Lord was with Joseph.” And He’s with you too!

(4) Don’t give up on your dream, though it takes a lifetime to fulfill. Twenty-three years passed before Joseph’s dream was fulfilled, but in the end he ruled his family, was reconciled with his brothers, and saved the nation. You never know what God’s timetable will look like. The important thing to remember is – never give up on your dream

Stay Tuned….

Reply to:

Four Legs Too Many

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:45:56 +0000

While in the kitchen, speaking with my son, through the French door, my eye caught something running around, back and forth:

“OH NO!”

“Stella is hiding because she’s BUSTED!”

“I don’t believe this!”

“This is back breaking work!”

“Yikes! My project is on the other end of all this yarn!”

Stay Tuned….

Focused and Moving Forward

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:15:05 +0000

I entered the New Year pleased with the fact that I am keeping my word to myself!

I am on my way to finishing that project I started in December 2011. Actually, it was during one of my rehearsals, a singer friend spotted my drawstring felted bag and really liked it. She asked if I would make her one, but in a larger size. I hadn’t thought about duplicating that project, but I went ahead with it.

I am almost finished with the first part of it, which involves knitting on a circular needle. Using 100% wool yarn ( a must for felted projects), I casted on 143 stitches on a size 11 (36″) circular needle.

I am using different colors to achieve the desired look. It’s funky! I knit for the desired length, keeping in mind that when it is felted, it will shrink a bit.Here, below, is a photo of the original smaller version. I made it without a pattern. I was experimenting with knitting on circular needles at the time.

Around that same time, in 2009, I knitted and felted an eyeglass case along with it. I got that pattern online. You can search for one online by simply typing in: Free felted eyeglass case patterns. Something is bound to come up.

Hand knitted, wet felted, eyeglass case

After I finish knitting the drawstring bag, I will put it in the washing machine (along with knitted cord for drawstring and a knapsack shoulder strap that’s been knitted) and washed it (with detergent) on regular cycle in Hot Water (for felted results), for about 15 minutes. DO NOT PUT IN DRYER!

It’s time to cut slits along top(evenly spaced), (4-5) inches from top (where I began knitting). I will feed the drawstring through the holes going around the bag. Using needle and matching thread, I will sew the handle securely on to the bag (Placing handle in the place where I can sling it over my shoulder).

I will now put plastic bags inside of it to hold the shape while it air dries for up to 48 hours.

And there you have it!

Stay Tuned…..

Visit me at: http://patriciastuart.weebly.com

The Night Owl…

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:19:58 +0000

And so…here it is!

I hadn’t realized how chilly it was yesterday until I walked out of my house to go to the gym. It was a chilling 28 degrees, a crisp kind of cold. On the one hand it felt good and on the other it was just cold.

After dinner and bonding with ‘Stella’, my cat, I apparently dozed off. I guess another missed ‘CSI’ re-run.

So after a long nap, I’ve awaken in the wee hours of the next day. I thought to straighten up the kitchen a bit and work on getting the publication of my magazine ready for print.

While drying a few dishes in the kitchen, I stumble across my ‘Domestic Diva’ tea cup. Suprisingly enough, my husband drinks out of it more than I do. Hmmm…..

My cup states: “Just because I’m a family raising, meal cooking homemaking wonder, doesn’t mean I’m a desperate housewife.”

On my way out of the kitchen, I glance over and see a pile of pomegranates sitting on the breakfast table. Besides the important ingredient of antioxidants, I love pomegranates. When they’re in season, I eat three a day.

I will put in an hours worth of work on my magazine and call it quits. I have a bit to do today, not to mention returning to the gym later on. I’m so looking forward to it. NOT…..!

Stay Tuned…..

Listen to Patricia Stuart’s music at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/patriciastuart

Become a fan at: http://reverbnation.com/patriciastuart

Absolutely Nothing New!

Patricia Stuart Ministers — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:03:38 +0000

Three days into the New Year, so my calendar says; so what is “New?” Absolutely nothing!

I will be making ‘No Resolutions’! But what I will do is this:

Finish the knitting project started Dec. 2011…
Continue to do as I have done…
To thine own self (continue) be true…
Take no prisoners…
Laugh a heck of a lot more!
Blog my way!

Stay Tuned…….