Little by Little

Still haven't completed those darn valances...but I did finish these!!

Veterans Day Valances

I'm thrilled tomorrow we have off. I worked for 3days...and threw in a couple of extra hours to boot...so tomorrow I'm going to sew sew sew. I am practically antsy with anticipation about my valances! I'm going to strive to complete those...I hope I can do it. If I get stuck at all...I'll just switch to another UFO. My DD will be home...grin...so I know I'm going to hear a lot of "MOM....this...and MOM that...come see the kitten...how cute...whats to eat?...Did I tell you... Oh yeah...hmmm....maybe I'll authorize a visit to a friends.! LOL

Started the Valances!

Last night I kept dreaming about my valances that I haven't quite figured out yet. Someone here had sent me a picture of the cutest pinwheel valances, set on point. So this morning I got up early, made meatballs (grin), and continued on my pinwheels. I cut my focus fabrics to 6" squares, today I dug up some white on white and cut those into 6" squares and then sewed all the pinwheels together. I have to cut setting triangles...not sure how big to make them...but it'll come to me. Hmmm..does anyone know how to figure that out? I still need to purchase some soft butter yellow for the outer border, and get some backing material....but all-in-all I'm happy with my progress. Tomorrow I go back to work full time, I think I'm up to it...so not sure when I'll get back to these valances.

Table Runners

I finished 3 table runner tops last night. Was a great class...fun and fast. Will try to quilt today. :)

Tomorrow is another day!

I just couldn't do it. I looked at the fabric, then the windows...I grabbed my keys and drove to the hair salon. Got my hair cut and my nails done....However...tonight I did go to a table runner class and got 3 tops done! Tomorrow I'll post pictures...so easy to do and fun! Maybe i'll actually quilt them tomorrow. Have a great night!

I'm ready to start a new day... I think I have my next project ready to go. I don't have a pattern but I have an idea. I'd like to add quilted valances to my empty windows using some fabric I have. If anyone has some tips or ideas...please share! Thanks!! and get to work! LOL

You have to know my husband...He's a very thrifty guy...doesn't like to throw anything away. Keeps everything in working order...repair...repair...repair. So when he decided to actually get rid of some old shirts...well...I couldn't resist. They were actually perfectly good shirts...Cotton/Linen Blend. So I took them and cut them up. As many 5" squares as I could, then 3 1/2, and then 2". I wasn't sure what kind of quilt I was going to make...but I knew a quilt was what these shirts were going to morph into. Today I dug in. I worked on the 5" squares first, making them into 9-patches (9 of em). A good start. I was working with plaids so I really couldnt cut them up further. I did a quick math note and a said a prayer then added the 2" squares to make 5" 9-patches. With me? I added 5"x14" solid sashing and Viola!! Woot!! Check out the picture! His Birthday is in early December so got to finish it by then and then can't wait to see the look on his face when he opens his present! LOL

New Books

I couldn't pass it up...books..quilting books...40% off! Woohoo! I ordered 6 and just received them. One was recently published by Vicki Bellino called Bloom Creek quilts, it has a quilt called "Peppermint Patties"...I saw the quilt, in a facebook picture , hanging at the Big Show in Houston. It was in the Martingale & Company booth. I also got a schnibbles book by Carrie Nelson and 2 books by Nancy Halverson...one of which is entitled Sew Necessary. It has some adorable little gifts in it that I look forward to adding to my "to-Do" list!

A Bump in the Road

Today I spent time in my veggie garden, winterizing it actually. I had to cut down the tomato "bushes", they refused to give up the ghost...they still want to grow more tomatoes! I worked slowly because I'm still not back up to speed...the last 2 weeks I've been re-cooperating from pneumonia (and severe asthma attack)...thus my "bump in the road" but let me tell you something... I have not been this happy is a long time. I think I was letting life's mundanes just bog me down. Since I've been in the hospital I feel a change come over me...I'm so happy to be right here and right now. I happy to get a little sewing in, I'm happy to get a little gardening in, I'm delighted to clean the bathroom and straighten my desk. I'm practically beaming in anticipation of planning thanksgiving dinner with my daughter this year. Everyday i look forward to chatting with friends and family. I love my husband, I love my life. Maybe sometimes it just takes a little bump in the road to set your journey upon it back on track.

This is what I worked on today. I got most of the quilting done, did a cross-hatch (if that's what its called. I just have to finish the outer border. I went thru 2 spools of thread. On the purple

border i used a fancy stitch on my sewing machine (was all hyped up because I took a class last week! hehe) It was a wave stitch...but it was so much harder to do at home and on a border than in class. I guess its way easier using a 12" block! LOL After I finish the last border I need to add prairie points and binding....never did this before so am looking forward to it with a smidgen of trepidation.

Cooking chicken in homemade sauce! Kids at movies...good day...good day!

Tomato Sauce!

I made tomato sauce last night. Blanched those big red "Bringers of Italian joy", peeled the skin, and mashed em up.(please Nona forgive me, but I didn't remove the seeds). While I was doing that, in a big pot I sauteed some finely chopped onions, a few cloves of garlic in virgin olive oil, added oregano and bay leaves. Eventually the two pots were melded, a smidgen (that is a unit of measurement) of salt and sugar were added and a few hours later...ahhh the aroma! Viola! Tonight I added chicken pieces and jasmine rice...and oh yum! Great dinner.

Do you SEE what I have to contend with!!?? Making yummy dinners! and no zumba tonight... the instructor had to work. We're going to do it on Thursday. BTW fall is coming and Line dancing will be starting. Yay!

I completed this table runner, everything but the binding. I'll try to sew it tonight or tomorrow after work. Hope she likes it!

Good morning! Ahhh its Sunday.... I woke up this morning with project determination...that means I have to finish a quilt project today. I'm sitting on my couch, drinking my coffee, and pondering the endless color/fabric choices. See...Last night I realized that Tuesday is a good friend of mine's birthday! I HAVE to make her something...and something wonderful...and something she'll love. I know she will love anything I give her but she has extrordinary taste so I must rise to the challenge of creating something stunning. I'm not too worried about the fabric choices because I have much to choose from, its the pattern that concerns me...its the time...its the quilting! LOL So will be interesting what I come up with...and if I'll be able to complete it in time (she's coming over Wednesday to celebrate!)

I was thinking of finishing this quilt (in picture) for her but not sure she would like the colors. Its all batiks...hmmm...maybe something outside her comfort zone? Where would she "throw" it?

P.S. I haven't exercised in a good 3 wks...ugh. Except for that cheese cake last night (which btw was awesome!) I've been doing pretty good with my calorie intake. Not getting on scale. no way.

I'm TRYING!!!

I've been trying to exercise for 2 months now...granted the last 2 weeks have been the hottest ever and I had some medical issues...but other than that I've been working my butt off. hmm as I write this stuff down I'm actually taking a moment to reflect...maybe for most of you what I've done may not seem like working my butt off but for me thats exactly correct. For about 2 years now I havent been doing anything that requires much of an energy output..and I've been gaining weight steadily. I started a few months ago with line dancing, then added zumba and last month I did boot camp 2x a week...I really was working at it with NO results. I spoke with a doctor on Monday and told him this...he said at my age it takes longer for the body to get back its metabolism, he said to stick with it. Have you people noticed how HOT it is outside...sticking with it is so difficult. Ok, so I've decided that next week I'm going to kick it up a notch and cut out bagels...LOL...NY Bagels!! now thats a lot to give up! I'm also going to try again with my WII sports thingy...got to get Alex to set it up for me. Now that I actually have AC, working out will not be so bad standing infront of it. I'll keep you posted! LOL (Love that pun)

The Fat Fight

I signed up for "Boot Camp" yesterday. The last 4 Saturday mornings I've traveled 1/2 an hour to get to this place, we workout outside in the hot and humidity. I don't like being there...let me rephrase that...I almost hate being there, but afterwards I'm glad I went. So yesterday I committed to go to this boot camp 2x a week. This program mixes up cardio, strength and resistance training. I'm not the guru but I've taken so many exercise programs in my life that I feel qualified to say that this is the best exercise program you can participate in. At this moment in time I'm very heavy again. My weight oppresses me. So as of tomorrow I'm going to keep track of what I eat and write everything down here in my blog. Maybe people will read this and comment...maybe it will inspire me to continue...maybe I'll be able to change my life for the better this time....maybe this will be my last good attempt...maybe.

Wish me fortitude, wish me strength, wish me health. Let me begin...Bring it on!

Happy Birthday to my Son!

Today is my son's birthday, he's 15. Yeah 15 can you believe it? I'm sure you've felt that way too at some point. One day they're handing you a pink little screaming bundle of happiness and the next day he's a rugged 6' bundle of screaming hormones. He's awesome though, smart, handsome, loving...to think some young chick will scoop him up and become the center of his world someday. Is he going to remember that I exist? I'm going to write about my divorce someday, how I felt it affected my 2 children. I'm not sure I can express in mere words the depth of emotion I swam through. My daughter recently wrote a paper for her final exam in English, she got a 100. It was incredible, all about what she had to go through....
Hmmm, let me find it and post it. But my son, I don't think it really bothered him, he was only 3, but he's hasn't expressed his feelings to me about it yet. He tells me he's happy. Good. All I want is for him to be happy.

Quilting Tip of the Day: When I prepare my binding for a project but don't have time to actually get to it. I use an empty cardboard toilet-paper roll and wrap binding around it. This way no wrinkles from folding form.

A loose grip

Sometimes you just have to trust...have faith...God will take care. My daughter just took off on her bike (she still pedals). You say a little wordless prayer and you just let go. She's biking across town to her friends house. I don't live in a small town. Ok...love with a loose grip.

Daughters First Job

Well, that was exciting...couldnt get on the website of my brand-spanking new blog! Learning all of this is easy enough but you do need a certain dedication.

Went to visit my daughter today at her new job...she's only 17 and this is her first experience with the real world. Last week she brought home her 1st pay check...after working about 20 some odd hours she brought a whopping $65 home. Good for her really, but I wanted to make a point so I mentioned to her that I pay $65 for her tutor for 1 hour. Hmmmm staying in school?

So I went to visit this grease pit...can I say...KFC? I just have to walk by that place and I break out. I want to show my support for my daughter so I purchase (from her, she's the cashier) a little meal with a little dessert and small drink...$9. (cough)I took it to go. "bye sweetie, see you at home". Get home, taste it...ewww. What we do for love.

Brand New Blogger

Good morning all. So This is a "Blog". I'm getting the impression that "blogging" is simply a diary of sorts. Well, I have plenty to say on many different subjects. I have 2 teenage children, boy and girl, that will give me plenty of fuel for this blogging fire. LOL. I love my country, I love to quilt and I struggle with my weight. (hmmm and I'm adding one more sedentary activity to my daily routine?) I guess soon I will discover where this road takes me.

Daily mantra: Calm yourself.