Not What I Expected

I have been looking at getting a Slice cutter since I first saw one at the Houston Quilt Show.  I have been trying to decide if I would use it often enough to pay for itself.  I do applique, but I haven't that much in the past.  This year I am going to concentrate on needle turn applique.  So I have been searching the web to get ideas for what all I could do with the Slice.  After I saw some paper projects on Pinterest I was pretty much sold.  But I didn't find out enough before the Black Friday sale ended, so I have been on the lookout for a good deal.  In the meantime, I started following their blog so I could stay up to date on info about the Slice and if they have another special.  I left a comment when they were giving away some fabric scraps.  I like to make miniature quilts at times and the fabric looked really cute (especially if that was what they would be sending) because it was something that I didn't usually buy.  Jenn contacted me and said she would send a care package.  I got it yesterday.  Boy, was I surprised!  I did not receive fabric scraps, I got a bag, tool kit and some crafting items.  I was very happy and surprised.  I had been looking at purchasing the bag and tool kit, but backed out at the last minute.  Now I am glad I exercised a little patience.  Now to go ahead and get my machine so I can start slicing.  I also have to have the hands free kit.  I will be checking at Amazon and the Slice website.  I was going to add a picture, but for some reason blogger is not giving me that option.  Maybe later.

Weigh-In Wednesday

I decided to start a Weigh-In Wednesday, although the first post is Thursday.  I did weigh in on Wednesday.  I am just going to put it out there, this is my record of my weight loss and will help me to keep on track for the goal...196 lbs.  I need to also measure up because although I want to lose weight, I really want to lose inches.  I walked on the treadmill for 1 mile yesterday.  Already I am getting better at lasting longer.  I also did pretty good on eating (or rather not eating).  Off to a good start.  Here are the measurements:  Hips:46  ; Thighs 26:  ; Waist:39.5  , Bust: 45.  We will see where it goes from here.  Lucky I can sew, so I can make new clothes as neccessary.

Applique is now moving along

I finally got one side of the applique on teh Log Cabin Baskets stitched down.  I did a machine blanket stitch around the edge of fused applique.  If I had the time, I would have done it by hand.  It is quite a chore stitching down and working/manuvering the queen-size quilt top.   I need to prepare a few more pieces and the bias vines so that I can lay out the left side.   Here is what it looks like so far.

Went to the fabric store in Canton and bought some fabric for one of the quilts I will make on the cruise.  I will start cuttng the kits this weekend.  I put on a big pot of beans so I will have my black-eyed peas today.  It is one of the 15 bean soups and I added salt pork and sausage.  It smells so good.  It will be great with cornbread.  It is hard to remember that this is Tuesday...it feels like a Sunday afternoon.  Now to get busy and put a sleeve on my quilt for the Jefferson quilt show and check and see about entering Dallas.

Happy New Year!

It is the beginning of a new year.  May your year be greater than last year.  May you accomplish more and receive more and prosper well.  I hope all have a healthy year and if you have medical issues that they are relieved.  I had a great Christmas.  I spent time with family in Waco and Dallas.  Here we are at Chuy's in Waco with his mom and sister.

We had snow on Christmas Day!  I can only remember that one other time growing up in  Texas.  We drove to Irving when it was raining and before we got there, it turned to snow.  We basically ate and left.  We did exchange gifts.  Here is the quilt I made for my sister.  She is holding it up.  I wanted her in the picture, but she hid from view.  I made a fleece throw for my nephews and one girlfriend.  He just purchased a house.  Both boys moved out from mom's and live together.

The gift that Jim and I gave each other was a treadmill.  We purchased it from his mother.  I has hardly been used and is like new.  We plan to exercise in the evenings, get back on a more healthy diet, and hopefully lose lots of weight.  I personally would like to lose 30 pounds by April.  At the end of the day, we are cleaning out the kitchen.  Any cookies, candy, etc will be taken to work for others to eat or throw away. 

I need to get back to planning meals and shopping lists.  It worked much better when I did that.  Not only on time and money, but we ate better.  Once again, I am planning on putting some changes in the routine and hope they stick.  I know it is important to spend time in God's word each day.  My mother-in-law gave me a devotional book, Jesus Calling that she really loves.  I am going to spend morning reading and meditating on God's word.  Jim and I plan to exercise in the evenings after we eat.  We don't watch a lot of TV, and what we do watch we like to record and then watch without commercials.  I have an applique quilt that I want to work on this year.  Hopefully I can do a block a month.  If possible, I would like to finish a UFO each month.  I like the idea of making a list of 12 and then draw a number and that is what you work on that month.

I entered a quilt in a quilt show.  I hope that they get the form in time and it is accepted.  I entered Magical Fall Flowers in the Jefferson Quilt Show.  It is in January.  I need to sew the sleeve on the back and get it ready to ship out if it is accepted so that they will have it in time.  Last year Jim said he wanted to go to a quilt show to see one of my quilts not everyone else's.  So this year it will happen.  I also plan to put in the Dallas Quilt Show.  I have been working on the Log Cabin Baskets.  I am not totally pleased with the applique, but it is getting done.  I find it hard to manuver the quilt top in the machine to do the machine stitching.  Doing by hand would have taken too long, so I decided to do the blanket stitch by machine.  At least it will be done.

I hope you all have a blesseed New Year's Day.

Windy Day

The wind has been bad and strong for a couple of days now.  It blew in a cold front.  We didn't get much rain, but the cars all have a lot of dirt on them.  I have not seen a rain so dirty in a long time.  Someone said there must of been a lot of West Texas dirt in it.  I still need to get to the car wash.  The bad news is the wind destroyed the top of my gazebo.  It all happened in the matter of a few minutes.  Once it started ripping, there was nothing we could do but pick it up from the ground.

I save almost everything, so I will find the parts book and order a new top for the gazebo.  I just hope it doesn't cost as much as the gazebo did.  Jim bought it for my birthday several years ago and he got it on sale.

I have managed to get some cooking done.  I have madeChristms Sandies and Ginger Cookies (both recipes are from Better Homes and Garden website).  I also made some fudge.

I have more cooking I want to get done before Sunday.  I finally started wrapping gifts.  I forgot that last year I discarded several of the boxes I save year from year.  So before I can do more wrapping, I have to go get some boxes.  I also need to get some gift tags.  It has been several years since I have had to buy either.  For some reason, I did not buy them at the end of the season last year.  So unfortunately I am going to have to pay full price for them this year.  Oh, well.

It will be a short day at work today.  The office is closing at 1:00 pm. I will finish wrapping today and get going back on the quilt I am making.  Jim wants to go to Greenville today to replace the chainsaw we bought earlier in the year.  It doesn't work.  This is the second one we have tried.  I need to find the sales receipt and the extra insurance we got.  We have started buying the extra insurance when we make purchases because it pays for itself if you ever have to use it.  So much better than...sorry your warranty period is up.  You only use the chainsaw maybe two time a year.  It has been more that 90 days since we last used it and now it won't work.  I'm not positive, but this might have even been the first time to use it.

Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas in case I don't get back until after then.  Enjoy the season and take time to remember the reason.

Handmade Christmas

Each year I try to make something for Christmas.  Either an ornament, decoration, or a gift for someone.  I have a little extra time this year and I have started a quilt for a gift for someone.  I don't know if they read my blog or not so I cannot show pictures yet.  It is going together as quickly as was planned. I sent some pictures of some ornaments on my tree to Teresa at Fabric Therapy.  She was going to an ornament exchange party and has been enjoying makine yo-yo's.  Here are a couple from my tree.

Most of the ornaments on my tree are handmade.  I enjoy making them.  In the past I have sold some at craft sales and usually do a demo at our Christmas program put on by the extension agent.  I have  a new camera and am learning how to take photos with it.  Thei first upload to the computer was something.  I hope to get them organized so I can find them easily.  Need to order a few gifts online to get them delivered in time for Christmas.  And the major job at hand is to start the wrapping,  I have most of mine bought, just need to start getting it all wrapped up (also meaning to finish the shopping).  Have a great night.

The Roller Coaster

The roller coasster is in full swing for the Christmas ride.  I am enjoying this Christmas more than some in the past.  I have more done at this point so I get to enjoy the season.  I am LOVING it.  We finished putting up the lights yesterday (before the cold front hit, YEA).  I am sitting in my room with the heater on this morning, how nice.  The wind is blowing outside, and I am toasty inside.  Good.

 

Here are our deer.  You can see the tree in the window.  Our buck lost his lights, and we are going to restring him like we had to do one of the does.  Jim was surprised it took two boxes to do.  I finished a customer quilt this weekend.  It is the last one I have to do before Christmas, so no I can work on my stuff.  I got a quilt started this weekend.  It should go pretty fast.  It is a jelly roll pattern.  I sewed all the strips and have started cutting them into sections.  I had to run to Walmart to get what the pattern is calling background fabric.  Jim was like, "With all the fabric you have, you don't have anything to use?"  No, I buy in 1 yard incriments and I need 1 1/8  yard.

 I don't have to be anywhere this week after work, so I can work on my quilt.  I have 3 4 quilts going.  If I think too long, I will come up with more.  I think I will do what Judy @ Patchwork Times does and make a list of unfinished projects and finish one  a month.  I work best with lists and it helps to see what needs to be done and get to cross off what is finished.  It's off to work I go, have a blessed day.