Different Things I'm Working On, Thinking About, Keeping Track Of,,

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

LOST

yippeee Yippeee -- see me do the happy dance,,, Lost is BACK !!!

I just love this show,,,, have kept up with it ever since it first started. And I'm still full of questions!

I'll have to watch tomorrow nite and keep a list.... think Jack and Kate are brother and sister, maybe??? AND OMG who is in the coffin???

Beth

Monday, January 28, 2008

EBAY - Help! ME

I'm becoming an EBAY addict again,,,, browsing for hours looking for good deals on stuff I don't need!! ARRGGHHH!!! In the last couple of days I have picked up some ok deals on batiks that I "need" for the Judy Neimeyer quilt I'm working on,,, but do I really really NEED them? Or is the HUNT more fun? The bidding I admit is contagious..... gotta have it, gotta win it,,, it just HAS to be M_I_N_E !! And yes, I will use whatever is left to go into other things - but now there is buyers remorse -- did I REALLY really really need it? no

Ok I'm going to have to start selling some things to make up for what I spent.... I know! The bell pull counted cross stitch from Holland kit - yes! the Kit!! Hey,, so what if it is printed in Holland-ese,,, surely people can follow the counted cross stitch chart. It's new, it's in good shape, has the fabric, floss and even the hardware for both ends! What a deal!dsc00892

Or how about the BED CADDY ?? another embroidery kit,, brand new! looks like it would be great for putting the remote, books, glasses or whatever right beside you in bed! OH, I bet there is someone where my MIL lives that would LOVE to have this !! (( see the big grin? ))im001554

Hmmm,,, wonder if I put together some of the kid panels I have with backings - think they would sell ???

Ok,,, I'm off to make my millions! or at least pay for what I have already purchased....
...

Sunday, January 27, 2008

My Lazy Sunday

We went out to eat last nite - at Outback Steakhouse, yumm! BUT, either it was the Bloomin' Onion that I ate some of, or maybe it was just too rich all around, but I spent most of today not feeling real well,,, geez,, I hate getting older and not being able to eat what I want... Maybe too it was because I really watch what I eat and haven't eaten anything greasy or rich in such a long time. Who knows...

But you can't lay around all day or at least I can't so I did get a little sewing done.. and finished the One Block Wonder! I'm real pleased with how it came out. I like how I left the ends and worked the inner border into the design itself... sorta looks like it floats. The outer boarder is a dark mottled blue and I think sets off the design - sorta like a real frame in a picture.

Anyway,,, I'm happy!! NOW I can work on some of the other fabrics I have that I bought with this type of quilt in mind ( NO, I didn't buy them this year so my resolution of not buying fabric is still good ).

What do you think? OH, here is another closer view





...

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Judy Neimeyer in process

Judy Neimeyer in process
Judy Neimeyer in process,
originally uploaded by mr_webster2003.
It's been a few days since I've posted anything ... I'm SO glad that I went to the Judy Neimeyer class - it was really fun and she is a good teacher. Very helpful, full of tips and hints. She approaches her quilts in an engineering and mathmatical manner - and OMG is she ever organized! You put all your sections in plastic bags,,, binder clip all the pieces together, work on sections at a time instead of a whole quilt - really amazing!

She also uses template sheets to cut the fabric,,, imagine cutting ALL the pieces at one time! Instead of measureing or guessing just how much fabric, there is a template sheet that you lay on ALL your layers of fabric and start cutting! It really is hard to describe until you do it but it works great! Cut your quilt in just a fraction of the time AND I'm all for that!

Don't be intimidated if you have one of her patterns! Just take it step by step and it will all fit together!

This is a picture of my plastic bags, the binder clips that have fabric being held together ( she swears that if you use clips, they will never let the fabric slip and will last like this forever ) and I think there is a piece of the template sheet showing too.

It was great, it was fun, I recommend it!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Judy Neimeyer fabric

JN fabric used
JN fabric used,
originally uploaded by mr_webster2003.
This is some of the fabric I'm using in the Judy Neimeyer quilt Sea Urchins... I didn't buy near enough, but there is enough to get started. Looking at the pattern, it is sorta a scrappy type quilt... you don't have to have a lot of one color, just different pastels and very darks. The bright green is my cutting mat!

OH, all these are batiks,,, I just love batiks!

Beth

Eye Doctor Visits

When I went to the optomitrist the end of December for a checkup and new perscrip. for glasses/contacts he saw something strange with my peripheral vision and suggested that I go to an opthamologist. So, today I went. Looked, poked, dialiated, prodded and all that fun stuff and he said ( thankfully! ) that he didn't think there was anything wrong, but to come back and do another of those peripheral vision test things.... since the problem was in both eyes in the same spot he had a little bit of concern. Now, he was either REAL good at not being excited and therefore not exciting me, or there really isn't anything to worry about. Guess I'll find out next week -- anyone ever had problems like this? He mentioned something about a small stroke could cause this,,, but golly! I don't think I've ever had a stroke... that's scary!

I have been thinking about what would life be like if I lost my vision.... all the things I would never see, the void that it would leave in my life. To imagine that I would not SEE my grandkids grow.... how awful that would be for me. Since so much in my life deals with color ( fabric, pottery, etc ) to not see color would be a big scary change. I don't want to dwell too much on this, cause I'm going to be the optimist and believe that nothing is wrong.... but

Wish me luck!

...

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Loosing Weight

Thanks guys for the encouragement on my weight loss journey. I'm doing pretty good counting points and usually don't get all of them eaten each day. I figure if I leave a few unaccounted for that will be ok, cause there MIGHT be something that I forgot to count. Great thing is, it's not hard at all to get into the routine of measuring and counting everything.

Oh, Have you tried the Little Dreamers Soy Ice Cream Sandwiches?? They are REALLY good and about half the size of an ice cream sandwich - and only 2 points! A great snack, and you get nutritious soy, too ( don't worry, tastes really good! ) -- I'm just commenting on them cause they really are good.

I've got to figure out how to get exercise... my next goal!


Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Quilting with Judy Neimeyer



I'm taking a class from Judy Neimeyer this weekend,,, really looking forward to learning from her! I'm going to do the Sea Urchins quilt and have been gathering and buying fabric for a couple of months now. -- OF COURSE all before my resolution to NOT buy fabric! I have enough to start the quilt and work on it this weekend in class, but not near enough to finish it. I'm thinking about making it be a queen size, too, so I KNOW I'm going to have to buy more ( of poor little me! ) Now, isn't this just the coolest looking quilt!?!? I had to make copies of the template pages tonite,,, that is part of the directions and I just can't wait to get into it.... it will look so cool on my bed....
of course, I'll keep progress posted!



Monday, January 14, 2008

I lost 6.5 pounds!!

Hoory!! I've lost 6.5 pounds since starting WeightWatchers!! and that was only 12 days ago! Guess when you are pretty fluffy to start with, it isn't hard to loose the weight. But I'm delighted!

I'm going to keep on with the program because I like the idea that I can get smaller. I like the idea that I can eat what I want, but I have to keep track of the points and not go over. In fact, I am munching on some soy ice cream right now - I still have points left from the day,,, so YUMM! A treat for me!

My goal is to have about 60 pounds off by the end of the year.... I know that it will not be as fast as this first 6 pounds has been,,, but I am SO tired of being over weight!!!

Hang in there with me -- I'm going to do it!





Sunday, January 13, 2008

Quilt Mavens RR blocks

Quilt Mavens RR blocks
Quilt Mavens RR blocks,
originally uploaded by mr_webster2003.
I'm sorta testing out Flickr and my blog,,, I'm in Flickr and sending the picture to the blog,,, also typing in the message.
I hope this works! It would be so easy to pick a picture and then type about it..

Beth

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Header Picture


Ok, I really really tried to put a picture across my header as a background.... I am NOT html literate and could not figure out how to get the darn picture across the whole top of the page. gggrrrrr....

had a cool picture of a quilt of squares, I think it may be a Kaffe Fassett design that I saw completed at a quilt show - either Dallas or Houston, can remember. Would have been so cool!

If anyone knows just how to do this - please! let me know!


here's the picture I really wanted to use....


Loosing Weight

WHEEE -- started WeightWatchers Online on January 2 (( hey! had to let ALL of the holidays go past, right?! )) and I have lost 4.6 pounds!!! Not bad for 10 days.... they say you really only want to loose 2 pounds per week to stay healthy and not have all the extra skin hanging on you ( which I definetly do not want! )....

I'm finding that I don't really have to have something in my mouth all time - I am the worlds worst at that. Maybe it's a leftover from the smoking days?

Anyway,,, so far I'm thrilled!

Beth
getting thinner

Thursday, January 10, 2008

One Block Wonder

Well, finally got the blocks sewn, half together like they are supposed to. I hung them on my design wall and started rearranging. This is really fun! I moved them around, trying to get a pleasing look, left them for a couple of days, moved them some more and this is what I havedsc00863Because they are hexagns you just sew them in half-sections then you lay them out so that there are 'rows'. When the layout is to your liking, they you take the 'rows' ( actually half hexagon blocks ) and sew them together. Then you sew the rows together. I'm trying to decide if I want to leave the edges jagged like they are now and put in triangles of the border fabric, or cut them straight across. Hmmm,,, maybe I'll decide when I get it sewn together.

Thought... use a small inner border of a solid fabric ( red or blue or green or yellow, or something ) and use that fabric for the set-in triangles for the edges.... maybe?

Gotta find a border fabric, too.
But this was fun! Can't wait to finish it and try another fabric - maybe the one I have that is a bunch of chickens!!!

OH, the design wall,,, it is a vinyl tablecloth with a flannel back that I hung over my double closet door in my sewing room. The blocks actually stick to the flannel backing so you don't have to pin them. Best of all, I can take it down when I don't need it - just fold it up, put it away!

till later

Beth

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Quilt Retreats

Retreats! Oh they seem like they are oh so much fun when you are packing and planning for them. Imagine! Days away from the phone and TV and your normal everyday life - days to spend with friends and your sewing machine.... Sounds wonderful, doesn't it!

And for the most part, it really is! The creativity that is in the room is explosive - everyone feeds off everyone else and things just happen! I see the prettiest quilts get completed at retreats and ideas for new ones bloom.... I love sitting with my friends and talking about "things" all the things that you talk to your girl friends about. I just love it.

The retreat that we ( the bee I belong to ) go to is about a little more than an hour away from here. It sits out in the country and there are cows out in the pastures by the house. We have a huge room for all of us to sew, three big bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths and a big big full kitchen. We cook, we snack and then we cook somemore! 'Sew a little, cook a little',,, just like the song that is in The Music Man - but the only words I can remember are "cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot" something... got to remember that song or it will drive me nuts!


So, if anyone is reading this,,, how do you like retreats? Tell us your tales....

Monday, January 7, 2008

Muppet Personality Test

You Are Cookie Monster

Misunderstood as a primal monster, you're a true hedonist with a huge sweet tooth.

You are usually feeling: Hungry. Cookies are preferred, but you'll eat anything if cookies aren't around.

You are famous for: Your slightly crazy eyes and usual way of speaking

How you life your life: In the moment. "Me want COOKIE!"
I got tickled when I read this (( hey! I should really be ELMO!! ) cause it fits just great with WeightWatchers!!! I Want Cookies!!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

WeightWatchers

Ok, I did it,,, joined WeightWatchers,,, I won't tell you how much I weigh - I'm too ashamed but I started counting points today.

It's time for bed, and I stayed within the number I can have. I am not real worried about this week.... after all I started in the middle of the week... and I have a retreat this weekend but at least it is a good start.

Now, if I go to bed and to sleep, I won't know I'm hungry!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year - and Resolutions!

Happy Happy New Year everone!!! It's the day for putting all the Christmas stuff up, cleaning house, and the last day to relax -- LOL doesn't sound like much relaxing is going on, does it??? Thankfully there is not TOO much christmas decorations out... the tree comes apart in three pieces and I didn't put too many ornaments on it,,, there are a few trinkets and snowmen sitting around, but it should be real easy. He is home to help me move furniture back to where it belongs.... Guess we will do this later this afternoon (( he is plunked in front of the tv and I hear football.... groan! )

OK -- New Years Resolutions!!

1. NO MORE FABRIC BUYING !! I have so much fabric and fabric bought with the quilt already in mind, that I have to use it up!! This will help with getting my sewing room cleaner and also save me some money! Yipee!!! I want to save money! Now, thereis an exception - I can buy A piece of fabric just for a particular quilt IF nothing else will work. But that doesn't mean SHOPPING and it doesn't mean stocking up because there is a good sale!!! I think I need to rejoin that STASHBUSTERS group on Yahoo.... bet they have great ideas!

2. LOOSE WEIGHT !! I have NEVER weighed as much as I do right now... the crazy office I work in has 4 women that just love to eat! And NOT healthy stuff like fruits and veggies, either. Everyday they get stuff for lunch that is fattening ( like burgers and nachos )... there is always always snacks around. I just can not stand it or myself any longer! So, I'm going to join the WeightWatchers Online program. I have done WeightWatchers before and it worked,,, very very slow but it worked - I did do about 2 lbs a week which they say is what you are supposed to do. I'll also have to start excercising. I think we will start with walking the dogs. Maybe one at a time, that way I will get more exercise!

3. SAVE MONEY!!! I really really want to retire in about 5 years or less. I have to have a certain amount of money to live on between the time I retire and the time Social Security kicks in.... so I have to save it NOW!! Not buying fabric will help alot! That could be as much as $200 a month! I also need to look into where to put the savings so that it makes the most interest.... but that is for later!

So, these are my goals! I think they are very possible - hey! I quit smoking many years ago and that was a 3-pack a day habit!

I HAVE WILL POWER!!!

Stay with me,,,, it's going to be a long ride!
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