Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I wish you all a 2010 filled with peace, joy, and quilty goodness.

better tUesday - surviving Christmas!

I suppose it could have been worse. Last week was so pitiful we skipped weighing in. This week we decided it was time to face the music and, hopefully, be re-inspired for the New Year.

My poor hubby was up 4.5, and there but for the Grace of God go I. I was only up 1.5 lbs. I'll take it! After everything I've eaten in the last two weeks, that's a gift. Suffice it to say that we're trying to crawl back up on the wagon.

How did you do with your challenges this holiday season?

Ben's Famous! or Mary Jo's features a WannaBee

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my readers! I hope you are having a safe and happy holiday season.

We are in the midst of the eat-a-thon that goes on every year from the Sunday before Christmas through New Year's Day. Jillian who?

While sifting through the email that has collected while I gorged on everything from candy canes to a very tedious Buche de Noel, I found out one of the WannaBees is famous! Mary Jo's, the infamous fabric outlet and downfall of many a quilter on a no-buy challenge, has featured our very own Ben Hollingsworth on their blog.

Of course, we've know for ages that he was one of a kind! Congratulations Ben! Can't wait to see your next creation.

Hope you all have a very happy new year.

better tUesday and going to guild

Well, the holidays continue to derail my eating habits. I did marginally better this week, down 0.4 lbs, but that was with 3 workouts with the trainer, 5 days on the bike and a 75 minute yoga session! I feel like I should have lost more for how sore I am, but I confess to being less than perfect with my diet.

Saturday night we were at a friend's party with fabulous food. Then last night was the guild holiday party. After all of us ate (and overate) there was still enough left over to feed an army.

We had a great time and I did very well at the auction. I was pretty short with less than $200 in play money to spend (compared to these little elves who had nearly $1K between them!)
but I still found won the bidding on some fun stuff.

I am especially excited about two books I won, both donated by Fiber on a Whim, that have interesting and inspiring suggestions and project ideas for photos and other mementos.

The first is Sew Sentimental, by Linda Lum DeBono. This book is a collection of scrapbooking style projects that incorporate some very basic sewing. What I love most is how the author has commemorated some of the most simple and easily forgotten memories of childhood, but some of the most precious, like playing in puddles and the "me do it" stage of toddlerhood. They remind me that every day is a celebration, not just the "big" days.


My true favorite, though, is Art from the Heart by Catherine Matthews-Scanlon. This book about mixed media collage is just stunning I love the antique photographs and upcycling of clocks, lockets, frames and watches.
I am dying to try some of the projects, and only regret that Christmas is coming so quickly - they would make wonderful gifts! I'm trying to restrain myself from diving right into these before I get everything else done for the holidays.

Hard to believe that 2010 is right around the corner! The clock is ticking for me to come up with a guild challenge. Don't be shy about sending me your ideas and opinions. Seriously. Not everyone at once now...

Waiting patiently...

Memory Quilts (cont'd.) - Signature Quilt

On Monday I shared my love of memory quilts. Some of these have photos in them, but some just have messages and signatures.

Earlier this fall I worked on one that was actually a 90th birthday quilt/going away gift for a dear guild friend. Bernice and I had grown close when her daughter's schedule changed and Bernice started riding with me to guild. It was always especially fun when Gracie got to go with us. Just before her birthday, Bernice announced that she was moving to Michigan to be closer to more family members, including her great-granddaughter. Although no one, especially the grannies in the group, could blame her, we were sad to see her go and had little time to find a way to celebrate her upcoming milestone birthday.

We had a quick party with a cake in August, but there wasn't time to finish a quilt that quick. The look on her face when she saw the cake was priceless!
I came up with a super-quick signature quilt idea, channeling Bonnie Hunter with the scrappy, and so much fun. One member donated muslin and even cut it to size and ironed the freezer paper on the back. Another had a bunch of Pigma pens left over from a previous project. We asked each member to bring a 1 1/2" strip of fabric and to sign a muslin square.
Then two of us divided the blocks and stitched them up. It came together in no time, and yet another member quilted it for us on her longarm. We got it done in time to show everyone at the October guild meeting, and then shipped off to Bernice. One clever friend had the great idea to put a copy of our guild's directory with it, which has photos of each member. That way Bernice could put names with faces.

I was a little worried about the scraps at first, but I love how it turned out. It is such a nice size for a lap quilt or to drape across the back of a chair.
What's your favorite signature block?

Have a great day!

better tUesday - post Thanksgiving post

Just weighed in and am up 0.9 lbs. I really should be satisfied with that since last week was Thanksgiving and my husband's birthday. I was more careful about what I ate than in previous years, but a far cry from our "plan."

I was hopeful that the damage wasn't too bad since I did go to the gym 4 times (including Thanksgiving morning!), and worked out with the trainer 2 of those days. Actually it makes me wonder what I usually gain that week. EEK!

It wouldn't be as frustrating if my husband hadn't gone down 2.4 lbs. How did he do that? After not exercising a bit since August - yes, all of his weight loss has been through dietary change - he took the dog for two long walks this week equaling 13 miles total. His body must think it has been kick started! It's hardly fair.

Luckily the leftovers are all gone and this week is back to the routine. I guess I'd better kick it up a notch in the gym and get moving towards my next goal.

Just a hit and run post today to keep myself accountable. I'll try to finish that Memory Quilts post tomorrow.

Have a great day!