Making Connections - Fitness Friday with OzzyPip! Plus #LDSI and a Postcard Swap

One of my favorite things about being a quilter is how social it is. From the quilt bees of long ago to the virtual sew-ins on Twitter or Instagram, quilters like to work together and see what other quilters are working on.

My #twilter friend OzzyPip, who has been great about reminding me to post the Throwback Thursday links, has started her own linkup for Fitness Friday. This is where we are supposed to post our progress and cheer on other quilters in search of better health.

My Fitness Friday update is pretty short. The Pit Boss has been working hard to help cook healthy meals and push invite me out the door after dinner for a walk with the dogs. After a completely off schedule summer and two weeks of back-to-school insanity, I think we might be settling back into a routine after this weekend. I'm looking forward to having my FitBit recognize 5 digit numbers once again and get the scale moving in the right direction.

Of course, when we have a long weekend, it's time for a sew-in on Twitter. I'm hoping to actually get some sewing done this weekend. Come join us using #LDSI!

Last, Sandi over at Quilt Cabana Patterns has announced a fall postcard swap. Sign up to send and receive a fall/Halloween themed postcard. These are such fun, quick projects that allow us to own a piece of art that one of our online friends has made.

What are you up to this Labor Day weekend?



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Menu Plan Monday - #MDSI

It's Menu Plan Monday and I've been a very bad blogger. Chalk it up to Mother's Day (when I didn't make a menu plan or grocery list and, in fact, never even went to the store for the whole week!) or May-Hem or whatever. Sorry. Whatever it is, I'm ready for summer to be here.

It's already our last week to have Deuce home before he heads back to Tuscaloosa for his summer work. It's so hard to believe, especially since he will be moving into an apartment straight from his summer dorm residence. It feels like this is the last time we will all be truly living here together.

Regardless, I'm glad I have today off work and lots of family time scheduled this weekend. I had hoped to get some quilting done and participate in #MDSI, but I don't think that will happen much.

• Sunday - dinner with the in-laws
• Monday - dinner at my parents'
• Tuesday - Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy and mashed potatoes
• Wednesday - Healthy Tetrazzini with Chicken and Broccoli
• Thursday - Baked Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
• Friday -Almost Famous Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Saturday -out to eat - farewell dinner for Deuce ~*sniff*~

What's on your menu?



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#NQDSI - It's National Quilting Day

 

Did you know?

The third Saturday in March is National Quilting Day.

The NQA is offering a free stashbusting pattern call Stash Attack.

This calls for a Sew In! We'll meet on Twitter using #NQDSI. You can also use TweetChat to follow the conversation.

In the spirit of the day and because I want to try this cool tool on InLinkz, I'm making a group linkup. Add your link any time for your #NQDSI blog post, giveaway, or special podcast episode.

An InLinkz Link-up

Want to share the linkup on your blog? Click here to grab the code.

Menu Plan Monday - Movement! and #MLKSI

It's Menu Plan Monday and I have actual progress to report!  I managed to get on the elliptical four days and walked the mall with The Pit Boss on Saturday.

My FitBit has been wonderfully motivational for little things like taking the stairs at work and doing a few extra flights of stairs before bed just to get my numbers up.  TPB decided he wanted in on the action and ordered one for himself; it arrived Tuesday, and the dogs have reaped the rewards of his competitive nature.

Now the scale is going the right direction, slowly but surely.  I hope I can keep it up so that next January I can write a blog post like Pam's.

Today is also the #MLKSI on Twitter, although I have to go to work and will not be sewing along with you lucky ducks who have the day off.  I'll try to come by and wave on my lunch break. 

My user name on My Fitness Pal is QJ2013 if you want to be friends.

MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

• Sunday - Skinny Chicken Fajitas
• Monday - Pollo Sabroso, yellow rice, and grilled mixed veggies that we didn't get to last week
• Tuesday - Honey Teriyaki Salmon, quinoa, oven roasted green beans
• Wednesday - Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Roast, Roasted Broccoli with Smashed Garlic
• Thursday - leftover buffet
• Friday - Creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
• Saturday -dinner out

What's on your menu?



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#BFSI - Black Friday Sew In

It's time for the Black Friday Sew In, and I'm extra excited this year.  I have the day off work and anticipate at least a few hours of quilting time.  I have not had time to sew much lately, so I can't wait!

Use hashtag #BFSI to get in on all the action with us on Twitter.





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#LDSI Wrap Up and Batman's Star Surround

The Labor Day Sew In on Twitter was so much fun! I got a lot of sewing done while The Pit Boss reveled in the start of college football (Roll Tide! Go 'Noles!)

I spent most of Saturday working on Batman's Star Surround top, which I FINISHED!  Hooray!  I love how it has turned out, and Mom swears it is not too boyish for those west coast peeps.

Sunday I pieced the back, but didn't take a picture yet.  I just cut up the remaining fabric after making the binding and put it all together in a giant 25 patch.  Then I delivered it to Mom so she can start hand quilting it.  She's going to look for a pumpkin color thread and start by stitching in the ditch.  Then we'll have to decide what else it needs.  I'm really proud that I got it to her three months before the baby's due date. 

Monday I started working on the Social Tote pattern.  I've gotten as far as I can until I can find some Soft and Stable or a suitable substitute.  I had some challenges wrapping my head around exactly what it is, and for some reason was thinking of it as similar to stabilizer or interfacing.  Luckily Pam and Jaye explained it to me yesterday on the Quilters Unite Labor Day Google Hangout, and Pam even had some to show me.  That helped a lot.  Unfortunately it's not that easy to find locally, so now I have to wait for it to be shipped.  I hate waiting.

If you couldn't join us for the Google Hangout, you can watch it on YouTube.  Thanks to Katie for setting it up.



Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend!



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#LDSI - Labor Day Sew In!

It's a three day weekend, and you know what that means.  It's time for a Sew-In!

Yes, it's the Labor Day Sew In, and I think all of our international friends should start their own movement to have Monday off work honor the workers by playing hooky and sewing all day taking a moment to appreciate a day of rest.

As usual, some people get to start early, so I'm posting this now in case today is a better day to call in sick work some sewing into your day than Monday.  We'll be over on Twitter using hashtag #LDSI for the next several days.  Tweet along, whether you're sewing, shopping for fabric, or just dreaming of quilts. 

On Twitter, I'm @QuiltinJenny and would love to chat with you.

Other bloggers who have posted about the sew in (some of whom are hosting giveaways):

• Sandy at Quilting for the Rest of Us - @SandyQuiltz
• Jackie at Sew Excited Quilts - @SewExcitedQuilt
• Daisy of Lazy Daisy Quilts - @VeryLazyDaisy
• Jaye of Art Quilt Maker - @ArtQuiltMaker 
• Gretchen of 120 Blocks - @mafiretones

Also, Pam of Hip to Be a Square Podcast has posted a very special, extra long episode! She tweets as  @Pantsfreesia.

Plus all your favorite quilters on Twitter.

Hope to see you there!

PS...if you write a blog post about #LDSI or if I missed yours, send me a link and I'll add to the list over the whole weekend.



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#NQDSI - National Quilting Day Sew In

It's National Quilting Day, and it's time for another sew in on Twitter!

If you haven't joined us for a sew in before, it's easy!  If you do not have a Twitter account, just sign up.  It's free.  Once you have an account, join us in the #NQDSI room on Tweet Chat.

Special thanks today to C&T Publishing for sponsoring our giveaway.

The winner will receive a copy of A Quilting Life by Sherri McConnell, which will be newly released this coming Monday, March 18!  International winners will receive a copy of the e-book.

Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway






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National Quilting Day Events - #NQDSI

It's that time of year again! Yes, March 16 is National Quilting Day, and there are events all month to celebrate.

The National Quilting Association has chosen the 2013 theme - "Celebrate America" - and the free pattern to go with it is suitable for donation to Quilts of Valor.

Of course, we should have a National Quilting Day Sew In on March 16.  Who's with me?

If you haven't joined us for a sew in before, it's easy!  If you do not have a Twitter account, just sign up.  It's free.  Once you have an account, join us in the #NQDSI room on Tweet Chat.

I have not had great luck accessing Tweet Chat on my phone (if you know how, please let us know) but I simply go to my Twitter feed and click on one of the tweets that says #NQDSI.  If I don't see one, I can go to the search feature and type in #NQDSI.  It will then bring up all the tweets with that hashtag.  Just refresh frequently to see the conversation.

Other National Quilting Day/Month Events:

• The Venice (FL) Area Quilter's Guild celebrates on March 3.
• Quilter's Day Out takes place in Louisville, Kentucky on March 9. 
• The Eastern Long Island Quilters Guild offers workshops on March 9-10.
• In Georgia we have the Greater Atlanta Shop Hop from March 14-17.  
• The International Quilt Study Center and Museum hosts a day of lectures, demonstrations, and tours on March 16.
• CAMEO Quilters Guild in Michigan celebrates a belated NQD on April 20.  

[Edited to add:  please feel free to share this image and link to the TweetChat room or back here. Spread the word!  Also, if you will be doing a giveaway for the sew in, you can send me an email at QuiltinJenny AT GMail DOT com and I will link to your blog on my post that day.]

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Denim

I'm still cutting cutting cutting and have barely made a dent.  It's astonishing, really, just how much there is.

This week I've been cutting up denim in the hopes of eradicating my stash completely.

You see, several years ago I started collecting our old pairs of jeans when they were ripped or worn in a way that made them unsuitable for handing down or donating.  I wanted to make a denim quilt out of them.  Clearly this is where my abysmal spatial abilities truly failed me.

I finally thought I had enough saved and started cutting.  I found beautiful green and lavender flannel for the back of the quilt, and started stitching the X's across the blocks.  And eventually I finished my quilt.

Then last year for the National Quilting Day Sew In, I offered a complete set of the denim squares to one lucky winner.  I will confess now that I am a horrible blog prize giver away-er (what?) and didn't have the denim all cut when I posted.  I will confess that our home remodel, where my entire sewing room had to be moved to the basement in boxes, caused me to fail to live up to my promise.  I can only thank goodness that the winner (Sandy from Quilting for the Rest of Us) isn't the kind of person to hold a grudge against me for this.

My sewing room is back together and I'm working on my cutting.  Sandy will be glad to know that I've finished cutting not one but TWO sets of squares.  Sandy's will be at the post office this week.  Someone else will get to win these this coming National Quilting Day (more about that later), and take comfort knowing they won't have to wait a year to receive them.

Here's my only dilemma:  after cutting enough squares for my own quilt plus two more, I still have this much denim left. 

I know there are some great crafts to do with old jeans, but this is ridiculous!  Any ideas?



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More Fun Mail from Pam!

We had so much fun Sunday during the #SBSI!  I live tweeted my Bonnie Hunter workshop and followed along with everyone else's shopping and sewing. 

There were several giveaways going on, and I was a lucky winner of one of Pam's personalized sheep pouches.  What's better than a homemade gift?  How about one that shares the maker's unique sense of humor?  

  

Click on the picture so you can read her comments and see the top hat and tie on the middle sheep.  

This little pouch is the perfect size for my camera and the cord to upload pictures to my computer.  Much better than just tossing it into the bottom of my purse, don't you think?

Thanks so much, Pam!  It's so much fun to get quilty presents in the mail!



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#SBSI - The Sports Bowl Sew In on Twitter!

Pam over at Hip to Be a Square Podcast has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged us all to a Sports Ball Sew In on Twitter (aka Super Bowl Sew In) today. 

Although I am not always available for these holiday festivities, this one happens to land at the perfect time, right during my Bonnie Hunter class. 

I will be live tweeting during the class as much as I can.  Hope to see you in the Tweet Chat and share what we're all working on during the big game.




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