My First Blog in Eternity

I saw these spirals on a quilt shown at the Tokyo quilt show. Does anyone know what they are, or what they are made of? I think that they are really neat, but for the life of me, can't figure out what they are. The quilt show can keep me online for hours, not that I have been sewing lately. Have a good week.

Jackie's post from Tallgrass Prairie Studio!

Isn't this the most wonderful and romantic post from Jackie? It is written so well, you can almost feel like you were there.'

Go over and read it, I don't want to copy it and get into trouble with her. It is wonderful. Oh, to be so romantic!!!!!!

Pattern Book

 
This is the book that has the pattern for the purse. Does this look like the same purse? I think it is really ugly on the front of the book. Really ugly. I wouldn't have given this a second look, but I love the black bag. I got a note on my blog from someone saying she would be willing to help me. How kind!!!! It will be a great project. If she lets me know how to proceed, I will send the name of the blogsite where I originally saw it and possible yarns I am going to use. I also had a wonderful note from the owner of a shop on Ebay who also gave me great help. I plan to order my yard from her, she was so helpful. You can really meet some nice people on your blogsites!!!

Walking Today

It is -20 below here in North Dakota this morning!!! I didn't feel like going walking this morning, I was so warm and snug in my bed with the new flannel sheets. The big Christmas ball lights were still strung on our metal bed posts,on and shining in the dark. But, my desire to get fit and thin was so much more than the pleasure of my bed, I rousted Heinrich and pulled on my sweathirt, pants, and such and got the car warming to head for the church gym to walk. It turned out to be a 45 minute walk, I put on my Ipod and tuned in a download I had of Beth Moore, which was on the Desires of Your Heart, from Psalms 37. It was inspiring to say the least.

Iwent to a party last night with 12 other women, it was lots of fun.We drove through visibility so bad you prayed you wouldn't go in the ditch or get stuck in a big drift. The gathering was short, we were home at 8:00 and it was better outside. The best thing about it, I didn't over eat. The hostess told me that there would be lots of food, so please go lightly on supper, which I did. There were lots of cold warm up drinks, cider, wine, etc. but I asked for Diet Pepsi. YEA. I had a small piece of veggie pizza, a dill pickle, and other low calorie things to fill up my plate instead of the fattenning cranberry desert with buttersauce. I didn't miss it at all. Small steps, planning ahead, one day at a time, wearing the new sweater that is one size smaller all help in the attitude. Think like you are a thin person!!!!!!!!! Think like you have already achieved your goal of thinness. It makes a difference. Note the dress, I want to wear this dress this spring!!!I will wear this dress this spring.

New Year!

Happy New Year!!! Here is a project that I would like to get started on. It came from a blogsite and I just love it. After a lot of searching on the internet, I finally found the pattern. Guess what! IT is in Japanese and I am not a good crocheter in the first place, so hopefully the person who did this will help me out a little. I need to figure out the crochet hook size for beginners and try and locate some yarn. Remember, I love out in the boon docks, and one does not just hop or drive over to the yarn shop in the middle of the afternoon. It is a great looking bag, I want to own it and make it!!!!!! Isn't it cute? If any of you want one, I will let you know more about it.

I LOST A WHOLE SIZE! Yes, finally this walking and dieting is paying off. My stomach feels so much smaller now, and I have lots more energy to get moving. I did something that I should have done long ago. I bought 2 outfits in my current size, got my hair highlighted, and have started sprucing myself up while dieting, AT MY CURRECT WEIGHT! Make yourselves feel better now, don't wait to loose weight to feel better about yourself and then plan to go buy new things. The improvement in having done something for yourself seems to spur you on to continue on your weight loss or general health improving status.

I lost 45 pounds at an earlier time. I BELIEVE the key to loosing weight starts in your head. Really I do. I used to get up and think, "I am going to act like I was thin, eat like I am thin, and start looking at clothes that make me feel good. I always used to slump into the I am fat, I can't do that, I look awful, Why bother? I am fat. It seemed that because I was fat, I didn't deserve a life, to have good things happen to me, or have fun!!!! That is the wrong way to think. Your thought life has a large part to play in how you lead your life, and what you get out of life. In fact, I read that in the Bible the other day. I believe the verse comes from Proverbs23:7 For as he thinketh in his heat, so is he.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It is beautiful outside today in the Dakotas. A real Christmas storm is brewing, beautiful white snow is coming straight down and covering everything. When the wind picks up it will be a white out. It looks like all of us will be staying close to home tomorrow and Saturday. Guess what I am going to do? I am going to Sew!!!! Sit around the tree, with my diet pepsi , have the television on or Christmas carols and enjoy the day with my husband and dog!!!!!!! Hope your day is wonderful celebreating the birth of Our King!!!!!!!

Christmas Card and Ornament

 
Thank you Deb for the very cute Christmas ornament and card that you sent to me. I hung it on my tree right away, it is so cute and I think of you every time I sit and look at the tree. Thank you very much. You have a package coming in the mail too, I think it will be after Christmas!!! Merry Christmas to all who come here to visit.

Dye Candy selvages arrived!

 
I just received my box of dyed selvages from Chris at Dye Candy. Thank you so much it is gorgeous. It was just like Christmas opening up the box. While watching television I decided to sort the selvages, look who bounded onto the ottoman! Heinrich has been enjoying resting in them since. Chris cuts into the fabric, about 1/4 inch and then rips off the selvages. This keeps the fabric from twisting up on her. Please correct me Chris, if this isn't correct. She sells her dyed fabric from her etsy shop. It is lovely and she does a nice job. I used to dye fabrics about 10 years ago, and it is a process. I used Procion dyes with salt and soda ash to set the color. It seems to me that I ordered a box full of recipes with gradations in it to help get the correct color. You would take the amount of dye and half it each time to get the next lighter gradation. The instructions had all of the color gradations on it with the dye colors to use. A very good exercise in color. I first saw the materials in a quilt magazine that came out four times a year. It was so long ago that I can't remember the name of it.

McKenna Ryan Pattern

I bought this pattern two weeks ago when I saw it made up at Millend Textiles in Fargo. It was made with shades of purple and on the third panel there was some printing on the fabric. As I stood at the checkout I thought to myself, I have lots of batiks in the purple tones that would look great in that pattern and I could save myself some money if I used them up. Now I can't remember how it looked. I will have to go back to the store, 150 miles away, and look at it again. This time I am going to put my fabric in a bag and take it along and try and visualize what it will look like. It was absolutely gorgeous. I called yesterday, the salesclerk said that since they put it up on display the fabric literally flew out of the store and no remnants either.

Please Leave a Comment!!!

Please leave a comment along with your email address or your blogsite so I can come and visit you!!! I went to all of the sites yesterday that left a note and really enjoyed seeing what each of you had made. I have to limit my own viewing today as I need to get something done in my house and I have stayed up too late on my computer!!!!

Remember This Monkey!!!!

My friend Sandy made these monkeys a few years ago. At the time I thought they were the ugliest things I had ever seen. Yesterday I saw this fabric at the fat quarter shop and decided to order some. This morning my friend and I went out for breakfast, I mentioned the fabric, and now I have in my possession a new pair of socks and the directions to make the monkey. I think he is so cute!!!! I wonder how long it will last with my pooch around. I will have to set it up high so he doesn't take ownership of it and tear it to pieces. What do you think of my new friend??? Have a great weekend and have fun browsing at the quilt show.

Julia and Julie

It is a great movie! You have got to go, my friend and I went twice. Lots of fun, the music is great and the sets are well done. It is quite long, but you will enjoy it. I learned French a long time ago in college, it is surprising what you retain.

Quilt Guild Project

 
I joined a quilt guild earlier this fall up in Altona, Manitoba. Last night we received handouts with directions to do English paper piecing. It was a great time and a good chance to meet the other members. Probably my favorite part of the evening was sitting next to Sharon Schmidt and helping myself to some of her wonderful scraps. I took a few, like the cat,the red print and the turquoise pieces shown in the photo. To be nice, I left her a few of my mine that were done. It was the least I could do, after rooting through her container!!!!!!! The other members brought their show and tell pieces, they do very high quality quilting. I am glad I joined.During announcement time, I told everyone about the virtual quilting bee online and give them the web address as well as my own. One can spend lots of time sitting and viewing all of the beautiful designs.

Close-up of French Roses Fabrics

 

Virtual Quilting Bee-Click on the Button to Link