WIP Wednesdays

 

With having a few days off over the holiday I got this little project done. 

 

The quilt top has been done for a year or so - Its a 3 Sisters line can't remember which one.  The middle section is one of those presewn patchwork pieces which I love.  I added the borders and had a cute little quilt.

I used the quilt pattern called 30's Flower in the middle section - and a feather pattern in the border.  I am loving how this quilt turned out. 

 

And the back - my new favorite part of getting a quilt off the machine.  The fabric is a pink on pink with writing on it - love, hope etc etc - hard to see, but really does it matter?  Look at the quilting!

I love how this quilt turned out.  Can't wait to get the binding on and get it done.  I had made this quilt to sell, but don't think I can part with it now!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesdays!

 

A New Year

 

Quilts to be quilted - count them - yes there are 10 there.  I made a goal to have them all bound by the end of the year - obviously this didn't happen. 

 

At the beginning of the year I always try to make a few resolutions.  In the last few years, I've even tried to be realistic and make only resolutions I think I can actually keep - yet somehow life gets in the way and goals fall into the deep dark hole of things I don't get to. 

But here I am again - making a few resolutions - both personal and sewing related. 

1 - Spend more quality time with my kids.  Read to them (I actually started with this tonight, so I'm headed in the right direction!) We use to have Monday night game night - I'm going to implement this again.  If I take them time to read at least 1 book a day - and spend a whole night once a week completely focused on the kids - its a good start.

2 - Go on a date once a month - I've put this one on the list before, and we have failed at this one miserably.  We are now doing a kid swap with my brother - so hopefully this year - we can make this happen. May ultimate goal is to find me a go to sitter that comes once a week.

3 - Work Out - I know I know - this is ALWAYS on the list.  But folks, things are getting crazy with this body of mine.  Its out of control and something has got to change.  I'm thinking working out will make me feel better (as in healthy) plus lift my spirits, self esteem, energy level - along with shedding a few pounds. 

4 - Eat at home - We eat out a lot, which makes it hard to always be healthy - this year this is going to change.  Not only will this help us be healthier, but will save us money and me pounds!

5 - Go outside - even when its cold - once a week during the winter I'm going to make an effort to spend some time outside whenever the sun is shining.  My kids are into riding their bikes now, so come spring this will be easy and I can't wait!

6 - Organize - a drawer, a closet - something once a month.  Maybe once I get started I'll get motivated to get it done.  I have a couple big closets I need to tackle - and 2013 will be that year!

7 - Binding (see picture above) - my goal for those quilts is to get binding on all of them in the month of January.  (Four currently have binding sewn on, just need to be completed) I will work on these quilts as I can - and want to have them all done by March.  As for new quilts - once they are quilted, binding is put on immediatley and I am going to keep up!

8 - Quilts in progress - Finish 1 WIP every 2 months.  I will be posting pics of these each month so I can be held accountable for my projects.

9 - New Quilt Projects - start and finish 1 every 6 weeks.  I'm getting close to being out of quilts that need to be quilted now, so I've gotta start sewing again so I can keep trying new quilting patterns.  I am so inspire by all the beautiful fabric and fun patterns I need to actually do something with all the fabric I own!

10 - Spend more time with family - I love my family and I love Mike's family.  I need to make a bigger effort to get together with them all.  It will happen this year.

Here's to another great year.  What are the resolutions you're making?  Do you look back and last years and keep them?  I'd love to hear what you all do!

Menu Mondays - on Tuesday

In a an effort to start my year out right I had to post a menu even if its late.

I'm making goals this year to lose some weight, eat healthier, and eat out less.  I'm going to start my workout plan - and try to watch what I eat more by portion control and better meals, not necessarily dieting.  I never due well with diets, so I'm not putting that kind of pressure on myself just yet.  So here we go - and I'm happy to say I have tomorrow nights meal prepped and ready to be thrown into the oven.

Tuesday - Shrimp Pasta (cooked a box of Noodle Roni, cooked shrimp in a little butter with squash and add to the noodles.  It was good and the fam ate it up!)
Wednesday - Turkey breast, yams, stuffing
Thursday - Mini Meatball Hero subs (instead of a whole hogie roll, I use individual dinner rolls)
Friday - Creamed Chicken over toast
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Meatloaf and twice baked potatoes and this salad (watched an episode of Ree on the food network and this meal had me at hello)

A Year in Review

Tonight I took a bath - I don't think I've taken a bath this year.  Its amazing what a long soak in the tub can do for the soul. 

While I was soaking with a nice face mask on - it was almost silent (except for the faint sound of Jake humming the Darth Vader antheim).  I had time to reflect on my year.  Here are a few highlights.

- Jake started skiing
- Sam potty trained
- Feel in love with Pinterest
- Family Ski Trips
- Disneyland and Newport
- Sewing Retreat
- Baby Wren
- Family Movie @ a theater!
- First camping trip
- Lost a few pounds
- My picture wall (I've even added pictures!)
- Remembering what is important in life
- Lego palooza hit the Latimer household
- A leap of faith
- Quilting and more quilting
- Gained back a few pounds - plus a few more
- Friday Night Lights
- Birthdays and parties and moments with family. 
- Quilts, quilts, and more quilts


It has been a good year - and I'm looking forward to what 2013 has to offer! 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

Patriotic Star Cake

I was hired to make a quilt for Christmas by my cousin Marta.  She wanted something simple and patriotic for her parents.  This quilt pattern Star Cakes is a perfect pattern.  It is quick and easy, yet has a feel of a pattern vs just squares.

We decided on Prairie Paisley, one of my all time favorite lines.  I think the colors fit her parents perfectly. 

 

 

Quilted using a tanish Latte color which blended nicely with the fabrics, and popped a little on the cream.  Used a quilted pattern called Frisky Feathers.  I made it a bit larger.

 

Framed the whole quilt with a red tonal print, used a floral for the backing and a baby strip with stars for the binding.  The combination came together well - and I had ever ounce of the fabric on hand.  I love when that happens!

 

 

Here are my aunt and uncle enjoying their new quilt - hope it gets lots of use and love!

Bubble Play

This was a fun quilt I got to quilt this last month.  We decided on the pattern Bubble Play which I think fit this quilt perfectly.

I have always wanted to quilt circle, but was always afraid I couldn't keep them round - so this was so much fun to watch the machine work! 

I love how the background print had little bubbles in it also.

The back fabric is like a quilt all on its own!  

Even though this pattern is vintage Dick and Jane prints - I love that this pattern works with it and could be thrown on a modern quilt now.  Maybe next time I'll make the bubbles even bigger and give that a try!

Linking up to Whoop Whoop

Chicken Pesto Salad

Sadly I didn't take a picture this year of the salad - this picture is stolen from this post back in 2009

But this year I perfected this salad - and it is now my new go to party salad.  I made it multiple times over the month of December and am still eating the leftovers.  I could eat them everyday for every meal.  I have had countless requests for the recipe.

I saw this recipe made on an Oprah episode long ago and cannot remember the name of the chef.  But I have simplified this a bit to fit my life style.

What you need:

Spinach
Bow tie pasta
Pesto
Chicken
Pomegranate seeds
Parmesan cheese
Lemon

I buy most of the ingredients at Costco - a big bag of spinach, a rotisserie chicken, the basil pesto, and the pomegranate seeds (you can buy containers of just the seeds!)

Pull the chicken off the bone (I usually only use the breasts) toss in a few spoonfuls of pesto and stir.
Repeat with the cooked pasta

Mix the pasta and the chicken in a bowl, add spinach and toss until spinach is coated with pesto - add more pesto if needed.  Squeeze a little lemon juice on.  Sprinkle top liberally with pomegranate seeds and parmesan cheese - enjoy!

I served this salad with orange rolls on Christmas day - it was delicious!  I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of this salad at parties, showers, brunches around my house this year.