Menu Mondays

In my quest to be healthy, and to loose a little weight I'm really making the effort this year to NOT EAT OUT!  Mike and I decided we can limit it to once a week.  I think this alone will keep us a little healthier and me from drinking coke.  I am not a dieter.  I want to change my life style for the better, and when I start diets I usually fail within the first day.  Have you noticed, as soon as you tell yourself you can't have something that is all you want and think about?  So I will be watching what we eat as a family.  Try to incorporate healthier choices for my kids and myself.  Here's to a healthier year!

Monday - Spaghetti (a request from Jake) w/ salad
Tuesday - Chicken and rice casserole
Wednesday - Garden Burgers w/fruit
Thursday - Chicken Noodle Soup
Friday - Stuffed shells (frozen a month or two ago, need to eat before it goes bad!)
Saturday - Eat Out
Sunday - BBQ chicken w/salad

Resolutions

Happy New Year!  Doesn't the new year always bring in the need to get organized?  The need to make goals?  I went back and looked at the goals I created last year.  Sadly, most got ignored.  This year I've decided my goals are going to be more general -- and FUN!

General Goals
- Be Healthy
- More Disciplined

Fun Goals
- Complete  new quilt project each month
- Complete a UFO each month
- Quilt an quilt that is hanging in my closet each month
- Bind, bind, bind...always have something to bind
- Hand work - I'm loving hexagons and I have a bag full waiting to be done.

I think if I can keep to my general goals - my fun ones will fall into place.  I am going to post pictures of my upcoming projects each month to get me motivated.  Stay tuned for January's.

Mike also pushed me to clean out my sewing room this week.  (Pushed....or threatened to start burning the fabric that was on the floor).  A clean working space makes for more productive self.  I can't tell you how much I've gotten done in the last week!  I only wish I had taken before and after photos.  No one would really believe what a disaster my room was unless they had actually seen it.

I can't wait to start my life again fresh.  I feel like each new year we get a chance to start over and do it right.  Or at least try.  Here's to a productive 2011!

Final Finish of 2010

I was literally down to the wire with this last quilt.  I was hired by someone through Etsy to complete a quilt for her by the 4th.  She provided the fabrics, I did the sewing, quilting and the binding.  Ask me how I spent my New Year's Eve.... binding.... and to be honest I couldn't have been happier!

I love the way this quilt turned out.  I was also able to finish my own, so that is always an added bonus.

Love the Nicey Jane fabrics.  I've been trying to find the perfect quilt myself for this line.  Still searching.  I'm afraid the fabric is going to be gone before I decide!  This was a fun way to get my fix in for the time being.

It was a great way to end the year.

Time Off

I kind of feel like 2010 was never going to end!  Out with the old and in with the new.

We had a fun holiday break.  I've been off from work for about 2 weeks, and I have to admit it is going to be so hard going back!  I have enjoyed the time with my kids, playing with their new toys, reading books, fun day trips etc.  But let's be honest.  I've really enjoyed some good sewing time!

I have been working on a quilt for a customer this last week which she brought to me cut out.  I happened to have the same quilt cut out also.  So, why make one when you can make two?

I think this may be my "thing" for 2011.  There are several quilt patterns which I have bought multiple fabrics to make it in.  It only takes a little extra time to cut out a second.  Chain sew the blocks and you're golden!  I think this way I can get a few extra projects in this year.  I also have some extra fabric leftover from this line (Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey).  Another goal I'm making for myself is to use up all my fabric.  I have enough left for a small quilt or runner, so I'm going to try and get that done in the next few days also.  We'll see how it goes!

Pinwheel Runner

Using this tutorial I whipped up a couple of these runners last weekend.  I had a few friends to get gifts for and thought these would fit them just right.  They were fairly quick and fun to make.

Looking through this blog I have seen this same runner done up in various color ways.  I think this may be my new go to pattern when I have left over scraps.  So cute!

I love finding fun patterns through other peoples blogs.  Sharing ideas and helping others, makes this blog world fun.

2011 UFO Challenge

I haven't joined yet, but I think this will help keep me on the right path with all my sewing projects

2011 UFO Challenge - what a great way to pull some projects to complete this year! 

I have a BIG project ahead of me to clean out my sewing room this next week.  Looking through kits I bought a few years back, and favorite fabric lines is always fun for me.  I have found very few fabrics and projects that I don't still love today and want to get out and make right away.  Maybe this means I truly am buying only the fabrics/kits I really love!  While I'm cleaning this next week, I'm going to pick some UFO's along with a few new projects and keep a list going for 2011.  I only finished 1 large quilt I can remember in 2010, so I'm quite disappointed in myself.  I have SEVERAL quilt tops ready to be quilted, or tops without borders.  I need to get some of my quilts kicked out from start to finish!  I've collected several fabrics for quilts using the same pattern (to give as gifts) so while making one quilt, isn't it just as easy to make 2?  Hopefully doing this I'll finish twice as much! 

I lay in bed at night thinking of all the sewing I want to do....its time to make it reality.  Love this idea, and I think it will help keep me going!  Thanks Judy!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!