Inspiration

I know, I know! Two posts in one day? What in the world! But, I wanted to share one of my "inspiration" dresses. I was digging through my fabric stash this weekend and I unearthed this dress. I know, the zipper is atrocious! I've always hated to put in zippers, especially without a zipper foot! And button holes....but anyways! I made it in high school and I've held onto it all these many moons because I love the fabric. And always in the back of my mind thought, maybe some day it will fit again. I have two such dresses. I'll get a pic of the other one later. What else is funny about this dress is that I still have the vintage pattern that I made it from....from 1973. I'm fairly sure that I bought it at a yard sale that my Mom would have dragged me to. Back in the day I HATED yard sales and thrift stores or any such thing! Loathed them. But, now, that's all a different story :)

Weight Loss......ummm Thursday?

Whoops! I didn't get my post done yesterday...sort of forgot all about it! But, if I had posted yesterday I would have posted that I have held the same, no weight lost. Since I'm posting today, though, I can happily share that I am down 1lb!!!! Last week I only went to spin 2 times and didn't get to the gym any other days because I was feeling crummy. This week I'm back on track - I went to spin Tuesday and last night and am signed up for tonight. Tonight I am also intending on trying an abs class. Linde goes to it and she said it kills, so that might be just what I need!

If you'd like to join in on Weight Loss Wednesday, you are more than welcome to, no matter how much you need to lose! Pop over to Jennifer's blog to sign up!

cables, hot pads and swaps

I decided that 2010 is the year I will just be getting over certain "stuff", big and small. One of the things is my intimidation of certain knitting stitches. I have tried a few things in the past, but since I learned to knit from a book, some things just don't make sense until I've looked at it, or watched someone else do it. I finally worked up the patience to tackle cables. Yes, yes....everyone says how easy they are.....I'm not sure I completely agree yet. I still don't understand which way (CF or CB) makes the direction of the cable - so I did have to take my stitches out a couple times, and loosen up my tension a teensy bit so that when I was crossing the stitches it wasn't just slipping right off the needle. So - ta-da! Here are the first two specimens I've created with cables - cute little owls. I think I will turn them into pins. The edges curled up quite a bit so I ironed them and then sewed some felt onto the back. I found the pattern here.

Previously in my kitchen I have had pot holders all made by my Mom. And I've loved them! But, today I can say that I've made my very own pot holder for my kitchen!!!! I have to admit it came out a little wonky - the edges a little rippled. But, I love them! I found the idea here. Mom gave me the fabric a while ago and has been in my stash. The backing is Holly Hobbie!!!!! Oh how I love it so! Seriously I've been racking my brain trying to think of some reason to use that fabric! I still have TON left so I will have to come up with something else as well.

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In swapping news, I sent out three packages yesterday. All of them for vintage FQ sheet swaps. One of them is being hosted by Jennifer at Rosey Little Things, the other is on Swap-bot.

I have to say something, and I was really trying not to be a brat about something, but frankly I just can't help it. So, I've been doing a few swaps, not a ton. The things I sent out I try to make something I would in turn want to receive. On the other hand, I'm wondering what some people think when they send stuff out??? I received a package yesterday and I was so excited. I opened it, and first of all the item was stained, there were yellow blotches. I was hoping it wasn't some sort of bodily fluid! And it was dirty. Like dirt dirty. I didn't wipe it because I was unsure what it could have on it. So sad.

Weight Loss Wednesday - snack ideas

Oh man, can I please tell you that I almost forgot to post this Weight Loss Wednesday??! All morning I thought it was the 4th, and then all afternoon I was behind....so it hit me right after spin class tonight that it's WEDNESDAY! and I get to share that I lost another pound! It hit me also today that with that pound lost I have officially lost 25lbs (!) since I started to try and lose weight in October. Ya-frickin-hooooooo! I do still have a looooong way to go, but I'm happy to be that far in my journey. It's funny because I think that in the past I have gotten to this point where I'm seeing some progress but I have gotten frustrated by the amount I have to lose and give up. This time though, I have a distinct goal - so many cute dresses I want to wear! (And yes, Kristin, I know that technically I could wear them now - but it wouldn't look cute right now)
My friend Brooke noticed today that I had lost weight, I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks. That was nice to have someone else notice also. All the ladies I work with are super supportive, they always have something encouraging to say as well. And, it's nice to know that in the blog community there are others working towards goals alongside me :)
Jennifer was saying in her post that she was looking for some low-cal snacks. I am a huge fan of the 94% fat free microwave popcorn. I also enjoy the 100 calorie snacks that are pre-packaged - I usually get something cookie-ish because I have a sweet tooth! I also like to get sugar free jello and make a big batch and then pour them into the 1 or 2 cup sized gladware containers as I'm making them. One regular size package I think is 40 calories for the entire box, so when you divide it up as you're making it then each 1 cup thing is only 10 calories! And it's fat free. That's like nothing practically. What else I like to do (and this could be something everyone in the entire world knows but I didn't until last year when I saw my friend Sherry, who used the most fit person ever do it)......big breath for that run on sentence! Okay - when I buy celery I immediately clean it up, chop it up and put it in a tupperware in water. Then, I can just grab it and eat it conveniently! I was surprised exactly how much I really do like celery! Sometimes I'll dip it in a little fat free italian dressing ( I hate ranch) and that gives a little zing.

Valentine crafts

So, you've seen this before - but now it is officially on the door! I love it, it's a little crazy looking but makes me smile so that's all that matters :) Next up is this banner that I saw on One Pretty Thing that I just knew I wanted to make for my flag thing outside by the front steps. It took forever actually because each little square and heart is hand sewn. Which takes me forever. I used all supplies I already had on hand. The original banner called for heart shaped buttons, and I was going to buy some, but realized then that I would be buying frivolously and not keeping up one of my resolutions. So, I used some pretty buttons that I already had, and I think it turned out just fine.

swap and splurge

I participated in a swap on Swap-bot called "the Moment I met God" and it had to be expressed in some sort of artistic medium, but not written out. I have to tell you that this was very, very tricky! I immediately thought I wanted to do fabric with some embroidery and maybe some pictures. Then, wasn't exactly sure how to tie everything together....so was going to do like a scrapbook page. I ended up doing what I originally thought I would with fabric. It looks a little remedial, I know. But the thing is that I wasn't sure how to represent the things I wanted to convey??? All in all, though, I think I like the way it turned out. Basically it's like a river of life, with the boulders being like a specific even where I "met" God. I mailed this one to a lady who lives in the Netherlands, so I am thinking I will make another one for myself - possibly add some more embroidery.

So, I totally splurged this week on some yarn - but it was definitely worth it! You remember the fingerless mittens I made a few weeks ago? Well, I had found the pattern on Ravelry and the yarn that the pattern was originally made of was this yarn from Bristol County Dyeworks. I looked high and low for a yarn locally that would even sort of come close, and could not find anything. Nada. So I went with the yarn that I found at the yarn store here in town, which I turned out to love! And, also the yarn from bcdyeworks was sold out. But I kept thinking about it and how pretty it was. I just happened to check this week again, and there just HAPPENED to be only one left - I knew I had to buy it! It came in the mail today and it was definitely worth it! It's beautiful and soft and I can't wait to make it into something beautiful! I'm thinking that I might possibly make another pair of fingerless mittens since I wear them a lot and this new color will be fun to wear. The pictures really do not do the yarn justice, it is so much prettier in person! I would definitely buy something from this store again, I got the yarn SO fast!

And to end, a picture of Sam with a Mom-approved play toy. It is a peanut butter flavored tennis ball made specifically for dogs. The package came with two, but June could care less about hers. Sam gets the whole thing in his mouth and chews, and throws it up for himself and pounces on it! I also toss it around for him, he LOVES it!

Last weekend I went out to do errands, and like I normally do I had put the dogs in the back yard. So, when I got home from running errands, the dogs came in like normal. Then, I decided I wanted to work on some stuff in the craft house, out I went. And THIS! is what I walked into....Do they look guilty or what??!? The thing is that Sam has figured out how to open the door, and he has been nosing my bag of feathers for awhile! I always tell him "no" and I guess he just couldn't stand it anymore! June, who is normally the "good" one was in on it too! Oh man it was the biggest mess to clean up! At least it is just paper, feathers and fabric and not really gross trash stuff!

Weight Loss Wednesday

I can't believe it's already another Wednesday! I'm down 1lb, which is good! I was kind of hoping I would have lost more, because I was really good last week. I went to spin 3 days and did the eliptical one night. But, maybe I'm just getting super buff, right? *grin*

So, I've got some sad news - the yarn store is closing! I got an email last week that if there wasn't a buyer by March 21st then it will be closing and in the meantime everything is 50% off. So of course I went in on Saturday to check out the sale and it was packed to the gills in there! Literally, there was like half the stock left! I'm wondering if they will even make it to the end of this month??? Crazy.