Weight Watchers AGAIN!

I'vebeen a Weight Watchers Lifetime member for most of my life. I wish I had a nickel for all the times I have lost the same pounds. I need to lose about 20 pounds. This doesn't sound like alot, but when it's impossible (almost) believe me, it is alot. Today was a good day. I had no trouble staying on program (but the first day never is). I am thinking that this time might be different. For one reason, the online helps are fantastic. The Weight Watchers site not only includes a Points Tracker, but all the recipes and meals that you could possibly want. There is a recipe calculator where you can add your recipe and it will tell you how many points are in a serving. The manufacturers are in touch with the weight conscience also. More and more products are there to help. There are also many sites that cater to weight controlling. Tips and tricks are there--almost as many as for quilting! I will have to learn the points for all the foods, but I think that is the best plan. Foods are limited on the Core Plan which is the alternative method they offer you. I will eat plenty of veggies and try to stay away from lots of carbs and sweets. I know how-----------------

--------------just do it.

A Great Low Cal Dessert (and quick)

1 sheet of Graham Cracker (they also come in Gingerbread, Cinnamon, and Chocolate)

Spread 1/2 with 1 to 2 TBS. Lite Cool Whip (Also comes in French Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate flavors) and cover with the other half. Freeze and remove to ENJOY!. These are excellent and taste really close to an ice cream sandwich. This would also be great for a kids summer treat. A Weight Watchers treat. 1 1/2 to 2 points depending on how much Cool Whip you use.

Have a GREAT DAY--------

My FUN quilting companion

I know you all have met my "snowbunny" English Bulldog, LULU. She is not only my quilting companion, but my everything companion. She is MY dog. I am the one that she prefers to be around--do you get what I am trying to say? Yes, it is true. Sometime she drives me crazy following me around. One good thing is that sleeping is what she does best. The pic at left is the most recent of such a deep sleep. I was getting ready for work and heard her snoring LOUDLY! I stepped into the next room where she and was the this is what I saw. I went to the other part of the house to get my camera and she never moved or much less MOVED. I think you can tell, but, she is laying in a chair with her head on the arm. What a dog--we all should have such a life and she has---------------a DOGS LIFE.

BACK TO THE BLUE BLOCKS QUILT

After all the wonderful words of wisdom from all of you, I decided to try this. A stripe border with the stripes going horizonally to resemble piano keys. Four-patches in the corners. I could do vertical strip on sides--ohhh that would be different. Someone suggested a stopper border, but I think that the strip lends itself to that and so it does not need one. Does anyone like this idea? How about the border fabric. Do you think it adds to the quilt? Does it look blaughhhhh.

Let's hear that input. Thanks in advance.

Scrap Organization

I try to stay orgainzed but it does not come naturally to me. Sometimes I think I spend too much time trying to get organized when I could be quilting---. Scraps are the biggest challenge. I won't say problem as anything to do with fabric is enjoyable. Large bins, floor type or table top , take up too much room. What I decided to use is small plastic baskets. The type used as drawer divider/organizers. I labeled these for desirable sizes pieces. They are stackable and when stacked take up limited space. When I am cutting my scraps, I can spread them out and see at a glance which basket they belong in. I file them immediately to illiminate remeasuring later. This is good as I might cut different sized pieces from one fabric scrap. Sizes I chose: 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2", 3", 3 1/2", 4", 5", 6". I also have a basket for triangles of all sizes as these are continuing to "show up". I make 1/2 squares with these so I have baskets for the 1/2 squares. Most common sizes 1 1/2 and 2 1/2. I would love to hear how you handle this problem.

SINCE YOU DID SO GOOD-----

Here is another quilt that I wanted to be finished with. I have 4 patches at the top and the bottom and wanted to call it quits.

Do you think I should put 4 patches on the sides also?

Add anything else?

These blocks are from an exchange and are all different sizes.

How about a name?

I will send a couple of fat quarters to the winner of the name-game.

Let me have your vote!

1. 
   
   I have not been happy with this quilt to the point that I have put off having it quilted. I do lack putting the small black border on top and bottom. Other than that I am through with it. I decided to ask for a little help from my blog friends. Now that I see it online, it doesn't look so bad. I want your input. Do you think I should:
   
   1. Just add the top and bottom black border and call it finished
2. 2. Add another border (give me suggestions)
3. 3. Add applique to the blank spots in the center.
4. 4. Take it apart and start over (not happenin)
5. 5. Another suggestion?
6. 6. How about a name? Any thoughts?

I wish I had one of those little "vote" here boxes, but no "want to" this morning, so please just leave your answers as comments. Thanks Bloggers!

PS I can't get rid of the extra numbers, so just ignore them and if anyone can tell me how, PLEASE DO. I did not want to start over.

Newest Finish-Fenced Chain

This is my most recent finished project. The pattern came from the April 2006 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. The pattern has you to sew strips of fabric and cut triangles from them using a template. If anyone who reads this decides to make this quilt, as an alternative method, sew your 1/2 4 patch blocks to the long stripset alternating sides then cut the 81/2 inch blocks out the perfect size. This probably is as clear as mud. If anyone truly wants to know what I mean, please comment and I will try to explain again. The fabrics are Civil War Repros.

Freestone County Museum Donation Quilt

This quilt was made to raise money for Freestone County Museum. The signature blocks were sold to families and individuals. Information in the blocks range s from a simple name to so much information it barly fit in the block. The State of Texas center honors our county with a name and a star. The first 3 rows of blocks were reserved for the pioneers of our county. Anyone living in the county 1900 or before could be honored in this section. These blocks sold for $50 each. The solid inside border is a place where anyone living or has ever lived in the county can place a name for $10.00. The outside blocks are for anyone who has ever lived in the county and sold for $25.00. The quilt has at this time raised over $7000. Quite an accomplishment I have to say. The Wacky Pac Quilting Bee helped me make the blocks. They were paperpieced which made signatures/information easier to be recorded. The quilt will be taken to the quilter in a day or two and then will be hung at the museum's Grand Opening of an additional exhibit building. If you are ever in Fairfield, Freestone County, COME TO THE MUSEUM.

Response to STASHBUSTER Question of the Week

How did you come to start quilting? Was it passed down in the family? What was your first project and is it finished? Where does it live now?

My mom and grandmothers were quilters. I have done all kinds of handwork and machine work all my life. I started quilting seriously about 12 years ago. My first project was a nine-patch made from 2 1/2 inch squares, (no strip piecing). I put it together with alternating blocks. A king size quilt with no borders sewn together with a serger. I used muslin for the plain squares and my thread was navy OH NO!. I did hand quilt it, I use that term loosly. Needless to say, it is a dog bed now. But they love it. I have many many more quilts that will be my legacy. No one needs to see the first one. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Annale's Bloody Mary

I am really not much of a drinker, but now and then I like to have a tasty drink. I use to drink Margaritas and still do at a restaurant sometimes, but since I started my diet I drink Bloody Marys. I made myself one the other afternoon when the electricity was off. I didn't know how to make one so I called my good friend, Annale. She gave me a recipe and it was really good. I want to share it with you today. Come on girls--now I don't drink everyday. I don't even have a drink every week. But now and then they are really good. The perfect stress reliever. Here ya go----

Bloody Mary

About 10 ounces of Vegetable juice

1 jigger of Vodka or Tequilla

A dash of Worshchestershire Sauce

1 dash of hot sauce

Salt and Pepper to taste

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Stir with a celery stick

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

SOOOO GOOOOOD!

You must try this. Better yet, call me and I'll have one ready for ya when you get here.

Big Snow in April

Snowing in April and we can't even get it to snow in winter. Makes ya want to put up the tree and cook a turkey. All my little flowers and plants that I had put out had to be covered up and still probably won't make it and if they do they will look like you know what. Oh well, so much for the Easter snap. You can't really see it in the photo. It was coming down. It did not stick, but the little birds were constantly shaking it off their backs as they ate from my window feeder. Caden went around all day with his head up and his mouth open. The electricity was off from about 2 pm until 8 tonight. No quilting or computer fun got done, well, I did do some cutting of strips. I drank a Bloody Mary and read a book about 5 and, yes, then went to sleep. When I woke up at 8 the electricity was coming on. Guess that accounts for why I am up so late tonight. Have to cook and wash my hair in the morning, so off to bed for me. Hope I can sleep.....

Maverik Quilt Ring

Blogs are still so new to me. I am having a ball playing with all the options given me. The blog has inspired me not only to get busy quilting, but to organize my pictures and ultimately my thoughts. I have bonded with friends also in that we have been exploring together, which is so much fun. It is alot like the fun we have quilting together. What one doesn't think of, the other one will. Jerri calls it a brain click.
I was reading about the Maverik Quilt Ring today. I explored the blogs on the ring after reading the criteria for being a part of this ring. I have decided that I definately fit into the catagorie set by this ring. I never follow a pattern. I get inspiration from other people's quilts and quilt patterns, but when it comes down to making the quilt, I do it my own way. Not only in the process by which it is made, but in the way it is put to gether. I am reminded of when I was a child. My mother had me to take piano lessons. I would go to the lesson and the teacher would practise with me and then give me a piece to take home to learn. I would have my mother play it for me. When I went for my next lesson, I would play my own interpretation of the piece for her (by ear). It made her furious, as I was not reading the music properly. Needless to say that did not last very long. I cannot play the piano. Quilting is the same way--give me a pattern and I will play it my own way. Everyone should play his own tune--or quilt--whatever the case may be. Until next time.

LULU SLEEPING

I had to show you this! Dead Dog? No--just relaxed--we should all be able to relax like this.

LITTLE LULU

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS! This is LULU. She is a 60 pound English Bulldog that I inherited from my youngest son, Clark. He and a friend decided a few years ago that they could get rich breeding these dogs. They had one litter and that was the end as they must be artificially inseminated and the puppies delivered by sycerian (sp). Then the puppies cannot stay with the mother as she will smother them. But, Never will you find a more loving and unique little companion.
The Bulldog breed dates back to the 16th century where they were bred to fight--mostly bulls
The fight was outlawed in 1835 for inhumanity. Since that time the dogs have been bred as a family dog. They still have the same physical characteristics as the original fighting dog. They may LOOK mean, but they are far from it.
The characteristics are:

Shorter legs-helped keep out of the way of the bull's horns
Heavier body-provided strength for fighting bull
Large head-for a forceful jaw to hold onto bull's nose
Muzzle that curves up-for a forceful jaw and to keep out of the way of the nose so that the dog can breath when clenching onto bull
Wrinkled muzzle-provide a passageway for the bull's blood to run down dog's face away from eyes.
They are broad in front and narrow in rear so that as the bull slings them from side to side they will not break their back.

LuLu grunts like a pig and snores louder than Sid, and her tongue hangs out when she is asleep (all brought on from the smooshed nose). She must not get too hot or too cold-hence -she must remain in the house. This is the only REAL problem for me as she sheds. But LuLu is not active so this makes shedding easier to handle. Her hair is isolated. Clark has a male and his hair is everywhere as he is everywhere. He is not the average docile bulldog. I will post a pic of him at a later time.

My Own Design--"A Little Birdie Told Me"

I am working on a Round Robin Quilt that I am dying to publish, even ask your opinion on, but if I do, the owner would see it. This is a photo of a quilt that I designed in 1998. Gee, that is almost 10 years ago. The blocks are paper pieced and are embelished. Techniques are incorporated into the pattern so that the quilter will learn many. Perfect for the new quilter or for a more experienced one who might get bored doing the same block over and over. Techniques learned would be paper piecing, machine applique, ruching, couching, hand applique (stems) reverse applique, hand embroidery, and yoyos. The blocks can be most any size.

I plan to make a list of quilting goals soon. First I must "gather" all the projects. My My, just thinking of them all makes my head spin. I have inherited a group of quilt blocks that my mother made but never incorporated into quilts. I will post them and ask your opinion as to what would work. Soon-----

It Worked! I have an icon in my Profile

I finally did it. I don't think I did anything different this time. I just copied the url in Html edit mode and pasted it back in my profile (edit mode). The correct url begins with "style"(second one). The url ends with jpg. The " marks are not included. The reason that I have not been successful may have been that there is a glitch with Blogger and it may have been that I was just coping something wrong and not realizing it. Success is divine! Yea!