One Monthly Goal

I'm having trouble staying focused on an embroidered piece that needs finished  and then bordered with a quilted finish before framing.  I want to give this as a Christmas gift.  I joining this month's One Monthly Goal at +Red Letter Quilts to be held accountable to finish this project so I can frame it.  The badge is on my sidebar if you would like to see what this group is about and maybe join up.  They have finished some beautiful work.

So without further ado this is my started (JULY) and then forgotten project.  

I pulled this frame to use because of size so I would have room for enough quilt to show.  This is the size I'll use but maybe a little less ornate.  I'll have to wait until piece is done to tell.  I'll probably as for your opinon on that then.

So saying that, this month's the goal is to embroider and piece.

Hugs and blessings to all.

An apology and a 2017 Stitch Along

Some of you may have noticed I haven't been blogging or visiting for awhile.  As in like a lot of your lives things have just gotten out of whack.  I'm in the job search mode now and waiting to hear from one interview by Fri. or Sat. (so they said).  Too much to share at one time so I'll catch you up a little at a time.

I owe MA. from http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com/ a huge apology.   She has some beautiful Crazy Quilting to share if you would like to visit.  I'm so sorry this is so late in coming.  She sent me a beautiful hand sewn postcard a couple of months ago and I never showed how much I appreciated it by sharing it.  It came when my struggles were at the highest and I needed the kindness of just being thought of.  It stay on my shelf above my bed to remind me the someone cares and thinks of you even when you don't realize it.  My pleasant surprise arrived prettily wrapped.

Isn't her handwork pretty.

A great big THANK YOU. 

Now I would like to share a stitch along for 2017. 

Launching The Bag Ladies of the Fat Quarter Club Stitch-Along

Just visit link below for information , todays giveaway and join in the fun

https://catpatches.blogspot.com/2016/10/great-giveaway-launching-bag-ladies-of.html?showComment=1475769733919#c1176811598084663904

I trying to get back in gear with some sewing, and I going to try to share on Fridays.  Have a great week end and be careful.

My God is good, He is my strength and refuge.  I will not be anxious about tomorrow.

Hugs and Blessings

Testing how to tag on my blog.

+allthingzsewn.blogspot.com    I'm testing a way to tag blogs that I might be sharing on my blog and want them to know.  Like some one that I have won thread from and want to show what was done with it.

If by chance this should work and you be tagged would you be so kind to let me know.  I always put your link up  so others can find your blog. But I think it would be nice if you knew I was doing so.

If any of you already know how to do this , I sure would appreciate your letting me know how.  And likewise if any of you are interested in this just leave a comment saying so.  When I get it figured out I'll get back to you.

I will continue testing on this particular page, so once you have read it  just ignore in any future post with the same title, unless of course you do receive notice that you have been tagged.

Now for a little happy news from me, I have just received some beautiful +Aurifil thread from Snoodles at +lilypadquilting.blogspot.com.  I going to start using it today.


                                                          https://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com

This is a sweet pattern from Jenny at +http://www.elefantz.com/.  I just joined "The Stitchery Club"

and can't wait for August's patterns.  I want to us some of them on my cats and houses.

Thanks for visiting and I hope a couple of you are tagged, remember to let me know please...

Hugs and Blessings,

12 Days Of Christmas in July

Tryin to get in the spirit of Christmas and what better way to start than joining up with Sarah at
http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/07/twelve-days-of-christmas-in-july-and.html
I want to take a moment to thank Sarah for all her time and effort for making this a fun and smooth working hop.
Plus every day of the hop she will also have steps to a Christmas Quilt along.

On to my Christmas projects. My head wasn't into Christmas at first, but I'm if full swing now.  I have already picked out my gifts to make
for my kids and grands.  I stop there, with the great grands and more coming it getting to be too many to sew for.  But Santa does leave something in all stockings.


This year I'm making reusable fabric gift tags to go with packaging.

Since I have no packages yet they look a little lonely, Hoping the evergreen helps.

You can find the tutorial at
https://www.shabbyfabrics.com/Free-Downloads.aspx
They even give you the printout for the cards.
 I went ahead and gave the link for all their free downloads. There are some really cute projects
you might like to gift as well.

 
They are really easy and fast.

I found this sweet ornament at
https://carlahoag.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/nativity-quilt-ornament/

I like yard sales and consignment shops to find vintage wool.  All of this ornaments pieces of wool are from
ladies and mens vintage coats and jackets.

My final Christmas project for this hop is a mug rug.
I like these when eating treats in the evening while watching TV.

Or leaving Santa's cookies and milk.  You want to stay on his good side.

I hoping you found at least one idea for a gift.  Don't forget to visit http://selinaquilts.blogspot.com/  today, for another idea or two.
Here is all of the participants for this hop in case you have missed some.

July 14th:     Sharon Vrooman @ Vrooman’s Quilts

                    Carole Carter @ From My Caroline Home

July 15th:    Yanicka Hachez @ Finding Myself As An Artist

                   Chris Dodsley @ made by ChrissieD

July 16th:     Marsha Hodgkins @ Quilter in Motion

                    Leanne Parsons  @ Devoted Quilter

July 17th:     Tonia Conner @ All Thingz Sewn You are here

                    Selina @ Selina Quilts

July 18th:     Lara Buccella @ Buzzin Bumble

                    Soma Acharya @ Whims and Fancies

July 19th:     Joanne Harris@ Quilts by Joanne

                    Suzy Webster @ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

July 20th:     Vicki in MN @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

                    Jennifer Fulton @ The Inquiring Quilter

July 21st:     Michele Kuhns @ Crayon Box Quilt Studio

                    Jan Ochterbeck @ The Colorful Fabriholic

July 22nd:     Alla Blanca @ Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes.

                     Zenia Rene @ A Quilted Passion

July 23rd:     Joanne Hubbard @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

                    Paige Alexander @ Quilted Blooms

July 24th:     Carolyn Jones @ …by CJ

                    Tisha Nagel @ Quilty Therapy

July 25th:     Susan Arnold @ Quilt Fabrication

                    Beth Sellers @ Cooking Up Quilts

                    Linda Pearl @ One Quilting Circle
                                                                                           Blessings and hugs

A new find and Ice Cream

Well, I haven't quit but I did get side tracked, I went to my 50 year class reunion and did well.  But for some reason the day after while a old class mate and I went for lunch at a seafood restaurant I decided to get fried fish which of course comes with coleslaw and fries.  Thinking the whole time I can do this.  The start of  what could have been the end of my healthy eating journey.  This was not a conscious thought just an old habit sneaking in.  I have lost 15 lbs. and do not want to gain them back, in fact today's goal is to lose 15 more by by August 8 2016, which is 6 weeks equaling 2 lbs a week and that is doable.  Not many seem too interested in my sharing of  sugar free recipes so this will be the last one posted. But on August 8 I will post that I reached my second  goal  for my own benefit.  

This is so delicious I just had to share it.  It will be used at my 4th of July picnic for those who don't eat refined sugar.  The only sugar is what is in naturally  the fruit.  It is simply:
I banana
1/2 cup of strawberries

slice and put on lined cookie sheet and freeze
when frozen put in blender and blend.
eazy peezy!

I only have a small blender and it kept sticking to top and I had to scrap it off.

but was frozen just like ice cream

 This consistency is like soft serve ice cream and can still be up in a cone.
I just added about a tablespoon of skim milk and blended. It made about 4 servings.

Now, I found this site which allows you to figure up all the information of any recipe you might want to make yourself, I have found it very helpful in making up my own dishes.  The below is a sample of information you will receive when entering your recipe.  And it is free.

https://www.caloriecount.com/

this is not the ice cream, just  random figures

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size  g

Amount Per Serving

Calories Calories from Fat

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0. 1%

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium mg 0%

Potassium mg 14%

Total Carbohydrates g 10%

Dietary Fiber g 15%

Sugars g

Protein g

Vitamin A 2% • Vitamin C 52% Calcium 1% • Iron 3%

Nutrition Grade A

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Very low in saturated fat
• No cholesterol
• Very low in sodium
• High in dietary fiber
• High in manganese
• High in potassium
• High in vitamin B6
• Very high in vitamin C

Bad points

• Very high in sugar                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                 

Belated Birthday Day

 Hello Everyone

No DH wasn't late, in fact he started making in April. My lovely shelf just like I wanted it.  I wanted it lite because it is over my head, the hook on the undersides will be for Banners or whatever.  I have waited because I wanted to put something on it before showing it.  I did not know exactly how deep it would be.  So I started thrift store shopping and found the hat box which is the off color in my drapes at this time.  Will be changing that later.  And then found the wreath at goodwill.  I went to a craft gift shop in Bardstown Ky and found the the perfect sign.   I don't know what I want on the knobs yet

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. 

  

I lucked out and found these sheets at a Unique Thrift Shop for $5.00, washed them and sprayed Febreze sleep serenity on them.  Moonlit lavender, I love, love lavender .  

I just had to have new pillow cases, and made these out of some leftover from some Christmas stockings I had made last year.  I'm getting ready now to make new cases for the back pillows too.

Here what I got for now, If I waited until I totally finished  I would never have gotten it posted.

I know it's off center a little, but he tried so hard to please me with this.  I'll either move the bookcase to the other side so I can scoot the bed over or wait a month or two and ask him to move the hangers.  Better yet, I'm may do it myself one day when he is gone and he will never know it.

Now don't tell me you have never done this before. 

The more I think about it, I'm going to paint the bookcase this summer I'll wait until then to make up my mind.  Too much going on right now anyway.

Enjoy your week end.   If you live in the Texas flood area I'm praying for  you.

Hugs and Blessings

Muscle Monday or Lack thereof,

My doctor has told me I have no core muscles, not a good thing he says........ so a big yellow ball and diagrams of sorta exercises he expects me to do was handed to me.

So this has been added to the agenda for better health.

The step thing is not working too well for me right now any way.  I'm not including them in with the tread mill. 8,000 steps is as high as I got and that was only one day.  I'm having more energy though and so I'm cleaning and rearranging my sewing room and I think that counts for me. At least I'm up and moving.  Uncovering the treadmill was the first thing I did about 2 weeks ago, again.

Danice over at http://homespunhannahblog.blogspot.com/ made the comment that it seem the older we get the harder it is to loose weight.  Well you bet your booty it is.  And I have about 20 years on her.  The more time we try to lose weight the more times our metabolism gears down and the harder it is lose weight.  Just a big circle.  Now here is where the poster that Lori had put up on her blog comes in   http://theinboxjaunt.com/2016/05/04/start-today/

This is going up on my sewing wall as encouragement to keep adding to those steps.

I'm doing real well with the elimination of sugar in my diet though. Testing recipes for flavor and nutrition throughout the week.  Actually this is my personal recipe.  While I'm not a whiz at cooking photos this was an all in one dinner that Santaman stated was real good considering it was healthy.


Salsa Verde chicken and vegetables

     1 can of mixed veggies with one chicken cube and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric , simmered until cooked         down about 1/2 way.   (do not drain)

     1 lrg. chicken breast sauteed with 1/2 onion diced in 1 tbl. spoon olive oil with garlic and parsley           to taste drain on paper towel

     1 box of cooked long grained herbed rice.

      

      Mix all prepared ingredients to bake ware and microwave til heated thoroughly to your liking.

I found this delicious sugar free Banana Bread on Pinterest.  Not one person guessed it was sugar free.

Ingredients

---

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup splenda
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

How to make it

---

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan.
• In a bowl, mash bananas; add splenda, melted butter, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder and egg until well blended.
• Stir in flour and walnuts. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• I immediately remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack

Hugs and Blessings