Not Your Ordinary Ironing Board Cover

You'll have to agree with me that shopping for ironing board covers is a very disappointing experience. It is for me, at least. I've had everything from ugly green to tan stripes with blue flowers. Uggh!!

Last year I found a cute ironing board cover from Martha at Kmart.

Even though it didn't match my sewing room, it wasn't ugly. And, as Martha would say, "That's a good thing".

Edit: Sharon asked about the cute little project sitting on my ironing board. It's a gift bag that I found in the winter issue of Quilts and More 2006. American Patchwork and Quilting also has a website at http://allpeoplequilt.com. In their "Ideas and Projects" section you will find the little gift bag lunch sack.

Well, as we all know, all "good things" must come to an end, and the cuteness of Martha's ironing board cover design was no exception. I can see where it's starting to turn a little brown over there in the right hand corner.


Eventually, the little brown spot turned into this:

Yuck!!!

Soon my "world of ironing" would change while visiting Jona at her blog, Stop Staring and Start Sewing. She has this great blog, and she sells fabric at her online fabric store, Fabritopia I've had her "Apron In an Hour" tutorial listed on my sidebar for a few months now. Anyway...one day she posted about her friend Cassie celebrating her one year blogaversary. Cassie has this adorable pencil roll and she was giving a tutorial on how to make one. I scrolled down to see what she was doing. I saw that she was using elastic hairbands for the closures (great idea!). Then, all of the sudden I saw this gorgeous ironing board cover!!!! Click here and you'll drool see it. Be sure to scroll down a little and enjoy her pencil roll tutorial while you're at it. Immediately I posted a comment. Here's what it said:


Happy one year blogaversary! Thanks, too, for the tutorial. I love how you used elastic hairbands for the closure. I would have never thought of that.

I, also, would love to know where you got that beautiful ironing board cover!

Cassie e-mailed me back and said that she made the ironing board cover using the tutorial that Jona has on her blog. I knew Jona had tutorials, but I guess I got stuck on the "Apron in an Hour" ! So, I went back to her blog, and there it was "Ironing Board Cover".

In about an hour and a half (including the time I spend trying to find something from my stash and taking out the stretchy string from the old ironing board cover) I had a new ironing board cover.

Now, I know this isn't the greatest fabric in the world, and no, it doesn't match my sewing room, but I did want to use something that's been laying on the shelf a couple of years before I went out and spent money on something more expensive. Besides that, I can pass this along to my oldest daughter who has her own ironing board. She'll love it!

Now, if I could only find the perfect iron....
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To the Sunday Stash Buster Reporters from Judy's blog: I don't know how much fabric Iused to make my ironing board cover, but I did use my stash. I also made 200 half square triangles from my stash for the Quilt Along that Judy is doing. Since my quilt isn't really going to be scrappy, I did have to buy 1 1/2 yards of fabric for the outside border. The bolt was almost empty, and it was 30% off, so I thought it was a good time to buy it.

Diet Challenge Update: I didn't get near the scales this week after celebrating Terry's birthday twice and my son in law's birthday once. I realize now (well I've sort of known it for a while) but this 20 or so pounds is for all the fun I have in life. Although I didn't eat as well as I should this week, I did go walking 5 days. The "all women's" gym I went to closed down due to economic times. I'm still going to go walking and do my weight lifting. I found a local TV show that has a local trainer, so I'll be lifting weights and doing sit ups and squats with her.

Amanda

Seeing Orange

Knock. Knock.
Who's There?
Orange.
Orange Who?
Orange you ready for an online retreat?

I am! Orange you?



Pat Sloan is hosting an online retreat starting this Friday. All you need to do is gather your orange fabrics. Here's mine.



Pat said that we needed to find a "buddy" or two for our orange, so I found this in my stash.

I thought it worked great as an inspiration piece.

I searched in my stash and realized it takes the right pink to go with orange. Some pinks look terrible with orange. The pink leopard print I'm not too sure about, so I'll have to wait and see. It sort of screams at me right now. It all has to do with value. I didn't feel that I had enough pinks in my stash, so I went to Joann's and bought some pinks that will look great, and a couple of more oranges for "just in case". Some of my oranges in my stash won't work, but they'll be great for another project.

The greens I found in my stash. I thought a little bit of green here and there might work well.

My background color will be white since the other fabrics are bright and crisp. It's sort of a mystery at this point as to what we'll be making, but we'll find out on Friday.

Do you want to join in on the fun? All you have to do is click on the button OP on my sidebar. It will take you to the sew along posts that Pat has posted so far, and will post all weekend. There will be fun and games, and door prizes!

If you've never done an online retreat it's a lot of fun. You don't have to pack your stuff and go away somewhere. Just make sure your housework is done, you have food that your family can fix themselves, and your errands are done. Then all you have to do is sew, check in with Pat to see what fun stuff she has going on (she'll be posting all day), and spend time making something beautiful.

Now go look in your stash and gather your orange! Are you a little stumped on what colors will go with orange? You can think fall like reds and browns, or brighter fall like purples and greens, or, my High School colors: blue and orange. Turquoise is pretty, too. Maybe add some yellow in. The possibilities are endless!

Isn't quilting fun?

Amanda

Edit: It's Fiday and the OP challenge has begun. Let me just say there's some serious stash envy on my part. Wow! Some of the fabris others are using are gorgeous!
Be sure to click on Pat's blog for all the fun. This weekend I am going on a retreat to celebrate my friend, Terry's, 50th birthday. We were supposed to leave Saturday morning, but it's supposed to snow. So, now we're leaving this afternoon! There is no Internet connection at the lake house, so I won't be able to participate in the sew along. I will be sewing, though, so I will shoot lots of photos.
Have a great weekend! Have fun Pat! Big Hugs to you!!

Valentine Party and Giveaway Winner and Diet Challenge

Alexis and the boys were patiently waiting for our little Valentine party to begin.

I made Rice Krispie treats and cut them with my lip shaped cookie cutter. I got tubes of gel frosting and let them decorate their lips.



Needless to say, gel frosting was every where; on their clothes, their little faces, and on the seat cushions to my bar stools. It was messy, but they had fun.

For dinner we had something quick and easy. I made my Chicken Pot Pie and a few of their favorite side dishes.

I had some left over dough for the crust, rolled it out, and cut out a heart. Alexis was the only person that noticed it. If you want the recipe I have it listed on my sidebar. It's named Nell's Chicken Pot Pie.

My new heart shaped cake pan Steve gave me for Valentine's Day really made a pretty cake.

It must have been good because it's almost gone!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Now it's time for the giveaway.

I printed all of the people that left me a comment before midnight.
I put them in my heart shaped cookie jar.

Then I stirred them around and put the lid on the cookie jar.


I shook and shook as hard as I could. Then I opened the lid and Alexis drew a name.


Hmm. I wonder who it could be?




Congratulations, Rachel!

Here are the Rice Krispie Lips!

E-mail me your address and I'll send the pattern to you.

Thanks, everyone, for being a part of my Valentine celebration. I love you all, and I mean that from the bottom of my ♥!

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Now for my Monday's Diet Challenge report. This month has been challenging for me, to say the least. During the ice storm I had to eat whatever I could find, and some times it wasn't so healthy.

Although I have gone in the wrong direction, as of today, I have made a big U-turn and am trying my best to get back on track. Good luck to everyone who is making an effort to get healthier!

Amanda

Sunday Stash Busting Report

I've already posted about how I used my Valentine fabrics to make a cute little wall-hanging and lots of Pennie Pockets. If you missed that post, it's here!

As I was pulling out my Valentine quilts for decorating around the house, I remembered a Valentine's quilt that I made my first grand son, Cameron. I looked at the label and it was 2004. It must have been his first Valentine's Day quilt.

I guess I have been stash busting for quite some time now, even though I didn't call it stash busting at the time. I was just using scraps from other baby quilts I had made him, the reds from a red and white quilt I had made, and some fabric that I had bought to make his mother a Valentine dress when she was about 5 years old, but I never did.

For years that fabric (the blue with the red hearts) sat on the shelf in my sewing room. I really didn't know what I was going to use it for, but I kept it anyway because I loved it. Little did I know that it would be perfect for making a baby boy's first Valentine quilt.

This week I hope to bust more of my stash. Pat Sloan is having on online virtual retreat this weekend called the OP. There's a button on my sidebar if you want to find out more. I think the "OP" means "orange pile". Judy Laquidara is hosting another Quiltathon. And my best friend, Terry, is turing 50this coming weekend. We're going on a big retreat, so I won't be home to do the Quiltathon or the Orange Pile Virtual Retreat, but I'll still be sewing either way.

If you would like to join in on the Virtual Retreat and/or the Quiltathon (it's too bad you can't all go with me on the retreat for Terry's birthday. Like she always says, "The more the merrier!"), all you have to do is click on the buttons on my sidebar and you will find the information that you need to know.

Happy Stashbusting!


Amanda

For those of you checking in to see if you won the Crazy Hearts pattern, my grand daughter, Alexis, was out of school today so she spent the night with me. We slept in super a little late, so as soon as we eat brunch (its too late for breakfast!) and get out of our jammies, she will draw a name.

My Valentine Gifts (and one for you, too!)

I hope your Valentine's Day was a fun one.

I had fun reading blogs today, especially the ones that talked about love. Pam talked about her love for Peet's coffee. I've never had Peet's coffee, but she sure makes it sound good! I do love coffee, though. I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I drink 2 pots a day! And I can sleep at night.

Kim loves us so much she gave a tutorial on how to make an adorable Valentine quilt. She says we can save it in a file to make for next years Valentine decorations, but since my Valentine fabric is still all over my cutting table I may make one before I put things away!

Judy is having the give away that I told you about in my last post. I have to post what I got for Valentine's Day before midnight, so I better not write as much as I normally do which is probably due to the fact that I drink 2 pots of coffee hurry.

Okay. So, here it all is in one photo underneath my Valentine tree.

I'm not a high maintenance woman. I don't want flowers because I could think of lots of fabric that I could buy for $50. I don't want diamonds because I could think of other things I would rather have. Take me to a thrift shop and I'm a happy woman! See that heart shaped wreath above my little $3 Valentine tree? I bought it at the thrift store for $3, went to Walmart and bought some silk red carnations, and I hot glued them on to the wreath. My inspiration came from Tina at Cherry Hill Cottage.

Give me a heart shaped cookie jar and a Valentine coffee cup and my heart jumps for joy. A lip shaped cookie cutter will be great for when the kids and I make lip shaped rice crispy treats when they come to my house tomorrow night for our Valentine dinner. The heart shaped cake pan will be perfect, too, for my strawberry cake that I plan to make for our dessert after dinner tomorrow night.
It just doesn't take much to make me happy.

He also took me out to dinner at TGIFridays. We went early at 4:30. Every one in my little town decided to take their special someone out to dinner early this year. I think next year we will go out for Valentine lunch! The first restaurant we went to had a 4 hour wait! No thank you!

After dinner we went to see the movie, New in Town.

Steve and I loved it. Everyone in the theater was laughing hard throughout the entire movie. It didn't get good reviews, but I don't ever look at those any way. I always look after I've seen the movie. I don't like blood and gore nor do I like movies that scare me so bad I can't sleep at night. I just want something that makes me laugh, and makes me feel good inside. This one did just that.

Okay. I still have a few minutes before I have to post this over at Judy's blog, so here's what I'm giving away.


I saw this quilt and had to have the pattern. I love the pinks and reds. The quilting is gorgeous, too!

So, if you would like to win the pattern leave me a comment.

Amanda


Edit**I was in such a hurry about getting this post done before midnight that I didn't tell you when I was going to have the drawing for the pattern. Since it's sort of a Valentine's weekend, I will stop accepting comments after midnight tonight(Central), February 15 and have the drawing tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to my bloggy friends. I ♥ you all!

I love my little angel/cupid. It's a design from one of my favorite quilt designers, Nancy Halvorsen of Art to Heart. I like to decorate my home around whatever holiday or season it is, and Nancy always has cute ideas in her books and patterns. This one came from her book "Easy Does It for Winter".

I made the little angel on the first day of the ice storm before I lost electricity. I made it in the "quilt as you go" method that Kim demonstrated on her "quilt as you go" Santa.

Since I am trying to bust my stash, I thought Monica's adorable Pennie Pockets would be perfect to make for my grand children to fill with candy and give to their day care workers and my grand daughter's teachers.

I made a larger one for their other grand mother.

Tonight Steve and I are going out to dinner and to a movie. I usually do a Valentine's dinner for the kids and grand kids, but everyone is busy tonight so we're doing it tomorrow night. Besides that, it will be fun to go out with Steve.

Judy Laquidara is having a give-away today. If you post about what you got for Valentine's Day before midnight tonight, your name will be put in the drawing to win a software program for making your own little papers for half square triangles.
So, check back tomorrow to see what I got!

Have a fun day!

Amanda♥

Thank You and Something More Important

Thank you to everyone who posted a comment on my last post about the ice storm that came through Kentucky. We've had some warmer weather (70 degrees) so that has helped with clean up. Some of my friends still don't have electricity, but they are surviving.

I know I told you that I was trying to decide whether or not to post what I had written about the storm. I was going to, and then the Australian brush fires happened.

I don't know. Somehow I just don't feel right about posting about an ice storm when these people have gone through something a million times worse.

One of my blog readers Lise at The Chocolate Cat lives in Victoria. I'm sure a lot of you know her. She always writes sweet comments. Although Lise is safe, thank God, she has written about her experience with what has happened.

Lise and her friend, Tracey are collecting quilt blocks to make a sampler quilts for one of the victims. If they get a lot of blocks they will make quilts for other familes, as well. I can't imagine losing loved ones and everything I own. I'm sure a quilt will be a great comfort.

Kim at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure has encouraged her readers to participate and send blocks to Lise and Tracey. Kim has this easy scrappy star block pattern that she shared with her blog readers a few months ago. Please read about Kim's idea here.

For those of you that live in the brush fire areas please know that you have been in my thoughts and prayers and I will continue to pray for you.

Amanda

Knock! Knock! Is Anybody There?

If you read my sidebar in the "About Me" section you will see that I am from Kentucky. Many of you have heard about the major ice storm that affected our state and my community.

My Aunt Jackie called me today to check on me. She had lunch with Judy Laquidara today. She said that Judy was concerned because I haven't written on my blog in a while. So, I decided that I should pop in and tell you all that I am okay. My family is fine.

It's been a little hectic around here, to say the least. I opened my home to several teenagers whose parents had no electricity and no way to keep their kids warm. We weren't sure we could keep them warm either, but we did the best we could with our gas fireplace, gas hot water heater, and grilling food on the gas grill.

When you go for several days without electricity your house gets a little dirty; floors need to be vacuumed, flashlights and candles every where, and all the stuff you leave out so you can find it when it gets dark, and lots of laundry (towels. Girls use lots and lots of towels). There's not been much time for blogging.

I had teenagers up until last night. Their families finally got electricty after a week. School started back today and I took a road trip to Evansville, Indiana just to get away for the day. I needed it!

I started writing a post about what our governor says is the "worst natural disaster in modern history that our state has experienced." I told my Aunt that I wasn't really sure that my blog readers would want to read about our experience, but maybe I'll finish it and post it anyway. It will be good for me to read it again a few months later to remind myself of what all we went through.

Until then, thanks for the prayers for the people of our state. The prayers are still needed. A lot of my friends still don't have electricty. Some communities have been evacuated because of no water. Temperatures this week have been in the teens and single digits. Warmer weather is on the way, however, this weekend.

Amanda

Diet Challenge Monday

I am happy to report that I lost 3 pounds this week. Now, don't get excited. It's the 3 pounds I gained when I started my diet 2 weeks ago. I read in an exercise book one time that sometimes you gain water whenever you start working out. I guess my body is finally getting used to me going to the gym and walking. All I know is that even though I got slightly discouraged, I still hung in there, and it's paying off!

Now, here's my little view about scales: I don't like that some little piece of machinery determines whether or not I'm in a good mood that day. I can be feeling really great about myself, my clothes be a little loose, get on the scales, and dad gummit!!!(while stomping my foot)...I either gained some weight or maintained.

On the other hand, I can see where scales are a good thing. Heck, if I had weighed myself more often I could see that I was gaining weight and done something about it then instead of having to do it over again. Also, I can look back at my previous week, see what I did wrong and work on making changes.

My change this week was sugarless gum! It's 5 little calories, tricks my brain into thinking I'm eating a bag of chips, and keeps me from eating in between meals and snacks. When I'm out and about and I get a little hungry I pop in a piece of gum and the hunger pains go away.

Good luck to the rest of you in the diet challenge! Doing this together is fun!

♥♥Hearts♥♥All♥♥Around♥♥

Belinda at Brown Dirt Cottage asked her blog readers if they were thinking about Valentiney things yet. Well, of course I have!!



I love Valentine's Day. It's this fun little day in the middle of a cold dreary winter. For me, Valentine's Day isn't just about me and my husband. It's also about celebrating the love for my family, friends, and everyone else around me.

Ever since Kim from Kim's Big Quilting Adventure posted about a Valentine quilt class she was teaching, I've been in the mood for making another Valentine quilt. Kim's class is an original design, so if you want the pattern, she's selling them. Make sure you save one for me, Kim!

Here's a Valentine quilt I made a few years ago. I made one for my grand daughter for her first Valentine's Day and I liked it so much I made one for me!

I had left over blocks, so I made a tablerunner, too!



I've been on a mission to find Valentine themed quilts and thought I would share with you what I have found so far. First is an original design by Nanette at Freda's Hive.

Kim at Bitty Bits and Pieces has a tutorial on how to make an adorable Valentine pillow. While you're visiting her blog, check out her nice give away she's hosting. Here's what you need to do: go to her blog, sign up for her giveaway, tell her I sent you, then go to your blog and post about it, too. I'll get my name in the drawing 5 times for posting it on my blog, 5 more times if you tell her I sent you. The same goes for you if you post about it on your blog, and your readers tell her you sent them. She's spreading the love for sure!

McCalls Quilting has a cute pieced Valentine Heart pattern you can find here. McCalls Quilt Quilts has one here .

Marcia Hohn at the Quilter's Cache has an adorable Valentine quilt pattern here.

Morgan Moore at One More Moore not only has a ruffly Valentine apron tutorial, but she also has a tutorial on how to make a Valentine tree.

If you see any Valentine themed quilting ideas, let me know!

I've been planning on spreading the love, too, with a giveaway of my own. Check back in the next few days and I'll give you the details.

Amanda♥

Busting My Stash in 2009

Oooh! That sounds like it's gonna hurt!

Judy at Patchwork Times has challenged her blog readers to another year of busting their fabric stash. What does this mean? Well, it means using fabrics that you have on hand first. Then if you need a particular fabric and nothing you have will work, you can go out and buy fabric to finish your project.

This doesn't mean we can't buy fabric; it just means we have to think about it first. I don't know about you, but I have lots of spur of the moment purchases sitting on the shelves in my sewing room. You wouldn't believe the kits or bundles of fat quarters I have from visiting quilt shops or going quilt shows. I always have good intentions, but new ideas come along and the other projects get pushed to the side. I'm such a sidetracked person!

I joined the stash busting efforts last year, and I did a great job at finishing up some projects. I plan to do that, again, this year.

The other day I needed 1400, 2 1/2" squares for a class I was taking at my Quilt Guild's workshop. I used 6 1/2" squares that we exchange every month, 2 1/2" strips that I exchanged with some friends, 2 1/2" squares that I exchanged with people in 2000 to make a millennium quilt (that I never even started), and I used fabrics in UFO boxes that I know I will never complete! I was able to empty several UFO boxes and make a dent in my scraps to make a quilt that I really want!

Part of the challenge is to post every Sunday our stash busting efforts for the week. I don't have a photo, and right now I'm looking at blocks laid out in rows on my living room floor for a queen size quilt. Izzie, my cat, didn't like my arrangement and rearranged them himself. It doesn't look too pretty right now, to say the least, so I'll save the photo for when the top gets completed.

For my friends that own quilt shops, write quilting books, design patterns, and design fabrics: I'll always support you. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have this wonderful hobby that gives me such joy. I appreciate everything you do.

Amanda♥

She's Baaaack!!!

She's back! Lisa Boyer of Dorky Homemade Quilts is back in blogland!!! Welcome back, Lisa. We've missed you! (I was so excited when I saw Lisa's had written a post to her blog, I just had to tell you!) If you are new to Lisa's blog, scroll down all the way back to the beginning. It's probably the closest I'll ever get to Hawaii. And you'll laugh and giggle all the way and get some great quilting tips, too.

If you visit her, tell her I sent you!

Amanda

Diet Challenge Monday (belated)

Hi, everyone!

The comments from my last post made me cry. They were so sweet. You know, it didn't dawn on me until you told me that I did lose 60 pounds! Even though I have gained about 30 of it back, at least it wasn't the entire 60!

It had been a while since I weighed, so I really thought that after Christmas I had gained quite a bit. It seems from September to December I gain weight. I go on two quilting retreats where we eat a lot. There's Thanksgiving, Christmas,and Halloween. Of course Christmas eating lasts the entire month between Christmas parties and my trip to see my family in Louisiana. Then there are the 6 family birthdays where I just have to eat a piece of birthday cake!
Here's one of them. This is my oldest daughter, Laura.

She turned 24 the day after Christmas. We weren't going to be home, so we took her out to dinner to Olive Garden the day before we left.

Last week I finally faced the scales and to my amazement, I didn't gain any weight over the holidays. In fact, I had lost a few pounds. Wow! I did sort of watch what I ate. Instead of eating the entire batch of cookies my Aunt makes me every year, I just ate two. And instead of eating 10 pieces of candy that my other Aunt makes me every year (something my mother always made) I ate 3. I guess it paid off!

As I said before, I am doing the Core diet plan that Weight Watchers had. Notice I said had? I don't think they have it anymore. I'm doing well on it, but for some reason the weight isn't dropping fast like it did when I did the plan 3 years ago. I am walking every day or going to the gym. I may have to do both just to give my metabolism a jump start. Hopefully things will kick in and I'll start seeing some results.

I think I know what the problem is...my fat cells aren't taking me seriously, bless their little hearts. I can just hear them saying, "Ok guys, here she goes again. Lets wait a couple of weeks and see if she means business." Of course I mean business! I'll show them!

In the meantime, thanks for the support. {{Big Hugs}}

Amanda♥

Diet Challenge Monday

Last week Sharon decided to start a diet group through her blog. So many people signed up to join the challenge, she didn't have enough room on her sidebar to list everyone's blogs! The rules of the challenge are to do our best and post our progress on Monday's. None of us want our blogs to become diet blogs, so Monday's are the day we are to post. That's probably good since it's right after the weekend. It will keep us "in check" so we'll think twice about what we eat over the weekend.

I'm not on the list on her sidebar, but I still want to play! Afterall, I have about 30 pounds I need to lose and, with Sharon as a coach, what better time to do it! The love and support from Sharon, and the rest of the bloggers partcipating, will be great. And with Sharon, you get tons of laughs and lots of fun. That's a given!

Last Monday was when everyone else started. I found out about it on Tuesday or Wednesday, so I'm a little late in starting, but that's okay. I did exercise some last week, and I sort of watched what I ate. Starting today, though, I'm making it official.

Sharon posted before photos, which she has encouraged all of us to do as well. Well, I'm not as brave as Sharon, and I really don't want to show you guys what I look like in a tight t-shirt and tight pants. However, I will show you my front side, including my hips. I always edit those out because they're huge! Okay...here goes. Are you ready? Ugghhh!!!



Are your eyes hurting?? The first photo is of me (right) with Terry during a class she was teaching. The second one is of me standing in front of the quilt I recieved for being President of my Quilt Guild for two years. It was hanging in our guild's 25th Anniversary Quilt Show.

I have a few rolls on my belly; not so much on my back.



I'll admit neither one of these pictures are flattering to me, but they're me! I'm having fun with my grand kids (although it doesn't look like they're having fun!), and fun with my quilting friends. The rolls are probably there from having too much fun with the grand kids baking cookies, or from all the great food my quilting friends make when we get together. Moderation, Amanda. Moderation.


Here's what it all looks like in a dress. It was my guild's 25th Anniversary party. Doris was so sweet to pose with me.

Saturday I was cleaning out my closet. I found a pair of pants that I wore when I was much much larger than I am today. I weighed over 200 pounds, had three chins, huge rolls on my back, I had a stomach the size of a basketball, and my hips were larger than they are now. I lost that weight eating low fat (Susan Powter) and exercising every day. I lost 60 pounds. That was 14 years ago. What worked for me then doesn't seem to work for me now.

What does work for me now is eating low carb, but I'm going to do it the Weight Watchers way, which is their Core Plan. I really like it because I eat healthier than what I do on their Flex Plan. Also there are more food choices on the Core Plan than on a low carb plan. It just seems healthier eating low fat/fat free and sugar free. My goal is to plan my meals, eat according to the Core Plan, and exercise at the all women's gym that I go to or walks with my dog.

Today is my first official day. I didn't weigh myself today because I sort of forgot about it. I'll do it tomorrow. I did, however, eat according to the plan and I went to the gym and did aerobics and weight training.

I'm not as brave as Sharon; she posted her weight.

Thank you Sharon for encouraging us. Good luck to you and everyone else on this fun adventure of losing weight together. Click here to see how together we can all make a difference. I love this idea.

Amanda♥

Social Butterfly

That's me, alright! Well, hopefully I look a little better than this butterfly when I've been fluttering around from blog to blog, gathering ideas, posting comments, joining stuff, and e-mailing back and forth. She does look a little rough around the edges.

Maybe she, like me, had to take her grand son to the doctor to have staples removed from his head after having thrown a two year old fit the week before. Or, maybe she, like me, had to rush her daughter to the Emgency Room after being shocked by the television. One EKG,three vials of blood, and an X-Ray later and all is well. Thank God.

No kind of excitement like that is going on today (knock on wood) so I decided to take time and share with you all the exciting things I have found while socializing with other bloggers. You may have found these things, too, but just in case you haven't I thought I would share!

Let's get started.


Anne Sutton from Bunny Hill Designs has given us a free block of the month. The first design is adorable. I can't wait to see the rest! She has asked that we share this with everyone. Anne you're so sweet! Thank you so much for the time it took to design these. If I could only be so talented!

Nanette from Freda's Hive has posted a tutorial on how to make her adorable potholders. Belinda from Brown Dirt Cottage has a tutorial on how to make an adorable star. Kim from Bitty Bits and Pieces has a tutorial on how to make a scrappy Kaleidoscope block. Tutorials and/or PDF's make my heart sing! They may look easy to do, but they're not. Thank you so much!

I joined a few groups, as you can see on my sidebar. So I now have two other blogs, besides my own, that I post on.

The first one I joined is the Black and White Challenge. I haven't decided, yet, what black and white project I'm going to complete, but there's lots of ideas from the other people that have joined the blog.


Rachel at P.S. I Quilt had a great idea to start a blog called The Calendar Quilt Challenge. Rachel and I both belong to Pat Sloan's Yahoo Group. Pat designed a quilt called The Calendar Quilt. You can find it in her bookPat Sloan's Favorite Techniques 2. Rachel decided to start a blog so that everyone could post their ideas and progress. I haven't started mine, yet. Do you think there is fabric with staples or little electric thingy's to commemerate the accidents we've had so far this year? The blog is fun, and Pat posts comments, too! We all love her!

Hey. I don't think I ever showed you guys photos of when Rachel and I went to Nashville to meet Pat while she was at the American Quilters Society Quilt Show! Well, Rachel sort of met her. You'll see.


Pat is so sweet. I have known Pat for a few years now through her group. Little did I know that I was going to get nervous about meeting her! Afterall, I talk to her a lot! Anyway, my friend Terry, who was with me, was afraid that I was going to get star struck like I did with Alex Anderson at the 2000 show in Nashville, so she sort of had to shove me in Pat's direction. I didn't meet Alex because tears came in my eyes (I can't believe I just told all of you that!), and Terry had to snap me out of it when she could tell that I was going to do that with Pat!


Rachel couldn't come to Nashville, so I asked her to send me a photo of herself. I blew it up to an 8x10 (Rachel says this isn't the best photo of her, but she's still cute with her crown and all), I made her a Sloanie tag (this cute little tag that you make to hang on the side of your bag when you're at quilting events so that other Sloanies can find you in a crowd) and attached it to her photo. Pat knew beforehand what Rachel and I were doing so we wouldn't surprise her or make her think we were weird.


While I was there I had to stop by and say Hi to Eleanor. I was checking on her sister and my friend, Patricia. I've known Patricia for many years now. She is always the special guest at my guild's Quilt Shows. I am always the one to take care of Patricia and help her with her demos. She's a sweetheart.

And I always have to stop at my favorite booth and visit with Tammy and her Woo Hoo girls. They were my favorite booth before I even knew who they were. Not only are they sweet and so fun to be around, they carry Holly's fabric. Tammy also has a new book that is self published! Every project is fantastic! I'll see you in Paducah and Knoxville!!!

Okay...now where was I. I got sidetracked there for a little bit. Sidebar...okay.


Sharon from Red Geranium Cottage
is challenging us to lose some weight this year. So many people have signed up for the challenge, she has no room on her sidebar to post everyone's blogs! That's exciting! We're supposed to post every Monday on our blog how much we lost, etc. Recipes, ideas for excercise, and lot of encouragment will be shared. Here's something I'm excited about: The Biggest Loser has partnerd with General Foods in trying to help feed America by donating a pound of food for every pound lost to our local food banks. Go here to find out more information. Not only can we lose weight to help ourselves get healthier, but we can also help those who need food. I love, love, love this idea!!!


Nanette ♥ and Cheryl ♥ have worked together to come up with a list of ideas for Christmas projects to do all year! This truly makes me smile.☺ If we make Christmas presents for our families and friends all year we won't be so stressed and upset when we can't finish them during the holidays.♥♥♥ Afterall, real life happens even in December! You can add to the list, too. I would like to add my Christmas Stocking Tutorial. It's easy to make.☺ It was a block exchange idea for the quilt guild's Christmas party. Everyone that made a block got their name put in the hat for however many blocks they made. Eula came up with the block idea, so the first person to win the blocks got them in a completed quilt top made by Eula!☺ How sweet was that?♥♥

Doris, on the left, was so surprised, as we all were. Her daugher, Bridgette, is helping her hold up her beautiful quilt top.☺


Here's another idea on setting them together. Donna had her daughter embroider the names of her children and grand children on the cuffs of the stockings. I love that idea!♥ She didn't add a border because it would make the quilt too big for where she wanted to hang it. It helps to think ahead.

Okay, so I know you've noticed all the cute little icons like these ☺ ♥. Terry gave us a tutorial for spicing up our text. You can find it here. Thank you, Terry. In real life when I'm signing my name in letters to friends and informal notes I draw a little heart after my name. Now I can do this is blogland, too! See? Amanda♥ Thanks, Terry! She also created the button for our Christmas Cottage Exchange and the Great Ideas for a Handmade Christmas 2009.

Whew! This little social butterfly needs to stay in her own little spot for a few days! Maybe then her posts won't be so long.


Now I'm off to see Kim. She taught her first quilting class today at her local quilt shop. I know she did great!

Have a great Sunday evening!

Amanda♥

P.S.

Pat asked in her comments how I strike out words. Rachel has been so kind to give a quick little tutorial in the comments, so go check it out! Thanks, Rachel!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year, everyone!!! I look forward to spending another year with you laughing, being inspired, and being blessed by each one of you.

I have missed all of you! I couldn't believe it when I saw that so many people responded to my last post! Thank you for your sweet comments.

I need to apologize to you all for not blogging the past two weeks. I blogged about my challenge and then disappeared! I really had no intention of doing the disappearing act, but I'm sure you will all understand once I explain.

My husband, two of our children, and I traveled to see our families in Louisiana for the Christmas holidays. We left on the 21st. We stayed at my in-laws home where they have dial up for their Internet service. The only thing is, the phones were out of order. They stayed that way until yesterday (the day we left). The rest of my family have Internet access, but since I haven't seen them since last year I thought it would be rude to be away from them for how ever long it would take me to post. I felt bad about not responding to all of you, but I knew once I explained you all would understand. Let me just say that I will no longer take having high speed Internet and the ability to have Internet access in every room in my house for granted again!

I hope to respond to each of you over the next few days. I still have some unpacking to do, and another Christmas celebration with my daughter and grand children.

Again, thank you for the sweet comments. I don't think I have ever had that many people respond to one post unless it was a giveaway! :)

Take care!

Amanda