Applique Update

Since I didn't sew yesterday and have nothing new to share....here's an update on this appliqué project. Slowly, but surely....

My shoulder is so much better today! I knew it was just a muscle tweak, but I'll baby it again today to make sure it gets back to 100% by the end of the weekend.

Enjoy your day!

Fabric!

Okie dokie! I'm ready for Bonnie Hunter's mystery! Are you? I love these colors...

I did sew a good bit yesterday. I even finished a 'secret project' quilt top. I'll share it here eventually, but it may be a couple of months.

Last night's dinner was a hit. I had never made risotto before - but it's not so hard, just a lot of stirring. It was delicious!

It's a rainy day here - haven't had one of these in quite some time. But I've pulled a muscle in my shoulder so I'm not sure how much (if any) sewing I will do. It may be a TV day instead...

On a Winning Streak...

After winning the raffle the previous night - homemade cinnamon rolls! - I headed to World Market yesterday morning to do some shopping. Have you heard about their Golden Llama Treasure Hunt? Every day they hide 'golden llamas' around every store. I found one! I received a $50 certificate that I had to spend that day. What fun!

 I bought this big metal container to put at the lake house - I thought it would be good to hold quilts for when they are needed. Or maybe firewood?

And then I headed to Target to shop the Hearth and Hand Collection by Chip and Joanna Gaines. I grabbed a few things, including these dish towels - I plan to make throw pillows with them.

Next I picked up a new friend for lunch. We'd never met (a mutual friend put us together) though we found we have LOTS in common. We're planning some shopping trips together soon.

I only did hand sewing in the evening. Today is another story though! My machine will be humming soon!

Enjoy your day!

Christmas Quilt Beginning...

After my dentist appointment, I started a Christmas quilt! I've never been one for seasonal quilts - seems like a lot of work for a quilt that will only be 'out' for a few weeks of the year. But I've changed my tune. Now that we live in a much smaller home and I cut WAY back on Christmas decorations, I think a few Christmas quilts would be nice to add to the ambiance during the holiday season.

I didn't use a pattern for these trees - just winging it! Kind of cute, huh?

Last night I attended the neighborhood Ladies Club meeting. There were lots of donated items that were raffled. I was lucky to win a platter of homemade cinnamon rolls! When I came home they went straight into the freezer for a later date when we have family around. I donated a wallhanging quilt and the recipient seems happy with it.

I'm so blessed that we have landed in a neighborhood with so many really wonderful people. We love it here.

Enjoy your day!

A Productive Day

Yesterday I finally got into the sewing room! Okay, so I didn't sew in there...but I did spend time getting organized and cleaning off my desk (which doubles as my cutting table).

And I cut some fabric - Christmas fabrics! Yay!

I made two loaves of banana bread - I tried a new recipe: Pecan Coconut Banana Bread. Yes, it's delicious! Find the recipe HERE. (I didn't make the streusel topping...)

I also cleaned out a bathroom drawer - one more of these to go!

Though I hadn't planned on grocery shopping, I decided to take care of that, too. I sat down and planned meals first. How do I 'plan meals'? That requires another paragraph! Haha!

I shoot for cooking three different evening meals each week. I try to make dinners that will have leftovers. My plan is to have one meal that is quick and easy, one meal that can be cooked in the slow cooker, and one soup, because it's Autumn and I feel like we should have soup! In the summer, I might plan a nice salad instead of soup...

This week's meals:

Quick and Easy: hot dogs and baked sweet potatoes (I had some Omaha Steaks franks in the freezer)

Slow Cooker: Italian Pot Roast and Parmesan Risotto served with steamed broccoli, recipe HERE. 

Soup: Trisha Yearwood's Chicken Tortilla Soup, recipe HERE.

I like to try new recipes and both the slow cooker meal and the soup will be new to us. After planning the meals, I entered the items I needed on the Walmart website so I could do a grocery pickup in the late afternoon. I was a bit worried about letting them pick out a roast for me, but they did a great job!

Today I have a dental appointment, so that will take up part of my morning. But I'm hoping I'll get back to the sewing room when I get home. 

Have a great day!

Only a Bit of Sewing

Have you noticed I haven't been my usual sewing self lately? I haven't sat with my machine in quite some time. And I only have this little bit of hand appliqué to show. It's been rather crazy around here and there just hasn't been a block of time for sewing.

I'm hoping to change that this week!

I want to get back on my secret nine-patch project. I want to pick up Bring Me Flowers again. I have some wool fabric that needs cutting to size. And yes, I want to pull fabric for the Bonnie Hunter mystery!

BUT, I also have some bathroom drawers that need cleaning out and organizing, some over ripe bananas waiting for me to make banana bread, and....a few other chores. There should be time for everything this week - just need to jump in headfirst!

It makes me feel better to have listed all these things here - now I have a plan.

Enjoy your day!

A Little Bit of Sewing

I finished the basting on this piece and finally started the appliqué last night. Yes, this will take a LONG time. And thats okay, because I'm in no rush.

Earlier in the week I got together with some Rodan and Fields buddies and we made zipper pouches from eyelash fabric. One of the ladies had never even sat in front of a sewing machine before! She learned to sew and even put in a zipper! We had lots of fun and made a ton of these little pouches.

Yes, we love our Lash Boost!

My hubby was doubtful with I signed on as an R&F Consultant, but yesterday he said, "You're really having fun with this, aren't you?" The answer was a big and fat YES! I've had lots of fun and it takes very little of my time. My own skin looks better than it has in YEARS and I love to help others find the correct products to improve their own skin. And we have a little 'sisterhood' of consultants who get together occasionally and cheer each other on.  And the money? Yea, that's the cherry on top! I donate a good bit of my profits to charity and save a bit for fun money. This morning I ordered some fabric for the Bonnie Hunter mystery - love the colors this time around! No purple - yea!

This morning I'll be doing more hand appliqué while I watch last night's Project Runway - I alway save it for Friday.

Enjoy your day!