Weight Watchers Week 7

Have you ever wanted something and knew if you would do just one thing it would happen?  Well that is how this weight loss journey has been.  I know I could lose this extra weight if I would just exercise.  Last week I was so good to get up and walk everyday but this week I've only got out the door once.  Our talk this week at meeting gave me an idea that might help.  When I get up, put on my walking shoes.

The Active Life

1. Do what you like
2. Pace youself
3. Set goals
4. Ditch the all or nothing attitude
5. Don't go it alone
6. Bring in a pro
7. Make it easy to exercie
8. Do different things
9. Keep track

So make your move and get active!

Ellis County Quilt Show

This was my first time to enter a quilt in a quilt show.  If you are a quilter and have never entered a quilt I strongly encourage you to do so.  There is a big difference in going and looking at a bunch of quilts others have made and looking at others compared to your own.  It really helped me appreciate the first place winners so much more.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that I won an honorable mention especially when I saw the quilt that won first in my division.

Here are some pictures from the show.

Welcome!

 Our Boutique

Small quilt silent auction

This year's raffle quilt

Next year's raffle quilt

my entry called "Corn and Beans"

Our Community Service is making quilts for our veterans at the VA Hospital in Dallas

Our president showing off the first place in each division

Ellis County Quilt Show!

my winner

first place in my division

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you all for a wonderful show!

Finishing My Quilt Show Quilt

I have been working on my Lone Star Lariat quilt for some time now.

 I finished the top a few months ago and had a professional quilt it for me but I still had the binding to do and sew on a hanging tube and label.

So this weekend I got to work.

First the hanging tube.

Next the label

And finally the binding which took me about 4 hours.

And now I have it all finished and I'm ready to take it on Wednesday for the Ellis County Quilt Show this next weekend.  It's my first quilt show entry and I can't wait to see it hanging with all those other beautiful quilts!

Lamb and White Bean Stew

Posting recipes is fun!  Not very many people like the taste of lamb but the rosemary and wine really give this stew a delightful taste.  It's one of my husband's favorites. I found the recipe in Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross' cookbook, Desperation Dinners!

First start with sauteing a chopped onion with 2 tsp olive oil a stew pot.

Next add 1 lb ground lamb raise the heat to high.

Stir in 1 Tbs minced garlic

1 Tbs fresh rosemary or 2 tsp dried

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

one beef bouillon reconstituted in microwave or 1 tsp concentrated beef broth

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp black pepper

Continue to cook, stirring frequently until all the lamb is crumbled and browned. About 5 or 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse and drain 2 (15oz) cans of cannellini (white kidney) beans

Stir in a can of stewed  tomatoes and 1 cup of white wine.

Cover the pot and bring the stew to a boil.  When the pot boils, uncover it and cook at rolling boil for 5 minutes.

Gently stir in the  reserved beans and cook a few more minutes to heat the beans through.

A delicious fuss free meal in under 20 minutes!

Weight Watchers Week 6

Keeping up with my WW posts is a little more challenging than I thought.  I missed WW meetings 3 and 4 and last week I just never found time to make an entry.  With that said I'd like to say I hope to be more diligent in the future.  I am losing weight however slowly.  In the last 5 weeks I have lost a whopping 4 pounds!  People say, "that's great" "at least it's in the right direction" or "keep working the program, it works"  This is all very true but I must be honest with myself and ask am I really working the program?  The answer is no.  I do stay within my points most days but the part I struggle with is exercise.  One very key element to the program is activity points.  Each person has an activity point goal for the week which is determined by current weight.  My goal is 14 points which is 2 points each day or a half hour brisk walk.  Let's see if I can commit to this goal this week and watch those pounds drop a little faster.

What about you?  What do you find the most difficult part of weight loss?

Fall in July

I hope everyone had a wonderful forth yesterday celebrating our country's 236th birthday. After finishing my American Chevron quilt I made a few bibs and burp cloths for my Etsy shop.

Then it was off to the fabric store for more stash.   I was thrilled to see that they had gotten in a mess of new fall fabrics! For crafters July always marks the time to start thinking of halloween costumes and Christmas gifts. I couldn't leave without purchasing a few things so decided to start this adorable spider web quilt.  I found the pattern at Moda Bake Shop and couldn't believe how easy it is!

That is as far as I got yesterday.  Can't wait to finish it!

American Chevron Quilt

Chevron quilts are so popular these days and I can see why.  They are so easy to make!  Here is my newest baby quilt for my Etsy Shop just in time for our country's 236th  birthday.

I got the pattern from Bee Square Blog here.

I did the back in this fun red, white and blue stripe and binded it in red using my new bias tape maker and quilted in the ditch.

Next I'd like to make bibs and burp cloths with the scraps.

Happy quilting and Happy 4th of July!

Kristina

Bias Tape Maker

Bias tape is the perfect addition to all kinds of sewing projects.  It is an easy way to finish seams and edges with an eye catching contrasting or coordinating fabric.  However the way I was taught to make bias tape in the past always left me with steam burns on my fingers from the iron.  Over the years I have tryed  tools that folded the fabric as I pulled it but my fingers would still get too close to the iron sometimes.  A few weeks ago I discovered an end to burned fingers forever! Simplicity has made a bias tape maker that does all the work and I love it!!!

I was a little sceptical at first but I knew I could return it if it didn't live up to its promises.  I was thrilled the first time I used it!

It really is quite simple.

Step 1 From your fabric cut two inch wide strips and sew pieces at the diagnal to desired length.  Baby quilts take about 4-5 yards.

Step 2 Wind the fabric on the spool and place the spool in machine.

Step 3 Remove iron plate cover.

Step 4 Guide the fabric through fold tip, across iron plate and return cover.

Step 5 Turn on the machine with setting at desired level.  the green light will tell you when it is ready. Then press the "run" button and in a few minutes you have perfectly iron bias tape!!!

The machine is a little pricey so be sure to use a store coupon or wait for a sale but it is totally worth the cost!

Happy sewing and God bless,
Kristina