Tag Archives: Ambition

‘Tis the Season…

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to overeat, overspend, etc. I cannot say “no” to any goody that is in the immediate vicinity. If I can see it, I’m going to eat it.  This is not a healthy way to be.  Combine the stress of training new staff at work with the usual holiday stress, no time for the gym AND a nonstop barrage of cookies, cakes, donuts, potlucks, parties etc. and what do you get? A BIG big ole muffin top! I feel…and look like a busted can of biscuits!

The boss says we get to wear jeans for the rest of the year (we usually only get to on Friday) and I’m ashamed to say that only 1 of 15 pair fit me! So today I went to the 50% off sale at Goodwill and bought some bigger jeans to wear for the rest of the year.    Now before you judge me, please understand this is only a temporary solution. I will not buy anymore clothes to accommodate my fluffier, busted figure.  Come the new year…there will definitely be changes.  I don’t usually make resolutions but I am going to have already for 2014.  I simply cannot go on like this. I understand sacrifices will have to be made,  and because I’m so uncomfortable the way I am, I am willing to make them!

Here are my resolutions. 
  • Get back on a regular workout schedule. I’ve been slipping for a few months now. 
  • Go to bed earlier. I definitely need more rest, especially if I have to be at the gym for that 515a class.
  • Incorporate better eating habits; less sugar, more veggies. I’m shooting for 6 small meals/day. 
  • Spend quality time in God’s word. I read the bible regularly but I’m usually rushing it. 
  • And last but not least…Stop spending money! I mostly spend $ on fabric, so the biggest challenge I’m taking is to NOT purchase any fabric, 2nd hand or otherwise, for 6 mos (Jan 1-June 30). 
<img alt=" FabAnon” border=”0″ src=”https://aquiltedpassion.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/9b328-fabriholicsanonymous.jpg&#8221; title=” FabAnon” />

Please pray for me. I need it and appreciate it!

A Thread for Life
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

Linking up at:
Tuesday Archives at Val’s Quilting Studio

Blogging vs Sewing

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When I started this blog I planned on posting once a week but I haven’t been living up to it.  Blogging isn’t easy and it takes a lot of time. Writing, editing, editing/posting pics, links, labels, hashtags, sharing…aghhh!! When I get home from work it’s shall I sew or shall I blog? It’s not always an easy decision but sewing usually  wins. Blogging is great though and I’m excited to say I made a new friend! Meet +Greta Anderson from Material Detachment. A marvelous seamstress/quilter and a remarkable writer. I had the pleasure of talking w/ her on the phone yesterday. She’s an admirable person w/a huge heart for kids and humanity! Make sure to stop by her blog.

As you can see, I’ve made quite a bit of progress on the Kaleido-Hex quilt, officially known as a One Block Wonder (I’ll be referring to it as 1BW going forward). It still isn’t the only thing I’ve been working on (see distractions below:  origami bag and applique).  Once I have all of strips sewn together it will measure approx 56 x 90.  I’m planning this for a king size bed so the side borders will have to be substantial.  I picked out border fabric yesterday. What do you think?

Border Fabric

1st Audition

This coming Saturday I’ll be heading out for a week long quilting retreat to Colorado w/a couple of friends. I’m so excited! I’m also very ambitious and will be taking at least 4 projects to work on, one of which will be the 1st quilt I’m getting paid $$ to make (A Rag Quilt). I’ll also be taking the 1BW, the applique wall hanging and a Quilts w/o Corners quilt that I’m turning into a tree skirt.

For the Rag quilt I bought some charm packs, but I have the backing and fleece already cut.

I whipped up another cute Origami bag over the weekend for a friend’s birthday.

The wall hanging is ready to be appliqued which I plan on doing while I’m in Colorado.

This is the Quilts w/o Corners quilt that will become a tree skirt. You can’t really tell from this pic…or maybe you can…but the edge of this quilt is all jacked up. I’m going to cut a slit in it, cut the middle circle out AND attempt to add a ruffle of Christmas fabric to the edge.

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

A Thread for Life
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. 
1 Chron 16:34

I’m linking up on Val’s Tuesday Archives.

Challenge Pressure and those Darn Distractions!

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At a Quilters Anonymous meeting in May 2013, one of the gals presented a UFO Groupie Challenge: Unfinished Objects(projects). The idea was to encourage and challenge members to complete unfinished projects by a particular date.  At our June meeting, anyone who wanted to participate brought a realistic list (sealed in an envelope) of unfinished projects they wanted to complete by December 2013.  Each month you check in to track your progress and at the end in December, read your goal and reveal your projects. At the time of the challenge I had no UFOs, so I made a list of projects I thought I could realistically complete by December.

Here’s my list:
• Hoffman Challenge Quilt
• At least 1 Mondo Bag
• 2 Christmas Tree Skirts
• King-size Spring/Summer quilt for my bed

I sew/quilt for at least 15 minutes every day (usually longer), so this list seemed very doable. Definitely something I could do in 6 months!  Had I stuck to the list it would’ve been smooth sailing.  Fast forward 4 months, and I’m starting to feel the pressure.The problem is, I’ve allowed myself to get distracted w/other quilt projects. I’ve completed most of the projects on my list but I haven’t been diligently working on my biggest, most labor intensive project. Now I have to finish my king size quilt and 1 more tree skirt w/less than 2 months left in the challenge!  Thankfully, I did start working on the spring/summer quilt in August and have done a little here & there, but after our October meeting last week, I realized I’ve got to get serious about it!

Here are some pics of things on my list AND those darn distractions! Most of these pics are on my previous post.
Hoffman Challenge Quilt
Christmas Tree Skirt #1
Distraction#1(wip – only top done)

Distraction #2

Distraction #3 (wip – only top done)

Distraction #4

Spring/Summer Quilt Progress  
I worked on this Friday and Saturday nights and finished sewing the triangles together. 
This pile will yield about 50 hexagons. I now have to press all the the seems open and then pin the 2 halves together before I can put them on the design wall.  

This stack is pressed and pinned and waiting to be put up on the design wall.

I’ve got about 80 up on the design wall so far. Now this part may seem easy…but it’s not. Here you’ve got to get all the hexagons to blend or flow together. I’m sure I’ll be on this step for a couple of weeks, changing, rearranging and all that jazz. Once I get them all up the way I want them, I can start sewing strips together. It’s going to be beautiful!!!

More progress to come.
Thanks for stopping by.
A Thread for Life
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved.  We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 
Eph. 1:3-8 HCSB