This and That

the fabric is Make Life Colorful by Sweetwater, kona solids and a dot print that is escaping my brain

Here's the quilt top I made at the retreat. I'm adding a large yellow ric rac along the edge of the red inner border and then it will be done. It will be backed in a yellow flannel I have in my stash. I can't remember how much of it I have but I think there's enough of it to be able to only use the one piece. This is a baby quilt for some family that lives in Sweden.They will be in the states for a few months so I need to get it done post haste.

I'm joining Renee over at Sewn With Grace in her challenge to only use what fabric I have on hand this year and not buy more. I had been really good for a couple of years about not buying fabric and I've started up again and it's starting to get out of control. Not only financially but just with space. I only live in a one bedroom apartment so space is at a very high premium. 

I'm really starting to enjoy the color Red. This is quite odd because it's been the color I like the least since probably elementary school. Has there every been something you've taken a second, third or even fourth look at before you decided you liked it?

Meal Plan Monday

Meal Plan W/E 2/5/12

Last week was a wash. It started out ok but starting Thursday my whole house was sick and it was all i could do to eat saltines. So there's a couple of carry overs. oh and because of some possible health stuff of the hubbies I have to cook bland foods. Not that I'm cooking spicy food everynight but I don't know how to do bland.

Monday: Pot Pie

Tuesday: Stuffed peppers, with spinach and lentils? or something

Wednesday: some version of pasta.

Thursday: Frittata with corn and spinach

Friday: I want to make bbq chickpea burritos with leftover spanish rice,but I don't know if it will happen. But  I really need to use up the tortillas I have in the fridge. hhmm.

Saturday and Sunday are up for grabs. so far I've planned without going to the store. I love that I have five nights worth of dinner without going to the store.

oh and I need to tell everyone about my recent discovery on Pinterest. 

My Fridge Food is a great website where you check off what you currently have in your fridge/pantry and it comes up with recipes based on what you have. How brilliant is that? the hubby and I have been talking about needing some sort of data base like this and look theres a website!

Meal Plan Monday

Meal Plan Monday W/E 1/29/12

Monday: Breakfast for dinner (I heart my hubby)

Tuesday: Tortilla and black bean pie that never got made last week

Wednesday: Frittata with mixed veggies

Thursday: Red  Curry and veggies

Friday: TBD I need to make something to take over to a friends

Saturday: Veggie Pot Pie

Sunday: I can't remember. I came up with a plan while in Trader Joes, and I currently can't remember what that plan is

This week...

This week I have...

Done no sewing. My machine is in the shop being cleaned and serviced.(not that I would have time if I did have it)

(please ignore my messy, messy sewing table)

Realized how small my "little" machine really is. As opposed to my "big" machine

Cooked some yummy dinner

Written way too many emails. All for a really good reason. I'm super excited about starting this at my church. I keep  getting overwhelmed and feel like I can't do it. But I keep remembering something I heard once-God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called. 

I can do all things things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Oh and I joined the San Francisco Quilters Guild! I went to my first meeting on Tuesday and I'm super excited. Of course I was the youngest in the room by at least 10 years but I'm used to it by now. It will be nice to be part of a community of quilters again.

And have been hit with bolts of inspiration left and right, I should probably get these ideas down on paper before I forget.

Meal Plan Monday

Week 1 W/E 1/22/12

First  meal plan of the new year! I'm happy to be getting back to normal. the first couple weeks of the new year have been busy and seem to be staying that way. If I don't do my meal plan though I have found I end up with no plan at the store, which breaks the budget.

Monday: Lavash wraps with hummus, micro greens, avocado, tomato and green onions

Tuesday: Burrito Bowls: Cilantro lime rice and black beans  with fajita peppers and veggies

Wednesday: Pesto and Pepper Sandwiches with spinach and mozzarella

 cheese and baked sweet potato fries 

Thursday: Veggie pot pie

Friday: Tortilla and Black  Bean Pie

Saturday: Homemade pizza with whatever veggies we have leftover


Sunday: Leftovers

Being held hostage

So my husband and I have this thing we say when something is taking way too long:We're being held hostage.

It started one night when we went to Denny's for dessert and coffee. Something that shouldn't take that long. I think it took something around 20 minutes for a waitress to bring us water, and forget about trying to get our check. I think that took like 30 or 40. for a couple of pieces of pie and coffee. We were being held hostage by Denny's.

Now the phrase has stuck. It's funny and kinda not because the particular denny's where it started actually got held up once by a man with a gun.(we weren't there but a waitress we knew was, she's fine). We didn't go back after that happened. 

So when we spent 20 minutes alone on the sales floor and lens  crafters? we were being held hostage.

Today I got held hostage by not 1 but 3 different places. First the east bay. I had to take my sewing machine in to be serviced and the closest place is in walnut creek. (blegh) On my way back I realized I had no toll money. So I decided to stop at the bank. it took me 45 minutes just to get to the shopping center I needed. Granted I stopped at Verizon because my phone is being stupid (why is it always my phone?). But still, shouldn't take that long.

Second I got held hostage by North Beach. I needed to drop off my scissors to be sharpened and I was stupid enough to go there on the weekend of Chinese New Year. (North beach is right next to China Town).

Finally got all my errands done and just wanted to go home. Then I got held hostage by my street. There was a tow truck blocking the whole intersection and I had to go all the way around just to get home.

Finally I'm Here. 

Do you ever get "held hostage" by places or have funny sayings in your family that makes no sense to anyone but you?

And lately I can't seem to have short post. hmm.

This and That

I have the bestest husband. He's cooked dinner twice this week without even being asked, just because he know's I'm tired. He also bought us tickets to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D. I could care less about the 3D part but love the old(er) Disney movies and anytime they come back to theaters I have to see them. Anyone else go see the little mermaid when it was theaters a while back? (That one is my favorite Disney movie of all time)

I love my job, I really do. But a nearly 2 year old who cries all.the.time. just because she doesn't get her way gets old real quick. I think it's because of the holidays and being on vacation but little miss sassy pants has been particularly sassy this week and I already wish it were Friday at 5:01.

Here are my new shoes. They make me beyond happy. A little girl at church has them and I just had to find them. They're Tom's and the most comfortable shoes I've bought in a long time. I wore them today with my new polka dot sweater my MIL gave me. The combo made smile , if it weren't for those, and the beautiful weather we're having I probably would have been a lot crankier today.

ok this is long enough. Good Night.

I hate making phone calls/leaving voice mail/recruiting. I've recently taken on something that involves both. the particular project I've taken on involves ALOT more than just that but I'm totally fine with all of it, but those three  things. I just need to build a bridge and get over it.

By the numbers

609 miles driven

38 yards of trim purchased

24 yards of fabric purchased 

23 woman in one room

23 sewing machines
7 yards of fabric cut
$7 the most amount I paid per yard of fabric

5 the most amount of times I went to the fabric store next door in a 30 minute period

4 projects brought to work on

3 days of uninterrupted sewing time

2 projects actually worked on

1 quilt top started and finished

1 quilt basted and nearly finished quilting

.99 cents-amount per yard I paid for  22 of the 24 yards of fabric
0 the amount of pictures I took (there goes one of the items on my list. Any pictures here are recycled from last here)

I had a lot of fun this weekend at the quilt retreat. My 3rd year going, second in a row. I can't wait for next year, I hope I get to go. Now it's time to go get ready for work. Hope everyone has a happy Monday.

Little Birds

Here is the finished quilt top for my cousin's baby girl who was born in November.

Before I started it I asked her if there were any colors or themes she was wanted/liked and all she gave me was she liked birds. She calls her children her little birds with their names, it's quite cute.

I was having a hard time coming up with something when I remembered this charm pack I had with a few fat quarters that I had been saving for something. This was the perfect something.

Now all I have to is piece the back and I'll probably save it to quilt at the retreat this weekend. I'm quite proud of myself- I challenged myself to only use what I had on hand for this quilt and so far I have. I haven't checked the batting situation but I'm pretty sure I have a piece big enough for it.

Christmas 2011-Recieved

My family is amazing and I got some pretty good gifts for Christmas this year. My Favorite has got to be the purse my husband made me. He rocks.

It's purple on the inside and even has a cell phone pocket.oh and a sparkly button! I was and still am totally impressed.

He also got me 3 pounds, yes pounds of buttons.

oh and this totally made me happy. We got 2 of these as wedding gift in 2003. A green one and a blue one. The blue one broke within a year. The green one though is my favorite mug, just the right size and it's the one I use for my morning coffee. Well a couple of months ago I manage to break part of the handle. My wonderful husband fixed as best he could considering it was the inside of the handle I broke, it still looked a little like the mug Cliff Huxtable fixed on The Cosby Show, someone please know what I'm talking about? For Christmas He found a replacement on Ebay, it made my heart happy and I used it right then and there.

The last two are from my in-laws. It's awesome that my MIL is a quilter, she knows all the good things to get.I'm super excited about the mat carrier. It fits both my large mat and my 6X24 ruler. I'll get to use both next week when I go on a quilt retreat. It's the same one I went to last year

Did you get any quilting goodies for Christmas?