The NY Tornado has spun in again and I'm a winner!

First things first, I am a winner 2 times over from Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day this past December.  I didn't have a chance to host a giveaway this year but I was pleasantly surprised to be able to enter a few and even win two prizes.

Look at this cute little guy made by Kelly at Widget Worm.

It's such a darling pin cushion I'm beginning to realize why people end up with collections of them.

I also won, what I thought would be one jelly roll, but it turns out I won both from Tara at Quilt Barn.

I am thinking hard about what to do wtih these babies now.

Thank you Kelly and Tara.  I'm a very appreciative winner. :)

Now, another fun tidbit to report. The NY Tornado fell into the home that is actually known as the "Black Hole of all Chain Lettters".  Turns out, it almost applied to the NY Tornado but luckily, (or not so luckily for the quilting community) it managed to escape and arrived back at my home this week.  I am not going to delay, this time, instead of sending it to family members, I'm wrapping this baby up and sending it to someone I've met in quilt-land.  I am sure it will be a huge surprise but I hope against hope that she and anyone one else who receives it will keep up with the game and pass it along.  Time will tell...  :-)

Here's a photo to remind you of how lucky you would be to get it. -snicker-

Cheers!
Beck

ps - Please note that if I were planning on selling my quilting services, I'd never send this out based on how my skills were then vs now. However, that is not my goal in my quilting life and I am sending this with only the hope people will get a chuckle.

"Don't Call me Shirley." (Weigh In Wednesday)

It's time to report in, everyone. You got a pass (as did I) last week because of my birthday but frankly, it's time to step back on the scale or simply to step back into the light of honesty and report in on your progress. I will tell you, for all my tips posted, I did follow the correct portions. I just didn't follow the whole, "don't pick" or "pick honestly approach."  I can also be honest in telling you that I was feeling it. I felt like I was back sliding. I actually woke up on Monday eager to exercise and start eating healthier again.

I have decided I'm going to celebrate that little victory. It means I've changed my eating habits enough that when I get off track, my body notices and craves otherwise.

I have to celebrate this because my scale, apparently, hates me. I know, it's a scale, it has no personality but MINE DOES! It talked to me today, my friends, and it wasn't pretty.  No, I'm not kidding. It went something like this.

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I step on the scale and wait while the scale cycles through to decide how much I weigh. How bad I've been, measured in numbers.  The scale doesn't show the numbers.  I step off, and step on again. I wait for the numbers. They don't come. At this point I mutter something like, "come on, what's going on? I know I'm standing on it correctly for the sensors."
And then, I get an answer. "You are standing right. I'm just not telling you the numbers. Don't make me."

"But I want to know."

"I'm not telling you. All I will tell you is you are lucky you ran out of peanut butter cookies when you did because you would really be in a bad place otherwise."

"Okay, I didn't do well, I get it.  Just give me the number so I know what I have to work with."

"Peanut butter cookies, that's all I've got to say."

"Clearly, you have more to say."

"Alright, yes, I do. Peanut butter cookies and ham and bread. At least you ate your vegetables becuase if you didn't, you wouldn't have gone #2 regularly and the number would be even higher."

"I can't believe you just talked about my bowel movements.  Just show me the numbers!"

"I'll tell you this. Do you remember what you started at?"

"Yes."

"You aren't above that number."

"okay..."

"You are at that number."

sigh - "I suppose it's better than being above it."

"True, chubby."

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"You called me chubby."

"No, you made that up. I would never do any such thing. I know how big you are... I mean little you are. You step on me every Wednesday, remember? I'd never call you chubby.  I might liken you to Chunk from the Goonies but I'd never say 'Chubby'. "

"I can't believe this, you are way out of line."

In a raised voice, "You asked me, don't get all upset because I'm telling you what you repeatedly stated you want to hear. Some people just can't take the truth and it never fails. I'm always the messenger they want to shoot."

"Goodness, something is surely this morning. Did I hurt your feelings?"

"Humph, no. And don't call me Shirley. I'm your scale and that's all I'll ever be."

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And that, my friends, is the Weigh In Wednesday that hase left me traumatized.  At least I've started exercising again (30 min on the elliptical Monday and Tuesday with plans to continue 6 out of 7 days this week).

How did you manage your goals over the holidays?

Cheers!
Beck

New Year Resolutions (or not)

This year, I'm going to write down some of my quilt-related resolutions so maybe next year, when I think about  answering the question, did I accomplish what I've set out to do in 2012, I can actually look at a list and say yes  or no.
I should rephrase. These aren't really resolutions, these are more of a list of what I'd like to get around to finishing.

- My SIL Jinney Beyer Quilt (a long time UFO that has no excuse to continue to be one)
- My stitch along blocks which will create a quilt for my other SIL.  Turns out, she really liked how they looked and the lightbulb flashed (This is the quilt I can give her).
- Quilts for my nieces (2) in FL. They haven't gotten a quilt yet and they should.
- Quilts for my nephews (2) in ME.  They haven't gotten a quilt yet and they should.
- Quilt for another SIL.  That means, a quilt for BIL also b/c he'd be left out.  SIL's is a top, started last year (the Harlequin quilt) so I know I can quilt it and be done.
- 6 Quilts for charity. My charity of choice would be QOV but I won't limit it to that one if there becomes a need for more. If time permits, I will do more.  this one is really important to me.
- The Monopoly quilt for my son.
- The postage stamp quilt.
- The double wedding ring quilt.
- 3 quilted shawls.
- 4 twin quilts & a wall hanging for a family I am fond of and want to surpise (kids and parents).

Hmm, I feel like there is more but yeah, I know that's a lot already.  Here's the thing. 1/3 of these are already started or almost done. I think I can really do this.  I just have to be disciplined, committed, and focused. Right? LOL

Oh and in the midst of all my free time, I plan to attend the Sewing Summit again this year in Oct., get to at least one more retreat, meet up more often with blog friends in real life (hopefully) and blog more regularly to keep you aprised of my happenings.

Do you think I can do it? What are your resolutions?

While you think about it, have a look at a new project of mine?

I got the idea off Pinterest but the blog link to This Thrifty House shows you the tutorial. It works well. I had to reposition a letter and what little bond stuck to the wall peeled off with a little rubbing and the paint was fine. I have 2 more walls over windows to do. I will be adding the words, "imagine" and "quilt". One either side of the word "quilt", I will add a quilt block of my choice. Once complete, I'll show you the photos but I like this decorative touch to my sewing room.

Cheers!
Beck

Out with the old...

in with the new.
Once again, I've pondered going over my year in quilting, life and blogland with you but once again, I've realized it's just not my style.  Here's what I will do.  I will tell you I started the year with great incentive and interest in the quilt world. I was going to ride a roll I'd been on in 2010 but apparently, to ride a roll, you actually have to stay on the ride. Too bad I didn't stay on the ride. Got off to attend to life's business and then some more of life's business. Quilting had to take a back seat but not anymore. I went to the Sewing Summit in October and I realized I need to be doing what I love more now than ever. 

I will still have to attend to my day job and the family but I plan to do a couple of things this year.  Before I get to that, let me pass along the fun.  Last year I posted my horoscope for 2011.  I re-read it today and well, there was this, " "This year the focus shifts from a lifestyle focused on gadgets, information and social networking to introspection, home and family."  I made a joke about not being on my blog so often, yada, yada, yada.  Um, it was right. I did get distracted from the tech stuff (and you all).

Or this, "You are about to encounter your most uncensored raw self on levels as of yet unprecedented. Ready yourself, Goat, because this spring an explosion of fiery planets in Aries sweeps the very base of your horoscope getting you back in touch with some of your most primal instincts. Competition, aggression and the need for plenty of physical outlets ensue." - I didn't exactly take up mixed martial arts but I did find a love of hunting and I haven't even gotten my own kill yet.

Hmm, I did make work more important over my domesticity this year, also.  That's three points of the horoscope that panned out. I'm not sure about all this voo doo stuff but if that worked, then I have HIGH hopes my horoscope this year is going to be good for me this year.  At least, I that's what I say now. Let's go read it, shall we? (Here's the direct Yahoo link if you want to find yours.)

"The confusion of 2011 is about to lift as clarity returns in 2012." Thank God because I really don't do well with change.
"You've no doubt been through a series of powerful metamorphoses since 2008, when Pluto took possession of your stars for the long haul." Duh.
"You're not even a quarter of the way through the 18-year shedding process that Pluto requires ..."  Shit.
"and yet you're not the same person you were just a few years ago by any stretch of the imagination." Again, duh. It's freaking impossible to be young, niave, carefree me. (Okay, I was never that way but I do know I've changed and grown a lot.)
"In some ways, you can expect this year to be a long, dramatic pause."  Thank you, thank you, thank you. Give me a chance to breath, oh stars. I really need that.

"You'll be questioning many aspects of your existence, especially your professional life. Mars, the planet of work and action, will be retrograde for the first quarter of the year in your house of higher learning and travel, putting you in a deeply introspective and philosophical mode. During this time, you'll be less inclined to hit the road than you will be to hit the books." Hmm, I started this process a little early. Since about Nov. I've been contemplating these things and when I have some news, if I have news, I'll share. in the meatime, hitting the books was on my agenda these next couple of months.  This is getting just a little strange to me.

"When the eclipse patterns stir up the winds of change for you again in spring and summer, you'll experience some major epiphanies about the new direction you need to take. The new Moon solar eclipse in your work sector brings a fresh approach to the way you go about your daily routine. And then, the full Moon lunar eclipse of June in your dream sector will bring the muse and vision to inspire you to go beyond the known. The total solar eclipse and new Moon in your goal sector in November is the final push to plant radically new seeds. There's no question that you're leaving your old life behind; it's now just a matter of faithfully emerging into the new." Here I'm a little worried, I'm not ready to faithfully emerge anywhere and I think I'm coming to a solution about what I want anand now the stars are telling me I'll change direction from where I am?  Or do they mean I'll actually be solidified in the direction I'm thinking of going now? Come on, people, you are supposed to help me interpret this stuff... clearly it's my livelihood we are discussing here. 

"Love is in the air with generous Jupiter in sister Earth sign Taurus, showering your romantic sector until June. The planet of fortune will provide ample opportunities for you to fall in love with someone new - or simply love the one you're with. Pleasure becomes a key theme for the first half of the year, providing a nice balance to your normal dutiful life."  On a lighter note, can anyone fault me for saying it's just a SHOCKER that I'd simply love the one I'm with. Oh stars, oh stars. At least there is one area you are stating the obvious.  But look, I do appreciate letting me know the first half of the year is about pleasure. Should I ask, are we talking bedroom pleasure or maybe just romantic movies that hubs would never see pleasure? I need to know, I'm an OCD Capricorn afterall, where I should and shouldn't expect pleasure (ahem, maybe I should put a little footnote here that says, "expect pleasure beyond what is considered normal for my life because hubs is absolutely wonderful in every way to me - :) ). It would not be fair of me to yell at hubs for not going to see New Year's Eve with me because you told me to expect more pleasure if you meant pleasure in the sense he was going to start cleaning the bathrooms.  A little clarity, please?

So there you have it, my year looms ahead, mostly promising. How does your horoscope look?

Happy Monday, everyone. I'll see you tomorrow with some resolutions I plan not to keep.  Wait, I mean, to keep.  Be ready, I want to hear at least one of yours, even if it's a resolution not to tell me your resolutions!

Cheers!
Becky

The WINNERS

Happy New Year, everyone! Tomorrow I'll get into all the NY stuff I feel the need to say (it may be long... you may want to run and hide.)

However, for TODAY, the WINNERS from my birthday giveaway to you, my beautiful followers.

The first prize goes to commenter #6 who was Annie of Annie's Ruby Slipperz. Annie, you've won the book and Island Batik jelly roll.

The second prize goes to commenter #19 who was Kate of Katie Mae Quilts.  Katie, you've won the pins, quilt-it kit (which I meant to post was a giveaway I won last year, slightly used, but never opened and used myself), the quilt journal and the fat quarters.

Annie and Kate, you should have an email from me asking for your address, please send it as soon as possible so I can send it out this week.

As for the yarn, the first person to speak up for by Colleen so thank you for your interest and taking it off my hands. I hope you find it useful.

Congratulations ladies and once again, thank you all for being my pals. :-)

Cheers!
Becky