Friday, October 25, 2019

Confession time

So, I am definitely one to take on too many projects.....anyone who knows me can vouch for that. 

(I also don't believe I am alone in that, am I right?)

I even called a friend yesterday to find someone to commiserate with and hopefully get some inspiration on tackling all the totes and bags full of ufo's. It can be a bit overwhelming at times.

On that note....here's my confession time.....

I have started two new hand-stitching projects....what's wrong with me??? lol

One is a Kim McLean pattern called Animal Album. I love her designs, I think this the third one of hers I am doing.

I began with this block...


....sorry, wrinkly and also a dull day for taking pictures.

Well, after almost two blocks done I can say that the background is definitely not working for me. I made the difficult decision to change my mind.

Actually, not a difficult decision. I'd rather change things up now than continue just because I've already "put so much work into it" already. 

So I've brightened the quilt up with a white print for the background and started a new block this past week...


Such a dull picture, sorry....again it's a dull day. The block is much brighter in person, you'll see!


New project #2.....


That is just one block of Over The Hill by Wendy Williams. I hope to have the prep-work done for it in the next few days so I can take this one along to a quilting retreat next week.

Here is what I have done so far...



I'd like to share an update on my progress with Intermittent Fasting. I started mid-November in 2018. This has been a surprisingly easy process and it's free. 

Here is a picture showing me on the right the week I began, not the best picture but I know that's when I started. The picture on the left is today...


The scale hasn't moved a whole lot. The truth-sayer is my belt, which has moved from the first notch to the fifth....and soon the sixth. I feel like a much younger version of myself.

Lol...I also think this way of life has given me the confidence to embrace my natural hair colour!

People may think that my running is what has instigated the change, but no....I was running two years before starting IF, and while I know that I grew stronger, leaner muscles and vastly improved my cardiovascular health, my fat content hadn't changed. You can't outrun a bad diet.

Today I am linking up with  Confessions of A Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.

Have a wonderful Autumn day!

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Slow stitching....

Some early morning slow stitching going on here this morning...as per usual. 

A little earlier than usual as I have to be on my way soon to Niagara Falls for a race....looks like a beautiful day for it, too!

Here's the best picture I could take yesterday of the Falls when we went down yesterday for my race kit...


....and here's a picture of me yesterday trying to rock a red lipstick....I figured if I could be confident enough to do the red lip, I would be a confident runner today!....


This morning I've been working on my Chapman Coverlet blocks (since I haven't been able to take the time to prep other applique).

I love these little blocks, they are 2.5" unfinished and use up my scraps nicely. I pulled this project back out this month as it is a perfect one to work on during travel. I went to Scotland this month and am happy to say I loved every moment of it. It was everything I'd hoped it would be and I think if I didn't have family ties here I would definitely become a Highland girl.




I know it may look like a hot mess at the moment but it will be glorious when it's done. To me, it will be representative of what a quilt means to me....a cacophony of colour (I love alliteration!).

This week I also managed to put a few quilting stitches into my Shimmer quilt, which had been put aside as it was a bit warm to work on during the Summer...



Here are a couple of highlights from our trip to Scotland...

I love the castles we saw. This is Doune Castle. I wonder if it looks familiar to any of you? As the sign says, it was featured in Game of Thrones, which I've never seen as I don't get the channel, but I'm told I would enjoy it. 

It was also used for Monty Python and the Holy Grail....when I was in the small gift shop as we paid our entrance I asked if there were there any coconuts for sale, lol....and the answer was yes! 

And, for you Outlander fans (like myself), it represented Castle Leoch in the TV show.

The headphones that were available to narrate during touring around the castle actually had Terry Jones (Monty Python) and Sam Heughan (our Jamie) as narrators. 



I'm just posting this picture because I like it so much. It is Urquhart Castle, overlooking Loch Ness...




...and Loch Ness itself, so beautiful...this one taken at the charming town of Fort Augustus...




I did do a 10k race at Loch Ness / Inverness while I was there...so exciting! I admit to a couple of tears at the starting gate as I thought of my Granny emigrating from Scotland 99 years ago...

(best race logo, ever!)...






Well, that's about all I have time for this morning! Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope you can take time for some slow stitching of your own.

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. Check it out to see what others are working on today.