Time for a new direction

I have been moonlighting. I have another blog - sosewgreen - it's where I post all of my quilting/sewing/knitting projects. I have, regretfully, put this blog on the backburner for almost a year. I'm ready to revamp and actually make it something.

We, my husband and I, have been trying to make some changes in our health. We have gone to see a hormone and anti-aging specialist and have been taking some bio-identical hormones and a vitamin regimen. In addition to that, we have decided to take up a Paleo diet. For this month, my husband has decided to go "all the way" Paleo and I'm going a little less, full-force. Dinners are paleo and mostly, what I eat is. I'm really trying to cut out gluten and additional sugar, but I'm not on board with no dairy. I like to have my lattes in the morning and I like yogurt a lot. I guess if I'm following a mostly paleo diet but with dairy and I don't notice the scale move, then I will make a change at that time.

Some stats from me:

• I turned 40 this year
• I weigh about 40lbs more than I should
• High cholesterol
• No diabetes or pre-diabetes, but I did have gestational diabetes
• I'm a stay at home mom and have a business from my home

My first "official" paleo dinner was a riff on one of my favorite fall meals: cereal chicken.
 I, of course, couldn't use corn flakes for the coating as I usually do, so I decided to try some almond meal as a substitute. It turned out pretty good.

almond meal chicken with spinach and sweet tango apples

 I served the chicken with spinach and some sweet tango apples that I found at Whole Foods yesterday afternoon.

I'm not a person who uses recipes - I like to get ideas and make my own version of things. But if you would like this recipe, I can try to put something together for you:

Almond Meal Chicken

• Two bone-in, skin on chicken breasts
• One cup almond meal
• One egg
• salt
• thyme
• sage
• pepper
• garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet.
Prepare your dredging station:
In one dish, scramble one egg and add about two tsp of salt and mix.
In another dish, mix the almond meal with thyme, sage, pepper and garlic powder to taste. (You can also use poultry seasoning instead of the thyme and sage, but I didn't have any on hand.)

Dry the chicken breasts on some paper towels. Dip the chicken in the egg and salt mixture, making sure to get the whole piece coated. Next, put the chicken in the almond meal mixture, press the coating into the chicken so it sticks well. Once it's coated with the almond meal, place the chicken on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken breast.

Put the chicken in the oven and bake until it is cooked through. With the gigantic size of chicken breasts these days, I cooked mine for an hour and fifteen minutes and then cooked it in the microwave for an additional two minutes before serving. Baking time will vary according to the size of the chicken pieces and the temperature of your oven.

Enjoy and I hope you like the new direction my blog is taking. I'll try to have more paleo recipes in the coming weeks.

Zumba, yoga and full time work

I'm now contemplating going back to work full-time. I plan to discuss this with my employer tomorrow. This will involve putting Penelope in school for three hours of the day and then taking her to my mom's house from 1 - 5. She will be gone from 8:30 to 5. I think it would be fine if she went to school for three hours out of the day, but I would really love to be able to be home with her when she was done. But, we just can't afford that right now. If I increase my hours from half-time to full-time we will save quite a bit of money. Plus, if I go onto my husband's insurance I will save a ton of money that way, too. It's really a lot to think about. I don't want to miss out on Penn's childhood, but I think that it would be best for my family right now if I work full-time. I guess I'll find out if it's even an option for me tomorrow.

I need to start exercising. I went to zumba a few times and I liked it, but it's really hard to make the time to go to to the Y and do the class. I found some youtube zumba routines and I'm gonna try to get up and do an hour's worth tomorrow morning and every morning. I also found some yoga instruction - I really don't have the time to make it to yoga, since it happens in the early afternoon. But I love yoga. I always feel so great after I do yoga that it must be really good for my body. I will do this a few days a week, too.

Onto quilting: I finally got on my sewing machine and fixed the tension problem. Then I sewed and sewed and changed the bobbin thread and my tension problems magically returned. UGH! I just can't figure it out. I never should've touched the bobbin tension.  I should've at least noted where the bobbin screw was so that I could reset it once I was finished quilting my quilt. I really want a fancy, new machine. I also think I need a serger. I don't really know what I would do with a serger, I just want one. I'm excited to try applique. I really should so that I can get over being afraid of it. I also really want to be able to sew curves. I need to get the curve master out again and test it out a few more times. I have a lot of circle quilts that I would like to work on.

That's all for me tonight. Happy Sunday!

Remember, remember the 5th of November

It's Guy Fawkes day! Bonfire Day! And not sewing day. I just can't seem to get going and finishing any projects. I have the zig zag baby quilt top and the broken dishes quilt top ready to get going on backing and quilting and I just am so. not. motivated. I'm also right in the midst of making Star Trek quilt blocks and I just have, like, no excitement for it at all. I don't know what's wrong with me.

Over the weekend, Penn and I went to the library and I found some modern quilting books: Block Party Quilting and some other one that I don't remember the title of. But, I feel like I want to just stay home and sew and play with fabric. In fact, I'm really frustrated that I can't do that because I have to work and I have to just do other things right now. My problem is that I am so inspired to make stuff on one hand and then I just can't actually DO ANYTHING. It makes no sense. I liken it to writer's block, but I have so many ideas and so much inspiration that I just retreat. I really should try and turn the inspiration into action - more activity. I will try. NO! I will do it. I will sew something tonight. I really want to finish Miss Penn's quilt. I think she will like it and I would feel like such a good mom when I see her dragging it around the dirty floor.

I played Pinterest all morning and got really inspired to make a bird costume for Penn. She told me two days before Halloween that she wanted to be a bird and I saw a fabulous owl costume this morning. I think I can work on it after x-mas and then she can have it all Spring and Summer. She just loves to dress up. I envision her wearing it to dance class - she's really excited about this, too. I also want to make her a birthday crown out of felt. I found a felt supplier on etsy and I can't wait to order some felt and sew that. See? So many projects I want to do. I totally need to be making quilts and selling them so that I can make enough money to stay home all day long. Anyway... back to work...

Tomorrow is election day. Gotta study the ballot.

Boldly going...

I got my Star Trek fabric in the mail last week and I started on the mom quilt this weekend. Here are some photos:

I've still got to make about 18 more blocks. I really hope I don't run out of fabric.

I'm thinking about what to do on the back. I think I want to create a communicator stencil using this tutorial. Elizabeth Hartman used this technique to great success here. Maybe a big communicator and a few smaller ones.. ? hmmm...

So... that is what is cooking in my kitchen these days. Happy quilting and live long and prosper.

Penelope's broken dishes

Ooops! I just realized I forgot to post a photo of Penn's broken dishes quilt that I made for her before I made the chevron (zig-zag) top.

This is how I became obsessed with half square triangles. I just love making them. and so many different layouts. I can't wait to finish these two quilts I've got going. I'm having a difficult time deciding on a back for Penn's quilt. I really want to try and do some applique. I bought a whole, huge roll of freezer paper and I've watched a ton of videos about freezer paper applique, but I'm a little intimidated by it. And, I don't really have an idea of an applique to do on the quilt - I just want to try the technique. I think some little butterflies ala Charlie & Lola in the same fabrics that are on the front would be really sweet (these thingys) and it would capture this time in her life when she really loves that cartoon. I'm going to have to create some fabric on Spoonflower that has all the characters that she loves. Maybe I could make her a pair of loungy pants with all of her favorite guys on it. I suppose some day I will sew somethings that are not quilts. I just love, love, love quilting.

Feet!

I started working on the blocks for the Simple Modern Bee that starts next month (Nov) and I realized that I just can't mail any blocks if I don't get a handle on my quarter inch seams. I gave in and ordered a quarter inch foot with a guide because I feel like that is going to be the best way to keep that seam allowance correct. For me, it's okay if it's a little bit off, but I just would feel terrible if I made these blocks for folks in the bee and they think I'm a terrible seamstress.

I also ordered a walking foot since I really want one for straight line quilting and for attaching my binding. I signed up for Amazon Prime so that I will get my goodies on Friday.

I have also been purchasing tons of fabric. I'm going to be making a Star Trek quilt for my mom for X-mas because she is a huge Star Trek freak! I found some great Star Trek fabric on Spoonflower. I was going to design some of my own fabric, but I just don't feel like I have the time right now. I will later, though.

I also ordered a bunch of precuts from Fat Quarter Shop. I got some Bungle Jungle and some Mod Century and some Oh! Deer all by Moda. I bought charm packs. I love charm packs, but then I feel like I don't want to use them because I just like looking at all the fancy fabrics.

Here is a baby quilt that I made using the Bungle Jungle charm squares and some solid black and solid white Moda charm squares:

I really liked making this quilt. There are so many things you can do with half square triangles and I totes love them.

I'm currently trying to design the Star Trek quilt so that I can show off the fabrics. I'm checking in on pinterest and trying to figure something out.

Mug rug photos

I just realized that I never posted pictures of the mug rugs (such an unfortunate name) that I made for the craft fair at the hospital. So, here they are:

Time for an update

Hola! So I just joined a quilting bee and I figured I should update my bloggity blog so that I can show some of my latest work and be more participative in said bee and life in general.

Here are some photos of the baby quilt that I designed and made in one week.

It was really fun to make this quilt and nice that it wasn't such a huge project that it didn't exhaust me. What it did do was inspire me to make more and more things. I've already started on a broken dishes quilt for Penn in pink and purple batiks. I really had to make her something because every quilt that I finish she asks, "Mommy, is that for me?". I feel really bad because - so far - it hasn't been for her. It doesn't even stick around the house long after I make it.

Well, that's all for me and my posting. I'll remember to post again soon.

Green

Penn Quotes 2

In the bath the other day she told me "Momma, I'm making an environmentally correct birdbath."

The other night my husband and I were sitting on the back porch drinking beers and Penelope sat between us with her water bottle, took a swig and said "Ahhh! This is the life."

Yesterday, I was telling Penn that I couldn't find my sunglasses and she said "Mom, I bet Penelope's Detective Agency can find them."

Everyday on the way to Bubbe's house we pass a yellow truck selling pollo asado. Just about everyday when we turn onto the street Penn says "Mom, when you see the brown chicken, say 'brown chicken!' "

Finished Kaleidoscope Quilt/New Projects/New Stuff

Here are the photos of the finished Kaleidoscope quilt that I made for my brother and new sister-in-law for their wedding. The back took a long time to do because I had to keep cutting pieces and sewing them on to make the back as big as the top. I just can't handle quilts this size. My workspace is so small in my house and my machine just isn't up for it. I kept having tension problems with my bobbin and top thread during the quilting, but once I got that fixed, the quilt came together and I was able to mail it off. They just got it last week and I got a call saying that they loved it. I'm really proud of this project.
I have started my new quilt, but I was waiting for a new foot for my machine. I ordered it and it came two weeks ago, but I haven't opened it. I just haven't felt like doing any sewing yet. I will probably get started this week while my mother-in-law is here.
Today I started working on a knitted blanket. I have a lot of pregnant friends and I want to make them all something. I also like to be working on a knitting project even if it is just a simple blanket.
More later...

~Green

Haven't written in a while

I'm almost finished with my Kaleidoscope quilt. It has been challenging because I didn't really start out with an idea for the back. I knew I wanted to do a pieced back since I like the reversibility of having a pieced back. It is a nice surprise to flip your quilt over and have it be just as spectacular as the front, but not having a clue as to what to do was a little difficult.  I took last week off, basically to think about what i needed to do for the back. I decided to just make it really scrappy using all the fabric scraps from the front of the quilt. I also added in a few new patterns in the same black, grey, white, gold color combination that I found but didn't have the yardage to use any other way. I also found another fabric  that i had a decent quantity of that also incorporates a bold red. I like that there is another color on the back. I got a stripe fabric with predominately golds/oranges with some blue and also black for the binding. Now i just have to finish piecing the back and the quilt it. UGH!

I'm so ready to move onto my next project which is going to be small - mug rugs. There is a craft fair at work where the money goes to the Children's Hospital that I really want to donate to. I thought I could whip up a few mug rugs this weekend for that event next week. I also want to make one for my mother-in-law. I thought I could send her a mug rug a mug and some nice cookies for her birthday at the end of this month which is just around the corner.
I'm totally looking forward to making something small that I can finish in a few hours. It will be quite a different experience than I have been having lately on the ole sewing machine.

I'm also reading the Fifty Shades series. Sometimes it is difficult to get to work sewing when all I want to do is read. Reading these books also makes me want to do something else that I really need to make time for.There really needs to be more hours in the day.

~Green

Kaleidoscope Quilt

Okay... I've got all the pieces cut (well, except for the back) and I sewed together all my little triangle tops to make corner pieces and I sewed the first block. I think the best way to do this will be to set up all the blocks and sew first a solid to a pattern, then sew two of those together to make a half a block and then sew the halves together to make a full block. I didn't do that with the first one and it's a little wonky. Let's see if I actually frog it to make a new block. I'm so lazy these days and just think, "eh... it will come out in the quilting."  Will post some photos tomorrow. Too lazy tonight.


Miss Penn is starting to hit and to whine and throw things. Tonight she threw a cup at her father and a perfume bottle at me. I know she'll stop when she learns, but it's just so hard to explain it to her.

Photos of finished quilt

Here are some photos of the Mod Sampler Quilt after it was bound and quilted. It was my first foray into free-motion quilting and I loved it. I think for a third quilt it's pretty good. I have already mailed this quilt to it's owners last week and they received it and love it.

New quilt

I'm starting on my new kaleidoscope quilt. I'm using black, white, gray and yellow (gold) color combination. I hope that it works out. I'm using the pattern from Don't Call Me Betsy's Kaleidoscope quilt along and have almost finished cutting the 120 solid blocks. I need to choose another patterned fabric as I'm a little short in that department. I think it's going to come out good. I'm a little concerned that the color palette might not work with this design but I don't know...I will have to wait until all the pieces are laid out.

The other thing that I'm dealing with is the aftermath of nursing my daughter. She has just stopped having her night time nursing session and it has thrown my body into hormone overload. My acne is flaring up something fierce and I have a constant sour stomach along with general aches and pains. The increase in thyroid hormone is making me short of breath - so I didn't take my synthroid today - just because the lack of oxygen yesterday was a killer. I couldn't even sing kid songs in the car because I didn't have the air. CRAZY. Hopefully I'll start feeling back to normal here, soon.

Mother's Day

So... I'm waiting for my quilt to get to it's destination. My husband took my daughter swimming at the Y and I'm home cleaning. The only thing I really wanted to do today was mop the kitchen floor. It's funny how stuff like that can really bring you down - a dirty floor. It's so hard to get around to it during the week when there is work and a myriad of other things that need to get done - something so basic and standard as mopping the kitchen floor gets pushed aside until it is a task of monumental proportions. Well... it's finished now and the floor looks fab!

I'm going to celebrate "my day" with a new pair of fancy running shoes, a quick trip to the fabric store and maybe (if I can get the girl to cooperate) a nice movie on the sofa with my husband tonight. Here's to all the moms out there! Enjoy your day, too.

Birthdays, quilts and nursing

Yesterday was my birthday and I was lucky enough to have the day off. I actually have the week off since my brother is getting married in NYC and my family is there.. I don't have any childcare so I took the week off to spend with my lovely daughter.
We went out to dinner last night and it was a horrible time. I didn't care too much that it was a birthday dinner - I mean, it was dinner out with my husband and my two-year old - call it Wednesday night dinner. But it should've gone better. Penn was completely out of control - we've never had that from her before. I had suggested that we not try to go out because I could just tell we were in for that "kind of a time" before we left.
Anyway... I did get to do a lot of sewing yesterday on my quilt for my friends. It's really coming together and I'm super excited to keep quilting and to always have a project in process. I would like to start participating in some quilt-a-longs or some other kinds of projects that I haven't done before. There was a sock knitting competition that I read about... I would have to dust of the dpns.
My daughter is just about finished with nursing. I thought this day would never come. I was/am thoroughly happy to continue as long as she would like, but I'm pretty excited that we seem to be on the sharp decline. If someone would've told me that I would still be nursing her at 25 months, I would've told them to jump in the lake. I didn't even think it would have lasted 6 months with the amount of pain I was in when we first started. That Lansinoh lanolin was a lifesaver - nipple saver. I use it for my feet and elbows now and on my hands in the winter when they are really chapped. It creates a nice water-barrier... whoa! off track. sorry.
Off to the market to get some stuff. Coffee beans, loose tea, pajamas for the girl, etc, etc...

Photos of quilt blocks

Here are the latest photos of my Mod Sampler blocks. I'm loving them so much. I just have one more log cabin block to finish before I can start sewing on the white sashing. It's coming along...