Feeling better. Maybe will get some sewing done!

I'm feeling much better today.  I'm going back to work tomorrow.
I'm thinking about getting up and cutting out a skirt.  I need clothes so desperately, I really need to make myself do it.

Just thinking of an elastic skirt,  strait, no aline, but a little fuller than straight as I'm making it out of Challis.  I've got a purple top I can wear with it and it shouldn't take me long to do it.....

We'll see what happens.

WHERE DID THE TIME GO? WHAT HAPPENED ? A WHOLE YEAR, PRACTICALLY!

I'm not a very consistent person.....you probably already figured that one out.  I don't write well, and I've not been doing any sewing, garment wise.  I need to....I'm down to 3 dresses now.....need to take drastic measures!

I've been concentrating on trying to get everyone's quilts done for Christmas.

I've got one all but the binding done.  I had my friend LAQ it for me.  It turned out rather nice, if I do say so myself!

Then, I decided that I can't ask my friend to keep doing my quilts for free and I don't have 200.00 a quilt to have them done, so......I'm learning to free motion quilt and will do it myself!

Here are a few of my practice pieces:  well, maybe not.  I can't locate them on my hard drive.  I will have to transfer them over from my notebook.

I'm really fascinated with the Hunter Star block.

I think it is beautiful.  There is a special ruler you have to use to make it .
I also love the lemoyne block

They are both eight-pointed blocks, but I like the challenge of the Hunter block better.

I want to make my son a quilt.  His favorite colors are dk purple, orange and black.

I could do a purple and orange quilt with the Hunter star.  Or I could use a medium purple and orange for the star (the small one) and use black for the 1/2 square triangles that are red and white in the pic above, then use the purple and orange at the four corners.

I think that might look ok.  I'll have to get some test fabric and work on it.

Well, that's about it for now.   I've been off work today because I have developed severe osteo arthritis in my right knee and have the beginnings of osteoporosis.  The pain has been incredible since last Friday.  I went to the doctor on Monday after work, they xrayed and we had to wait until today to get the report back, since the radiologist had left for the day.  (there was a spot on the film and they had to determine if I had a fracture there or not.)  So out came the brace and the crutches with instructions to stay off of it.   Ha!  Like that was going to be easy.....anyways, no fracture...although I think it might have been easier as it would have healed.  So now I can learn to live with this.  

So, I'm off to bed.  I'm taking tomorrow off as I still can't stand or walk very far....hopefully one more day will make a big difference.  Night, all.

LO

One project down, 10,000 to go!

I finally was able to finish and deliver the coat I replaced the lining in.   That was a daunting task, but it fits and she is comfortable, no binding, etc.  So all is well.

Now on to the next project.    Before I can sew today, I need to vac and clean the carpet in the downstairs bedroom.  DS has decided to switch rooms, so he's moved everything out, I get to clean. 

Then I will cut out my dress.

30 OCTOBER 2013

Happy pre Halloween!

I spent the morning sewing! Finally!  but not for me.
I made a pair of pajamas in flannel to be part of a jedi knight costume for my dgs.

It turned out pretty cute.   I didn't get to see him in it as my ds delivered it for me...although he waited until 9pm.  So I'm sure my boy went to bed thinking Grandma failed him!  This made me very sad.  Hopefully it fits him!

Tomorrow I need to finish up the lining in a coat for a friend of mine.  
Friday I am cutting out that dress I've been talking about for the past two months.  I think my mojo is finally back.

I'm really excited.  My twin brother provided points so my son and I can fly back to KC for Thanksgiving!  I haven't been back since the summer after my mom passed away in 2007.   I really miss my siblings.  I've got a great niece I've not yet met...she's almost 2!  She's going to be a big sister in Feb to a little brother.   Then I have a niece that is due the week of Thanksgiving, so hopefully she'll be born while I'm there.  That would be cool.

I finished the afghan for my sister.  I just have to weave the ends  in.  

Now it is time to start planning for Christmas.   I have no idea what I'm going to do this year.  It won't be a lot as I have no money, no time, and no idea of what to make!

My gd is learning to sew.  I think I'm going to either put together a sewing box with fabric and patterns, or give her a gift card and she can do it herself.    I'd like to make everyone pj's.  Not sure they'd want them though........

I need to make me some pj's too!

Well, that's it for today.   Headed to bed with my notebook to make my lists.  Good night.

Almost ready to sew!

I measured again and I'm back down to what I originally wrote down for my waist.....so I don't think I gained inches I think I read the tape measure wrong.

So I've lost 16 pounds.   I went to the gym twice this week.   rode my pedals the rest of the week.

I did the weight machines at the gym.  My wrists hurt so bad I thought I would die!  My shoulders are hurting less, so I think the tendonitis is getting better.  

Now that I don't have to readjust my pattern, I will cut it out today and see how it fits.  Pictures will be coming.......

Lucky I didn't cut out when I thought I would!

I've lost 10.5 pounds now.   I hadn't cut out my dress yet, so I decided to measure.   I'm glad I did.  I was 5 inches bigger in the waist.  I either read it wrong or wrote it down wrong, so I need to add another 1/2 inch to each seam as well!

If I wait another week, maybe I won't have to, but, I don't want to wait.  I need clothes now and on the princess seam dress, I can take it in easily, I think.   I'll not stitch the sleeves in the round and that will help taking in the side seams.   I'm excited .  Hopefully I'll get it cut out this week, the muslin, then the fabric.  For this one I'm going to use a black ponte knit(the one with rayon in it, I just love the way it feels and drapes), then wear jackets and sweaters with it, until I look good enough in the style.  I have the fabric, at least I think I have enough of the fabric.   I'll have to check in my stash. 

I have to finish replacing the lining of a coat this week as well.   Busy week,  Still haven't mastered the sleeping part of working nights, but I've got the eating and exercising down well.

Last weekend, since I was awake at night, I exercised between Friday and Monday evening, 10.25 hours (I think it was that).   I have stationary pedals, and I'm sure they aren't as effective as a stationary bike, but they are helping because my blood sugars are 212 in the morning instead of 287-300.   I'm taking less insulin all the way around.  
This weekend I will have done 5.5 hours.   Not as much, but 2.75 hours a day is not a bad thing.   I'm happy with it.   I'm starting to lose and I'm starting to lose inches.......what more could a girl want!

So, I watched the Craftsy class on plus size fitting with Barbara Deckert again last night.   I decided to get out Simplicity 1586 and upsize the dress.

It wasn't too bad.  I took all the measurements (shell shocked!) but quickly recovered and started altering the pattern.  Tonight, I'm going to cut it out on an old sheet to fit it. 

I'm excited because I am finally getting my blood sugars straightened out I think.   Working the nightshift has been difficult trying to figure out what to eat, when to eat, when to sleep, etc.   I'm still not sleeping a regular schedule, but today when I woke up at four, let me back track,  when I went to bed at 9:30 my blood sugar was 133.  I decided to not take any insulin to see what happened.  I woke at 4pm and took my sugar.  It was 108!  I had also put myself to a little test.   I have a pair of stationary pedals (bike) that I ride. I've never been convinced that they do any good.  So last night I rode for 30 minutes.  When I went to bed at 2:30am my bs was 167.  (mind you I was also being very careful in what I ate).  I took 4 units of Humalog.  My blood sugar was 161 when I woke up at 6:30am.   I took 4 units again.   Then I rode the pedals for 1 hour and 20 minutes.    When I went back to bed, my blood sugar was 133.  Ok, so the insulin had pulled it down.  Not a lot, but so much better than being 278 when I go to bed or get up.   So imagine my surprise at 4 when it was 108!  Estatic to say the least.  I have to surmise that the exercise does indeed work, so I'll keep it up.     So I've eaten a meal.   I had about 3 oz of hard cheese, dill pickles and green peppers (grown in my friends garden).   I will take my sugar in about an hour and see where it is at.  In the meantime I will hop back on my pedals while I was the finale of Biggest loser from whatever season.   I'm bound and determined to get back on track like I was last year.  I can do this.  It just takes effort and time,  but I know I can do it.     I started back to the gym a month ago, and can now ride a regular stationary bike instead of the recumbent.   My knee doesnt' hurt too much.  But I can only maintain about 15 minutes on the bike at a good pace.  So maybe by working it at home too, I can work up time at the gym.   My membership runs out in FEbruary, so I need to really make good use of the time left.  I don't know if i'll sign up again or not.

Well, as you can see I ramble back and forth.    But i'm excited.  I think life might be turning around again and I just can't let it go back to what it was........

After I cut out and sew my test garment, I will try and take pics.....now remember, I'm a big girl, it won't be pretty, but something I need to do to motivate me.