WOW CINDY!!!!!!! That is so totally awesome!!! Now you can buy fabric from another country. :thumbup:

Congratulations Cindy!! What a fabulous Christmas Prize!!!

Thank you everyone for your condolences. I know it will take a while to stop looking where she always slept and to not think about checking on her. She's been my little shadow since I quit working about 18 mos ago.

Looks like I will be taking the cruise over the summer.....lots of time to get ready for a bathing suit. I am so excited to be able to plan this trip. Was looking already as to where I will be going, I have 2 choices of where I can go. My son just got back a month or so ago from Belize, Honduras and Cozumel on a different cruise line. So he and I will be talking about some of the excursion I might be able to take. He and his wife swam with the dolphins.

Gayle, so sorry about your loss. Have been in the same boat - lost our last two about 6 months apart and I miss them both still.
Cindy, WOW, what a great prize - and in this economy - what a generous company. Congratulations!

Gaye so sorry for your loss. It is so hard. WOW Cindy congratulations. That sounds awesome. You will be trying extra hard to win my batiks.
Today at works started the yearly 12 days of snacks. They are trying to kill me. There was chips and dip. 4 kinds of cookies and some dark chocolate turtles. I had a half of a turtle and a half of a cookie. There will be stuff like this every day until we get off for Christmas. We also have a secret Santa Breakfast too. All kinds of yummy stuff. It is so hard to resist all of the goodies.
We are supposed to get an ice storm followed by snow tonight. Hopefully we will have a snow day tomorrow. I am making a pincushion as a gift for my quilt guild. I really need 2 of them, by Tuesday. I have studied the pattern but haven't started yet.

I am freezing here in Texas....we were 80 degrees 2 days ago....yesterday's high was 39 when I went to work, it is currently 28, and not expected to go above freezing until Sunday.

Guess I will see what I can work on that will help me stay warm the next few days. My driveway is nothing but ice right now and last night when I stopped for gas, my battery died UGH... no fun. Dad came and jumped the car, good thing I was only 1/2 mile from the house. Got the car home, need a new battery. Will probably wait until Sunday or Monday before getting the battery.

Gayle, so sorry for your loss. I miss my furbabies too!

Our weather has been mild for a few days and now icy this morning. So glad it's Friday. The storm advisory was moved up and we could have a messy weekend. No place I have to be tomorrow so I'll be decorating for Christmas, baking some cookies and cutting out flannel pj's for my DGD's. Can't believe how fast this year has gone by.

Continuing to watch my carbs and doing ok. Good luck to the rest of you.

SNOW DAY!!!! WOO HOO!. It is 9:00 AM and the kitchen etc is as clean as it is going to get. Heading up to my sewing room for the day:-) I will probably come down at some point and put up the tree. We are supposed to have another ice storm on Sunday.

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One of the trees in our front yard today. Hope it makes it from all the weight on it from the ice....we lost about half of it several years ago.

Stay warm and enjoy your sewing time.

Second t-shirt quilt top done, goes to the quilter on Sunday if roads are good. Now to finish cutting apart the rest of his shirts to the correct size. My friend meet me last Sunday at the quilt store and he bought all the fabric needed to finish the other 2 I am doing for him. He also saw a complete quilt on the wall and bought the kit for me to put together for him. I am having fun, will be working on the rest of the t-shirt cutting them down to size and putting them together.

Will be putting the backing together for the one going to the quilter this weekend also. Just have to sew the 2 pieces together.

Stay warm.

Here are some Friday Frantics for you ladies. Keep warm and many happy stitches for you. Be sure to see which snowman you are.

I am Merry McBlizard. How awesome that is since the country is in a deep freeze right now. I made the snowballs for my Christmas Table Dinner that is tonight. I definitely will post a photo of how festive it will be. Oh and I have lost three pounds already. I am thrilled. I so want those batiks!

I am Bells McChilly.

You go Beth....congrats on that loss.

Musicaljan! What is peskatarian?

QuilterMomma. I love your snowballs. Is there a pattern? I am making a pincushion for a gift. What do you guys fill yours with? I know a lot of people use crushed walnut shells. I don;t want to use those because of all the people with nut allergies. Someone suggested emery sand. I have found it locally, but it is really expensive online. I am hopefully going out shopping tomorrow to find something to stuff it with.
Lots of snow, ice, sleet here today so hopefully it will be cleaned up enough to shop tomorrow. I was supposed to meet my sisters, mom and SIL for breakfast tomorrow to plan our Christmas gift exchange etc. We are meeting at Panera. MMM! I love their food. I need to figure out what to order that won't be really bad.

i fill my larger cushions with silicone beads. They are tiny little beads that you find in packaging. But also they sell them online. I used to make dolls and stuffed with that. Emery sand is expensive so I use that only for the small needle sharpening ones. I have received cushions filled with poly batting as well that is stuffed really hard in there. I have done this and topped off with the emery sand so you can still sharpen the needles. As for the walnut shells, I use them. My theory on that is if the person is allergic to nuts, isn't it just when they eat them not around the food. It is like a food allergy theory, only if it is intaken. We are not to put needles in our mouth. I stuffed the snowballs with left over polar fleece and batting, wool, poly, and cotton. I cut them up into smaller pieces with the rotary cutter and stuffed away. Worked great and they are stuffed firmly. The pattern came with the embroidery designs. I will have to look them up again if you want the website to get them. The pattern is just a baseball. Take a baseball or soft ball and cut the stitching off and you have the two pieces to use as patterns.

A peskatarian is when you are vegetarian but also eat fish. =D

I'm sure it's on the rare side, but I thought I'd share the info. I have two friends with nut allergies. They are both very sensative to it. One of them has to carry an epipen. Even the nut rubbing on her skin will have an emergency reaction.

That level of sensativity is not common. I just wanted to throw it out there.

I just use batting or fibrefil. The emery sand is too abrasive for regular use. My pins got a little rough with it. And, no, you don't have to eat something to be allergic to it so you are wise not to take the chance on the walnut shells. The allergens can be airborne.

I am Bells McSnowy. Those snowballs are cute, I wish I had some for my students. We use white hose, in sections, tied up with batting inside. They love throwing the 'snowballs.' Do you know how hard it is to find white hose these days?

I didn't have a great week due to stress eating. But on the bright side, I wanted chocolate ice cream last night after dinner and my DH resisted and saved both of us!!

I am Tinkle McSparkles and we are iced in. It's really cold and instead of snow, we got freezing rain and sleet last night. No church Sunday for most of the churches in town. Some of the eating places have closed too. It's really slick out there. I've been working on a quilt. It's supposed to be for my cousin's little girl and I'm doing my best to get it done. I'm so tired of it. Don't get me wrong, it's a cute quilt, I just don't like the quilting part. I'm doing some design and some stippling, the rest, well, lets just say it's getting sewed on. haha I was up on my weight Thursday. Still getting some off from Thanksgiving. I've done better on my diet by being iced in. We are supposed to get some more "weather" tonight. I don't know if it will be rain, sleet, or snow. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Gayle I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I have a sweet girl right now that has been acting so much slower. We love her dearly.

Cindy that is wonderful news of your winnings. You really have a nice vacation to look forward too.

Congratulations to all that are doing well on your eating. I haven't done as well due to stress, but some of it is another severe kidney infection. This one was the worst I have had in a very long time with blood, and protein in the cells. After the holidays I need to get in to see a urologist. I already see about every other kind of ologist. lol...

We are having ice tonight. It's a real mess, and will probably take down lines and trees.

Be safe everyone, be well, be happy, and be busy sewing .

Oh, I am HopeMcChilly.

My DD has a nut and seafood allergy. She should have been in the ER after eating a piece of popcorn that touched a cashew. I would be afraid of someone with nut allergies touching the pins that were in the pincushion and the eating something or touching their face. She also had a reaction when my DS and DH went fishing and cleaned them outside. They touched the faucet in the kitchen and door handles. She carries an epi pen too. The pin cushion I am making needs something al little bit heavier at least at the bottom. I think I will use poly on the top half and some sandbox sand at the bottom. I will post picture when I stuff it tonight.
I am supposed to have a quilting class all afternoon. Not sure it will happen because it is supposed to start snowing and icing in the next hour or so.

Tinkle! I feel your pain. I am in a similar spot trying to finish my GGD quilt. It is so heavy that I feel like I am wrestling a whale. My sewing machine is not liking it either. I put flannel on the back and I think that is why it is so heavy. Did QAYG and am doing the borders. Was hoping to have it done by this coming Friday. We are not having ice but -19 degrees. Good time to stay in and sew. I will be so happy to have this quilt done. So I really understand your pain. Let's just keeping "trucking" as the saying goes. I will be thinking of you. Stay safe.

I'm Sparkle McFrosty. The snow outside is sparkly & frosty so it's pretty appropriate. I lived in Southern California for 21 years & this year moved to Northeast Ohio. It was a job transfer, not one that we really wanted. It was good & bad in a lot of different ways. The bad being that our children stayed in CA. That is their home after all, where they grew up, where their friends, jobs & social lives are. The good is that we moved back to the area where we both grew up, back by our families & have really enjoyed spending time with everyone. We move out of the area in the area in the early 80's & a lot has changed but a lot is the same! I did manage to lose a little weight throughout the move- a big surprise as I've never lost a pound without a lot of effort! I guess I need to change my location in my profile. I may be in denial!

I haven't got as much walking done as I planned, but it is early in the month yet. I will have to work hard to win those batiks. I need a little pick me up after this . . .
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OUCH!! What happened? That looks very sore!

I am Tinsel McSnowy.
Lauriejo, how in the world did you do that? That must have really hurt! Do you have stitches?
I have a table runner put together that I am sewing the binding down while watching the Packer game. I need this for a party tuesday night. I have another one to finish up for a party next week. Such a busy week coming up. I need to prioritize and stay on task to get everything done. Packages need to get mailed out asap. Before I can mail my son's I need to finish shopping for his gifts and get a kindle case made plus a makeup bag made for his girlfriend. I haven't even thought about my poem yet that I write every year that goes out with my cards. No decorations up yet either. Yikes!
We have ice and snow and cold here too. I think we are supposed to get 3-5" of snow today. At least this winter my hubby is here to clear out the driveway.
Stay warm, everyone!

We were supposed to get snow and ice today. It kinda fizzled out. I had a class today from 1-4. They forgot to call me and tall me they cancelled. I wouldn't have been annoyed if I hadn't lugged my sewing machine there. It is heavy to carry down the stairs. I went shopping instead. I bought something for my new grandbaby. Not due until May so I don't know the sex. It is really hard to buy clothing that is neutral. They have almost none in the stores any more since almost everyone now knows what they are having. I found a cute outfit with ducks and a toy. I need to ship it off to Japan. Hopefully they will move here before the baby is born. Not sure if it is going to work out or not. My DS is in the Navy stationed in Japan. He gets out in Feb. It just depends on when they can leave.
Lauriejo, What did you do. OUCH!. I hope you are ok.

No stitches, thank goodness and now that the scabs are coming off it does look better. I am not entirely sure what happened. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up in the wee hours thinking someone had thrown a brick at me. I put on my glasses at looked up at the ceiling trying to figure out what fell. The only thing we can come up with is the cat must have been jumping from the coffee table to the back of the couch and missed. At night he sometimes goes racing around like crazy. If he was doing that and slid on the table he could have missed his jump.

Lauriejo, what a way to wake up!!! I hope it heals quickly.

Chilly here in WNY today. We are waiting to see what the snow machine gives us off the lake. I did get some baking done this weekend and hid some of the results from my men. If I don't do that I won't have any left by Christmas. I will have all of Christmas week off so I'm not worried about the decorations. With the farm and all if I'm ready till the 24th, it won't be the first time. Trying hard to watch my carbs and give myself permission for a small taste rather than none at all. Still looking for onderland, but getting closer.

Cold here in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. -5 this a.m. Well, I am discouraged. I have gained 2 lbs. this week and I really was watching what I ate. I guess I am not watching close enough :o(. Anyway, I am on the last leg of finishing my GGD quilt. One for border on and then the binding. This quilt was a challenge for me and it wasn't even a difficult pattern. Would like to bake but don't know if I will have the time to do it. Stay warm; stay thin and enjoy the Season.

Good afternoon ladies, I have spent the better part of the last for days staying indoors. Here in the Dallas area, we have not gotten above freezing since Thursday. Had a ice storm, and right now it is only 33 degrees. Here we are not use to this kind of weather. There have been 18 wheelers stuck on the freeways due to the ice on the roads. According to the news, the truckers were frustrated as well because in other parts of the country they don't get stuck like they did here.

It was great seeing that a church north of us (it was the boyfriend's church) the pastor opened the doors for stranded motorist, they served over 100 people, made it on the news. It is great seeing that people out there still care to help those in need.

Once the boyfriend came over some of my anixety went away as I wasn't worrying about him being on the roads. He is such a great man. I know that God sent him to me. We had met online about 5 yrs ago while he was still married, had a connection but I wouldn't date him then being married. Now divorced, God brought him back to me. We have connected in so many ways. He has never let any woman he dated since he seperated meet his children, and I was lucky enough to meet 2 of the 3 over Thanksgiving.

Weight goes up and down. Remember to drink your water, make wise choices, and when you can exercise. I am down 1 lb. The cruise is a big motivation for both of us.

I had promised you a picture of the batiks I have so far. Well here it is......it will make us all drool.

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and this is the over under quilt I am working on .... batiks with a solid black

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too look at it at first it looks complicated but it is very easy. Now to get the rows sewn together.

Oh Cindy you are killing me! I so NEED those batiks. I guess I had better get my ass in gear if I am going to have any chance of winning them. I have to get back to exercising. I have been eating OK but the scale is barely moving because I haven't been exercising.
The 12 days of snacks at school haven't been too bad so far. People have brought things so far that I can mostly skip. There were Panera bagels today plus some cookies. I had 1/4 of a bagel. By the time I got back in there they were gone:-)
THe quilt guild Christmas party is tomorrow.. I need to put the final border on my mystery quilt and finish the pincushion I am making.
Everyone stay out of the goodies. We can do this. Don't totally deprive yourself. Just a little bit will satisfy you. Remember the first bite is the best. I have been taking a bite of a cookie and throwing the rest away.

Pretty batiks - I will get mine out very soon. Too tired from shoveling right now. The snow just keeps coming.

My scale isn't telling me what I want it to and I've been doing okay with my food. Body laying on fat preparing for hibernation???

I have a friend who tried to teach me that you only need three bites of anything - the rest just tastes the same. She didn't understand being a compulsive overeater and I didn't understand being able to stop at three bites. She's still my best friend. :D

Cindy, what size are your squares? 6 1/2"? That's what I'm doing with my batiks when I win. I've seen it done with 10", but I like the smaller ones better. I didn't know it had a name. Over/Under is suitable.

Pumpkin soup with turkey tonight. It turned out a little sweeter than I wanted, but it's edible.

The black strips are 1 1/2, and the batik is 4 1/2. did strips piecing then sub cut into 6 1/2 inch. It is a pattern I got from Quilt Country called over and under designed by Paula Hughes. It has gone together pretty quick. For the throw size, that I am making it takes 17 different batiks at 1/4 yard each.

Thank you. Those are the sizes of the one I liked somewhere here on the QB.

Love the quilt, Cindy! I may try that one some day.

Do we know yet what color blocks after this month? I could mail more than the one block.