Using the stash, work and the gym

There hasn't been as much sewing as I would have liked going on here this week. It's because I have been spending too much time here

I know things are getting bad when I spend 4 hours here on a Sunday just trying to catch up. I made progress but will have to work late again tomorrow night. On the upside from lunch on Tuesday I will not work again till the following Monday. Will probably mean more catching up then but I need a break.

To the stash report then:-

Fabric used                  1 metre
Fabric bought               5 metres

Total fabric used           3 3/4 metres
Total fabric bought       18 3/4 metres

Goal for 2011 to use 10% less than I buy. 4 of the in this week was the backing for the Night before Xmas BOM so it will be a while before it is used.

I seem to be alternating at the moment between the gym and walking. I'm still moving which is the important thing. Friday night was my weekly session with Tamera and it's always exciting to be able to do three sets of an exercise at a higher weight. Mind you the last couple of repetitions in each set were not great but they were completed.

I pushed myself on the treadmill today doing a level I haven't attempted in a while. Only 30 minutes and I travelled 2.85kms. On the plus side I burnt as many calories as I have been when exercising for 35 minutes.

Something in the post and the gym

Received a lovely parcel in the post today. It's the first installment in the Night before Xmas block of the month by Bunny Hill Designs.

 I have to say it's just delightful. The presentation of the patterns is superb.

It also includes gorgeous French General fabrics.

I'm not sure I'm gong to be able to resist yardage of this. This was going to be the year of economic restraint and so far I'm not doing too well.

Exercise continues. The last couple of weeks have mainly been out of the gym.  Back in the gym yesterday for a session with Dave and again this morning for 35 minutes on the treadmill to travel 3.22 kms. I'm exhausted but glad to be back to harder exercise.

Design Wall Monday and a Birthday

Progress is slow on the Xmas quilt but I made a block this morning!

Love the fabric - it's from Rosalie Quinlan an Australia designer.

Was a long day today with a trip to Newcastle for an 18 year old's birthday. Her brother made a cake.

Exercise today was a walk and before bed will be sit ups, squats and lunges again.

Lobster, Playing with the Pips and Stashbusting

I love seafood and have always enjoyed a crab more than a lobster. However crabs are fiddly to eat. So on New Years Day we sat down to a lobster meal.

Nice but I'm sticking with the crab. Getting it out is half the fun and the flesh is so much sweeter.

I need to make several baby quilts this year so quickly made the first two blocks this morning. Aneela's fabric range Sherbet Pips is gorgeous and it will be fun making this quilt.

I will be stash busting again this year so here's the first report:-

Fabric Used         1/2 metre
Fabric Bought     0

Goal to purchase 10% less than I use.

Yesterday the gym was closed so exercise involved walking, lunges, sit ups and squats.

Back in the gym this morning and walked 3.17kms in 35 minutes with lots of hills thrown in. Heel started to play up towards the end but I survived.

Day 270 and Stashbusting

Woke up this morning with the same problem in the heel. I think I may have bruised it so had today off from the gym and it's closed tomorrow. So 15 minutes of squats, lunges and sit ups this morning and the same again tonight.

As it's the last day of the year my final stash report.

Fabric used this week 1 metre
Fabric used this year 39 1/2 metres.

I am gong to keep counting next year but will also record my purchases. Goal is to buy 10% less than I use. I had better get started sewing straight away as I ordered 9 1/2 yards as an end of year present to myself today.

I had hoped to have a top finished by today. Found the fabric I had purchased for the narrow border but couldn't find the final border fabric. Guess what I will be doing this weekend.

Day 269

I woke up this morning and the minute I put my right heel down I knew I was n trouble. Shooting pain up the leg. It has happened before but usually comes good quite quickly. I was not so lucky this morning though. So warm up was on the dreaded bike. I then did 30 minutes of weights. I needed to be selective in what I did so I wasn't putting pressure on my heel. Finally came good about 10:30am. One day I must make the time to see a doctor about it.

This afternoon when I got home I discovered the pink frangapani had finally started to bloom. The white one has been out for a coupe of weeks already. Finally starting to feel like summer.

Day 268

Back at work today. I was going to hit the gym this morning but the lure of the finale of Survivor meant I didn't get to bed till very late. So gym this afternoon to again do 3.14kms in 35 minutes. I did burn more calories however as I upped the hills.

Day 267

I did the maths today and realised I had exercised for 267 days straight. Yeah me. Less than a 100 days to go to reach my goal.

A quick 35 minute workout on the treadmill this morning to travel 3.14kms in 35 minutes.

Design Wall Monday

Not a lot happening on the sewing front this week. I did finish one block from the Xmas quilt. Takes me to 7 of 36. Hopefully will not take me another 29 weeks to get it done.

Here's a photo of Cleo after she had finished her crab last night. She could barely move but was one contented cat.

Ally does not usually sat still long enough for a photo but I managed to snap this one earlier today.

Exercise is still happening. The last couple of weeks it has been out of the gym. This morning I hit the treadmill for 35 minutes and managed 3.11 kms.

Using the stash, Design Wall Monday and exercise

Stash utilisation has not changed at all this week. Oh well..

I did make another block for the Xmas quilt. My incentive to show progress each week forced me to get one done!

Exercise has continued. Some days have been hard to fit it in but so far so good.

I also bought myself a Xmas present. Lots of my friends have raved about their Kindle so I will have one in the new year as well. For the moment I will have to make do with this gorgeous cover.

Design Wall Monday

I didn't post last week but as promised the progress I made on the Xmas quilt.

This week I managed another two blocks.

Posting each week will mean I finish this project as it has motivated me to sew - even if it is only a block a week.


I also have started a new hexagon block - changes after this - progress shots in the weeks  to come.

I managed an early morning session in the gym this morning. Work is horrendous so getting it done first up is good.

The only other news of note is that 4 months after dropping the weight bench on my foot my nail finally came off - I know more information than you require.

Oh and the friands from yesterday - all gone.

Using the stash, 365 days of exercise and some baking

A little bit happening on the sewing front in the last fortnight but reality has hit and there is no way I will make the goal of using 100 metres this year. To the report then

A little bit of sewing going on this week so some fabric used.

Fabric used  2  3/4 metres
Fabric used to date 37 3/4 metres.

Exercise continues and although it has been a struggle on some days I have managed 30 minutes every day.

This year was supposed to be the year I learnt to cook. That hasn't happened. I did try something new today. Raspberry and Almond friands - not perfect but not too bad.

Design Wall Monday

A constant of design Wall Monday has been a never ending steam of projects started with no finishes. Enough! From now on you will see a top however many times it takes for me to complete. First up an Xmas quilt. I've changed my mind on fabrics since last Monday and am now going for a much more contemporary feel.

Any guesses how many Mondays you will see this for.

Gym this morning was 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.89kms. A mini goal is to go 3kms in 30 minutes by the end of January. If I did it all flat would be no problems but I must include hills.

Using the stash and this and that

A little bit of sewing going on this week so some fabric used.

Fabric used  1 3/4 metres
Fabric used to date 35 metres.

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.


Went and looked at another house yesterday. Ticked lots of our boxes. The downsides were a pool - which I would like in a way except for the work involved - and no grass in in the backyard for the animals.

I think it will sell for close to the million mark which is more than we want to pay.


Exercise continues. I have been pushing myself with my cardio. Everyone in the gym tells me I must be working hard as my face gets so red!

Design wall Monday, Using the Stash and this and that.

Another new project started. I think I have left my run a bit late for Xmas this year but would like to have the top at least finished by Xmas day.

Fabric usage this week has all been in actual projects so feeling kinda good.

To the report then:-

Fabric used  2 1/4 metres
Fabric used to date 33 1/4 metres.

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.


I succumbed and bought this pattern - when I eventually get around to it it will be good for some stash usage I'm sure.

 

I also saw Robin Williams on Thursday night - wonderful.

Today is day 224  and I'm still on track for 365 days of exercise in a row. Even if I say it myself I'm awesome.

Using the stash and days 206 to 210

The stash report is quite good this week. I wish it was because I had been sewing but alas not the reason. Most of the usage is fabric given away to various charities. Why you ask. Well Laurie and I have been together for 19 years and have finally decided to take the plunge and move in together. The next 6 months will be spent with both of us downsizing in preparation for the move. A big task but must be done.

To the report then:-

Fabric used 41/4 metres
Fabric used to date 27 1/2 metres.

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.

The gym has been good this week.

Wednesday was not in the gym. Work constraints meant I need to walk late at night. A nice walk around our neighbourhood and I push myself to go a little further each time.

Thursday morning and an early morning session with Dave. Lots of sweat involved but not as much as in the Friday evening session with Tamera.

Saturday morning and a snappy 30 minutes on the treadmill for 2.85kms.

Lastly this morning a 30 minutes weights session by myself. I am seeing tangible progress that I am getting stronger - if only the weight would start to move.

Design Wall Monday and days 203 and 204

Like the White Rabbit said I'm late again this week.


So what's on my design wall. The start of a new quilt I'm making in a class with Sue Ross. Progress will be slow!

Monday was treadmill day and I really struggled. 2.61kms in 30 minutes. The remnants of the cold are still with me. This morning was a weights session. Did OK.

Design wall Monday on a Tuesday and days 196 and 197

On Sunday I talked about the need to simplify sometimes. Well the weekend was revelation day for our annual Kamberra challenge. I tried something in the style of Jane Brocket. Not entirely happy with the result but I think I am heading in the right direction.

Click here to see what everyone else did.

Monday seems to be my bad work day at the moment. I did not make the gym but had time for a brisk 30 minute around the streets late at night. Today was weights and in startling news I am starting to enjoy the modified push ups I an doing.

Using the stash and days 189 to 195

I own an obscene amount of fabric I know so why did I buy this.

The primary reason is because it's lovely. However I also hope it will serve as a reminder that complicated doesn't always mean better. Don't get me wrong I love making what I do but I am often guilty of over thinking things. Sometimes I need to just enjoy using beautiful fabric in a simple design and get the satisfaction of a completed article.

Sorry about the quality of the photo but it was a glorious spring day with lots of sun.

To the report then:-

Fabric used 3/4 metres
Fabric used to date 23 metres.

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.

On the exercise front I am almost back to normal. It's about time to start tracking progress again and get into some hard work.

Using the stash and days 183 to 188

The best week for fabric usage in ages for me. Nothing to show just yet. I have been sewing my challenge quilt. Revelation day is next Saturday. I will have a finished top to show next Monday.

To the report then:-

Fabric used 2 metres
Fabric used to date 22 1/4 metres.

Goal for 2010 Use 100 metres.

Has also been a good week on the exercise front. Tuesday was day 183 which marks my halfway point. I don't know if when I started I ever really believed I would get to this point but  make it I have. So what has been achieved in the last six months. A little weight loss but a whole lot more fitness. The chronic lower back pain I was suffering has been reduced so much I rarely need pain relief these days. A great change as I was taking Neurofen two to three times daily.

So what for the next 6 months. I now have two sessions a week with a personal trainer. Tamera is back and I like Dave so have decided to keep them both. They are going to plot together to see what forms of torture they can put me through. I have changed as I am really looking forward to seeing what they have planned.