Handworks Crochet and then Some!

Times does fly by these days! And I've not sewed a stitch in over a month... now I've not been lazy! I've crocheted on my cami top and my granny square afghan... still messing around in the garden, though its sadly fading... I plan to try some fall/winter crops to help keep me from getting to sad about it!and I've discovered the absolute joys of CANNING! For years I've said I was going to learn to can... this year I did! Spiced Peaches... Tomato sauce, Pickled Banana peppers, Vanilla Pears, Brandy Pears, Pear sauce, Roasted red pepper spread, Red wine fig compote.... to name a few... I'm really on the band wagon for canning! I'm also trying to make some Muscadine wine... mmmm... And we're looking for a farm to buy! Now thats taking alot of time! We REALLY need a farm!!!! Its a long process to find the right land... meanwhile just look at the pretty canned stuff I've made!!!! Veggies and fruits are so pretty all preserved in mason jars.... meanwhile ...

Well, last weekend we had so much fun! So let me tell ya about it! It started off with Friday night. We went to the Golden Shisha ... The Bald Man proudly wearing the much needed new shirt I made him! The Fabric was from Gail K's in Atl. (and I have enough left over for a handbag!) I used the Islander pattern I always use for him... only took me like a day and a half to make it this time! Added a bible verse patch to the sleeve.. and check out the back... you see a good pic of the cheetah on it! Fitness and healthy eating plan... going very well. The pic on the right is me Friday June the 11th 2010! The pic on the right was me last summer June 6th 2009. 12 pounds heavier and a whole lot flabbier! And not near as healthy looking!!! The Bald Man even took last years pic from a down angle or else I would look bigger I'm sure! This was one of the tops in the mighty 'to be altered' pile! Which I am still working on! Below is a picture of the lovely Mia, the bellydancer at t...

Ok, some of you asked about my nutrition/fitness plan in my last post... and some of you emailed me... so I'll start from the beginning... I have been a on fitness 'journey' ! Working out like I never have before in my whole life!! Working out like I never thought I could... eating like I never have... here's the best part... I've liked it... alot. Now I have always had to watch my weight... its very easy for 5..10lbs to creep up on me. But like most other women I cut carbs/calories/fat, did some kind of aerobics... step, hi-lo, walking until I lost it. Which then I would slip back into old habits and have to start all over. Well in Dec. 09 I decided it was time to lose the 10lbs I put on that year... and I started up with the usual... only, not having worked out in a year I started mighty slow... 15 t0 20 min. of aerobics for 4 or 5 days... working up to 30 min. then to 40 min. My eating was cut back, its always been clean and whole foods, but my portions were to l...

The jacket and shorts are both Kwik sew patterns. I've been wanting to make a boyfriend jacket for spring and here it is! Fabric was a gift from my Great Aunt Mildred in Nashville... I had just enough for the jacket and shorts!!! Cute... and I need another one... I have the perfect pink and white tweed too!!! The jacket is KS3058 and the shorts are KS3061. I made the shorts in an afternoon... super easy mock fly zipper instructions on this pattern!!! The jacket took 2 afternoons... about 4 hours I guess. Both went together fast and easy. Kwik Sew always does have great instructions! Plus no tissue pattern. My fitness and nutrition plan seems to be working! I'm not trying to lose weight now.... just lower my body fat and build muscle.... so even though the scale doesn't show it... I'm down several inches and a couple of sizes. So I'm trying to only make things that are very stretchy or easy to alter! Since I've never worked out to achieve these kinds of results...