Feeling Simply Quilty

I'm all excited and want to begin by taking a picture of my New Year's Resolutions. My first resolution is for myself. This is part of my quilt group, Northeast Quilting Friends, I'm the one in the bright red shirt standing. On top of every one's list, except Twiggy, is weight loss. I'm the heaviest I've ever been and I really need to do something to begin a healthy life. So here goes...I must begin by posting if I'm staying on my diet-which is to say, in order to lose weight, I must stay at or around 1400 calories. Now that's not a lot for me and I'll have to try hard. I stayed in that calorie count vicinity today and I must say I was pretty grumpy. I might even need to apologize to someone later. Do people accept the "Oh I started a new diet", as an excuse for rudeness? I doubt it! Hopefully she'll understand...
My next picture has to do with my other priority and that is to complete projects I begin. I know it's a common thing...UFO's (unfinished objects)these are projects in various stages of completion. If I took pictures of all my UFO's and post them on the Internet, I would use up so much memory the Internet would cease to function and my daughters might have to talk to me and that could be bad...not in my view...hmmm...maybe this would open up communication and we could connect! Oh well, they'd probably be mad at me for shutting down the Internet more than want to talk so I'll leave one at a time on the postings of all my UFOs and leave it to my blog to help inspire me on to finishing my projects...smile So, here goes, this is one of the multitude...it's a 48"X48" wall hanging that is called Country At Heart. This is really not my style of quilt making, but, I believe in stretching and trying all kinds of quilting. It's done with Steam a Seam II-the best product for paper backed piecing. The directions are placed on the product, but, if you'd like to know more, ask in the comments and I'd be happy to help. Around each edge I have used a machined blanket stitch to help hold down the edges of the designs, this is done through the top only. Then when I hand quilt all three layers, I'm using invisible thread-a nylon product that will not add anymore visual texture to the piece, as there are lots of buttons, beading and jewelry on the quilt. The quilting is done in the ditch and along the edges of the designs to enhance the pictures but not bring anymore to the quilt-it's got plenty. I'm almost done with this on e and then I'll do a different technique around the edge. First I'll trim the batting a half inch from the edge to be finished, then turn the top and backing under and add a stitch to hold it all together.

If you'd like to follow my weight loss progress, and see my other styles of quilting, check back in. Have a great day!!