WIP (Works in Progress)

I began this post a few weeks ago, um well... to be honest - I began this post in October! Yikes!  When I came back to the post, this is what I saw:

I guess one might also consider that this post is a "Work in Progress!!"

I have been juggling projects. Thirty-some years ago, I actually learned how to juggle! But, this is a different sort of juggling... and another blog post!

I have been involved in some home improvement projects:

Most notably, we finally started, and almost finished our fireplace!!

We taped out our first idea on the wall last December:

We weren't sold on it. We came up with another plan.

The mister began to frame the fireplace. If we are struck by an EF5 tornado, the fireplace will stand! We will tear out the fireplace and crawl in the space and we'll be perfectly safe!

We revised our plan. We rethought it. We reimagined it.

I wanted to have a wood-grain fireplace. The mister liked that idea, but wanted a painted area above. We considered different ways to use trim to "marry" a painted top and a wood lower section that stood out by 3/4". Then, after looking at wood flooring, tile flooring and rough-sawn lumber...we found "blue stain pine siding." OMG! This was perfect. The color was just what we liked. The variation was sweet. The price was right, and it serves as a reminder of our time in Colorado!

Onward!

The mister surveys the structure he created, and the first pieces of blue-stain trim on the corners.

We began installing wood planks and painted the niche for the TV

Now, we have to install the TV and put in baseboard molding.

So, we have made a lot of progress, but it is still a WIP!

The TV is in... but we want to do some sort of "wash" to tone down the yellow of the wood, but maintain the gray. Yup... still a WIP!

One of the local quilt shops decided to have a "challenge". We were to make a self portrait out of fabric incorporating a fat quarter we purchased from her shop. This was my completed project. 

Everyone had so much fun she gave us another challenge. This is now one of my WIPs. The challenge is to make a 20" X 20" quilt using the multi-color fabric on the bottom, and at least two others. 

When I saw the fabric it reminded me of sea fans. I can't wait to see other's responses to see if the fabric influenced others to think the same way. I sketched out my idea. (It is on the bulletin board above a bat I made for one of the littles. )

Here is a picture of the project that is almost finished. I am thrilled with all of the different techniques I used. Regardless of how it is judged, I am pleased with how the project pushed me to try new things!

A few months ago I had an email from one of the quilting shops. It was featuring a quilt with a whale on it. I liked the fabric...in fact, I had purchased some of the fabric to make pillow covers for our great room. I didn't pay much attention to the email. However, I began thinking about our guest bathroom. I was thinking of it as a "seaman's cottage" and realized the colors of the fabric, and the theme of the quilt would make a great shower curtain!! So, I ordered fabric, cut most of it, began sewing some of it...WIP!!

This is the pattern.

This is my "Quilt Wall" with the cut fabrics displayed so I can sew them in the correct sequence!

Finally, perhaps the biggest challenge and WIP involves me! My benefits department sent out notices about a weight lost program* in May or June. They would pay for the program. I had nothing to lose, except a few pounds that had crept up on me over the years. I began the program at the beginning of July. 

Here is a picture of me in Nov. 2019, and another (in the same clothes) at the beginning of Oct, 2020.

Wow! Just...wow!

I've lost a few pounds since the last picture was taken. I've lost a total of 32 pounds, 

over 20" (bust, waist, hips, thighs) 

I've dropped from size 12 or 14 to size 6 or 8, 

(Oh and a bra size of 36 DD to a 32 C or B!!!). 

Wow! I can't believe it myself!

So... what WIPs do you have???

*The program my Employee Benefits Office paid for is called "Naturally Slim"

I have tried many, many weight loss programs through the years. I have "successfully" completed Weight Watchers (twice!!), the Atkins diet and countless others. Naturally Slim is the first program that I truly believe I can follow for the rest of my life. I don't count calories. I don't have to eat specific foods. I can eat and drink whatever I like.... in moderation. The program has changed the way I think about my hunger and food. It has truly been a life changer... and I hope in years to come, I can still support the program and that I am no longer a WIP!