Bo's Coat

I am not going to say anything about bloggers placement of photos and by not saying it my my point is still made. :)

Tess has a new outfit and now so does Bo. I still have to stitch the butterflies on properly but I couldn't wait to get a photograph, or 2 or 3. LOL By the way, the butterflies are a Stampin Up Big Shot die that is called Beautiful Butterflies. It punches out a few layers at a time which is a great time saver.

Each week I look at my friend, Janelle's blog and have been so envious with everything she creates that I finally bit the bullet and got inspired by her work. Thanks Janelle.

If the coat looks a little loose on Bo it is because I needed to make allowance for her fur.

On Tuesday it is Melbourne Cup day. This is the race that stopped the Nation but unfortunately only Melbourne gets the public holiday.

Work is having a hat competition and home made ones get more of a look in for the $100 gift voucher. I sure hope I win it cause I am needing some new clothes. My closet is full of clothes that are too big and still too small. There is nothing in between.

The hat is finished but you will not see photos until after Tuesday. I don't want anyone from work seeing it and getting ideas. That $100 is mine, I tell you, MINE! Mwahahahaha!

Moment of insanity is gone now and reality is telling me to do some exercise. Have a great week.

The Swagger

Train stations have all sorts of people. It is very interesting to sit back and just observe sometimes. Today I had to smile if not even stifle a laugh.

While exiting a train at Central Station, a young man, in his 20's, ensured that he pushed passed everyone to be the first out. I watched this young man from behind. He was tall, wore fashionable clothes, had a fashionable hairstyle, stood tall, and most of all he had that swagger that said "I am young, I am gorgeous, I know what I am about, treat me like a star." This swagger abruptly ended when he stepped onto the escalator and somehow managed to have his feet half on one step and half on the other. As the stairs moved up and parted, he fell backwards. The impression of cool confidence he was giving off in that swagger diminished as he stumbled backwards. Luckily people behind him could see what he had done because they actually look down to see where to step, and therefore prepared themselves for the fall. Upon reaching the top he shook himself (kinda like a dog does to rearrange it's fur) and continued swaggering confidently through the crowd.

Ok so it doesn't sound as funny as what it was to look at but I had a good chuckle.

Diet Dillemas

Went back to get my band filled yesterday. Had a great discussion with the Doc doing the refilling. He is the one who normally runs the seminars on how to maintain your gastric band (ie sticking to the bandwagon!!). I can't make it to them so he went through it very quickly with me.

Now I want you to think how long gastric banding has been around. How successful it is and how many people maintain their weight after reaching their goal. The surgeon I had and the Dr that does the fill up have both been dealing with the bands for 10-11 years.

Before I go into what I have been told I have to do I will tell you a little bit more background on me:

• I didn't eat a lot as a baby. One third the amount I was supposed to. Dr's then didn't worry I was happy and growing.
• I ended up being force fed because my parents were afraid I wasn't getting enough.
• In highschool I was full of energy and was eating 1 meal a day ... dinner and maintained a size 14.
• By my 30's I was getting to a size 16-18 and not liking it. Many Dr's tried me on different things and forced me to eat 3 square meals. Had no luck in losing
• Gloria Marshals Diet - lost weight only because they gave up and dropped my calorie intake back to 800 per day. I maintain at 1000. I refused to eat breakfast.
• Herbalife - fluids and tablets - need I say more.
• Weight Watchers - put me on such a high point system that I gained weight. I dropped it back myself and started losing but not much.
• Jenny Craig - Again way too many calories but they refused to cut back because it was not medically sound. I gained weight.
• A chemist one - was on 600-800 calories but their shakes made me bloated and uncomfortable. I lost weight but couldn't keep up the program.
• One that delivers food - again too many calories and snacks
• Biggest Loser club - need to eat at least 1700 calories per day - I gain weight on 1200!!!!
• Public opinion says that breakfast will increase your metabolism - I started eating breakfast - light yoghurt, raw oats and a couple of nuts. - I still put on
• Drs did tests to find out why and came up with "obviously there is something wrong with your metabolism, it's just that science hasn't figured it out yet!"

So here I was trying to do the right thing but gaining weight by the minute. I am sure I even breathed in a few calories. I used to be a gym junkie but the heavier I got the less I could exercise. In the back of my mind I thought my body does not need as much as anyone else.

So in comes the gastric banding. The diet resembles what my mind and body have been trying to tell me for ages. What you need to understand is that the band is tightest in the morning and therefore you are not hungry. Why eat when you are not hungry. I had that figured out as a baby! The only times I have lost weight is when I don't eat breakfast - ooooh did I just say a bad thing - some would think so.

The band is supposed to slowly make you feel hungry, so at mid day I should be moderately hungry at at night I should be more hungry. The docs don't care about calories it is about hunger. Eat like a 3 year old does - when you are hungry. Your body knows when it needs food.

Now the healthy lifestyle that people tell you about to diet on is more for maintenance and for those growing. Therefore it is of no use to me at this stage while I am trying to lose. (Was that another bad thing to say)? Please remember this is my understanding of what my Docs have told me in comparison to the way I know my body works. It may not be for you and you probably shouldn't do it without the gastric band and have a specialist at hand.

So my diet right now (until my goal weight is reached) is this:

• No yoghurt, fruit, nuts, grains, legumes, cheese (Generally foods that are not satisfying)
• If I get peckish in the morning then I can have a small milky coffee or tea (these take away the hunger).
• If need be, because I am a woman, I can have 60g of plain chocolate a month at that time when the sugar craving really hits (don't think I will do this).
• Lunch should be high protein
• Eat meats such as Fish (mackerel, tuna, salmon), chicken and turkey, and there was a red meat but can't remember what it was.
• cook veggies or salad.
• Absolutely no snacking.

I have noticed that when I did eat breakfast I was constantly hungry in the morning and needed something else to eat. Then I needed something mid afternoon and maybe in the evening after dinner as well.

Today is my first day with no breakfast and you know what, I wasn't hungry. I had a tiny pang and had a tiny coffee but I could have halved the coffee cause it worked that fast in getting rid of the pang. My lunch is sitting here half eaten because I am not hungry. The same lunch last week would have been all eaten and I may have been looking for something else as well.

The Doc thinks if I stick to the above I will lose around a kg a week. I need to lose 50Kg so I am going to do up a chart to track my progress and weigh myself every Monday. I will let you all know how I am going.

What I have done and what I want to do

Found this on my friends blog. Some of the things have been changed to be more Aussie.

Rules: Things you’ve already done in bold. Things you want to do in italics. Things you haven’t done and don’t want to, leave in plain font.

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (brass band and Church band and highschool orchestra)
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower (only if Hayleys commet and a couple of shooting stars count)
6. given more than you can afford to charity - If I did this then I would need the charity wouldn't I??
7. been to Disneyland/World - Movie World and Seaworld in Aust.
8. climbed a mountain – Does Bluff Knowl count (don't even know how to spell it.)
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped - would bungee swing
12. visited Paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea - 2x saw it from a plane and from the beach
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child - only if furbies count
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. grown your own vegetables-attempted to at least
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked - NEVER
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill - yes and I felt so guilty. I was sure I would be recognised where I was going.
24. built a snow fort - snow man but not a fort
25. held a lamb - Lion cub, goat kids but can't remember a lamb.
26. gone skinny dipping - nah don't have the body for it.
27. run a marathon - in my dreams
28. ridden a gondola in Venice
29. seen a total eclipse - partial only - very eerie.
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise - river cruise
33. seen Niagara Falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors - How far back are we talking. Been to the country.
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught yourself a new language - Learnt enough Korean to get around and enough American to be understood.
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied - for a short time the stress wasn't worth it though
38. seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - The one in Albany or Italy?
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo’s David in person - seen the Madonna and child though
41. sung karaoke -
42. seen Old Faithful Geyser erupt - Watched the sun rise on the great Australian Bite
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance (sirens weren’t flashing though)
47. had your portrait painted (Cartoon)
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistene Chapel in person
50. been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie - TV commercial
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold Girl Guide cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70 visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the Everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the Changing of the Guard in London - saw the small one
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle - probably but I wouldn't have been driving
79. seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. published a book - yes and know. It is an online Novela available for sale.
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in Jerusalem - I was only 60 Km away in Jordan
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the White House (well stood outside the fence)/ Australian Parliment in Canberra
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person /seen a platypus in the wild
96. swum in the Great Salt Lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

Unveiling

For the life of me, I can't fathom how blogger can put some photo's the wrong way round and others the correct way round.

Before I go into what many of my Facebook friends have been waiting for I would like to tell you how the gastric band is going. I have finally reached the 100kg mark and passed it. Last weigh in was yesterday and I weighed 98.6kg. I am thrilled. In fact some of the clothes in my wardrobe that I have been wearing for the last couple of years are now a little too loose on me. I am finally being able to wear clothes that I wore 3 years ago (yeah still in fashion too) and it looks like a whole new wardrobe. By the time I get to Melbourne next year I hope to be fitting into clothes sizes that I can buy from any store rather than large clothing stores. Heck I will be sewing my own clothes again soon.

Speaking of sewing that is what my FB friends know I have been up to this last 2 weeks, but you will have to wait just that little bit longer. :)

Just before I started sewing I got some new stamps in the mail from Stampin up. These can be found on page 95 of the catalogue: Artistic Etchings, Notably Ornate, and Music notes mini wheel.

I had some fun utilising them as background stamps and emphasising other areas as well. I haven't really done anything like this before but love how it worked out. I also had two owls I had previously punched out that didn't really go with any of the others but went perfectly here. I am going to make it a book cover, but what sort of book is anyones guess right now.


I tried a new technique that I saw on U-Tube with the shimmer paint. First you put the colour you want on your stamp and then dab on the shimmer paint (campaign mist). I did this with the Eiffel Tower but most of the black stazon ink disappeared. I then restamped over top again with only stazon black but didn't measure it up properly and it moved. I actually really like the effect because it is almost 3D.

Now to some sewing. I decided that I loved the owl so much I punched out a cardboard template and then traced around the cardboard on some visaflex (spelling is wrong I know). I then ironed this on to some fabric scraps and then onto a larger piece of fabric before hand stitching around it. The actual item that has been made is a fabric luggage tag. Seriously when you travel, everyone seems to have the same suitcase so if your name tag is different it will stand out. All I need to do is use a fabric pen and write my name and address on the back of it.

Ok so here is the item FB friends have been waiting for. I have explained to a couple that I have made up the pattern myself here. The model was most unhelpful and constantly moved. Luckily measurements ended up being too large and could be taken in. I will not tell you how many times I had to unpick, resize, and restitch. The photos are also not displaying the best of the stitching as well. After two weeks trying to get it right I couldn't be bothered in the end.

And here is the model.

Isn't she just gorgeous. This type of outfit can cost $70 to buy.

This is the attitude shot.

I have also made two little stuffed birds that are waiting for their tails to be stitched up. I have just been informed that our other dog, Bo, has taken a fancy to one of them. She managed to get it off the table and was throwing it around the room and rubbing her face all over it. Hmmmm outfit for her next. I am thinking a clown suit.

Out of Touch

Isn't it terrible when you get caught up in your own world that you don't notice what is going on with the friends around you! I am not just talking about the physical friends around me but also the ones I have made online and our only way of communication is online.

I have been so caught up in my art and sewing, and other things that I did not realise that someone I hold dear to my hear is now engaged. I missed that announcement on her Facebook and haven't been to her blog for quote a while now to see what she is up to. What kind of friend does that make me? I know it makes me feel like a part timer that is for sure. I could promise that this will not happen again but I don't like making promises I may not keep.

Can I blame it on getting old that my mind wanders too much and when it should be thinking about certain things at a certain opportune time it decides to think of something else. I have no control of my mind ... it thinks for itself and the body just follows along. The personality is too quiet to stand up to the mind so things that are important tend to get forgotten.

So, without promising anything, I will endeavour to do my best to keep in touch with my online friends.

And the winner is ...

Ok it is time to draw the giveaway. The lucky winner is:

Yvonne Russell

Congratulations Yvonne. Please email me your address and I will post them out to you.

Seems so mundane now to tell you what I have been up to sew (that is a hint) you will just have to wait until it is finished and I can get some photographs. I am sooo out of practice.

Have a great week everyone. It's almost Friday.

Sewing

I have no idea why but I have had a craving to do some sewing all week. I wish this day was over already so I can get home and have some fun. I have found a couple of great web sites that have given me some ideas; I want to use my Stampin' up supplies (so I ordered some more - eyes rolling). I have ordered some books: one on felt toys (in Japanese - nope can't read Japanese); a book on techniques and a book on utilising both fabric and paper in mixed media.

If I close my eyes and open them again do you think it will suddenly be 4pm and I can leave? Need some sparkly red shoes to tap the heals and repeat "I want to go home!"

If you know of any good applique/quilt blogs with tutorials I would love to know about them.

On another note I got home yesterday knowing full well Bo had been for a hair cut. She wasn't at the door to greet me (which is normal) but then I got informed she was in hiding. I went looking for her and found her sulking on mum's chair. She is no longer black, she is grey. This is because she has been shaved so close to the skin that you can see the skin. Mum said she thinks Bo is ashamed so I have been forbidden to post any photo's of her shame. She perked up when we gave her a jacket to wear.

Finally despite my excitement about getting home and having some fun with fabric, I am feeling a little down. Weight loss does this to you. You have your moments when you are high and loving life and then after a while things seem to stop and sometimes go backwards, no matter what you do. This has been me since I had my gastric band filled a couple of weeks ago. I have been exercising more, so up until today I thought my weight no budging was because of muscle creation. What happened to day you ask? My worst nightmare. Put on my jeans which have been loose for a month now and they are back to being firm fitting like they were the day I went into surgery.

I keep asking myself what I am doing wrong. Am I eating too much? Not much to do at work hasn't helped because I am a boredom eater. There is nothing here for me to eat though so I really haven't touched anything. I don't like the taste of water so I had a diet cordial that I was putting in it. I tried to go straight water this week but have craved a flavour. Any flavour so have been having weak Milo's each day. Maybe that is the issue. So frustrating.

Hopefully my thirst for sewing will satiate my desire for food.

5000 - Giveaway Images

Not my best photography as far as the photo's are concerned. Give me credit though, it was low light, no tripod and at least I have finally worked out the WB setting. Just need to get rid of the handshake. Oh and I forgot to re-arrange the first photo. :)

This is part of the items I will be giving away on the 20th. Remember if you have commented on a post with 5000 in the Title then you will be in the running. Please let your friends know and link this to your FB, blog whatever you have.

Ok so what is it you ask. It is whatever you want to use it for. Technically it is a note book but considering it is made from all acid free items then you could use it as a scrapbook. You can remove the pages if you want to put your own in there.

Again I have used retired DSP (gotta use it up) and the wonderful two step bird punch. Love that punch almost as much as the Owl one. The stamp set used on the bird is the Punch Potpurri which is a level one hostess gift that has stamps to match 4 of our punches. Love that stamp set. You may notice I have used it a lot.

Enjoy and good luck with the draw.

Once Again

Here I am once again, sitting on my computer at work with no work to do. I rely on the State Offices to send work through but they were in training here last Thursday/Friday so I am hoping the work will start coming in tomorrow. Facebook can be boring at the best of times but 8 hours of it is draining.

Today I decided to bring a healthy snack to work in case I get the munchies. I brought raw cauliflower and carrot. I chewed it well but after the first couple of bites it felt as if it was stuck between my stomach and my throat. Not a nice feeling at all. First time I have felt that uncomfortable eating since the surgery. Oh well note to self is do not eat raw carrot. I am sure it was the carrot because I have had raw cauliflower before with no effect.

I am nearly finished making the rest of the give-a-way. Photos will be up tonight.

Hope your day is going faster than mine. Do you think they would mind if I fell asleep! LOL

5000 - Giveaway peak

Here are three photos of one of the giveaways. Hope you like it. Sorry the full view picture is a little blurred. It was low light and at the end of the day I get a little hand shake.

5000 - Giveaway Oct 20 Part 2

I am super excited. Last night I finished part of the giveaway. Hmmm just might enter myself and see if I win! LOL only kidding. I hope you all like owls because that is a hint as to what it may contain. When I get some decent light (ie home in daylight hours) I will take a photo of it. Now I need to work on something else for it. I love giving away things. It is so much fun.

Don't forget to tell your friends and even ad a link to your blog.

Have a rippa day. After all

5000 - Giveaway Oct 20

I had a look at my blog today and noticed that the counter has clocked over to 5000. That means time for a giveaway. Not sure what it will be yet but it will be something crafty anyway.

If you want to be in the giveaway (open to anywhere in the world) then please leave a comment on this post. I will only draw names from those who comment here. Please let me know what you like about my blog and/or ways you think I can improve it.

I will post what the actual giveaway is next weekend. By then I should have decided and be well into making it.

Good luck and feel free to spread it around. The more the merrier.

Owl Party

Today I had some friends from work come over for a Stampin Up Party ... well it didn't quite turn out like that ... There were three things organised to make but at the most only two got done. The reason would be the new Owl punch from Stampin Up. That kept them occupied for the whole afternoon. LOL

First let me show you the wonderful cake that Valen brought along for Sulea because it is her birthday tomorrow. It is a green tea cake that a friend of hers made. Apparently they do it for a living. I am not allowed cake the the band in so I watched and drooled from the sidelines.


After that Valen (below) and Sulea (who has no photo cause she hates them) just kept punching out owls. Their artwork is further on down the photo chain.

Dee was happily making the christmas card while the others did owls. Oh and cuddle all the dogs. :) This one is Padma and he belongs to Sulea.

Here are the owls. I couldn't get over how much variation came out and it was coming from Valen the most. Sulea is the arty one. It's given me lots of ideas now.

Bears of Hope

You will notice that I have placed a link to the web site Bears of Hope. This if a fundraising venture to raise money to provide teddy bears to the children and parents who have had a still born baby.

Recently a friend Tara lost her little boy "Ryan" 3 days before his due date. Tara and her family were very greatful for the bears they have received and have opened this fundraising page at the Bears of hope website to raise funds for families just like hers. All you need to do is click on the picture at the top of my blog and it will take you there.

Having a still born child has become way to common. Tara is now my 4th friend who has gone through this tragedy, so please, if you can spare a few dollars, please donate.

Thank you