Tuesday, January 24, 2012

TUSAL and BAP Challenge

My first ever official TUSAL post, and I'm a day late!  Oh well, better than never.  First for the official details - TUSAL is hosted by Daffycat, and stands for Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long.  My day-to-day ort holder is a sweet little hobnail sugar dish (yes, it also has a matching cream pitcher).  After each post, I'll dump the month's worth of orts in the blue Ball jar you can see in the picture.  Hopefully we'll be able to see the orts through the blue glass.  Wonderful vintage glassware like this is one of the benefits of moving back home.


There's a combination of silk in there from Christmas Garden, Poinsettia House and the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments, and then cotton floss from Halloween Rules.

Speaking of Christmas Garden, I've had a bit of progress on it.  Its really moving along for me.  Usually I absolutely despise stitching borders, but I got in a really relaxing rhythm with this one.  Since I took this picture, I finished up that top right quadrant and moved over to the left side and have part of the border in.

Christmas Garden is my chosen project for Becky's BAP SAL.  For once, I don't think I'm going to have any problems meeting the deadline for this.  Now I'm sort of wishing I'd challenged myself a bit more and chosen Plum Street Sampler's Paradise Lost.

This is truly a quick post, since I really want a nap.  Workouts are kicking my butt, and I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's 6 am session, I'm still feeling Monday's.  Oh well, its totally worth it, I'm down over 5 pounds since Jan 1.  So far its been a combination of Hatha yoga, water aerobics, and some group strength sessions as part of the Kroc Fit Challenge I signed up for.  My body is responding well to the yoga sessions, and I'm no longer feeling so stiff that I'll crack if I move.

23 comments:

Margaret said...

I love the glassware you're using for your orts. So pretty! Love your Christmas Garden too! BTW, you can do more than one BAP challenge piece. Soooo, you could do Paradise Lost too! :D :D Go for it!

Good for you for doing the exercise. i really need to get back to exercising.....

Kris said...

Your Christmas Garden is just beautiful!!

Diana said...

Your Christmas Garden is looking really nice! That is such a pretty design.

gracie said...

Love the stitching. Good for you with the weight loss. I wish I could committ and follow through with a diet and exercise.

Theresa said...

I love your Christmas Garden~~~ The colors are so pretty!!!

Nicola said...

Christmas Garden is a beautiful design and I am enjoying seeing this being stitched. Congratulations on your weight loss.

cucki said...

wow your christmas garden is so cute..i am loving it so much..
lovely orts xxx

Giovanna said...

Great going with Christmas Garden! I agree about the border, I'm finding very relaxing too.

Chris said...

Christmas Garden is looking great. You are making a lot of progress.
Congratulations on the 5 lbs. and the exercising.

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

The glassware for your ORT's is very pretty, and I love Christmas Garden.Borders are repetitive,this one is particularly pretty:)

Nicole said...

Your Christmas Garden is gorgeous! I love the thread colors you are using! Congrats on the weight loss! I know from experience that it's not easy!!

Sally said...

I am loving your Christmas Garden!

Keeper of the Crowes said...

I'm just amazed at your progress on CG.I agree with you about the border. It looks beautiful! Congratulations on you weight loss. What an achievement!!!
Linda

Lynn said...

Pretty ort container! My grandmother had a lot of the hobnail glass but I'm not sure where it all ended up after her death. Perhaps my Mom is storing some.

Christmas Garden is GORGEOUS! I am so anxious to start this one. I ordered a silk conversion but it hasn't arrived yet.

Catherine said...

Love your choice of ort jars ~ so pretty!
Christmas Garden is coming along nicely!

Charlene ♥ NC said...

It's so pretty! You could switch, or just start a second BAP :-). Congrats on your healthy journey, too.

Joysze said...

Christmas Garden looks beautiful! :D

Carol said...

Wow! You've made great progress on Christmas Garden, Mindi! At this rate you can probably complete a second BAP!!

That is great that you've lost 5 pounds so quickly--I should really add some yoga into my treadmill and light weights workout... Keep up the great work :)

Myra said...

Congratulations on your weight loss! Christmas Garden is looking gorgeous!

Lois said...

Your Christmas Garden is looking beautiful! What great progress on it.

Siobhán said...

Wow, good for you on the work outs! I read the sentence as "walnuts are kicking my butt" and thought--huh? LOL Yeah, time to get my glasses on.

Your Christmas Garden looks GREAT!! I agree with what Margaret said, I am doing both Sarah Verrier & Christmas Garden as my BAP challenges.

Dani - tkdchick said...

What lovely Orr receptacles you have! Your bap has some beautiful colours in it!

Ziggyeor said...

cute ort container.
Nice progress on your Christmas Garden.
Congrats on the weight loss.