Hooded Baby Blanket-Crochet

I have a new nephew!  For Spring Break we took a long car trip. I croched this blanket while we were on the road...better than paying attention to Hubby's driving.  AAAK! 

The blanket is a free crochet pattern at Lion Brand Yarn Website.   It is the Hooded Baby Blanket.  I found this cute Car Shape Applique Pattern to put on the hood.   

Houston Half Marathon

Here is my BFF and me at mile 13.  Only .1 miles to go!  Despite several injuries throughout our training, we were able to FINISH!!!  Since this was our first race, our goal was just to finish. 

It was a cold, dreary, rainy,  windy, and rainy day.  Did I mention rainy?  After the race I was dripping wet from the rain.  I had to ring out my clothes.  Thank goodness for moisture wicking!  After a while I didn't feel the cold unless we stopped running.  Then I would get cold.

I was very impressed at how organized this race was. 

After crossing the finish line we were given a banana and a bottle of water.  It was the "best banana ever!"  or so I heard a few times!  LOL! 

I have felt a little lost since my training sessions have not been as long as they were a few weeks before the race.  I have still managed to keep my same schedule...(sprints, cross train, maintenance run...) I've just been running less miles.  I did sign up for a 4 mile race that will be Feb. 16. 

As for future races???  Well, I guess we'll see...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bunco

So, it may seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but I'm still around.  Just been busy.   I'm not sure what exactly I've been doing.  Well, I guess there was some company and the training and running the half marathon.  Other than that....???
The ladies in my neighborhood play Bunco.  I was asked to make a die that can be tossed around for "fuzzy dice."  This is 6"square.  It's a kinda like a beach ball sized die.  I guess we'll see how it works at our next Bunco game.
I made this out of pink felt and white fleece for the dots.  I got to use my new sewing machine.  It is awesome! 

Halloween Decorations

I have been fun playing around and making some Halloween decorations.  For the past several years, I haven't really done much to decorate for Halloween...or any other holiday either....really.  This year I really wanted to decorate!  I searched the Internet to find ideas and patterns.  I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but I did find pieces here and there.  So, I borrowed some things and created my own. 

I went to a few different fabric stores trying to find the fabric similar to what was in my head.  I struggled.  Finally I got a few yards of an orange polka-dot (go figure...me...polka-dot) and a grey/black fabric with swirls. 

Here is what I created:

I've already shared the Witches Hat and pattern with you in this post here.

I found this great tutorial for smashed witches legs here.  She was kind enough to include a pattern for some awesome witches boots.  I used that boot pattern.  However, I cut pieces of fabric for the legs instead of using tube socks.  I ended up hand sewing the legs to the boots. I used orange tulle and some black fabric scraps for the dress.  I sewed the legs and the skirts together then sewed binding to the top edge. 

On this banner I was just guessing on how to put this together.  I first found the letters I wanted to use to spell "Halloween."  I used chipboard letters I had...from my papercraft stash.  I traced these chipboard letters in reverse on the back of Steam-A-Seam 2 sheets.  Ironed the sheets to the back of the black fabric and cut them out.  To make the banner pattern I used my Cricut "Pretty  Pennants" Cartridge to help me form the pattern.  I cut the pennant out of paper on my Cricut Machine,  Then I used this paper pattern to cut all the rectangles out of orange fabric with pinking shears. I ironed the cut letters to the front of one of the pennants.   I placed two pennants, wrong sides together, then used a zig-zag stitch along the sides and bottom inward point.   Then I made binding out of purple fabric.  To figure the length of binding I needed, I took the size of my pennant along the top (each one is 6"wide times 9 pennants) then I added 4 inches for swag.  So, 6"wide multiplied by 9 letters is 54" plus 4" is 58".  Then I guessed on how much to add to each end to make ties.  I used 36" on each side.  (36 times 2 is 72")  so the total length I needed was (58" plus 72") 130".  I cut several pieces to get this length then sewed them together until I had a piece that was 2" wide by 130"long.  I used my handy binding iron tool where it pulls each raw edge in to meet the center.  I then turned in and ironed one short end in around 1/2".  I measured in 36"(for tie) then placed a pin to know where to start pinning the  pennants. (make sure you are spelling correctly (LOL!)  I pinned mine backwards and had to re-pin).    I tried to place the pennants 1/4" apart.  When all my lettered pennants were pinned I measured from the last pennant to 36" then I cut off 1/2" from that point.  I turned in and ironed the short end of the other end.  I then sewed the binding to the pennants.  Then I folded the binding in half and top stitched along the entire edge of the purple binding. 

I have one last decoration to share.  I've used this for several years.  I had a very old Navy uniform from when my husband was enlisted.  I stuff it with paper and add the Jack-O-Lantern head...it lights up. 

I typed this together quickly...if you have questions please comment.