5.31.2012

May Q&As

May 1: Messy or Neat?
I'm usually neat, but lately I've been messy at work and home.

May 2: Are you hesitating?
I've been hesitating to start school for the last 3 years. I want to get a Master's degree, but I don't know what to get it in.

May 9: What do you want to postpone?
Right now, nothing. Maybe getting old.

May 11: How do you want to be remembered?
As an awesome wife and mother, successful career woman, and compassionate person.

May 16: What was your favorite day this week?
It's actually tomorrow, May 17 - my birthday!

May 17: Today you got rid of ______.
Nothing, I'm a pack rat.

May 23: What's your hairstyle?
My hair was wet today so I wore it up in a bun.

May 25: If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
To Thailand to visit my family.

5.30.2012

Weekend Update

This past weekend, Chris and I visited Jeff and Vivian's twice in the span of 24 hours. Saturday was Craft Day - Game Night. I brought along my sewing machine, but unfortunately, I didn't get to sew. I started two crafts and I'll probably finish it up later this week.

I sent Vivian, who in turn sent Rachel, an e-mail about crafts you can do with left over fabric scraps (or fat quarters). I found it via Pinterest - Scrap Happy: More Than 50 Fabric Scrap and Remnants Ideas. I'm working on the Envelope Bag and Tissue Cozy.

The makings of an envelope bag and a tissue cozy.
On Sunday we headed down to Hyannis with our pups. We stayed at a bed & breakfast called Simmons Homestead Inn. The B&B was an interesting place. Everywhere you went there were knick knacks on the walls. We stayed in the Giraffe Room. The picture on the website doesn't do it justice. There's MORE stuff in there now. When you walked in, there were giraffes everywhere. There was a cross-stitched giraffe pillow on our bed. There were giraffe puzzles, toys, and figurines. They were even in the bathroom!

On our way to the B&B.
Phidan likes to lean his whole body out the window.

Upper right: Kujo's oblivious to the danger above him.
Above: This is the outside of one of the buildings. The inside is packed with random knick knacks.




Enjoying the beautiful day with Chris and the boys.
Later in the evening we had dinner at Brazilian Grill. The food was great and I left there stuffed. I think I was about to explode as I was walking out.

I wish the picture wasn't so blurry.
The girl taking it had no clue how to work my phone's camera.
We came back home on Monday morning and it felt good to be back. Chris and I decided to sit out front on our porch and watched the traffic go by. Actually, he was reading one of his drawing books and I was working on my cross-stitch. The boys were tethered to a column and left to their own devices. All in all, it was a great weekend spent with family and friends.

This summed up how we felt on Monday.

5.26.2012

Craft Day & Game Night!

Yesterday Chris and I met up with my co-workers and their significant others. We went to Ted's Montana Grill in Westborough. I ordered the Fork-n-Knife Chili Cheese Bison Burger with half fries, half onion rings. Chris ordered the Salt-n-Pepper Trout with asparagus and tomatoes. They were delicious! I highly recommend going there, but be warned, it'll definitely take a while for the food to come out if you're a party of 6. Pickles!

Today Jeff and Vivian are hosting a craft day - game night at their home. Vivian asked me if I was going to bring my sewing machine today. I think I will. I'm going to gather up my fabrics, some patterns, and hopefully make something while I'm there. My back up will be to make little bags. I have materials to makes pants, skirts, and maybe a shirt or two. I can't wait to post up pictures tomorrow! I believe Jeff will be grilling today. I think we'll be picking up some pasta salad to contribute and maybe a dessert. :)

I was thinking of posting up my Q and A a Day: 5-Year Journal entries on this blog. I think it would be interesting and amusing. I hope I run the blog long enough so I can go back year after year and update it.

5.23.2012

Pretty Fabric

I went to Joann Fabric the other day and couldn't help myself. I bought some new fat quarters with cute prints! I want to make little purses for my mom to sell at the next big temple event. I'll post up some pictures of the projects as I make them. What do you think?

Top view of the prints

Group shot

Flower patterns

Flowers and geometric patterns

Birdie patterns



5.22.2012

1st Place Winner!

Good news! I won the Bake-off at work with my entry, Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars! I'm so happy. The prize was a $25 Premiere Choice Award. I can redeem it for any gift card I want. So exciting!

I'm part of my company's Fun Team and we organize little events like this every month. We're going to be putting together a recipe book from all our bake-off/cook-off events. Coming up in August is the Dip-off. We'll have people make dips and the Fun Team will probably supply the chips and veggies. We'll be having a Chili Cook-off in November. Can't wait!

Projects Since 2010

Here's a collection of projects I've been working on since 2010. This will fill in some of the time gaps since my last 2010 post. I've dabbled in a little bit of everything.

Made a blanket for my friend's baby girl - 10.17.2010
Bailey's blanket: Wool Eater Blanket
Marram Hat, made for Max - 2.21.2011
Close-up of stitches
Slouchy Hat - 3.7.2011
Created a Bruins square, my own creation - 5.23.2011
I was cutting up t-shirts to celebrate the Bruins's win -  5.28.2011
You can make one of your own - directions here.
A little beer pong action
More cut-up tees. This one I designed myself -  6.10.2011
Close-up of braid details
Finished knitting my first top, but didn't sew it together yet - November 2011
Amigurumi Santa - 12.6.2011
Designed my Kindle's cover - 12.27.2011
Artwork from this blog. Custom cover made at M-Edge.
Inside of cover

5.21.2012

Bird's Nest Throw Blanket

I made a blanket over a year ago for my then boyfriend. It was his Christmas present. I was going to block the blanket, but never did. It was in my possession when we broke up. I guess I'll have to gift this blanket somehow. Future blanket for a friend?

The pattern is by Lion Brand Yarns. It's called Bird's Nest Baby Throw. I just kept going and it's a bit bigger than a baby's blanket, but smaller than a full size adult blanket. I was thinking of adding some more rows to the ends to make it long enough for a twin size bed.




5.20.2012

Flowers For Me?

Chris just came home and he bought me flowers. It was his way of saying Thank You for the sweets I made for his group. I couldn't find any of the vases so I put them in an extra water bottle.


Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

I entered the Cookie Bake-off Contest at work, but I didn't know what to make. While browsing the internet yesterday I can across this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars at the Southern Living website. I love chocolate chips and cheesecake. Put them together and wham! The perfect dessert.

I made a test batch for Chris's D&D group today. It's currently cooling on the wire rack. Before it goes into the fridge for 4 hours I'm going to drizzle more chocolate on the top. Here's a picture of it as of 9 am.

Oh noes! There are cracks in my cheesecake layer.
Looks like the top cracked from over baking. That happened to the cheesecake I made last weekend. I can't seem to get the hang of our gas oven.

Best Cookies Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars Recipes
This is what the end results should look like.
Picture from Southern Living's website.

Crocheted Lap Blanket - WIP

I've been working on this blanket on and off for the past 3 months. It's almost done - I'm currently weaving in the loose yarn ends. It's going to take forever... I'll post a picture when it's finally finished.

This pattern is from Crochet Today! magazine, Jan/Feb 2011 edition. You can also find the pattern online. It is called Snuggle Afghan.

Granny Square close-up
Half of the blanket on ottoman. 


5.19.2012

Birthday!

My birthday was on Thursday, May 17. I want to thank my family and friends for all the love they showed me on my birthday and throughout the year. A co-worker bought breakfast for me, not knowing it was my birthday. My friends at work took me out to lunch at Samba in Framingham for sushi. My mom and sister sent me lovely cards that brought tears in my eyes. Those card writers definitely know how to stir up my emotions. (My family definitely knows how to pick out cards.) My neighbor, Milton, who's like a dad to me, sent me flowers. My fiance, C, bought us tickets to see Cirque du Soleil's Totem in Boston. His card is so true, too. Best day ever!

Love,
Patti

Flower Power Shoulder Bag

Today I wanted to share my new bag that I made two weeks ago. I'm always on the look out for cute and simple bags to wear when I'm out walking the dogs. It's big enough to hold my wallet, keys, phone, and other small items. There's also a zippered pocket in the front for easy access to cards or little bits of doggie treats. Here's it is!

I bought the fabric from Joann Fabrics. It is a home decor fabric.
Hanging up on a hook.
I used Butterick pattern B5728.

5.18.2012

Sewing Table


I bought a new sewing table in December and I love it! Bought it from Walmart.com for $100. Best purchase ever. I'm currently borrowing C's sewing machine. The chair's from IKEA. It actually belongs in the office, but I commandeer it for my sewing every now and then.

Sewing table situated in front of the TV. Perfect for watching my shows on Hulu Plus. Hi Kujo!
Sauder Sewing and Craft Table, Multiple Finishes
Sewing table from Walmart.com.
Sauder Sewing and Craft Table, Multiple Finishes

5.17.2012

Apples and Pears Bag

I love how this bag came out. I used the pattern from Simplicity 2205. Here's some pictures of the before and after.

In the midst of sewing my bag together.
Caution: I'm learning to sew in a straight line. It's very hard.
Pockets! I love pockets.
Source: simplicity.com via Patti on Pinterest