Shawl

I'm almost done with a shawl I've been crocheting. It started as a simple triangle shape but I found it was not wide enough to wrap around my shoulders. So I started making a border around the edges. I like the way it is coming out! I just have to finish the white and weave in some ends. I'll try it on and if necessary will add 2 more rows of each color, maybe in a plain stitch like a double crochet to give it a 'finished' look. My goal is to have it done before we have any hurricanes! Last year, during Sandy, I almost froze it got so cold!

The best part of this is that I got the yarn from a clearance bin, so this whole thing is costing me less than $10 to make!

Coloring Bag

I don't remember where I got the pattern for this, but it's just a basic tote bag with a pocket in front. The pocket is stitched to hold crayons, and the bag is just the right size for a color book. Something for a child to take on a trip or to a restaurant!

Thread/Bobbin storage

I have one of these wooden spool holders. I used to keep my bobbins in a pillbox, but it was kind of annoying having to open each one to find the right color thread. (Labels kept falling off.) So it occurred to me the smartest thing to do is to keep the bobbins with their matching thread spools. Like this:

I still have more to do. I also need to buy some of those little hair scrunchies to hold the bobbin threads in place. But this will make it a lot easier to find what I need! 

Doll Sleeping Bag

Here is a very simple, basic sleeping bag for a doll. I just made two padded rectangles, one shorter than the other. Some doll sleeping bags have zippers but I think that's just a bunch of fuss and no kid really cares so long as the doll/stuffed animal is comfortable, LOL!

Measurement-wise, I'd say it's about 9x14 inches finished. It's going into my 'gift' box for some future kid.

Family Bingo

I put together a Family Bingo game to enjoy during our family reunion this past weekend (to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday). Here's an example of the cards. I only made 7 or 8 because randomizing them was kind of a pain and I did this pretty much last-minute. Got the idea from Pinterest, of course!

My picture is the last one under "I." 

How did I call the names/letters? Well, I got a really cheap deck of cards and pasted images on some of them. My mother was the only queen. The babies were diamonds because babies are jewels. 

I gave out pencils and little candy bars. I was the 'caller' for a bit then my niece Jackie took over. She 'rigged' it so Grandma won the first game, LOL!

As Clean as it Gets

My office, that is. Straightened up my sewing table today. Trust me, it was a wreck. I took almost everything off of the table and carried the stuff to my dining room table. Then I went through and reorganized. And now all I want to do is make something and mess it up again. At least the floor is clear--there were off-season pillows, balls of yarn and a big Scrabble game box under there!

I have to move that heart box someplace else. It's just full of 'miscellaneous.' See the pile of red stuff next to the iron? I picked a color (red is my favorite, anyway) and decided to work on everything I can without changing thread color. The bobbin's already in the machine, but of course, somehow I don't know what I did with my red thread.
Tomorrow, if I am ambitious, I'll work on another section of the room. 

skirt template

I was lucky enough to find a brand new (wrapped) cutting board last week at our local Salvation Army thrift store for only $3! (Half price day!) So I was going to throw out the old one. Then I decided to use it to make some templates. The one below is for a skirt for me. The old cutting board has curved lines drawn on it, so I just divided my waist by four and cut out a quarter circle, including seam allowance. Now all I have to do is trace around this two times, with the straight side on the fold, and I can make an easy skirt!

If anyone out there is still following me, or reading this, please ignore how dirty the cutting board is! It's very old!

Best part about this? It folds up and I can just tuck it out of the way!