WARM & COZY BLANKET

So with the Christmas holiday fast approaching, I am once again in a creative mood.  I'm not really sure why, but I always feel the need to make a gift vs. buying one.  And once I start making the gifts, I convince myself that everyone and their mothers also need this gift.  Before you know it, I am one of Santa's lil helpers trying to get all the gifts done in time for Christmas Eve when Santa & Rudolph will take their annual trip around the world in one night. 


So, if you are feeling a lil bit creative and you want a quick and easy project to complete here it is.  A warm & cozy blanket.  This thing is so great that if you have a dog, they will never get off of it.  You might want to invest in a little extra material just for them. 


Go to your favorite fabric store and pick out 2 fleece materials that you like.  Usually people tend to do one pattern and one solid color.  For this blanket I am making for my dad, I chose a golf pattern and a solid green to represent grass.  Creative I know! 
I like my blankets extra long so I buy 3 yards of each fabric.

In addition, you will need a straight edge, a fabric cutter, and a cutting mat.  Scissors will work too, but your fingers may fall off in the process. 

You will need a lot of floor space to make this blanket, so pull back all of your furniture, turn on some holiday tunes (I recommend Barbara Streisand's Jingle Bells) and grab some eggnog to set the festive mood.  Get your favorite doggy (Coal) to help you  lay out the solid color fleece with the side you want left exposed "good side" touching the carpet.  The "bad" side will be hidden when the blanket is finished. 

Next, you will need to lay down the pattern fabric right on top of the solid, only this time you want the "good" side facing up.  This allows both "bad" sides to be touching each other.  Coal approves of these cozy blankets because he just won't get off of them.  I told you they are dog friendly.

Once you have the two fleece pieces flat you will need to cut the edges off.  This is for two reasons: 1) it helps create a straight edge and 2) the two pieces of material will be aligned all the way around.  So, place your cutting mat below the materials and using your straight edge cut a border all the way around.  It helps to try and use the pattern's repeats to line up the cuts. 

With the excess material cut off, and your 2 fleece materials aligned, you can now cut off the corners.  The fleece material has a stretchy side and a non-stretchy side.  On the stretchy side, cut 3".  On the non-stretchy side, cut 4".  The mat shown in this picture is helpful because each square is 1". 

Almost done!  Next, cut 1" strips towards the center of the blanket.  Again on the stretchy side 3" long and on the non-stretchy side 4".  Go ALL the way around!

I recommend cutting all of these strips before you begin to tie the blanket.  That way you don't have any puckering.  When the 1" strips are all cut, start tying the two pieces together - double knot.  Try and tie it so that the solid color goes to the top and the pattern goes to the bottom. 

You are DONE!  Good job fellow elves.  Wrap it up with a pretty ribbon and wish your loved ones a Merry Christmas!  Now, go enjoy the rest of that eggnog and toast yourself for a job well done.



Jakob

Hello world and let me add, hello MM!  I have not forgotten about blogging, for example I am blogging as we speak.  So on with the bloggin already....

I recently started a picture for our friends KG and DG, who so graciously hosted us at their beach house for the half marathon.  KG wanted a picture drawn of her adorable grandson for a Christmas present, so please keep this a secret!  :)

We start with the darkest areas and eventually get to the lightest.  Envision if you will!  For the darkest areas, I usually just draw some shapes or letters, since you really can't read them.  As the picture gets lighter, I add in words that have a meaning in Jakob's life. 

Starting to add in some shadows, which means we are now using words.  For Jakob's picture this includes his name, birthday, family members and even the puppies. 

Getting serious now.  Don't mistake that shadow for a mustache, patience grasshopper until  you see the finished product. 

Jakob is that you?

You can now start to see what I have seen all along.

So this is the last picture I will post for Jacob, it's a surprise afterall!  And Jakob is done, finished, complete.  We will wrap him up nicely in a frame and bow and say Merry Christmas to you JD (Jackob's Dad).  Enjoy! 

What I'm Listening To Now

Currently I can't stop listening  to and loving the latest album from Baltimore quartet, Fools & Horses.  Recently released (fyi, that party rocked) this self titled album is more mellow than their last album; however, some truly great music and lyrics. 

Check them out at www.foolsandhorses.net

F&H has been voted Best Band of Baltimore by the readers of the Baltimore City Paper for three straight years, and named Best Modern Rock Band, and Fan Favorite by the Washington Area Music Association (SHUT UP). 

This album has 11 amazing songs and tho I won't go into all of them here... these are a few of my fav's.
3 Chords - the guys started singing this song a while back and I was dying for a copy.  It was well worth the wait because it catches you from the beginning and when I hear those drums kick in, I can't help but turn the volume up all the way.  Much love to Tim! 
The Cloud Factory - this is just a really fun song, cute lyrics and completely catchy. 
Happens To Me Every Time - LOVE love LOVE this song.  Tell me Matt's voice doesn't just kick ass?  At the end there is some overlapping of the lyrics and you just get caught up in everything. 

Now if you want to experience a little more rock n roll, may I just suggest you check out their album   I Am The Ghost

Whenever I see them (which is often) I request my very favorite song: Calling You Out because who doesn't love these lyrics:
This must be a sign
I stalled trying to phone your line
Forgetting a number I never memorized

and

Too bad cause it can't it won't
My pride it don't wanna take it
When the best you looked at all this year was naked

Finally, we have the most popular and well known song from F&H Selfish and if you don't know the words to this song then learn them fast.  I even got my brother loving it and probably wishing he could see these boys live.  Not only does their music rock but they are amazing at covers.  How bout Sex on Fire.  Be-still my heart. Is there nothing these boys can't do?

I love you all: Tim, Matt, Kent, Steve.  See you soon!

Rock N Roll VA Beach 1/2 Marathon 2010

Date: Friday, September 3, 2010
Weather: comfortable and sunny.  Who was that Earl anyways?
On the stage: Village People
Drinking: Orange Crush from Waterman's.  YUM!


Despite the threat of Earl, VA Beach hosted a wonderful music filled weekend and Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon.  VA Beach showed little impact from Earl, by the time my sister (CM) and I arrived Friday evening.  The sun was shining and the weather was perfect for sitting on the beach or dancing along to The Village People's YMCA. 


Date: Saturday, September 4, 2010 
Weather: sun shining, 80's
On the stage: Chicago
Drinking: H2O - gotta get hydrated


This morning started with brunch down the road at which point my stomach refused to process the alcohol from the previous night.  Yes folks, I'm getting older and alcohol no longer loves me the way I love it.  Which is for the best because today I must hydrate for the run.  Water all the way!


OMG the Rock N Roll extravaganza that is the expo/packet pick-up was the best I have ever experienced.  We spent a small fortune on t-shirts, hats, vitamin drinks and balance bracelets.  At this point you are asking yourself what is a balance bracelet?  I shall tell you... it is a miracle bracelet for sure.  Just put it on your wrist and watch it work it's magic.  Never fall down again and stretch further than you thought possible.  Before this amazing creation I lacked flexibility but now, I'm a yoga guru.  The bracelet on my right arm is for beer post race, the bracelet on my left arm is for when the officer asks "are you drunk, balance on one foot" to which I reply "no sir I am not" and of course show him how fabulously I can still function after my libations. Does he really challenge the power that is the balance bracelet?


Check them out at: http://www.powerbalance.com/


So, we drink our water all day while hanging out with some fabulous friends who shared their beach house with us all weekend.  Beach, hot tubs, tiki bars, and 3 adorable yorkie puppies what more could you possibly ask for except maybe a balance bracelet?  Seriously, KG and DG are awesome and we are so lucky that they welcomed us to their home and cheered for us during our run. 




Date: Sunday, September 5, 2010
Weather: perfect
On the stage: Pat Benatar & REO Speedwagon
Drinking: H2O and then beer


5:30 AM wake up call and by 6:30 am we were in the car heading to the starting line.  If I may be so bold as to offer a bit of advise for runners - bring your own toilet paper to a race!  This has saved us so many times we can't even begin to count.  There are so many runners and so many port-a-potties but NEVER enough TP.  Other runners think we are geniouses and I am always amazed that no one else has ever realized how simple this is.  We share our wealth and leave the TP by a line of people waiting their turn to let their nerves get the best of them and head to our starting position. 


In no time at all CM and I are out of the gate at a pace we have never dared run before.  I don't know where that speed came from but it was amazing.  Now don't get me wrong, we aren't pacing at 8 or even 9 miles an hour.  We are happy with 10.5 minutes a mile so anything faster than that is a pure miracle.  At mile 2 our friends KG & DG are there to take our picture, still in good cheer and relatively still clean.  We climb the bridge and everyone cheers for the elite runners already on mile 10 and then for the motivational runners not only breaking any record I could ever imagine for myself, but also pushing handicap children in strollers so that they too can experience the thrill of the race.  It was inspiring!  We then run through the barracks and pass two men who are wearing gas masks excelling at a pace much faster than our own.  Really, was that necessary to show us up like that?  I think not! 
There is always some point during a race, which I have a panic attack.  I'm not really sure why this happens but none the less it becomes pretty much impossible for me to breathe.  This happened right before mile 12 for me.  That was my wall for the day and without CM pushing me on, I dare say I would have walked.  GASP!   But we finished this race at a PR for both of us, 2:15.  Which we are just absolutely thrilled with, plus we got a medal.  Holla!  I love to collect medals. 


The rest of the day, was filled with recovering via hot tub and a nappy nap.  We had a bar-b-q with friends at the house and then found us a spot in the sand to watch Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon. That crowd was huge and the beer line was long but people were happy and celebrating the long weekend.  From the back we had to stand to even see the large televisions, but we sang along to the songs we knew. CM and I were pretty pooped so we headed home and watched the fireworks from the deck of our friend's home.  A perfect ending to a perfect weekend.  


Special shout out to KG & DG for letting us stay at their house and experience the good life in VA Beach.  You both rock! 

Getting Started

So, according to my Marketing Manager I have to create a blog to advertise my artwork, so let's begin.  I tried creating an amazing blog using other formats but as of now, I'm quite pathetic when it comes to understanding the creation of websites and blog spots.  Many props go out to those of you that understand this technology.  So my MM has informed me that this is the easiest to use blog site and I must admit so far, quite simple.  (Sigh)

On this blog I want to write about the many interests I have including but not limited to: music, running, books, my artwork, being creative, and probably anything chocolate.  I have a website (no I didn't create it myself) that you can check out my artwork at: www.jenwordart.com. 

My artwork is all pen and ink and if I must toot my own horn (toot toot) I think it's pretty amazing.  I learned this technique in college and I just loved it, so I continued drawing.  I mostly draw portraits; however, I also draw flowers, animals, landscapes.  What makes my art interesting is that it is made up entirely of words, letters, shapes, etc.  I personalize the pictures by writing words in the portrait that relate to the person I'm drawing (for example: family member names, birthday, nicknames).  Get UP close and personal with the portrait and you will be able to read the words.  So, please check out the website and if you like what you see, let me know or even better hire me to draw a portrait.  :)  Here's a little sample for you...

I think this will be all for my first blog.  Whew!  That was a challenge but I think MM will be pleased with my progress.  Good night world wide web and soon to be blog friends.