Jingle Bell Rock

Saw this and had to post it.  Reminds me of the freeways back home in California!

Sock Monkey Designs

I still dream of sock monkey ideas from time to time.  Right now I am working on monkey's in the superhero theme.  I really like the look of the old Super Friends heroes so I am starting with this series.

Right now I have Batman and Wonder Woman worked out on my design sheet.  For the logos and detail work on the uniforms, I am going to have to use felt pieces for the first time.  The yellow wings, headband and white stars on Wonder Woman's costume will be too difficult to crochet on so I will have to make a template once I have the monkey crocheted.  The Batman bat emblem will be done in felt also.

Last night Mike suggested that I make a sock monkey based on the Tardis from Dr. Who.  Not too sure how that one would turn out.  Might trying drawing up something to see how it looks. 

It is kind of funny me mentioned something Dr. Who related because the idea for a Dalek themed sock monkey came to me that day too.  Could use bobble stitches on the legs to make the circles on the base of the Dalek's body.  This is another one I really need to think about. 

Here are some more ideas floating around my crazy sock monkey loving brain:

1. Santa 
2. V from V for Vendetta
3. Hellboy
4. Spawn
5. Beaker
6. Silver Surfer
7. Angelina Ballerina (one of Joanne's favs)
8. And a few others I can not list as they will be presents

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Music Wednesday

Needing a little Adam Ant this morning.

Merry Christmas!

Joanne through 2011

How Miss J has changed over the year.  She has gone from just being able to sit up on her own to running around like a crazy thing.  We love watching you grow.

The pictures go from January to December of 2011.



Joanne's visit to Pullen Park

Joanne and Reagan on the boats.

Riding the train with the gang.

Sock Monkey Madness

I have been thinking about so many different design ideas for the sock monkey over the last week that I decided to make a model for my crazy ideas.  So I took pen to paper and attempted to draw a model.  This reminded me that I can not draw well!  Here is my model.

Being Elmo

Joanne is so crazy for Elmo like most toddlers in the world.  Last night Mike was surfing the web and came across the information for the documentary "Being Elmo".  Just the trailer alone showing Kevin Clash's love for what he does on a daily basis now is so inspiring. 

 

The documentary is in short release in the U.S.  But it is playing here in North Carolina at the Galaxy Cinema starting on December 2, 2011.  I might have to take an early day next week and run over there to see this movie.

Need a little Inxs today!

Salt Dough Ornaments

After reading through my blog list I so want to try to do these this year.  The Lazy Hobbyhopper posted the ornament's she made over the weekend and I am feeling so inspired now!  Good thing I am going to AC Moore today at lunch. =)

Sweet Mocha Sock Monkey for Joanne

Since I had to give away the sock monkey I made for the NC State Fair because I glued the eyes and mouth on instead of sewing them, I have started a new one for Miss J.  I am doing a pattern change up from the Red Heart sock monkey pattern to the basic sock monkey pattern in my copy of Monkey Business by Patons.  This pattern is working up great now that I have learned to be really careful on the round where you start the body by crocheting around the legs.  I went back and counted the stitches twice before continuing. 

Yarn I am using for the Sweet Mocha Sock Monkey.

The first leg of the sock monkey.  Funny how the colors made a stripe pattern.

Body section about half way done in this picture.

Since the monkey is turning out much larger that I had envisioned, must go off to AC Moore today at lunch to get some larger gauge safety eyes so I can get them attached and start closing up the monkey's head.  Keeping my fingers crossed that I will not run out of the Sweet Mocha yarn.  Still have two arms, one tail and four ear pieces left to make. 

'80s Flashback

I just loved these songs.  Enjoy!

A little Beaker goodness

Beaker rocks!!

 

Some people should not drink coffee.

 

Poor Beaker!

 

 

Grammie's been shopping

Joanne's Grammie is been busy Christmas shopping over the last few weeks.  Boy oh boy is Miss J going to have fun.  

 Radio Flyer Girl's Big Flyer

I think this one is to torture Mommy.  LOL  I had one of these as a kid and ran this thing until it fell apart.   I can remember mine have a big chunk missing from the front wheel but I kept on riding.  My Mom says she can track me through the neighborhood by the noise it made.

Sophie Rose Animal-Print Fleece Jacket

Grammie always gets her something pink and with animal print on it somehow.  Lets just say Miss J will not be hurting for a coat this winter.  Very cute!

 

 Fisher Price Roll Along Musical Pony

This is very cute and she can ride it in the house and out on the back deck.  Think she is set for pink things this year.  LOL

 

First rectangle completed!!

Finished up the first rectangle today on my break.  Not looking forward to having to block all 40 of these things but the ends are curling bad so it must be done.

 rectangle #1

Halloween 2011

Miss J barely squeezed into her 3T-4T costume last night.  She was a Cat Ballerina.  She loved the tutu!!!  Since it was raining and she was not feeling well, we just played in the house and gave out candy to the brave kids who came out in the rain to get some candy.  Next year will probably have to make her one since she is so tall for her age.

Bought the yarn for my 2012 afghan

Went to AC Moore  today at lunch to pick out the colors for my afghan entry for next year's NC State Fair.   After taking the picture I changed my mind about the gray yarn on the top of the picture and went with a burgundy instead.  After the toy show this weekend I will start working on the rectangle blocks for this project.

 

Hernia Project

After putting up with bad stomach pain for about a month and a half, I finally went to the doctor to see what it could be.  After a c-scan and then a visit to the surgeon, it turns out I have a small collection of these stupid hernias around my belly button and up my scar from the gastric bypass surgery I had back in 2003.  Plus I had a UTI at the time of my visit to my PA so that did not help matters.  

The surgeon prefers performing the corrective surgery via the lap method so he told me I would have to loose the 50 pounds I have gained over the past 4 years due to the stresses of life.  So I am going back to gastric bypass eating basics: protein, fruit and veggies.  We went shopping over the weekend and got lots of good stuff for me to eat.  

I have been trying to increase the amount of walking I do every day and need to have M move the exercise bike into the bedroom so I have better access to ride it.  The surgeon said I can only walk and ride the bike until he fixes my hernia collection.  

Starting Weight
10/24/11: 262 pounds
10/31/11: 259.2 pounds  (2.8 pounds lost)

Happy Almost Halloween!

These three are just too cute!  Just had to share.

No that I am not having a very bad hormone day, I reactivated my Facebook account so everyone can see Joanne's pictures there.  Just got to love those peri-menopause moments!

Thursday's Picture

Joanne and I played in the yard tonight.  Got the manual settings to work much better outside on my camera then inside.  She loves sitting on the front porch waving to the neighbors as they return home from work.

JoJo's Pictures from FB

I decided to deactivate my Facebook account today since I find myself spending way too much time on there when I have other things I need to be doing.  Here are the pictures of Joanne that I had up no there so my friends and family can still see them.