Thing-a-day.com

Day 28:

I worked on this elephant that I’m making for my grandmother. Here is the state that it was in when I finished up for the night on day 28:

Day 29 - Finale:

I did two things today. I painted a bowl (unfortunately no picture available as I will not have it until next week after it’s fired) and I also did some more work on the elephant. Here’s the elephant status at close of business today:

That was fun! Now I’m left to my own vices for another year…

I made this little guy this evening for my wonderful husband who made and cleaned up dinner for me since I wasn’t feeling well. The pattern for him is here if anyone wants to make their own tiny turtle.

I’m going against what I said, and I really don’t even care.

I finished my husband’s winter hat tonight FINALLY. This is going against what I said because I said I wasn’t going to do anymore TADs with it, and I did it today anyways. But I had to, or it was never going to get finished.

Here he is, modelling his hat:

As you remember, on day 23 I started on an eyeglasses holder that looks like Ernie from Sesame Street. Today I spent about a half an hour finishing him up. Now I get to be a big dork and let a Muppet hold my glasses when I go to bed at night. Sweet!!

I forgot to post yesterday, so I have a combined post today.

Yesterday, I grabbed some yarn and started in on this eyeglasses holder that I’ve been meaning to start. Though the author of the pattern says you can use the basic head pattern to create any number of characters you can imagine, I loved her Ernie so much that I’m copying hers. After the work I did on it yesterday, all I have left are the eyes and hair.

Today I tried my hand for the first time at making sugar cookies. I increased the almond extract a bit and added about a tbsp. of honey to the recipe on the back of the flour bag, and they came out pretty tasty.

Here’s a pictures of Day 23 and 24 projects hangin’ out together:

P.S. - The cool thing about starting this on the first day of the month, is that you always know what day in the process it is.

Today’s thing was a Smiley the stressball hat for the next “Holiday” - a lil’ leprechaun hat! This has quickly become a trend and will change throughout the year. Heck, I have enough yarn for it that’s for sure. Anyways, I think that so far this is my favorite of the three.

Last night we hosted our weekly Bible study, and so rather than go the easy route for the provided snacks I went ahead and seized the opportunity to make my Thing-A-Day. I made up a batch of my Almond Joy cookies! What’s an Almond Joy cookie, you say? Well I’ll tell you…

- Use the regular old chocolate chip cookie recipe found on the back of any bag of chocolate chips only you subsitute stuff:

— Instead of Vanilla Extract, use Almond Extract (same measurements)
— Instead of the optional walnuts, use the same measurement of optional almonds
— Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of coconut (or more if you want, depends on your taste… I’m guessing on the measurement because I usually just eyeball it.)
— Instead of milk chocolate chips, find dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips.

Bake them the way it says to on the recipe for regular chocolate chip cookies. They are yummy!

I spent about 45 minutes or so tonight putting the shell edging on the scarf to finish it off. That and the pug will be on their way to Florida pretty soon!

Here’s the finished scarf :

Little late in posting… but I finished at 11:50 PM and wanted sleep.

I took about 45 minutes last night and finished up Sunshine Bunny. The rest of the second ear, the tail, and the nose had to be crocheted and then I glued on the eyes. Hopefully Grammy likes her! The pattern can be found here.

I forgot to post last night, but yesterday I went to You’re Fired and painted a piece of pottery. It’s a small bowl that I’ll use to put my jewelry in when I go to bed. It will be ready for pick up in approximately one week.

Tonight was the premier of the new Knight Rider. Since my husband is a Knight Rider fan, we curled up in front of the tube to watch it. While it was on, I began and got about 60% finished with a scarf that I’d been meaning to make for a while. I’m calling it a “Reversal” because the picture on the pattern was in white with blue accents; I’m making it in a blueish color with whiteish accents. Here’s what I was able to accomplish this fine evening:

I did so much work on my bunny today!

I finished his second leg, finished a whole ear, and am currently still working on the second ear. I should be able to finish him by tomorrow!!! YAY!!!

Today’s thing for me is a recipe I found on the Food Network website that I thought would be good and wanted to try. It requires setting it up in the slow-cooker before bed. Since Hubby & I had to babysit tonight (side note: does it count if you “make” a baby stop crying by rocking him while pacing the floors?) I decided that this was perfect.

Here’s the link to get to the oatmeal: Alton Brown’s Overnight Oatmeal. The only thing is that I couldn’t find dried figs, so I substituted dried apples. I thought they’d go well with cranberries.

I also finished and attached a leg and started the 2nd one for a bunny I’m working on. I’ll be giving that to one of my grandmothers for her birthday next month. So far for that I have the body, a leg, 2 arms done and the mouth embroidered on.

I protest giving Hallmark and American Greetings more money on an already lucrative holiday. And so, I hand made my husband a card today.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!!!

Two things today:

1. For Beyond Craft - I wrote and submitted my application for my MBA. It was boring, else I’d post it here. 700 and some words about why I want to get my MBA for Aviation Professionals. See - very unexciting.

2. I finished Zazu Jr.! Here he is with his supper bowl. Unfortunately, the bowl is bigger than he is. Since he started out the day looking like a creepy peanut, I think he developed into a super cute puppy.

Spent about an hour or so working on my pug tonight for my cousin. He looks like a peanut with eyes at this point.

Also, I did a Tuesday Tackle that I’ll be posting on my blog tomorrow (http://yelliebabi.blogspot.com).

My cousin has a cute awesome pug named Zazu. She (my cousin) loves Zazu and loves pugs in general. Her birthday was last Thursday, so I am in process of crocheting her an amigurumi pug who I shall call “Zazu Jr.”. You can find the pattern here to make him yourself.

I spent probably about 30 minutes or so on him tonight. I’m using a cream colored yarn for his main body color, and then the eyelids/muzzle/paw pads are going to be in black. I got his eyelids and rows 1-15 of the head finished. Hope to finish him by the end of the week. Ambitious, I know but I think I can do it. I’ll post an update when he’s all finished.

I have to say, I am totally digging this “Beyond Craft” thing. It’s inspiring me to be more creative in the kitchen!

I sacrificed chocolate for Lent this year. My husband forgot (it’s only been a few days, so I understood) and went to this local sugar-free bakery that we’d been meaning to try; he brought home these two all chocolate tarts. Rather than have them go bad, I told him that he should eat both of them and I’d figure something out for myself. Then, if they were any good we can go get some more on March 24th.

Today’s thing is MY dessert tonight and tomorrow. I call it… er… Banana Parfait, for lack of anything better to call it. It’s super simple.

Banana Parfait - Makes 2 Servings

Ingredients:

- 1 pkg. sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding (I used Jell-O Brand)

- 1.5 tsp cinnamon

- 1 dash nutmeg

- 1 banana

- 1/2 cup slivered almonds (or chopped walnuts, whatever)

Method:

- Prepare the pudding according to the package. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and combine well

- Slice the banana into 12 slices

- In 2 - 8 oz. glasses (or parfait cups), layer the following in each:

     - 4 banana slices

     - 2 spoonfuls of pudding

     - Sprinkle of almonds

     - 4 banana slices

     - 2 spoonfuls of pudding

     - Sprinkle of almonds

     - 4 banana slices

     - 2 spoonfuls of pudding

Cover with Saran Wrap and place in fridge until ready to eat. Then, enjoy!

I did two things today:

1. I made a homemade appetizers dinner tonight with homemade chicken fingers, baked cheddar “crackers”, produce with homemade dips (a yogurt based one for the fruit and a sour cream based one for the veggies). The only thing that wasn’t homemade were the Alexia All-Natural pizza rolls that I baked up.

2. Because I forgot to take a picture of #1, I found a bio of Rachel Ray on the On-Demand and did some work on the granny lapghan I’m working on to donate to a VA Hospital. I got about 6 more rounds done tonight (3 red, 2 white, 1 blue). It’s about half done. Observe:

Today managed to hit 3 different themes across both weeks. Go. Me.

Today’s thing was not really a creation. Instead, I gave 3 hours to help my husband clean out his late grandmother’s condo. It was much needed, and we feel accomplished.