Runaway Train

So I've been working my tushy off and have had very little time to blog (much less take any photos so I have something to blog about...). I've been working on a proposal at work that requires a preliminary (or 30% defined) design for some wastewater-related components. Being that I've been given VERY little information about the project, it's been QUITE a challenge to say the least. And well, they gave me all of just a handful of days to do it, so the hours are late and my brain power is spent... And I'm still not done. But I'm taking a night off to do a little blogging.

So a week or so ago, I came home late from work on a Friday night and took to the sewing machine to just get a little brain down-time. Sewing is one of the most relaxing activities, so it was indeed a good way to wind down from the busy week.

I've been wanting to try my hand at a fleece blanket for a while, so I picked up some Thomas the Train fabric so I could make one for Carter. Although they sell little kits (that require zero sewing - just some cutting and tying), I figured with a toddler, I should sew the two halves together so it wouldn't fall apart. So I asked my pal Sarah for a few tips and she told me to stitch it all together and leave a 4-inch edge, cut some strips, and tie it together. Since she's a sewing pro, I figured I should follow her directions.

So I did - ta da! Check out the finished project (the back is a darker blue):
Close-up of the "choo choo" - Thomas:
I also figured Carter would beat it up, so I free-hand stitched over the stars (or "shaas" as Carter says) - not my most super-straight sewing, but hey, it'll do:
I placed the blanket next to Carter's crib (not IN the crib - he still doesn't sleep with a blanket because he pulls it right over his face - every time...). So I put it within reaching distance for when he woke up and come Saturday morning, you could hear "choo choo" all through the house. Happy kid, that's for sure.

I think my next blanket will be a KU blanket of some kind... Because I NEED another one of those...

And to end this exciting post about sewing, I'll give you a random, yet scandalous picture of Carter running away from the bath. He usually LOVES to take a bath, but on this particular day, he was having more fun staying OUT of the bath. I've censored it to protect the innocent...

He thought he was simply hilarious. He raced up and down the hall like he was a racehorse. Let's just hope he didn't pee when I wasn't looking...

Hope you're staying warm out there! Bundle up with a blanket, that's my motto!
~kerrie