Shawna Bell (revised)
This is the revision of the first few pages plus some new material for Shawna Bell (working title). I have not resolved what the crisis is, but I have decided the shelter where Mrs. Bell and Lily are sitting in is some kind of waiting room to board something to go somewhere. Sorry, it is the way with these things. Can’t think of anything that doesn’t seem incredibly cheesy! Without further ado, here it is:
Shawna stands on stage, microphone in hand, head thrown back as her voice echoes through the arena. Thousands of voices can be heard screaming along with the words. She is at the height of her career, her albums going double platinum, but even as the music swells inside her chest ripping out through her throat like a geyser, she feels hollow. Sweat beads on her brow causing her chocolate brown skin to glisten in the glow of the stage lights. As the last note escapes through her mouth, she drops into a quick bow. She stays that way for a second letting the crowd’s applause to roll over her. She breathes in short gasping breaths. As the energy of her fans slams into her, she, just as suddenly rises to her full height, arms flung up into the air. The crowd erupts once again with renewed clapping and cheers, begging for more. The lights go out and a disembodied voice says softly into a microphone, “Thank you.”
Pictures of Baby Blanket (updated)
Here are the promised pictures of the finished crochet baby blanket.
I basically did this edging without a pattern, so I’m going to share with you what I did as best as I remember.
Abbreviations:
ch – chain hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet tc – triple (treble) crochet
Materials:
1 ball of crochet thread
Size 7 (1.65 MM) Hook
1 spool 3/16″ Ribbon
Two square pieces of fabric (size doesn’t matter, just big enough that you could call it a baby blanket) second piece of fabric should be a contrasting color for lining
Stitch the two pieces of fabric together.
Row 1: sc starting at one corner of the material going all the way around, punching through the fabric with your needle.
Row 2: ch 3, *3 dc, ch 6* (repeat between * until beg sc)
Row 3: ch 3, hdc all around blanket
Row 4: ch 3, *1 dc, 3 tc in next st, 1 dc in next st, ch 3* (repeat between * all the way around)
Row 5: sc to finish.
Run ribbon between Rows 2 and 3 as shown in picture. Double knot ends and tie in a bow. You may wish to hand stitch the ribbon so it will stay in place.
If something doesn’t make sense please realize I have never worked off a pattern myself and that this is my first attempt at explanation.
Baby Blanket Complete!
I finished the baby blanket yesterday including running it through the gentle cycle and ironing! I chose a pale yellow or creamy off-white (depends on the lighting, I think) ribbon for the border. I bought another half a yard of baby pink fabric to use as a lining. It would have looked better had I done the lining from the beginning, but I couldn’t find a pretty enough pink at the store in Everett. I stopped at a store in Marysville and they had the right shade of pink. I think it looks lovely. The lining also adds a little weight and thickness which makes it feel very nice. I will be posting pictures just as soon as I get my camera out of the car!
My next goal is to finish the dress by Friday. I have some finishing to do around the sleeves and the center back seam of the skirt. I still have to put the zipper on and hem it. I may need to cut a bit from the bottom to get it at knee length. I iz a little short! Hopefully, I’ll have some pictures to show you guys soon!
Creepy Cute
I want this book:
I have yet to attempt an Amigurumi doll, but hopefully I can get an army of ninjas done by September when I go visit my family. I have a niece and nephew, not to mention a brother and sister-in-law that would love these. When I showed my husband he wanted a ninja of his own. Darn budgets! They’re always getting in the way!
Shawna Bell, WIP
I have not written anything in a long time. Inspiration is hard to come by some times. I usually get my ideas from dreams. I haven’t had any in a while that I remembered after waking up or worth putting on paper. Well, a couple nights ago I had a good one. It probably helped that I was having trouble sleeping in order to remember the dream so vividly. Anyway, after hemming and hawing about how I couldn’t write this story because I don’t know enough about American black culture, my husband told me to stop making excuses and just do it. So today I did. There are still elements missing, and it sounds a little like a movie script and less like a novel, I offer the first three pages:
Shawna stands on stage, microphone in hand, head thrown back as her voice echoes through the arena. Thousands of voices can be heard screaming along with the words. She is at the height of her career, her albums going double platinum, but even as the music swells inside her chest ripping out through her throat like a geyser, she feels hollow. Sweat beads on her brow causing her chocolate brown skin to glisten in the glow of the stage lights. As the last note escapes through her mouth, she drops into a quick bow. She stays that way for a second letting the crowd’s applause to roll over her. She breathes in short gasping breaths. As the energy of her fans slams into her, she, just as suddenly rises to her full height, arms flung up into the air. The crowd erupts once again with renewed clapping and cheers, begging for more. The lights go out and a disembodied voice says softly into a microphone, “Thank you.”
New Patterns
Hancock Fabrics was having a pattern sale this weekend, so I quickly scooted my way there on Friday and picked up a few McCall’s patterns. The first is a lovely dress with six different variations. It looks like I might have an easier time with it. The second I couldn’t find at the fabric store, so I ended up buying it at Wal-Mart. It’s a cute apron I saw featured in a blog a few weeks ago. As soon as I finish my current sewing project and my crochet project, I will try to track down the fabric for the apron. I’m thinking of making the one on the far left (view A). Looks simple enough!
Incredible Hulk
We went to see Incredible Hulk this weekend and let me just say, it made me totally forget all about the first Hulk. The movie was perfectly casted from Edward Norton as Bruce Banner to the General. I love that Marvel is making their movies exist in the same universe now just like the comic books; it makes crossovers all the more possible. I wasn’t even annoyed by the Liv Tyler’s Betty. Edward Norton did a wonderful job with Bruce. The chemistry between the two characters was electrifying. I did not feel that chemistry in Hulk between Jennifer Connelly and Eric Bana.
I liked that the Hulk was much more proportionate to the Hulk in the comic versus the Ang Lee version where Hulk was a giant. The action sequences were impressive. I found myself grinning like a fool and clapping joyously as Hulk smashes through soldiers and various and sundry weaponry. This version was a lot closer to the original TV show and the comic book, especially some of the current story lines before Planet Hulk.
His roar of rage was mightily impressive and the Hulk’s expressions! They were priceless. There are moments when he is fighting Abomination are just wonderful. It’s difficult to explain, but you almost see Bruce Banner underneath the Hulk persona.
One issue in the Bruce Jones run of comic book, particularly one frame that my husband showed me, has Bruce calling forth the power of the Hulk without transforming into the Hulk. His eyes glowed green, just before he beat up a group of jerks at a bar. **MINOR SPOILER ALERT** The movie ends with that idea firmly in place.
I give this movie a solid 4 1/2 stars out 5. (The 1/2 star missing is for future improvement and because Samuel Sterns character was annoying.)
Baby Blanket Row 3
I am well into the 3rd row of the baby blanket border. I was told that I may have created my own crochet stitch for it. Description follows, please tell me if this has an actual name. Neither of the crafty ladies at work recognized it when I showed it to them. It starts off like a double crochet, Loop on chain, yarn over, inert needed in next stitch and grab another loop. You should have 3 loops on your chain at this point. Yarn over once more and pull through all three loops. It produces some thing like this:
Baby Blanket, Part 2
I received an invitation for the baby shower for which I am making this blanket. Meaning, I now have a deadline, June 28th! Which means I will be crocheting my little hands off for the next two weeks in order to finish on time. It also means that my dress will put aside and any and all reading will have to wait until I’m done. Which is quite unfortunate since I picked up Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey the other day from my “To Read” shelf. I only allowed myself to read a few pages before going to bed, and I’m already hooked! I will try to post pictures regularly!
Baby Blanket with Crochet Border (Updated)
Update: After showing this post to a friend, they asked some good questions. The fabric is regular 100% cotton, the crochet needle is a #7, as for the yarn? I do not recall and I already threw out the label. Suffice to say it is the thinnest I could find in the craft section.
I finished the first row of the baby blanket I’m making. It looks 10 times better than my first attempt (sorry Karen!, the recipient of my first attempt). I’m thinking I will wing it as far as the pattern goes. I think having a solid base like this will really make a difference. I have to re-hem the raw edge but that should be easy at this stage. Then on to row 2. Here are some pictures:
