I meant to write this post a while ago, but man December is flying by! Christmas is two weeks away!

Well maybe you don't have a Christmas wreath up yet, or maybe this wreath will inspire you to make another wreath. That's what happened with me. I saw a fall wreath and I liked it, so I said I want to do something like that for Christmas.

I dismantled {THIS} wreath not too long ago and decided that I would reuse the rope wrapped wreath. I also decided that I would repurpose it as my Christmas wreath. Of course, I had no plan beyond that at the time.

Then while perusing Michael's app on my phone for ideas, I came across this fall wreath and I was smitten.

{Project Page}

So the first order of business was to actually get the supplies, so I took Small Fry out with me to Michael's because I had a 20% off your total purchase coupon and as luck would have it, Christmas picks were the doorbuster deal that day and they were 60% off! Score!

Then we spent the next 45 minutes or so looking at the same picks and decorations until we both agreed on something. I wanted something a little rustic and simple. Small Fry had his own ideas. Somehow we met in the middle.

So once we got home, all of the decorations sat until after Thanksgiving. I was really on the ball that way. So once I finally got around to making the wreath, I was on the phone with my sister and she got to help me lay everything out.

Thank goodness for technology. I'm talking to her on the phone and sending her pictures of the progress for her feedback. Teamwork!

I started with the rope wreath that I'd taken apart and then followed the directions for the wreath on the project page, and the wreath slowly came together.


I think the whole time I said I wasn't sure about the icy branch garland, but in the end, I'm glad Dana talked me into it.



Small Fry insisted on the star, and I wanted the owl. I love them both and it's simplistic and rustic enough for me.


I really love that owl!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

When we got the invitation to the hubs' Christmas party, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear. I'd seen this pattern while looking for Gold Cup patterns, and figured it was time that I made myself another sheath dress. 

Well, my official 2017 race season has come to an end, and it was perfect if I do say so myself.

Sunday was Run the Parks 10k put on by PR Racing, and as expected it was everything I wanted it to be. It was rainy (drizzly?) and cool, but perfect.

There was an 80-minute time limit, which I was nervous about because my foot is still acting up, but getting better, and really my times haven't been fast.

The Prince William Half was run at a 12:36 pace, which I was and am still quite pleased with, but that was too slow for an 80-minute time limit for the 10K.

The last couple of runs I've had have been ~12:20 m:m, which is also not terrible, but that didn't stop me from fretting.

So the hubs and the littles decided to join me at the race, and I was a little nervous because of the weather and the kids, but it all turned out great. They visited some monuments while I was running, but they did see me off!

Apparently, I was concentrating on something at the start of the race, because that is some fierce resting bitch face.

Thanks so much for reading!

When the County Fair theme was decided on for Gold Cup, I knew that I wanted to make a Derby-inspired cowboy hat.

The first step was to find a cowboy hat that wasn't too expensive, in case I screwed it up. Amazon to the rescue! I found this hat {HERE} and it was perfect.
So after ordering the hat, it was time to take advantage of the massive sale at Michael's. All of their fall foliage was 70% off! Sweet! Now, what to do?

I turned to the internet and did some searches, but a lot of the derby hat styles are similar. I wanted something a little fun, but still nice looking. Etsy ended up being a great source of inspiration.

This hat, in particular, I really loved.

Day of the Dead Mini Top Hat from Little Miss Hattitude

 I love how colorful and fun this hat is, and so with this inspiration knocking around my head, I bought a bunch of stuff from Michael's. I hoped that I would throw everything I'd bought at it and something would stick.

I ended up spending about ~$40 on the supplies for the hat, and thankfully everything I bought made the cut. I had one golden fern bunch, a variegated green daisy bunch, a large purple peony bunch, a feather pick, 2 bundles of pretty teal/green feathers, and a whole bunch of hope. I managed to find the balsa wood horseshoes at Jo-Ann's in Culpeper.

I separated all of the fern leaves and started at the back of my hat. I wanted to great the look of a plume of feathers, but with ferns, so I created a waterfall effect of ferns by placing the shortest ferns at the base of the back of the hat, right against the brim and working towards the crown of the hat, using the longest ferns at the very top. I shaped each of the leaves to gently curve down. There may have been some glue gun burns and I may have glued one or two of my fingers to my hat.

So after getting my waterfall of ferns attached it was time to start with the purple peonies. I placed a row of peonies along the brim of the hat, forming a U-shape around the sides and back of the hat, and then I added a few more peonies to the left side of the hat, to create a nice asymmetrical look. I added a few up the crown of the hat on this side for more interest. Then I went back and filled in with the daisies. I created a small crown of daisies at the back of the crown, also hiding the base of the ferns a bit, and filling in where I thought there were holes. The feathers were next. I placed the pick of feathers towards the front of the hat to accent where the horseshoes were going to go, and then I gently glued each of the individual feathers into the fern waterfall, adding color, texture, and interest.

The final step of the hat was to add the horseshoes after my eldest and I had fun coloring them with some metallic wax, I glued them a little off kilter to each other. I was a little inspired by the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.

So that's how my hat came to be, and this little dear won best "Race-Inspired Hat" in the hat contest! Yay!

A post shared by Heather Boyajian (@sewhalfcrazy) on Oct 28, 2017 at 3:43pm PDT

Heather, Lives in Gainesville. @sewhalfcrazy. #theplainsva #goldcupva #nova #northernvirginia #novastreetstyle #selfmadehat #amazinghats

A post shared by Northern Virginia Magazine (@northernvirginiamag) on Oct 29, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

Hello all! Welcome to another pattern review. We have officially entered the season of sewing. Between Gold Cup, Christmas, and gifts there will be some sewing happening. So today I'm going to be reviewing another Pattern by Gertie.

Gold Cup was at the end of October, and I needed an outfit that would be versatile enough for the ever-changing weather. Our crew decided on doing a County Fair theme for our tailgate, and I instantly knew what I wanted to do. With October's mercurial weather, I knew I needed a dress that would pair well with a jean jacket, cowboy boots, and hat. I also knew that a 50's inspired frock would be just the ticket. Oh, and what is a county fair without eyelet? I found a gorgeous kelly green with a modern circle pattern at Jo-Ann's. Thank you 50% off coupons.

I actually had to decide between two of Gertie's patterns, but this one won out because of the sleeves and the fact that it was already designed to be fully lined.

Before Alterations

The dress is fairly straightforward, although the neckline did prove to be a bit of a pain because of the point,  but nothing I hadn't dealt with before. I did alter how the zipper was put in because I prefer invisible zippers as opposed to traditional zippers, but installing the invisible zipper was easy because I attached the zipper before sewing up the back seam. Easy peasy. I also went a step further, in order to avoid hand stitching, which we all know I hate, by treating the zipper as a trim and stitching inside the seam allowance to attach and finish the lining opening in the back. The technique produces a nicely finished interior with no exposed seam allowances and no hand stitching! While this technique is not difficult, if you mess it up then it would be noticeable.

Final Outfit

When I first got the dress finished enough to try on, I was less than impressed with how much room I had in the waist. I did make the pattern according to my measurements but could've gone a size smaller in the waist. I ended up having to take in 3" from the underarm seam to the waist seam. My French curve helped greatly with this. I positioned the curve a finger's width below the underarm seam and then lined it up with the mark for how deep I needed to take it in, and then back to the waist seam. I could've gone 4" taken in, but 3" was that much more comfortable. 4" would've meant not overeating and drinking and no slouching! Not that I did slouch because that hurts my back.

So after I got all of my alterations done, I was more than impressed with my creation, not to mention it looked pretty fabulous with my boots and jacket. Thank you Target! The boots are several years old and the jacket was on clearance in the days leading up to Gold Cup.

I would say this pattern would be ideal for an intermediate sewer, maybe someone who has mastered the basics of sewing and is looking for something just a bit more difficult. The pattern sews up very quickly, and the guide sheet gives very good direction. Make sure you get all of the pattern markings transferred though. There are a lot!

I paired my outfit with navy blue jewelry from Charming Charlie's, who was running a BOGO sale on their clearance items. Score again!

Then there was the hat. The hat is going to get its own post. Look for it in the next few days!

October 1st was undeniably one of the greatest days this month. I mean, I know we're all of 2 weeks into the month, but it really was a day to remember.

Why do you ask? Well because that's when the 2nd running of the Prince William Half occurred.

I had no/low expectations of myself at this race. Before anyone starts spouting inspirational dribble about how I should be proud and yadda yadda yadda, I went into this race with the only expectation of finishing it and fully enjoying the splendor that is the Manassas Battlefield.

There is something to be said for going into a race with such a mindset. I enjoyed myself. Really enjoyed myself. I saw friends, cheered people on, got swept up in the beauty of the rolling fields, and just flat out enjoyed myself over those 13.1 miles. I ran those miles in a state of awe, wonder, happiness, and gratefulness. Most importantly, I trusted in myself. I trusted in the work I had put in.

So race day started off cold. Like 46 degrees cold. What?!?! Fall showed up in a big way. This was a topic of discussion in our MRTT group. What to wear!?! So I settled on my long sleeve MRTT shirt, a pair of capris (knee pants on me), and gloves. Two layers of gloves. I had my favorite oatmeal for breakfast, and made sure I had everything with me, including my bib! I didn't forget my bib this year! I'm already winning!

A post shared by Heather Boyajian (@sewhalfcrazy) on Oct 1, 2017 at 2:38am PDT

On the way to Jiffy Lube, I get to drive part of the course and see the Stonewall Jackson Fire Dept. out with their ladder truck and an enormous American flag hanging from the ladder. I did get a little teary. So once in the parking lot at Jiffy Lube, it was really just a hurry up and wait. I met up with friends, we took the huge MRTT picture, and then we wandered over to the chute for the start of the race.

I positioned myself at the very back of the corrals, back with the 3:30 folks. I had no expectations, and pretty quickly I moved up past the 3:00 pace group and as we moved out onto the roads, I just enjoyed the marching bands and cheerleading squad that was out on University Blvd. Pass the fire truck again, and then past my high school's drum band. Drums and races, they're just two of my favorite things. Having your feet fall at the same time as the beat is something amazing, and being able to feel those beats makes it all the better.

So then it was onto 29 for the bulk of the race, and I passed the 2:45 pace group. What?! Well, we'll see if that holds. I was feeling really good. Cold, but good. My hands were still cold, but the rest of me was comfortable. I look over towards the battlefield and the sun is hitting the dying grass in a way that makes it look like sugar was sprinkled over the entire field. It's so gorgeous. I take a nice deep breath. The crisp air feels amazing.

Before I know it we're about to turn up New York Ave., towards the monuments, and here is where I start to see my friends. First up is a schoolmate that I've known from elementary days, she's with the 2:15 group and looks amazing. Next is my neighbor and fellow MRTT'er, she's so energetic. Then I pass another fellow MRTT'er, and finally, it's my time to go up around the loop and work my way back down the hill. Then back out to 29 towards Stone House. I pass all the same girls, except this time I see my most frequent MRTT running partner, and another MRTT'er that's moved back to the area. Seeing them along the course really helps motivate me. I want to see them again, and I start figuring out the next spot that I'm likely to pass them.

Before I pass all of them again, my watch goes off. 5 miles in under an hour. What!?! I didn't think I was doing that well, but that's awesome. I'm also feeling pretty good. Those 5 miles flew by, and now we're running back up 29.

I did break the cardinal rule of racing though. I wore a brand new bra, which was awesome by the way, and I tried new nutrition. Luckily, everything worked out. The bra didn't chafe and I saved $6 on it because Target was having a sale. I've been mulling over changing my fuel during long runs because the Gatorade chews I've been using have started upsetting my stomach. Always a good thing while running long distances with no bathroom in sight. So I tried some Gu, and I really liked the first one. It was Carmel Macchiato which is my hubs favorite Starbucks order, so that made me think of him, and then running those hills that were coming weren't so bad. The second Gu I had was not as nice, and I did not finish it. I shouldn't be surprised because I do not like berry flavors, and it was Triple Berry. Ok, back to the recap.

I see all of my girls again after turning up the road headed towards Rock Fight. Rock Fight is my favorite section of the battlefield, but it did slow a lot of folks because it's all hills. Lots of small little hills with bigger hills at either end. Luckily, if you train on this stretch of the trail, the road follows the trail, so I was used to these hills. It made it easier to encourage my fellow racers.

So after we're back on 29 we're at 8 miles. What?!?! That's awesome. What's even better is that a fellow MRTT'er caught up with me and she and I were able to catch up.

We ran the next few miles together until she left me around mile 12. It was so great to see her, and it is a little amusing that we had such a good conversation in the middle of a race. All of the talking on the phone with my sister and my mom really paid off during training. :)

Ok, it's truth time. Who has bought fabric and a pattern with the intention of getting it made within the month and then it sits around your house for a year?

Fess up. We all have. I certainly have. This is the case with this particular pattern. Part of the delay was also nailing down which view I wanted to make, but really that was only a small part of it.

I was just lazy, but then when your anniversary rolls around and you want to wear something snazzy and new for the husband, guess who digs through her stash and finds the year-old project? Me!

This pattern goes together so easily. There are a few options to choose from, and you can really mix and match the elements that you like. I decided that the dress the model was wearing was the one I was finally going to decide on.

It helps that the Boho look is back, and I was feeling particularly spunky because I have a great pair of stacked lace-up heels that don't hurt my feet, and that's a bonus when you're suffering from plantar fasciitis and you still want to wear cute heels and not limp.  The cherry-on-top to all of this is said heels make your legs look really good.

There's definitely something to be said for a great pair of heels that not only boost your confidence and look good with a myriad of outfits.

I digress. Back to the pattern, after I decided on the dress, got it cut out, realized I forgot to cut out the back neck facing, and then had to cut out that facing piece from muslin, I realized just how much I had the poly blend I was using. I mean, I've used poly blends before and it's nothing new. The slickness of the fabric is just a pain, not to mention how much it sheds. The pattern calls for cotton blends, challis and the like and while my fabric has a similar drape as those, I bet those cotton blends do a bit better when it comes to putting in the eyelets for the lacing up the bodice. The piping around the neck might also have been easier in a less slick fabric.

Speaking of piping, it's a lovely detail only you can't really see it in the print I choose. This pattern would make an excellent foray into adding those little dressmaker details in a newer sewer.

I'm still terrible at taking pictures of myself wearing my creations. Seriously, I could use some help, tips, anything. I was quite happy with the dress. I didn't have to lengthen it like I usually do, which was a nice surprise. Oh, and no I'm not going to show off my terrible pictures of me wearing the dress. You're just going to have to take my word for it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

My Big Guy loves sunflowers which is why several years ago, I made this Sunflower Rope Wreath {HERE}, but it was starting to fall apart after 7 years so it was time to create a new wreath. While searching for floral inspiration for my sister's reception, I came across a Summer Floral Wreath {HERE} on Michaels.com and knew that this was the wreath design I wanted for my new sunflower wreath.

Instead of the summer flowers they used, I picked up a bunch of sunflowers, cosmos, and greenery. Sorry, I don't know what the two bunches of greenery I got were called, but I liked how all the bunches looked together, so that's what I went with. It's a very scientific method. Oh, I didn't add the bird the original instructions had, mostly because I didn't find one that I loved, but there was an owl that I did almost buy for this wreath.
So then I just followed the directions for the summer floral wreath and VOILA! I have a  new late summer/early fall wreath that I love.

I love that it's asymmetrical and happy. I could have probably added more of those white spikey flowers, but I'm not that fussed about it.
Hopefully, this wreath will last me as long, if not longer than my last wreath. My Big Guy also likes it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm back! With another post even! What?! That's like 2 in a week. Well more like 2.5, because Dana wrote most of the PSL post from Wednesday, and I only added my $.02 worth. Still!

So this post has been in the works since March. March, people! I technically finished the sewing of this dress back in March, and then it sat on my dress form until last week, when I finally got around to finishing it. It needed buttons and buttonholes. That's it. I got 98% done, and then it sat. For 6 months! I know I'm not the only one who does that. I mean, I can't be, right?!

With fall weather arriving, it was the perfect time to finish this dress, because the yellow and black buffalo plaid is also a lightweight flannel, and who doesn't love flannel?  I do also need  to apologize for the lack of good pictures, apparently I've forgotten how I set up my phone to take full pictures of myself.

So the pattern was simple and straightforward, as most shirt dresses are, but this one has the nice added touch of having a tailored shirttail hem, but it was also on the short side. Always. So I cut out my dress in the longest length, and then simply shifted the pattern down to cut out the shaped shirttail hem. Easy peasy. I like my skirt hems to be 24" from my waist, but this one is 23" which is totally ok.

I also needed to alter the pattern between the bust and hips, because I'm not a one size fits all girl. So after adjusting the side seams to accommodate my many sizes, I had a dress that was ready to be put together.

Sewing it up was easy and straightforward with no surprises. I mean, it's a shirtdress, how many different ways are there to make one?  And after the 6-month hiatus, putting in the buttonholes and attaching the buttons was easy, although I didn't realize that I had very dark blue thread in my machine instead of black, so now I have very dark blue button holes. Oh well. C'est la vie.

I would say this pattern would be good for the adventurous beginner. It's not a difficult pattern, by any stretch, but it could seem a little daunting to a sewer who just unpacked their first sewing machine.

So last week, we had some wonderful fall-like weather, and so it was the perfect time to test out my new dress, and step out of my very safe fashion box. You see, I'm not very good at pairing ankle boots with anything. I'm just not certain of just how to wear them, but the model on the envelope is wearing them. Therefore, so can I. Pairing the dress and boots with a blanket scarf was also new, I know we've talked about my adventures in scarf wearing, but I've never attempted a blanket scarf. So much newness going on! I was brave though, and put my best booted foot forward and went on my way.

Its funny how doing something small, like stepping out of your fashion box, can give you such confidence. I am very pleased with how the whole look came together, and am so excited for more fall weather so that I can don this outfit again. As it is, I'm currently wearing my Key West Circle Top and shorts, because summer is making a last stand.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Dana here.  Yes, folks, it's that time of year again!  Pumpkin spice everything!!!  Pancakes, chai, cookies, pork loin, and of course coffee.  I sometimes wonder if the hysteria is self-sustaining.  Like, because everyone else in the world seems to love pumpkin spice, more people latch onto the trend.  Or is it truly a perfect storm of the best season (IMHO), delicious spices, and the jolliest of the gourd family?  Aww, look at those guys.  They're so excited for autumn!
Hey guys! Heather popping in here to add my $.02. I made the recipe exactly as written, and yes, there was too much cinnamon for me. IMO the recipe as written is like a pumpkin chai, which is delightful, a smidge of cardamom and it'd be a proper pumpkin chai. It's still a delightful melange of spices, just a bit heavy on the cinnamon for me and what I like in a PSL. 

You know those running memes where one runner tries to get you to run a race, because it's only *3* miles?

Yea, that's pretty much how the conversation between my friend and I started when she asked if I wanted to run Warrior Dash with her.

It's *only* a 5k, and I checked all the obstacles. None of them rely solely on upper body strength, and none of them will require people to lift you up over things.

Ok, I'm in!

She really had to twist my arm, didn't she?

So the morning started off fairly normal, as far as race mornings go. I wasn't worried at all. I mean it was a 5k with a few obstacles. What was there to worry about? It was gorgeous weather for the beginning of August, almost fall like. It was so nice. Go figure, the obstacle course, where I was going to get filthy has beautiful weather.....

Oh little did  I know that the course was the most hilly course I have ever encountered. By the time we hit a mile, we'd already ascended 20 stories. I'm getting ahead of myself though.

So the race started off fairly easily, we were running downhill and were going at a comfortable clip. We encountered the first of some very steep hills, and since we were with the pack, there was some walking that had to be done. The course wasn't that wide. Then maybe a 1/2 mile in, maybe more, the pack had thinned a bit, and there were 2 guys up ahead on the trail that were stopped and looking at something just off the edge of the path. They tell us there's a snake.

There's a what now?

A snake. I can hear him rustling the leaves just to the side of me off the path. Nope! I'm gone, down the hill, over the creek and back up the other side of the hill. I wait for my friend. I don't do snakes, and the rest of the time we're on this course, I'm chanting just keep looking in the center of the path. Just keep looking in the center of the path. It became my mantra.

So after that, we hit a mile, and then finally encounter our first obstacle. It was a bleacher type climbing thing. It was fine. I didn't have to climb or jump really, because long legs.

Then there was the trench, which was easy for my not so tall friend, because she easily shimmied down into the trench and then bear crawled the entire length. I did not have as easy a time getting into the trench, because long legs. It took me a bit and a try or two to actually get into the trench, but when I did finally, I was able to crawl through it.

The swinging pallets were next, and quite fun. They took a bit of balancing. Thank goodness for long arms. After the pallets, was a short drop down a dirt cliff, that we slid down.

Then there was this "Fisherman's Catch" tunnel thing, which I hated. Being tall was a definite con to this obstacle. It broke my bra!! Luckily, friend was able to fix it before we continued on, but man did we laugh about it. It was a real bra buster. That last pun was courtesy of Dana when I was telling her about the race. You can complain to her. :)

Then there were more hills. So many hills. I will say I was able to "cheat" on a lot of the obstacles, because of my height. I don't feel bad about this at all. Then there was a muddy pond we had to wade through before getting to one of the obstacles. That was fun.

Then more hills. Stupid hills. There was a water stop after the sloggy mud pond, which was amazing.

Then more small mountains. and then we were at the fire pit. It wasn't the fire trench I had envisioned. It was much, much smaller and oh so easy to jump over. I did not get a pic tho. I am slightly upset about this.

After the fire, was the wall climb. The obstacle I was the most afraid of, but I did it! I didn't die!

After the climb, it was a short jaunt over to the water slide, which was way higher than I thought it'd be. Did I mention, I'm afraid of heights? Like crippling so? My adrenaline was going full bore after the climb, because I was scared, but I also wasn't going to fail. Thankfully determination is stronger than my fear.

So we get to the top of the water slide, and I'm nervous, and then the stupid volunteer at the top says watch out for the snakes. What!?!?

He says the snakes in the water. I may have told him that I was climbing down then, I don't remember, but I do remember him recanting, and then pushing my fear of heights and snakes into the pit of my stomach, because my friend was waiting on me.


Then after the dunking, we got to wade through a mud pit, which was the best thing ever! I ended up with dirt in places that I didn't know existed, but it was so very fun!

I gotta say, one of the best parts about Warrior Dash is the free photos. It is kind of a pain to sort through all of them, because the search functionality is bollocks, but they're free!

This was hands down, one of the best races I've done. It was so fun, and I got to face some fears. I can climb a wall!


I would absolutely do this race again, and maybe next time I'll get the hubs and the boys involved. Baby Girl will have to wait a few years.

Cheers!

So it's no surprise that I love coffee, or that I have several recipes and gadgets around my house solely devoted to coffee, and today's post is no different.

I had a coffee trivet. Only it didn't stand up to the daily abuse it received. Dana actually gave me this tile trivet several Christmases ago, and I loved it. It was just a simple 'B' on the tile with felt pads underneath. It did the job as spoon rest, mug rest, and counter beautifier.  Until it didn't do the last very well. The 'B' started wearing off, and then the trivet just looked kind of sad.

I knew that I was going to attack it with an oil-based sharpie and some kind of coffee hand lettered art, but there were so many choices! How was a girl to choose?

Enter the snarky throwback to my youth and my early introduction to rap. How could I not choose this quote?

Then there was the matter of designing the image. Luckily, I'd found this wonderful tutorial {HERE} on how to hand letter within a circle, and then everything clicked and fell into place.

I actually used one of my larger mugs as my circle guide, and then went from there.

The next time I do a project like this, I will have 2 oil-based sharpies on hand, because the one started running out towards the very end of my project. It was quite annoying, but cest' le vie.

After I let the tile dry for about 24 hours, I baked it in the oven and then let it cool inside the oven, and now several weeks later, my trivet looks as good as new, and it brings a smile to my face every morning.

I do only hand wash the trivet, but it has survived that and coffee stains, and compliments both of my coffee makers. Now I think it's time for another latte. If only I could get my orange sugar syrup right....

That is a post for another day though. Thanks for stopping by!