6.26.2011

Ten Truths About Puppies

I know I have talked about puppies a lot for a few weeks now.  I can't help it with this little stinker sharing our house.  How about some puppy truths?  I will at least give you ten of them for the moment:

10.  It's not all cute pudgy faces and fuzzy fluff balls of joy.  Puppies chew on furniture, fingers, pant legs, toes, they bark, growl, and ... well, you get the picture.



9.  Puppies, like kitties, also like to play with string.


8.  Puppy tushies melt me. 


7. I am so glad Sammy is learning how to climb the stairs up and down.  She's was getting a bit heavy to carry each time we needed to go out for business.



 6.  Puppies can (and will) sleep anywhere.


5.  Puppies do not respect quilts or sewing.  I had some quilt pieces laid out on the floor and somebody (no names... cough, cough... Sammy) decided to tinkle on one of the pieces.  Lesson learned.  Use the design wall.  Eww!!

4.  Puppies sometimes change color.  Remember how white Sammy was?  Look at this french vanilla skunk stripe she is getting!


3.  Puppies don't always like it when you stick the camera in their face.  I'm lucky so far that Sammy doesn't seem too camera shy.



2.  Take advantage of the scruff on the back of a puppy's neck.  It's the way a mamma dog would carry the pups around and it is a quick way to keep a puppy from wiggling mid move.


1.  And the number one truth I have for you today is...


...Give a puppy a stick.  Best toy possible.  It's cheap.  It's good for teething.  They are plentiful.  You don't have to remember to bring one with you, because they are everywhere.


Use good judgement on size and how long they can play with it... but you get the idea.  And my own rule of thumb is no running with sticks in the mouth.


I am sure I will think of more.  Now, go hug your cute fuzzy things and remember those darling early life moments!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

6.24.2011

Happy Moment #31: Fans! Best Invention, ever!

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo (broke the rules today) - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too!


“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
~Omar Khayyam

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

6.22.2011

I'm Sewing Again!

Can you believe it's been two weeks since my last update?  Time flies when you get a puppy.  I am happy to say that I managed to sneak in some sewing time ... which has been wonderful!

--ONGOING PROJECTS--


X Marks the Spot {still re-thinking the name of this one}
I shared last Friday that I was starting back up with this one and boy oh boy am I ever happy to be back with this quilt!!

I did redesign it once again.  Not too far from where I started, but I am so happy I decided to add solids.  It was really needed to allow the patterns of the Fandango fabric to shine.  This is a quick sketch I made of the pattern so I can remember where everything goes. 


The color pencil colors each represented a fabric below with the X in the center being on of the X blocks I had already made from the Fandango fabric.  I am also excited to play with the border of this one since I decided to let the 'arms' of the X's fall into the border rows.  Should be like it is almost trying to break out of the center (or something like that).


Yes, Katie was in attendance!  I always enjoy her company in the sewing room.  Here she has decided to rest her head in my hand.  Melts me.  Melts me right down.

Yes, Sammy also wanted to pay a visit to the sewing room to see what all the fuss was.  Needless to say she was escorted out quickly -- more about that in the Truth About Puppies post coming.


Ok, so new pattern drafted... new squares cut (they are 6.5 inches in case you were wondering) I started to lay out the quilt on the floor.  Now you can begin to imagine why the puppy couldn't stay around too long.


By the end of the night I had the whole top completely laid out and was happy with the colors and placement of things. 


Over the next few days I started to assemble the top by making 4x4 squares.  It has been challenging to keep the pattern correct, but it's going to be so worth it in the end! 

The extra single blocks that I pinned to my design wall are the 'arms' that will extend into the border... therefore I saved them and set them aside for when I will create the border.  Makes sense, right?


So far, I have about 2/3's of the top sewn together.  And I am head over heels!! 


I still have another column to piece and put on the right side of this, but I can really start to see it coming together... and it's much easier to defend a sewn top from the puppy versus all those loose squares laid out on the floor.


After the middle of the top is together then it's on to the border.  I'm enjoying getting back in the sewing groove again!

{Insert Name Here}: Bottled Rainbows {ticker tape quilt-along}

I have also been able to complete another block for my bottled rainbow.  It turns out that arranging the fabrics and pinning them down is a good thing to keep nearby when chasing a puppy around.  Most of the last two weeks have been all about Ms. Sammy-whammy... but for those precious few moments when she drops and sleeps... it's been nice to have this handy to work on.


There also may have been some chocolate eating.  Although... note to self... eat quiet food when the pup is sleeping or else you risk waking her up and having to chase her around again.  Good times!

Isn't this wrapper awesome?  It's from Cracker Barrel courtesy of my darling and thoughtful husband.


As I was able to get back to my sewing machine I started to attach all the scraps.  Taking out the pins as I go along. 

Normally I use straight pins for this.  But the safety pins were... well... safer to use around the puppy.  That way if she grabbed the block and booked down the hall with it... she wouldn't get poked in the mouth.  Not that I am speaking from experience or anything -- she may or may not try and steal everything I am holding. 


Here is a sideways view of the block all put together.  Really liking this one!


If you look closely you can see I even have ants on this one -- fabric ants that is -- green ones.  Check out the picture, you'll see what I mean.  Cool fabric, isn't it?


So, now I have a grand whopping three finished.  I am taking the 'slow' paced quilt along a little too slowly, but enjoying every step.  And I'm ok if this one isn't finished until fall.  I am really trying to embrace the whole there's no rush or deadline, just enjoy the process thing on this one! 

Although, I have to admit that seeing all the finished blocks and tops makes me want to get a move on already.  And then I remind myself that it is about to be hot as the dickens here in NY... definitely not snuggling under a quilt weather.


--STALLED--

Happy Garden (king sized)
I still have to finish the quilting on this one -- I have so little left, but have just felt too lazy to get that whopper back out and put my free motion foot on.  Lame, lame, lame!   

Crewel Spring Flowers
Nada -- poor pretty flowers.


Katie Fiber Art
No action here.

You Can Sew-a-thon!!
Adding this back to the list.  You haven't heard of it??... check it out here or read about our first project (Strawberry Pincusion).
This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 
Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 1 (added Sew-a-thon back on)
Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 6 (up one)

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced---

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

6.21.2011

Sammy and Katie's Silly Antics

I had a great week off!  It was nice to rest, play, eat, be lazy, and ignore most of the chores.  I even managed a little bit of sewing!  I didn't anticipate taking such a long break from blogging, but I guess it's what I needed.   

All in all, I missed you and it's good to be back!  My camera is loaded with lots of things to share to include a ton of puppy cuteness! 

Ready for a Katie and Sammy update?  This is a taste of their silly antics...you can definitely tell they 'speak the same language!'

I wonder what Sammy is whispering in Katie's ear here?


Flying ears!!


Sammy has no problem getting right up in Katie's face.


Katie does a lot of fancy quick cornering that the little puppy legs just can't do yet, but she is learning fast!


They are often very vocal with each other.  Lots of little growls and barks.  Sammy is so tough.


Katie is doing her play with me bow here.  So cute!


Oh, no... looks like I have been spotted.  Do you see that little head peaking through Katie's legs?


Sammy often runs through Katie's legs or under her.  It's going to be funny once she is too big to do that any more.


Yes, they tussle like two big dogs.  Sammy may be smaller, but she sure doesn't realize that she is.


Yes, they both use their mouths to play.  I'm surprised I don't find more slobber on them after playing.


Sammy loves to get Katie's attention and then flops on her back and paws at her to provoke play.


I swear they could go on and on for hours at a time.


Katie does plenty of jumping and pawing.  I am happy to report that she has been a good play partner and hasn't gotten too rough for the little one.


Katie checking in to see if Sammy still wants to play.  Sammy just adores Katie!


After playing a nice roll in the cool summer grass is in order.


Little one mimicking Katie's every move. 


Well, almost.  I think she missed the part about rolling and went straight for biting/eating.


Sammy looking back over to Katie to make sure she isn't missing out on anything fun.


Katie's on the move again... little Sammy is never too far away. 


Like tweedle-dee and tweedle-da.  Two peas in a pod.  Two happy silly goldies that, as you can now clearly see, speak the same language!!  I am very happy they are bonding and am fairly sure at this point that they are going to be BFF (best friends forever).

So, let's see what else.  I have pictures from the garden for you later today.  I am excited to show you the quilting projects I have made progress on -- we will do that tomorrow for Wednesday Work in Progress.  And, I also have a post brewing in my head that I think I will call, "The Truth About Puppies."  Lots on the way!

Hope you have been well and looking forward to catching up with you!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

6.17.2011

Friday Night Sew-In Is Here!!

I am excited to participating in tonight's Sew-In again!  It's that time of the month that we set aside a little sewing time for ourselves... and I must admit it's a beautiful thing!


Handmade by Heidi


Tonight I have dug out a quilt project that has been long asking for attention.  I originally titled it X Marks the Spot quilt, but I changed the design... so I'll see if the name sticks. 

I am working primarily with Fandango print fabrics and a few solids.  I'm tickled to see this one getting rekindled!



I can't wait to see what kind of progress I can make.  For now I think I have finalized the design and am cutting the additional squares I need to put the whole thing together. 

I have a movie on {A Knights Tale} a ginger ale at my side, and the puppy is fast asleep for the moment.  Time to sew like a bandit :)


Wish me luck and come back tomorrow to see how I fared. 

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan
Related Posts with Thumbnails