A late Valentine

I finished this little wallhanging shortly before Valentine’s Day but didn’t get it in the mail to my good friend, Tulip until later that week. She lives in WY and I haven’t seen her in years.  ;o(

I did some free motion quilting…a loopy meander with occasional hearts.  It turned out pretty well except it was hard to get near the edges.  I’m not sure the best way to handle quilting on such a small project but I think it came out pretty well.  I have another one to make with opposite colors and I will cut one long strip for the binding so I don’t have to piece it 3/4 of the way through.  I would like to try finishing it without a binding but I don’t know if I should quilt just the top and batting, then add the back  (right sides together), stitch around the edge except for space to turn it right side out.  What’s that called anyway?  envelope finish???

I received an email from Tulip after she received it and she was very happy and surprised; that makes me happy.

Thanks for stopping by (and don’t forget to leave a comment)…

;o)

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I figured it out…I think

I want to be creative.  I want to be an artist.  I want to sell many beautiful items in my Etsy shop.  I want, I want, I want.

However…I don’t consider myself to be creative or artistic.  That’s where the problem begins.  If I want to be creative and artistic, I have to believe I am creative and artistic.

I do a little reiki and meditation daily occasionally with some yoga mudras.  (A gesture or position, usually of the hands, that locks and guides energy flow and reflexes to the brain.) My mantra during that time is…accept creativity; release doubt.  Sounds easy doesn’t it?

Here is another problem, or a set of problems.  First of all, I can’t stand being unorganized.  It drives me crazy to have stacks of fabric, or leftover scraps piled up on the table.  I don’t have much room to begin with and to have it crowded with fabrics everywhere makes me feel claustrophobic. I have to clean everything up every time I’m finished.

Secondly, being creative is expensive.  To have just the right fabric or thread or dyes.  It all cost $$$$.  If you are making money selling your artwork, you know what I’m talking about.  I’m recently retired and living on less than 1/2 of my full time salary.  It doesn’t leave much left over.  Of course, I can take another job, which means there is less time to play in the sewing room.  I can’t call it a studio, it doesn’t have enough room and I’m not really creating much anything.

Actually, I think there is another problem.  Space.  We live in a small ranch and my sewing room is a small second bedroom, which Bill was nice enough to let me have.  There isn’t any extra space in the cellar to dye fabric and no room what so ever for the longarm machine that I desperately want to own and operate.

These are probably just excuses but I see them as roadblocks and I’m not sure how to move past them.  ;o(

Thanks for stopping by…

;o)

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Bittersweet

Yesterday we spent the day at the North Port Feed Supply Country Market with our favorite dog from the shelter, Cheyenne.  We took her there to introduce the shelter to those not familiar with it, raise a little money for the shelter and maybe interest someone in rescuing a shelter dog.  We did not go in an attempt to get any particular dog adopted.

She is such a great dog and I wondered how she ended up at the shelter.  She is seven years old, housebroken, crate trained, walks nicely on a leash and knows some commands.  How could anyone give up such a good dog.  As it turns out, her family moved and could not take her with them.  I like to think they were heart broken, I know I would have been.

It was billed as a farmer’s market but actually, rather than vegetables and such they had vendors with crafts, chickens, rabbits, goats and other assorted farm items.  They did have some vendors with hamburgers (which we didn’t eat) and hot dogs (which were very yummy) and there was a live band.  The best of all, it was outside and the weather had warmed up; the sun actually came out.

Another volunteer had taken a 1 1/2 year old Akita mix named Apollo.  I thought it was going to be an interesting day because Apollo can be quite a handful.  However, both dogs were very well behaved (except when Apollo peed on our cooler).  They were good with kids and uninterested in the farm animals, even the fowl.  I thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to spend four hours with Cheyenne.

It’s all Bill’s fault!  He discovered her first.  I let him take any questionable dogs first, then giving me an idea of how they are on a leash.  I don’t have any interest in being dragged off my feet by some big bully that doesn’t behave well when outside.  Cheyenne would run from one side of her kennel to the other, acting wild.  She had a little sign on her kennel, drawn by a child, telling everyone that she acted wild inside but she is very mild mannered.  She is, in fact, perfect.  She never pulls unless she really has to go to the bathroom and enjoys sitting with you, just being loved.  She has a beautiful, expressive face.  We had started a routine of each walking four or five dogs in an hour and when one of us brought her out, we knew we were done.  We would sit together with her and give her some extra love and attention.  She liked to crawl up onto our laps and give us kisses.  It was hard to take her in when we needed to leave and sometimes I would ask for 5 more minutes…pleeeeeeese

We had her back to the shelter by 3ish, unloaded the crates, boxes, table and chairs that had been taken in two vehicles.  When we left we noticed a couple and their two children playing with Cheyenne in the fenced area where people can get to know a dog before they take one home.

When we went this afternoon, the first thing I did was check her kennel…it was empty and her little sign was gone.  She went home with yesterday’s family and the shelter staff said they were a good family.  I hope they have a big yard where she can roll around and scratch her back, which she loves.  I hope they give her a big, soft bed where she can spread out and soak up some sun.  I hope they take her for nice, long walks  so she can stay in good shape.  She was heavy when she arrived at the shelter but had lost weight and was nice and thin.  I hope they give her as much love as she would have had with us.

It’s not a very good photo of me.  (I didn’t know Bill was taking the picture but he says I should have known because I was looking right at him.   In my defense, he was pointing the camera in my direction but I thought he was playing around with the camera, trying to get everything just right and he would let me know when he was ready.) It doesn’t really matter, this is the only photo of me and Cheyenne so it will do just fine.

Bittersweet…pleasure alloyed with pain  We are both happy that after 2 1/2 months, Cheyenne has found a new home.  I’m especially sad that it isn’t with us.

I promise to do my best not to fall in love with another shelter dog; at least not until we can actually have a dog.

Thanks for stopping by…
;o)

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Thievery

You will pardon my English as I express my feelings at this moment.  I am pissed!!!  Some damn bastard stole my debit card number and has been using it for the past two days in CT, to the tune of over $700.  My card was not stolen, I am sitting here looking at it with a dumbfounded expression on my face and a question in my head…”how did this happen?”

I don’t, as a rule, check my account statement online very often.  I wanted to know if a particular check had been cashed and what I found was several different entries from CT.  Apparently the Stop and Shop is an easy target, as six of the charges took place there, each one for over $100. I wonder how much they would have stolen from me if I had not just happened to check my account.

I immediately called and put a block on my card, then called and talked to the managers of both S&S locations.  They both agreed to follow through in the morning and let me know what they find out.  I would be very happy if the person responsible ended up doing some jail time but I’m not very optimistic.  Oddly enough, just last week I signed up for an ID theft program, although previously I had not had any trouble.  Go figure!

I don’t have any quilty news tonight, although I do have a little Valentine project that I finished and will be putting in the mail for a girlfriend, photo to follow when I’m in a better mood.

If you haven’t done it already, keep an eye on your bank account.  I’m very careful about giving out any personal information.  If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

Thanks for stopping by…

;o)

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A happy girl (woman)

Okay, I’m a little too old to be called a girl, after all…I’m retired!!!

We are having a good time in Florida getting lots of exercise, shopping, exploring, shopping, relaxing and so on.  After visiting Gasparilla Island we spent a day on Manasota Key and checked out Stump Pass Beach State Park.  Although it was a nice day and we enjoyed ourselves, we didn’t like it as much as Gasparilla.

Stump Pass Beach

We spent an afternoon on Venice Beach, which we visited a few years ago and really enjoyed.

Venice Beach

If you want to go shelling, you don’t have to go very far.

Shelling on Venice Beach

We were walking along the jetty at Casey’s Pass and met Judy and Cubby Brown from Ellsworth, Maine.  We met them because Judy and I were wearing the same Acadia t-shirt.  What are the chances? 

These are our two new, quite expensive, beach chairs.  I think they should have come with their own cabana boy serving drinks…

For Christmas Bill got me the “bright light” that attaches to my sewing machine.  He ordered it from Patsy Thompson.  She has a great site which I suggest you check out here.  It is full of beautiful photos for inspiration and a wonderful on-line store.  I had a little trouble with the light but she provided superior customer service and had me up and running in a flash.  If you don’t have one of the lights, I highly suggest you get one as quickly as possible.  The light it provides is outstanding!

"bright light"

I picked up this new fabric at Wal-mart today.  It isn’t the best quality but they are the perfect colors for some Valentine gift ideas that are running around in my head.  Hopefully I can get them out of my head and into the mail for Valentine’s Day.  Fat Chance!  I don’t work that fast but I’m gonna try; they are little gifts and shouldn’t take very long.

Valentine polka dots

Lastly, we are volunteering at the local animal shelter; the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County.  We love dogs; however, our current lifestyle does not allow for one so we get our “fix” at the shelter.  Ever since my daughter adopted a pit bull puppy, we have fallen in love with the breed and do all that we can to promote the breed.  They are our favorite and one day we will have one of our own.

Ginger catching a nap

How could you not love that face?  If you are thinking of a new pet for your home, why not make a visit to your neighborhood animal shelter?  They are doing a world of good.

Thanks for stopping by…

;o)

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