What's Up?

Not much going on around here.

Somewhat against my better judgement, I started a new project.  I just could not resist.  Cuz I needed something to do that didn't require much thought/focus/concentration.  Know what I mean?

Remember that jelly roll from Cathy?  Here is a peek at what I am doing with it...

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As for Tag...he is maintaining.  The mass on his shoulder is growing.  He limps more some days than others.  I upped his Tramadol to 4 times daily.  It is hot today, so I (finally) turned on the air conditioning.  I did it more for Tag than for myself...so that he wouldn't have to exert so much energy trying to stay cool.  He is such a good boy...never complains.  Content to be wherever I am. Such a small thing to ask, isn't it?  I sure love this boy...

That's all I have for today.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

    

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

She Did It Again!

Yup, she surely did!  

Cathy sent me another box.  A box stuffed full of fabric she no longer wanted.

Here is most of it...

See that jellyroll on the right?  It is Allspice Tapestry by Joanna Figueroa for Moda!  

Look at these corduroys!  How fun are they going to be for doll clothes?  

And, here is a little sewing rollup...perfect!

Thank you so very much, Cathy.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Catching Up...

Tag is doing well.  Although, I gotta say, Tuesday was a very rough day.  Tag did everything he could to avoid putting weight on his right leg.  He was in so much pain, poor boy.  Long story short, I increased his meds and he is doing much better.  We've been able to take short walks the last few days...something he enjoys immensely.  

I haven't been sewing too much, but I have gotten a few things done.  

While sorting through fabric a few weeks ago and cutting squares for my scrap containers, I cut out for 22 Kleenex cozies.  I showed 7 of them in my last post, and here are the other 15...

   
And, I made an 18" square pillow cover with back envelope closure for Kim.  No patchwork, no quilting, nothing fancy, but exactly what she wanted...

Speaking of pillow covers, I also finished the 18" square pillow cover for Rachel.  Quilted simply and with a zipper at the bottom...

Paul and Rachel will now have their quilt and two pillows each.  I am feeling good about that.  

I have some special projects coming up next.  I think you will be surprised.  Stay tuned!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Thank You All!!!

Thank you so very much for your outpouring of well-wishes for the brown boy.  Tag may not understand every word of your comments (though he does have a huge vocabulary), but he hears and responds to the emotion in my voice.  I appreciate every single word you took the time to write.

At this point, nothing has changed with Tag...so there is nothing new to report.  I will update as necessary to keep you abreast of this situation.

I started a journal to track this time with Tag.  Just a place to write random thoughts I have each day.  Not sure what I will ever do with it, but...

I also started a one-a-day photo journal.  That is over on Instagram...#TagEButt.

Just ways to help me get through this, I guess.

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Needless to say, my focus and concentration are at an all time low. More precisely, I guess, is that I have almost none.  The ability to concentrate on any one thing for more than a millisecond has flown out the window.  But, I tell myself that this is okay...that it is temporary.  The result, though, is that I made some changes to the projects I had lined up.  Some of them are put off and some of them are scrapped altogether.  There are some that will be completed, of course...going along with no sewing would be another kind of ordeal, methinks.  Pillow covers, tissue kleenex cozies, hand sewing...things like that which take little thought will be what will keep my hands busy.

On that note, I have a few things to show...

5x6 inch zippy pouches

kleenex cozies for me to give away

another pillow cover with zipper to match Paul and Rachel's quilt

Donna, from over at Brynwood Needleworks organized a charitable project to create and donate dresses to Dress A Girl Around the World .  Here are the two I made...

They are both size 1/2 and were very simple to make.  I had planned to make more, but these two are all I am doing for now.  

I think that's all I have for this morning.  Hope this day is good for you.

   


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

My Heart is Breaking...

For years, I have said that Tag will never die.  And, I meant it. Now, then.  I am an intelligent woman...and I know that, in all probability, I will outlive any dog that comes into my life.  So, why would I say something like that?  

Because I wanted to believe it.  If I said it often enough, it would be true.  Right?  

I think all those who heard me understood.  Because it is Tag. TagEButt, the Brown Dog, the Chocolate Puppy...the one who has always been my laughter...the one who has always had my heart.

Well, reality has reared its ugly head.  Earlier this week, I learned that Tag is going to die.  Seriously.  He has been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer).  At best, he has a few months.  At worst, he has a few months.

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Tag had been limping for about 2 weeks, for no apparent reason. What I mean by that is that there was no trauma...he hadn't injured himself in any way. On Saturday (July 4th), I noticed a lump/mass on his right side by his shoulder.  It was actually quite noticeable, so I'm not sure why I had not seen it before.  He does have several lipomas, so perhaps that's where my mind initially went if, in fact, I did notice something there.  It doesn't change the outcome, though, so I'm not going to castigate myself for not seeing it sooner.  On Tuesday of this past week, I took Tag to see Claire, his vet/my friend. Yes.  It is Osteosarcoma.  Which is what I suspected.    

Because of his age (13+) and several other considerations, I will not be pursuing treatment, but will give him drugs to keep him as comfortable as possible for the short time that we have left together.  

He has been on Meloxicam and now will be given Tramadol. Hopefully, that combination will cover his pain as this progresses. Right now, he is his normal, goofy self doing all that he usually does.  Oh, my stoic brown dog...just a bit slower.  And, with a limp.

getting some lovin' from Paul and Rachel

We'll be together for as long as he has good quality of life.

He wants nothing more than to be by my side.

I want nothing more than for him to be there...  

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

The One About Cathy's Quilt...

YAY!  Cathy's quilt was delivered to her today...and it was well received.  You all know who Cathy is, right?  Of the Waldorf dolls and boxes of fabric she has sent me, etc., etc.

She is happy.  I am happy. 

Here are the photos...

For this quilt, I used the Vintage Happy fabric collection by Lori Holt with a few pieces of Bake Sale also by Lori Holt and a few miscellaneous pieces, along with Kona cotton solid in White.  The pattern is Scrap Jar Star...the tutorial can be found here.  Finished size (and after laundering) is about 50 inches square.  A nice lap-sized quilt.  I quilted it with meandering stars with a variegated thread.

I am so glad to have these last two quilts checked off my list...and in the possession of their owners.  These are two very special quilts for very special people.
       



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

They Like It!!

Paul and Rachel stopped by for a visit...

and to pick up their wedding quilt.

I had taken some photos indoors,
but asked them to pose for a

few more on their way out.  

Tag loves everyone, but especially his brother, Paul.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

All Finished!

I am getting stuff done. Besides kleenex cozies.  Seriously.

Up first to show you is the chocolate brown linen bolster pillow cover that I made this morning...

This was very easy to make...I cut a piece of linen to fit around the bolster pillow insert with seam allowance of 1/4".  I used the full width of the linen (about 55") and did not hem the sides because the selvages made for a nice finish.  I sewed the seam, finished the seam edges, and stuffed the insert into the tube.  I tied big knots (which I need to tidy up a bit) at each end of the pillow.  ta-da!  Finished!

Next up is my son's wedding quilt.  I won't even go into the background of how/when, etc.,...just suffice it to say that it's long overdue.  Remember au.then.tic by Sweetwater?  I LOVE that fabric collection!  I quilted this at The Electric Needle last week, finished sewing the binding last weekend, laundered it yesterday...and today I made and sewed the label on.  Here it is...all finished!

Only that quarter of the backing has the black prints...the rest of the backing is the numbers that you see at the top of the backing. I absolutely LOVE those numbers.  This quilt measures about 60 x 66 inches.  I think that Paul & Rachel will be pleased with it.   

On Wednesday, I made a 26 inch dog bed cover for Kim's Richard. It is made with the same fabric as this dog bed cover I made for Kim's Tahoe last summer.  Finished!

And, then I put together this 14 x 28 inch throw pillow cover for Kim.  Finished!

And, lest you think the kleenex cozies were forgotten...never fear! Finished 3 of them!

I also finished the other quilt that I quilted last week.  It is on its way to Cathy...will show you once she receives it.  Finished, but no peeks until then!

I played with scraps this week, too.  I put them into two larger containers (rather than 3 small ones).  I would show you a photo, but then you would know how OCD I can be about some things.  Let's just say that they are organized...and leave it at that.  But, hey...whilst doing that, I cut fabric for 22 more kleenex cozies!  I know you're excited to hear that.  

It was a good week for getting things done.  I have a few more things on my list...dresses, antique quilt repair, ring bearer pillow, t-shirt quilt, and another pillow cover for Kim.

What's on your list?

Hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11