Doggy Bibs

UPDATE/Adopt Me

Oh my, these are precious little ones. 

ADOPT ME

My son's high school friend Kathleen is very active in a local Rescue Group for dogs and cats and they take 3 at a time from the kill list at the Human Society and Shelters.  When Kathleen posts these darling little fur babies, my heart goes out to each to have a wonderful much deserved forever home.  Kathleen says they all will go to a forever home, and they are kept in loving foster homes until that happens.  The dogs were wearing dog bandanas with the Adopt Me message, and she asked if I would like to do about 40 for the group. YESSSSSSS, I squealed.  I love catching projects as they fly overhead and this is such a worthwhile endeavor, as that.  I tried the triangle doggy bandana style, but it appears that when the bandana is tied around the dog's neck the embroidery work is not showing as it should.   So I went to the drawing board and I came up with a bib design.  Three sizes for the large, medium and small dogs.  Kathleen came and picked these up yesterday. Today she will feature two of the dogs at one of the PetSmart stores in an adjoining city.  One of the dogs, she tells me, is a boxer and I was on the verge of being interested just as Riley The Cat leapt into my arms and said NOOOOOO.

See Rescue Group site right here.

Say hello to sweet Kathleen who does so much for these precious fur babies.

Thanks for stopping by.  I know I have become a naysay blogger lately but I assure you I am busy and not sitting by the pool eating bon bons.  Stay well, my visitors.

Little Bitty Baby Bibs

Still sewin', still havin' fun....  I just made a "batch" of cute little baby bibs.  The photo shows bibs that I made for my son and daughter in law who are trying to adopt a baby.  Some of you may know that my wonderful son, Brent, was adopted.  He came into our lives when he was just 23 days old.  He is my light, my wonderful son.  I was divorced when Brent was just 2-1/2 years old so he and I took on the challenges of life together.  He is now 44 and a most wonderful young man.  His wife, Lee, is the brightest light,...she shines like a star full of  love and personality.  Together they will make the most fantastic parents.  

If you would like to see the adoption link for my son and daughter in law, here it is.

Laundry Room Decor

Laundry Day As They Say

Is just a Basket away

I recently was delighted to have my huge walk in pantry reduced and my laundry room increased in size.  The walk in pantry was room sized and the perfect culprit that allowed "oh well, just shove it in the pantry".  It had shelves in a U-shaped design, 7 in all with vaulted ceiling and the shelves were loaded with ...well, lots of stuff...!!!  My laundry room, on the other hand, was nothing more than a "hallway" with the washer and dryer crammed in next to each other.  In the garage there was an alcove that had carpet rolls and shelving units store.  The front and back pantry walls were knocked down, the shelves removed.  In the garage that alcove wall was sealed up and that became the new smaller and very functioning pantry.  The back wall was rebuilt to house a pocket door that opens to the pantry.  The old pantry now accommodates my new dryer, and a table Rodney my handiman built that I use to fold my clothes on after removing them from the dryer.  This table is tall enough to accommodate Riley's liter box.  What a  wonderful benefit because previously his liter box was in the hall bathroom and I couldn't look down the hall without seeing it.  

Here is a shot of the area where my dryer sits.  I bought an LG washer and dryer set.  These little sweeties sing to me when I turn them on, sing a little song when their cycle has completed.  How cool is that?

 Here you can see the washer.  Next to it, I have a cabinet that houses all of my cleaning supplies.

I have driven myself crazy looking for some paintings or artwork to hang in the new rooms.  The paint is a soft sea foam green, and I know I will eventually find something suitable.  Meantime today I used my wonderful Cricut machine to do a wall hanging.   It'll do for the time being.   

 Just so you know I am not loafing around, I am also sewing.  I got so tired of the towels falling down from the oven handle.  Well, maybe falling down is a bit of a stretch.  Let's rephrase that.  How about Riley the Cat swiping at the towels and pulling them down?...  I remembered years back I made a towel that folded over the oven handle and buttoned to secure it.  The newer ones shown here actually close by Velcro.

Thanks for taking a peek at my delights.

Pigeons, Pigeons and MORE

 

 One morning I awakened to the sounds of "cooing" coming from my front porch.  I found two pigeons nesting at the top of the porch post.  They seemed to have found a home.  When I was having the laundry room and pantry remodeled, one of the guys doing the sheetrocking raises Egyptian pigeons.  He looked at the top of the post and said "there are eggs, you better get rid of those or you will have pigeons forever, she will just keep laying". He wouldn't do the task, and I tried but simply could not destroy those eggs. Little did I know what a nightmare this was going to turn into.  First I noticed that I hadn't seen "baby pigeons".  Now I know why. They do not leave "the nest" until they are seemingly full grown. And Jess was correct because these two parent pigeons went from porch spot to porch spot until all 4 corners now had 2 pigeons per spot and two crammed in parents.  I can tell you that I had to go out on my front porch 4 times a day to wash down the sidewalk which was now the landing strip for pigeon poop, not to mention the evidence trailing down from the top of the post.  The racket these birds made was not fun.  I would turn on the hose and spray them away, but as soon as I was back in my house, back they came, babies and all.

..Until my wonderful contractor could get over to solve this issue, I crammed the areas with pots and bricks and thought "well, that's that, no more pigeons". Wrong.  I found atop the bricks two scrunched down parents ready to nest on those bricks again.





 Finally Rodney arrived and he spent hours creating a perfectly sized platform with long spikes nailed in one inch apart.  $135 later, I clapped my hands and said "well, that's that, no more pigeons". Wrong..  
                   The next morning at 5AM I heard familiar cooing.  I absolutely could not tell you the shock to find 3 pigeons nesting on the sharp spikes, their legs hanging down between the rows of nails.  I grabbed the hose.  This was not a fun spray because the pigeons had no surface to launch from so they were wildly flapping wings. Eventually two were able to leave the area and one remained.  I was horrified to think that the pigeon was.... ewwww....impaled on the nail and I, who could not destroy the baby eggs, had to peel him from the nail.  But finally he lifted off and flew away from the water spray.    

.  Back came Rodney and he constructed a heavy wire "cage" from platform to ceiling, securing it so it was at long last pigeon proof.  We did laugh and say we hoped there were no pigeon wire cutters available to them.  .

That's my Pigeon Adventure, and I could have done without the experience.  

Happy Birthday to MEEEEEEE.

I love having a birthday.  I am cherished by so many and I always feel the blessing to be "here in the now" of life. I have many friends that are not here and I am always ever so cognizant of that.... So today I wish me a Happy 76th birthday.  Here are some of my precious cards conveying wonderful birthday wishes....

 My friend, a bloggy friend, a design team friend Sandi Kelly worked her magic for my celebration.  Her concepts of art and design, techniques and delights are a wonder to receive. This is a box carrying some pretty little colored chalks. Just look at that beautiful flower...!!!

 I yelped out loud with glee at my "wand".  It carries very special charms that Sandi took great care in searching for ... She knows how I love to sew....The top of the wand has a bobbin,  From this bobbin hangs the most delightful Carole-things: A pair of scissors, a button and a ruler and as I surveyed these delights, I yelped in glee once more when I discovered she had put upon the wand a little frog.  Everyone knows how Carole loves her froggies.

 This highlights a chalkboard...and a delightful little birthday message from Sandi.

 This is a Tea Light Shoji.. a mirror to set upon a small bulb light which is surrounded with a wonderfully colored screen that Sandi has stamped with a flower, a sewing machine, the message to "keep calm and stitch on".

Aren't I special?....  Thanks for your visit. You have a happy happy day.  Today I am being wined and dined by my former workmates, tomorrow and the next day are two more special lunches.  Ah the life of a 76 year old chica.

Punch Out & Stack 'em

When we friends do "Card Over" we exchange gifties.  My friend Kris Lancaster gave me a package that contained sheets of punch out flower designs in dimension form, and sheets of silky pattern papers in 8-1/2x11 size.  Waste not, I say, so after I punched out the most beautful flowers, I cut down the papers for card mounting.  Here is the result.  Some of the designs have a metalic bordering, and with the papers being silky, I caught a shine on my photo shoot.  Nonetheless, I hope you can see what delicate cards this package allowed me to create.  I made 18 cards total from the package and these will be given to my dear friend Adi.  She is a high school friend, and so cherished. I stamped off some sentiments on separate mounts and I will include a roll of double-sided tape so that she can include a sentiment inside if she desires. 

 This card I featured so that the 4 layers can be seen.  Two of the cards have 5 diminishing design layers.  I used the thin very small square pop dots that I use with Card Candy because of the multiple layering.  No doubt the mailings will cost more because of the "bulk" but I don't think Adi will mind.

Happy Tuesday, my sweet visitors.

First Families of AZ cards

Slam Dunkin'  for a Cause

I counted 74 cards that I was able to do for The First Families of Arizona.   They have been checked over, a few things added and they are now ready for delivery .  All the cards I used to do for BBTB/BBTB2 design team were mostly blank inside since I was designing for a challenge and the attention was basically to the front of each card... each of these cards have a printed sentiment inside to cover the 3 different themes of Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy.... I had a lot of fun making these cards.  There are a just a few that are duplicates.  But oh isn't it fun to slam dunk, use what you want and have a total free-for-all on the designs?... my kinda card-makin'...!!!

Thanks for your visit.

Card Over 2013/Tucson

CARD OVER 2013

I wait all year for this wonderful gathering of my cherished friends.  This year we missed having Pat join our group as she had commitments at home. This was our 6th Card camp.  I used to take gifties of papers and embellishments but a few years back I switched to taking some sewing projects.  Last July I took down to Tucson towel wraps for each to use for showers or swimming pool.  When the gals came up in February to my house, I made each of them a sweat shirt jacket.  This year I made totes with embroidery panels featuring our gathering. 

Deb, creating away. Deb filled her green tote with many wonderful cards. 

 This is Kris.  Kris is a published card maker and we watched her create some wonderful cards to submit.

Sandy....hostess this year. A lovely hostess indeed.  The gals all plan meals to share and they were wonderful.  

and finally, me.  This was taken on Sunday as I am packed and ready to head back to glendale. Tired looking aren't I?.... The drive to Tucson from my house is only 2 hours 38 minutes but I always stress driving that I-10 for fear that some errant dust storm is going to barrel down upon us travelers.  I start the "fret zone" before I even leave for Tucson, and it returns just moments before I hit the road to return home.  All was well, as usual so I fret for naught.  

This is Buddy.  A cute cute cute Cocker Spaniel.  I can't keep my hands off this guy.  Here he is, bringing the morning paper to papa.  

 I can sometimes slam together 80-90 cards at my Card Overs. This year I decided to work on cards for The First Families of Arizona, a donation I do for some really awesome pioneer families.  To be a member one has to have been here before Arizona's statehood....February 14, 1912.  My mother came to Phoenix in 1909 at the age of 9 mos. old.  I love making cards for their "social committee" for Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy.

Thanks for your visit.  I am ashamed that I neglect my sweet blog so.

The Embroidery Lounge

Today I am lounging around my wonderful Brother Innovis 2500 Embroidery Machine that gives me so much joy in the creations I can do.  My friend has a little precious granddaughter who is turning one year old.  She sews like I do ...so I thought it would be a lot of fun to create some embroidery panels for her to sew up some sweet little totes, bibs, pillows.  

She calls this precious granddaughter "Tylar Bee" so there is a color scheme going on of yellow and black and white.  I incorporated that into some of the designs.  

This is a Happy Birthday Panel.  Might make a cute little pillow. 

 Oh this is a pillow for sure.  A heart shaped pillow with a heart shaped design.

 This would be cute on a little bib, doncha think?

 A tote?

This is my favorite embroidery design.  

 Another Happy Birthday design.  Maybe a second pillow?

Now you know I am not lazing around.  I am lounging near my lovely sewing machines.
Have a happy day.  It's very hot here in AZ.  We had a 121 temp in some areas yesterday and when I stepped outside, I could almost attest that was the temp here as well.  I am sticking inside.

Tote it all...

eful in neglecting my blog.... I am busy, I really am.  I sew constantly and have special orders for this n' that, but somehow I don't get the things onto the blog...So.... with that said, my long time friend from the 1950s had a birthday.  I made her a little tote which featured 4 different designs of pink fabrics. .... It was fun to sew and she was pleased.  I make a LOT of totes.  They are so easy to sew up, use not a lot of fabrics and I love the way I can mess around with the designs so each is a bit different than the other.  

Journal Journal, Write it Down...

Recently a cherished high school friend asked if would do some handmade journals for her grandchildren.  Time past I would have hauled out my wonderful Zutter Binding Machine, the wire binders and create a totally handmade journal.  Now I use those premade black and white school journals.  Add some paper (6-1/2x9-3/4) on the front, back and inside cover, toss on a few embellishments  and a pretty cute journal is ready. 

This one was for Aliyah who someday wants to be a Florist. 

 Ari is a good student, she helps out with meals and she loves to read.

 Caleb loves to read, and he plays the piano and guitar.

 Josh wants to be a pilot.

Simple stuff but fun to make.  Today I put away all of the paper crafts for now and I headed to the sewing machines.  In July I go down to Tucson for the annual Card Over and I need to make some gifties.
Thanks for stopping in.  Have a wonderful week.

Slam Dunkem #40

Happy Sunday from hot Glendale, AZ.  It's only 99 right now but they tell us it will climb to about 108 degrees today.  Our reprieve is over, and summer is here.

I worked on about 30 cards for First Families of Arizona for their social committee to mail.  I love doing these gifts from  my heart, and when one of the members receives one of my cards, I hope they smile.  I am still slam dunking cards, using up the trays and box lids that gather left over papers and embellishments and sentiments.  Here are just a few, but I think I've made about 100 at least just in the last week.  Slam dunks are easy.  I like the little chick and birthday cake shaped cards which were cut from Birthday Bash.  

that's it for now.... just loading these up so you know I am still around and doing something creative.  Have a great week.

3D No Cricut Cards

I am knee deep in remodeling my laundry room and that has kept me a wee bit busy.  I had a full room sized pantry which was nice but became a "oh well just shove this in the pantry" area.  My laundry room was a small room with washer and dryer crammed together.  So, they tore out some walls, and when finished I will have a wonderful laundry room and a smaller pantry.  Meantime I haven't done much in the way of creating paper stuff.  I did have a few sheets of the 3D punch outs that come in from the UK so I tossed together some really cutsey little cards.  Here are 3.  TFL...have a great week. 

New Light Reading....

I recently asked a friend to take a look at something on my blog.  I was told it was hard to read because of that dark color and small print.  I heard!  I started this blog in October 2006 and because I wasn't adventuresome, I picked the first choice and it's been hanging around since.  I see so many cute blogs and yearned to be brave to make a change.  So, today I asked my dear friend Donna Mundinger to help me get the blog appearance changed.  I love "Cutest Blog on the Block" so that's where we went.
I wanted something light .... and for now, this is it.  In a few days I will get braver and take a look at some of the other choices...Hope it's easier reading for everyone.  Big hugs and thanks to Donna for plodding through this with me.