The Confrontation Over Property Rights

I have never seen Chester so relaxed (and so long). He was completely out. It was a pleasure to see him sleeping like this.
My son and daughter-in-law remodeled the children's room while the children were off at Computer Camp (supervised by the other grandmother). So, being able to, they cleaned and eliminate lots and lots. The beneficiary of the largess is the Dog Yard Sale. Somehow the sheep skin was put in with everything else.
I threw it down in the front room to see what the cats would do. Chester was the only one that saw me do this. He went over to check it out, found that it was very comfy and decided he needed a nap.
A while later Penelope went looking for Chester and then went ballistic that he took the rug before she had a chance to look at it.
Remember that when you are a Princess, you get to call the shots.
I haven't decided whether to give the rug away or keep it.

We'll see. Good behavior counts !

The Dog Raffle

A long time ago, I read a post by Menofleur, and she left me with an idea that I knew I had to explore. Phyllis made a tribute wall hanging for a singer who had died to early. It was a lovely tribute but what impressed me and stayed with me is that she used a photo that was put on fabric. "Transfer paper". I knew about it but didn't realize that it was so accessible. So, when I volunteered to donate a purse for the AKC Dog Trial that the club has every year, I knew that in some way I was going to include this wonderful product "Transfer Paper".
In the club, there is this wonderful lady and she and her husband have Keeshonds. They are very beautiful and fluffy dogs. The coloring goes from light gray to almost black. I asked my friend for photos of the dogs and there began my adventure with "Transfer Paper". I wanted the photos to look like dropped postcards. The fabric is a bonded cotton. I chose brown because with dogs, everything gets dirty or smudged with dirt. One of the photos forms a pocket.
Now, I realized that the winner of the raffle may not have a Keeshond, so that means I have committed myself to making two purses for the dog raffle - one for my friend and won for the winner. But it is all for a good cause and an excuse for using "Transfer Paper"

The Long Awaited Event

On the cold, wintry day of the first of August, I am walking on the old Navy Base that is located in Alameda, California. The reason I am here is to attend the Antique Flea Market that is held every first Sunday of every month. The items are "guaranteed" to be at least 20 years old. That sign amused me because 1/2 my clothes qualify as antique. Who knew? This was the beginning of the long walk to get in. The parking lot was extensive and full of cars. We were in the back of the lot. It was cold and my niece was bundled up and I had a wool sweater.
I had a lot of fun looking at everything. The flea market was HUGE. I didn't count but there was probably about 40 rows and each row was about 2 city blocks long. We saw every booth and commented on many items.
For me, this was the most interesting booth and still I did not purchase much at the market.
I did enjoy the antique buttons. There was a card with seven very lovely glass buttons. The seller wanted $ 18.00 and since I like to wash clothes in the machine, it wouldn't work for me. They were very lovely but very delicate. I have used glass buttons before and just sewing it on the blouse, I broke one by pulling the thread to tight.Here we are at the end of a hard, hard day checking out all the stalls. The sun did finally come out and I had to wear this hat to ward off the rays.We had a wonderful time and I figured that we walked about 4-5 miles and my feet vibrated in the middle of the night complaining with fatigue.
What fun we had!

A Blouse for Lucy

I am going to send Hollis' jacket to him. But remembering when I was a child, I couldn't send something to Hollis without sending something to Lucy.
This little blouse is made from scraps. I was given a lot of fabric that I still have not re-cycled to someone else. This Blouse is a composite of three fabrics. The pieces were all to small for any purpose. I measured it all out and found that twisting this way and that, I could come up with a whole blouse. The Geraniums were cut from a small piece but the colors were so harmonious that I had to include them. I wasn't sure that Lucy could pull this over her head, so I put in a short zipper.
I sure hope that she will like it.

The Trial

I belong to a dog club. We will be having an obedience trial in August and you all welcome to come. We are a small club, so we all do what we can to make the trial successful. It is American Kennel Club sanctioned trial so we have to perform in a certain manner. But one of the ways that the event become our own is that we have a raffle. This year I decided to donate a purse.
I have been worrying about this for months. I went this way and then had to change course.
I have come to the end of the mental road and now must proceed in this physical world. I am going to make a tote. In photo you will see the fabric and also you will see photos. I am going to transfer the images to fabric and then adorn the sides of the tote. These photos are Keeshonds that belong to an extremely lovely club member and the tote will go to her after the trial. I am going to say at the raffle table (with a placard) that this tote is an example of what a person will get if they are the winning ticket. And yes, their dog would be on the tote. Essentially, I will make two totes. During the nights, when I am beating myself up, I tell myself that this is for a good cause. I now have all the needed pieces and I can proceed.
May I have a little drum roll.............

Hollis is Ready for Fall

I could tell that Hollis felt a twinge when I made a nightgown for Lucy. I asked him if he wanted me to make him another jacket. Rather begrudgingly said yes. I got the point. When I went to FIDM, I found this very soft corduroy. I wanted to use my resources, rather than buy quilting for the lining. So I quilted the lining with a Snuggley that I had never used. It was a fun challenge.

It worked out fine.
The lining of the "hoodie" was from my stash. It was a fuzzy fabric that I had made an outfit for my Mother. That makes that fabric about 20 years old. I did purchase the "hoodie" string.

Now it is ready to be presented to Hollis.

I have been working on this for a while. I wanted to integrate these three elements. When I get a problem (or situation as I have been to to think of it!), I mull it over. Sometimes the thinking part can take days and in this case, it was days and night (as in dreams). I try not to go forward until I have a clear idea of the path. With these three elements, decorated and painted leather, the handwoven wool from Colombia and the Boucle', it took a long time to gel. But what I hadn't figured out was how to get the structure on the inside of the purse. That is just as important as the decorative items. If you don't get the structure, then it will not wear well. This purse was taken apart a number of times. I needed to make sure the handles wouldn't pull out. I had to extend the handles on the inside to go all the way around so it would not pull away. Then I needed to put stiffening on the bottom of the bag. Let me just say that the inside is even more vitally important than the outside. The outside can always be glamoured up but the inside needs to "hold up". Especially if this is to be a tote.
The origin of the parts: The leather Cats (which is on both sides) came from a purse made in India. I salvaged the good parts. The Colombian handwoven Wool came from Colombia via my Uncle 30 years ago. And the Boucle' I purchased at FIDM about 5 years ago.
This all proves that I am not a "hoarder". I ended up using the lovely fabrics. Eventually!

Close of the sweet cats:

I have been working on this for a while. I wanted to intergrate these three elements. When I get a problem (or situation as I have been to to think of it!), I mull it over. Sometimes the thinking part can take days and in this case, it was days and night (as in dreams). I try not to go forward until I have a clear idea of the path. With these three elements, decorated and painted leather, the handwoven wool from Colombia and the Boucle', it took a long time to gel. But what I hadn't figured out was how to get the structure on the inside of the purse. That is just as important as the decorative items. If you don't get the structure, then it will not wear well. This purse was taken apart a number of times. I needed to make sure the handles wouldn't pull out. I had to extend the handles on the inside to go all the way around so it would not pull away. Then I needed to put stiffening on the bottom of the bag. Let me just say that the inside is even more vitally important than the outside. The outside can always be glamoured up but the inside needs to "hold up". Especially if this is to be a tote.