Once again days have turned into weeks since my last post. My dear husband and I took a trip to north Arkansas for a few days for a little rest and relaxation. While we were visiting that part of the country we had the pleasure of visiting with my crazy quilting, online friend Hollie and her husband Mark. (picture of Hollie and me in the post before this one) When we returned home we needed a few more days of rest and relaxation to revive from the road trip…If you are over fifty, you know what I’m talking about.
When we went out of town we left our dogs at home with our oldest daughter. They love her dearly, and we never have to worry about them when they are in her care. Our Great Dane started getting very finicky about eating while we were gone this time, and when we returned things went downhill from there. We were hoping he was just being sensitive, because we left him and he would soon return to normal. His hips had been getting bad for a while. He showed signs of old age. I’ve seen the “handwriting on the wall” for several months. On Tuesday of last week he completely stopped eating. Nothing I offered him would entice him to eat. On Monday of this week we called our vet in to euthanize him. He was beginning to show signs of suffering, and we had to gulp up the courage to do what was best for him. Hence…the broken heart. Bubba was a great dog and will be missed greatly.
Moving on to crazy hearts…Late last week a crazy quilting friend’s husband passed away. My words are not adequate for expressing the sorrow I feel for her loss. I’ve never walked that mile…I can only imagine the pain she is feeling. This heart will be embellished with her in mind, and I will send it to her. Hopefully I’ll have it completed and ready to go by weekend’s end.
The next heart is for a one on one heart swap…just because. I constructed it a little bit bottom heavy and have not decided how I will handle that.
Speaking of one on one swaps…My friend Pam and I have entered into a one on one block swap. We chose an 8 inch block. Each of us made a naked block and exchanged them to embellish and return home.
Here is the one Pam sent to me. She dyed all the fabrics herself. Aren’t they lovely. The colors are vibrant…brights are her favorite.
The block I sent to her is made of fabrics in far more muted colors…The trim along the edge of the curved patch was salvaged from a thrift store pillow case. I call this block “two friends” because of the silkie I used for the anchor patch.
Last but not least, I worked on the final block I will angel stitch for in the World Wide Crazy Quilting encrusted RR. The block belonged to Carol. For my part I stitched the vine on the long blue patch, added stitching to the existing stitching on the anchor patch, and added the spider web and spider. I tried a different web-making technique and have not decided if I like it as well as couching the web.
Before I go I want to announce my next giveaway. Robbie Fields has generously offered to share two sets of her Creative Stitchery Success Strips to be given away one set at a time on my blog. I will be featuring her success strips in a post very soon (or as soon as I can manage to get another post ready). I recently bought a set of these strips from Robbie after hearing about them from several of my very accomplished stitching friends. I’m so glad I did, because they make it so simple to space my embroidery stitches evenly and give them a more professional look. That’s a big plus when stitching compound-stitch, seam treatments. I think every crazy quilter should have a set of these great stitching tools, and I have to wonder why I waited so long to buy them. Click on the link and see how affordable they are.
Just for the record, I am hosting this giveaway because I really like the strips. Robbie did not ask me to. Only after I asked her if she minded if I featured her strips on my blog and told her I wanted to give a set away did she offer to furnish the sets. I appreciate her generosity. I expect nothing in return for hosting the giveaway. It is my intention to share a wonderful stitching tool with those who are not aware of it.
Until next time…
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)
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