Friday, October 26, 2012

what a week, what a week

Just when you think the off season is going to give you a quieter time at work, in comes a slew of caterings and meetings to prove you wrong.

I began the week with a five hour meeting, followed by two four hour meetings the next two days, along with a few caterings - I just finished one this morning, and I've got two more tomorrow. I'm grateful for the work - so incredibly grateful - but my attention span is really meant for about TWO hours. After that, I get a headache. That's why I'm always moving from project to project! Reading book by book by book!

Where to start? Well, for one, the puppy went back to the vet. Some redness and loss of hair on her head and ears gave the vet cause to believe she had an infection; a week's worth of antibiotics didn't do much, so the final diagnosis was a mild case of Demodectic mange. Aside from the new antibiotics (which she eats because I bribe her with cheese) and the ointment (which I trick her into letting me put on), she also has to have two medicated baths a week. 


None of this has affected her ability to be adorable. 


She's even developed a new hobby of sitting behind the curtains. I often come home and find them all oddly jacked up; of course there can be only one culprit!

She also has a new habit of wanting to be in the tub! Sulli cries when I'm in the bathroom putting on makeup ...


(Forgive the terrible lighting in my bathroom; I've been too lazy to have them come by and add bulbs...)


In other news, I got to sew a bit! Yay! And my cross-stitching has continued as usual; it's an easier feat to attempt when there's a fussy puppy running around than sitting down at a sewing machine.


I'm finished with February (Grapefruit) now, and have moved on to sweet, sweet March (Kiwi). I also bought the new sampler, the Kawaii Winter Countdown, and TOTALLY CAN'T WAIT for November 5th! I even dyed my cross-stitch fabric:


It's actually a few shades darker than the one I previously dyed for a sampler (above). I'll put together my next post on tea-dyeing and the methods I use, but it definitely works! (It helps that it's fun and quick!) I double-dyed this one to make it darker, using Earl Grey both times (but different brands; I just used what I had on hand), and using a higher concentration of tea bags the second time around. I might dye it again if I thought it would make it darker...



I'm in love with the "Pirate Stripe" from "Out to Sea" by Sarah Jane. It's perfect. When my best friend requested something nautical for her baby's nursery, this stripe was immediately what I thought of for binding!

With the top basted, I've also started quilting on it:




Using a darker, royal blue for the outside/inside of the stars and a matching shade for the stars themselves, the effect on the back is beautiful. The only problem with my progress is that my hands start to ache after awhile, and I have to set it aside for a little while. (Also, certain puppies like to chew on the edges, and that is no bueno).

That's all for today. I'll leave you with a picture of some legos and a poor pretzel vendor who never had a chance (in honor of Oktoberfest!)


Run, pretzel man, run! 

Later Days!

- Katie




Friday, October 12, 2012

oh, Harry Potter gets me right in the feels.

In all seriousness, I can't watch any Harry Potter movie without tearing up once or twice. I'm in a glass case of emotion! Every. Time.

(which is why I bought the movies I didn't have)
(and plan on having a marathon when I get the chance)
(...even if it takes me two days)

In other news, my puppy had her last baby shots this week! And just when I thought we were free to go - after discussing her scary anxiety attack last week, and the biting that commenced - the vet noticed her eye was red. So now we're on antibiotics.


But I'm lucky, because she doesn't mind all that much. In fact, she gets impatient when I don't get her medicine ready quick enough - thank you, better tasting meds! Why can't people have better tasting meds?

I bought some fabrics for a quilt for a friend, and laid them all out ... I can't wait to cut into them! :)


And I declared my rotary cutter MIA, so I had to buy a new one. Boo! But at least this one has a handle. We'll see how well I like it.


Somewhere in between, there was this clam poker party (because dog poker, as you know, is SO last century).


And some Hello Pilgrim blocks became bigger blocks.


Although these still need to be trimmed up ...


I also pulled out some old Quilt-As-You-Go blocks. This one, part of a series with Heather Ross prints as centers, is one of my favorite for it's mint/teal color scheme ...

But who can forget Sleeping Beauty?


Or the Frog Prince? (one of my favorite all-time prints, by the way)



I'd love to finish that quilt up. At the moment, I've got one baby quilt that HAS to be done ASAP - before my best friend/sister has her baby, Jace! I'm sewing the backing tonight and quilting it Sunday (hopefully). 


We also got our Renfest tickets! I LOVE, LOVE LOVE REN FEST. I can't wait to take a busload of pictures and upload them here! It's going to be the bomb.com.

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll be back later in the week with a finished baby quilt, a few finished blocks, and a birthday present for the best little brother ever.

Later Days!
- Kait




Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Only Wednesday? Jeez.

This dog is killing me. I am worn. out.

Let no man tell you that raising a puppy is in any way, shape, or form, "a breeze". Nor is it "cheap". I knew that getting a dog would be a lifetime commitment - and when I picked a Chihuahua, I knew it would be a 15 year plus commitment. And truth be told, I've really enjoyed having a companion around the house.

But it's been six or seven years since the last time my parents had a puppy, and I'd forgotten how difficult it could be. Of course she was easy-going at first; she was only five weeks old! Now she's about four months, rambunctious, and very needy. If she doesn't have my immediate attention, she barks or whines. It's behavior I'm trying to correct, but it takes time. Lots of time...and patience.


On the other hand, look at how adorable she is. And she's actually very sweet and loving, and I'm sure once she grows and we get used to each other, she'll be a great dog. 



In the meantime, my main issue has been sewing. I've lived alone for the last three years so I'm used to just doing whatever I want, whenever I want. But when I get on the sewing machine, and she wants my attention, she barks incessantly. I finally got the spray bottle out and got her and she quieted down, but it's a technique I'm sure I should use. I didn't want to, but I think crate training is going to be the route we have to go down. 

In less frustrating news, I ordered some new fabric for a friend's quilt - some The Birds and the Bees by Tula Pink, some old script from Nevermore, and some miscellaneous prints here and there. I think they'll make a nice, simple quilt (and I really owe this lady one!)

I thought about buying the pattern for a Weekender bag - I'd really like to have one, and I'd like to make my sister-in-law one. After seeing Oh! Fransson's pictures where she used Quilt-As-You-Go techniques in the place of some interfacing, I'd love to try my hand at it! I love QAYG. 


One good thing about having a puppy who likes to sleep on the couch next to you is that it has allowed me (forced me?) to work more on cross-stitch. I finished the last four months I was missing from my Dessert of the Month sampler, and I organized my embroidery thread while I was at it. Look at me GO.   I was super excited to read that they had another winter sampler coming out soon - I love their cute designs!

No sewing news at the moment (see the above paragraphs), but I'm hoping to get a little done on Friday. After I clean (which has been neglected) and sleep (because I've been feeling super icky the last few days. Damn achy teeth).

Later Days!

- Katie