Happy Fifth Birthday Sweet Pups

Emma - My Little Diva

Owen - My Shy Boy

BFFs Forever

I Heart Tula Pink

      We were celebrating a finish on Sunday morning at Corgi Cottage... but it wasn't a stitching finish, it was a quilt top finish. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have recovered my quilting mojo. I have Michelle and Tula Pink to thank for my return to the wonderful world of quilt top construction. Thank you ladies!
         Drum roll please.... my completed Field Study by Tula Pink quilt top.

I Heart My Frog Prince!

No quilt top is considered complete until approved by the Head Quilt Top Inspector. Emma gave the quilt top her two paws up sign of approval.

      It wasn't all about quilting these past couple of weeks... I also worked on Rachel Howells. I'm building Rachel's house and I'm almost finished.

      There was a lot of prep work to be done on the Mermaid Treasures tutorial project. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that I've basted more that 5 feet of linen for the project. Now I'm ready to start Lesson 3 and the 'fun' stitching.

      
       I also couldn't resist adding to my collection of Tula Pink fabrics from her earlier collections.  I want to have a variety of fabrics to chose from when I create the blocks for her new City Sampler quilt.

 I love the way the Etsy shop owner, Making Stuff Up, packages her fabrics. It's a pleasure to receive something so beautifully presented. I bought one bundle of fabrics and was glad to return to her Etsy shop and order more!
      Please check back on Friday, April 26th, as we celebrate a very special day here at Corgi Cottage.

Laurie

False Alarm... It's Really NOT Spring

            I was so hoping that Spring has arrived in northeast Iowa... but it only lasted about 36 hours and Winter returned with a vengeance. I woke to a light coating of snow this morning after days and days of cold, chilly rain accompanied with thunder and lots of lightening. Owen and I did not care for the late night thunderstorm. Emma slept through the entire storm.

        I worked on Rachel Howells and completed all the leaves in the border and the border met... Yay!

            I was a bit distracted when a package arrived in the mail. Amy Mitten sent the Mermaid Treasures kit for her on-line Tutorial.

 

      Look at all those lovely goodies we received in the kit! We've also received the first two lessons. Nothing exciting to post photos about yet... just lots of basting on the two pieces of linen so we'll be all set to go on to the more interesting stitching.  If you aren't familiar with Amy's Mermaid Treasures check out her website photos of the pieces we will be creating. Mermaid Treasures Tutorial

     I think my quilting mojo has finally returned... and it's about time! It's been a very long time since my rotary cutter and mat have seen the light of day. It felt good to iron quilting fabric and start cutting today. I did make a couple of Ooops... but I'm not going to be too hard on myself... after all my skills are a bit rusty. I'm sure it won't take long to get back up to speed. 

    My frog prince will help me over the rough spots.

   

      Despite the never ending wet, dreary weather the pups and I have been getting out for longer walks in the morning. Emma crashes on the couch the moment we get back home!

 

      Emma and I would like to wish you all a wonderful weekend. We hope you have time to do those things you love, spend time with the people and furkids  you love and maybe even a few minutes to spare for a well deserved nap.

     Until next time.... 

Laurie

   

 

 

Could it Really be Spring?

        

      The sun has been shining and the temperatures rising in my little corner of Iowa. The birds are singing and the mud puddles are growing larger. Spring... could it really be here?
     I was searching for something in my stash closet the other day and came across a project bag. When I looked inside I found Peter & Peep by With Thy Needle and Thread. This was a project I wanted to have completed by Easter 2013. Well... that didn't happen, but at least it's started. I'm stitching Peter & Peep on 40 ct. Lambswool with the recommended threads.

      Rachel was calling loudly and didn't like being ignored.  I'm just finding Rachel Howells a joy to stitch and don't want to put her down. All other projects have been ignored.

     Don't you just love that big bird?

 

       I must have been a very good girl and feel very lucky to have been the winner of Alma Allen's giveaway from Blackbird Designs - One Stitch at a Time.  It's the lovely sewing box featured in there latest design - Honeybee Hill.

 

      My mailperson also brought me a box from Faye, Carolina Stitcher, with some lovely finished finishes. Here is one of my favorites. I love the added touch of the wool medallions... just makes it that much more special.

          I almost wish Winter was here so that I could display Phebe's Forest.

 

           Emma, Owen and I would like to wish you all a lovely Easter.

 

 

 

 

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Darby and Pumpkin Daily

Beating the Winter Blues

      It's that time of the year! Winter is keeping its icy grip on my little corner of Iowa. I long for Spring and it can't arrive soon enough. I've found the best way to beat the Winter blues is to park my butt in the stitching chair and ignore what's going on outside my windows.

      I certainly have enough projects to choose from and it didn't take long for me to settle in with an old friend. Here's my progress on Sarah Pain. I love those birds and the huge urn.

Sarah Pain - The Scarlet Letter

        In my last stitching blog post I talked about my unhappiness with the Lexington Green blending into my linen on Butternut Tavern. Several of you suggested that I use GAST Mountain Mist as a replacement for the Lexington Green. I couldn't have been happier with the results. I hope you'll agree that the switch was well worth unstitching  those alphabet letters.

Butternut Tavern - Stacy Nash Primitives

      Of course I couldn't ignore the Hex on the Beach quilting project. I basted another row of hexies, Rows 1 and 2 are now sewn together and I've basted and started sewing together Row 3. 

Hex on the Beach - Tula Pink

      I had planned on working longer on the hexie project but my mailperson brought me a much anticipated chart in the mail. Everything got pushed aside and I started on Rachel Howells. There isn't one thing I don't like about this sampler and I have been anxious to stitch her since I saw the antique sampler.

Rachel Howells - The Scarlett House

 I'm stitching my Rachel on 40 ct. Lakeside Vintage Light Examplar with the NPIs as charted. I can't wait to start on those big beautiful birds.

      We did have some upset at Corgi Cottage but I happy to report that Owen has recovered nicely from his neck injury. We'll go see Dr. Amy tomorrow morning for a follow-up visit and I'm sure she'll be as pleased as I am with Owen's improvement. Much to both Owen and Emma's displeasure they will both have to wear harnesses when going out for our walkies. Dr. Amy has warned me to never attach a leash to Owen's collar again as another injury to his neck could lead to permanent damage and neurological problems.  I made the decision that Emma should also wear a harness to prevent any possibility of a neck injury caused by a leash attached to her collar.
      As you can see by their expressions.... neither pup is happy! 

Really??? I have to wear this thing?

As if being in pain for days wasn't bad enough... now I have to wear this???

       On a much happier note... the sun was shining for approximately 45 minutes this afternoon....Emma took advantage of that lovely sunbeam.

(these moments)

{these moments} - A Friday ritual.  Photos - no words - capturing  moments from the week. Simple, special, extraordinary moments. Moments I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Darby and Pumpkin Daily