Happiness is fat orange ric-rac.

First, if any of you are around the HRM, stop in here: Marlene and her husband are the nicest people and they are the keepers of the awesomeness. The variety of material is just incredible. I don't recommend going there when you're in a hurry, but I so do recommend going there. I didn't look around much today, since I didn't want to ruin my fabric diet (I lusted after some of their Valentine material, but since I LOATHE the holiday, what would I even do with it?), but I did get the FQs for my giveaway (Uhm. Does that count? I'll have to go back and check. For the record, I don't think it should. I didn't even unfold them).

But I did get this:
Fat orange and red ric-rac; teeny skinny orange ric-rac; red with a silver thread; and silver with a red/green herringbone stitch. The last two were half-price, so 4m for $1.50. And the measuring tape? I know what you're thinking, 'My word, that looks like a lot of measuring tape,' and you are correct!
120"! I don't care what anyone says, SIZE MATTERS. And for the record, mine's bigger. Heh heh.

So. Remember Gunther?
Awww, I can still smell his noxious, salami-scented puppy breath. Well, his name has been changed to Ice (Vanilla? Perhaps), and he's is very happy at his new home. If you would indulge me for a moment, I would like to ramble (feel free to skip this part if you just don't care. I understand). I don't like poorly trained dogs. I think if your dog snarls and snaps and growls, then there's a problem, and you should really fix it. However, I don't think the problem is ever the breed. When Adam first saw this guy, he said he was making noises like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. But as soon as he showed him some attention, and made it clear that he a)wasn't being threatened, and b)wasn't in charge, he turned into this little puppy. The guy who had him was just convinced he was an aggressive dog, and that there was nothing that could be done with him. That just makes me sad. For the record, I've only ever been bitten by one dog. A miniature Daschund (he actually bites me every time I see him, and I think he might be possessed, but I digress). My point (if I haven't completely lost it already) is that the breed doesn't make the dog mean; how it's treated makes all the difference. Rocco is part pit bull, and I'm quite sure the only way he could harm anyone would be if he decided to nap on you. One more picture and then no more mention of dogs for the rest of this (very long) post.
Back to craftiness: see kate sew is having her first giveaway (which I would love to win!) and there's another one happening at Fussy Cut (see parenthesis above).
Also, my mug rugs are finished and ready to go to move on to their new homes.
Vintagey goodness! Speaking of which, I must get thrifting soon. Update, of course, to follow.

#100?? This calls for a giveaway!!

Here's your prize:

You're very own Pitty Puppy!! Open internationally. I mean, he'll be fine in a box with some food until he reaches his destination, right? HA! Actually, the puppy giveaway is only open to local (re: anyone who is willing to come get him) people, but please, if you, or someone you know, have the time and space for a very sweet, very lovable puppy named Gunther, send me a message. Adam (heretofore referred to as Dr Doolittle) rescued him from either a)death, or b)life in a junkyard, which really is the same thing. He's a smart little puppy; he's listening really well, and playing well with Rocco. Please pass this on, this little guy needs some humans to call his own.

Now.

100 posts in a little less than a year! That really does call for a giveaway! What will it be, you ask? I don't know!! It's a surprise (I have it from a good source that it might involve something along the line of mug rugs, fat quarters and assorted goodies, but it won't be revealed until it's received)!! Even to me! But if you want it, you get

• one entry for a comment
• one entry for following
• one entry for linking me on your blog.

Please leave one comment for each thing you do, meaning I'm counting each comment as one entry, so if you do all 3 and leave one comment, you still only have one entry. I hope that was clear and I didn't leave anything out. WOOHOO!! This is my first giveaway!! Comments open until I get up next friday (January 21), and then I'll announce the winner.

Edit: Gunther has moved on to a very good home with lots of love and attention and... damn, he's not here anymore...

Son O'Benore

Well, then. Today we got snow.

This was after about an hour. It's ridiculous. Srsly. I do not like the snow, or winter at all for that matter. It's cold, it's dark. At the moment, the roads are a mess. The hound loves it, so I can't just stay in, and hibernate like I would like to (although I did stay in for most of the day). So I saw the snow start, and I was thinking, this would be a great day to sew. Turns out, like Al Purdy, I was wrong (I can't find a copy of "Homemade Beer" online, but check this out, if you have a moment. I love Al Purdy's poems). I have managed to accomplish some things, but sewing, well, let me just say I bonded with my stitch ripper today. It was a very frustrating, like, kick a puppy into a jet engine type of day.

But not this puppy

That's his new Lion buddy. When he's tired, he likes to lay on him and suck on the big squishy feet. Yea, I know, my dog is kind of a weirdo.

So.... did I hear someone say quilt? *That was an attempt at a segueway. And for the record, whenever I read that, in my head, I say say-goo-way. Smrt, right?*
This is my huge, hand-sewn and (half) hand-quilted Apple Core quilt. (Only half quilted because when I started doing carpentry, it came with some lovely carpal tunnel, which doesn't affect work very much usually, but does mean no hand sewing when I'm working. It sucks. Anyway, moving on...). This one comes with some whimsy.



Hopefully I can get it quilted before summer. I'm pretty sure the top was done, oh, at least 12 years ago, I think it is well past due.
This is one that was intended as a wedding gift for my sister.... they just celebrated their 5th anniversary.... So... anyway... you'll notice the border isn't done... and it's not quilted....
... but look at this couch potato!!
And in the same basket I found these blocks. I had found some material that belonged to my dad's grandmother, and started making them with the intention of making a quilt, which I abandoned when I decided that they were old and not likely up to the wear and tear of quilt life. But fear not, they've been reincarnated.
Finally, my six completed blocks for my Carpenter's Wheel quilt. The remaining twenty-nine blocks are in various stages of (let's be honest) incompletion.

I have actually finished some quilts, but I'm experiencing technical difficulties with the picture format. I'll figure it out...
That's all I've got, people. Stay tuned for entry #100. I promise nothing super exciting, but I'll see what I can do ;D.

Post #98. Really?!?

Really, really? Neat!

Since I only saw the fabric diet yesterday, it's not really my fault that I bought some fabric. Right? That's what I thought. Before Christmas, I got some fat quarters, and I got a couple for Christmas (good job, Santa!).

Then last Tuesday, I may have purchased a few fat quarters ( I don't want to incriminate myself)
.... and a half meter of this. Awesome graphics and text? I should have bought the bolt!
And in my sock from Adam, I got an entire meter of some beaver-y goodness. They just look so cheerful and patriotic
Whew. That's all I swear! No more until the end of February! Erm... zippers don't count, right? Right??

And in cookie related news, have you tried these? They are soooo good (and available at Bulk Barn :D), but today, I discovered Yan Yan, advertised on the Meiji site as "The Fun Dip Stick". The cookie stick comes with things printed on them, like Cow-Muuuuu. Okay, I'll give you that one. You kind of lost me at Goat-You are lucky today. And then there's Stag Beetle-Love it. Er. Okay? But this? I can't get behind this: Made no sense, but still tasted delicious.
HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!

Wheeeeeee!

Who doesn't love giveaways? There is a super one happening over at Bearpaw, do check it out, but please leave the winning to me ;D.
I said there would be crafty things.... erm... I'll be back... must go walk the hound.... (which is starting to sound a lot like, "time to make the doughnuts").



Update at 8.33pm: There will be no crafty things. Not this evening. Tomorrow. Cross my heart. Most likely... Anyway, I have signed up for a fabric diet. See? Here's my button:

The whole point is to not buy fabric for 8 weeks, starting 01.01.11. Of course, I bought 2 FQs and a 1/2m of a very awesome fabric on Tuesday. Anywho, you can check it out over at Cut to Pieces.

I have no title.

This is my dog, Mopey.

Adam's away for work, thankfully only until tomorrow, because I don't know how much more of this I can take. I took him for two walks today (which will hopefully be the normal thing from now on). When we went out before supper, I was talking to some co-workers of my neighbors who were outside with his dog, Roxy. One poor guy was terrified of Rocco. This hound, right here. The one who doesn't jump, and doesn't even bark, let alone growl (he was pretty excited right then, but I think that's because he has a crush on Roxy. Puppy love? Ouch, that was awful).

Anyway, with all the alone time, you'd think I'd be getting massive amounts of crafting done, but my sewing room is still in such a state that I won't even post a picture of it. I've been doing things, I swear! Cooking and cleaning and walking and cleaning and getting groceries and walking... y'know, all the fun stuff. It should be tidied up by the time I go to bed, and perhaps tomorrow, there will be some making getting done. But tonight, there will be banana bread.

Speaking of food, I HAVE been eating better, which is exciting (even though every time I exercise, I picture Edina Monsoon. Of all the clips online, I couldn't find one with her exercising, which is odd, since her weight was ALWAYS being mentioned. However, I love Absolutely Fabulous, so here's a clip of outtakes. They make me chuckle). Unlike Eddie, I'm not looking for a quick fix, and for anybody who's trying to watch what they eat, check out www.sparkpeople.com. It's pretty much awesome. Unfortunately, they don't send someone to your house to kick you in the bum when you don't want to do anything but watch reruns and and eat pretzel bites....

And the stockings were packed, and life returned to normal...

Christmas was quiet and very good. I came back for New Years, and at the last minute decided to skip the party and stay in. Apparently the winter hibernation is setting in early (see how I refuse to just admit to getting old? ;D). So we watched Public Enemies, and ate McFlurries (only because Cold Stone Creamery was closed, but it did the job in a pinch), and the hound didn't bring in the new year alone (I know, I know. Like he has any idea what day it is. However, the fireworks everyone was setting off was scaring the poo out of him, so I'm glad we were here). What was the point of all that, you say? Nothing at all. I hope everyone else had a good holiday. So now, it's January 4th (the year is going fast already!), my trees are down, and put away and everything looks extra bare because in my infinite slackdom, I haven't cleaned and put the "normal" things back out. I have been doing some shopping for next year, I completely lucked out and got my sister a super birthday present (if I do say do myself!) at Liquidation World (!!) that I had almost ordered off the web for her two times (!!!) previously. I love good shopping karma!! Back to productivity tomorrow, so I'll re-decorate, and clean, and de-clutter my sewing room, because nothing is getting done in there right now.

Oh, and remember how I said I'd update with pictures of gifts I was making? Welllll.... I kind of neglected to sort of take the pictures.... of the Merry Christmas bunting, and the shaving kit, and square Dr Seuss bag... I also made a wall decoration out of a muffin tin, with little gingerbread men decorating for Christmas. Mea culpa. From now on, I'm taking pictures of everything. Can I interest you in a sewing box makeover I did for my sister?

**This is turning into a very long post. Please feel free to stop reading, get a snack, stretch your legs, visit the water closet. Thanks for sticking it out this long, and please come back for a resolution update, and an exciting announcement!**

So New Years. This being my 30th New Year, I hope that I can actually keep the majority of these.

1. Of course, I'll eat healthy and be one prime physical specimen by this time in 2011. Y'know, just like the rest of you! Well, okay, while that would be nice, I'll go for the more realistic goal of only having junk food once a week. (I can do this; I do it every year for Lent. Then it's Easter, and so it begins again...).
2. I'll walk the dog every day, at least once a day.
3. I'll stop leaving my socks in the living room at night.
4. I'll start running, like my sister told me to (this is also for the hound, mostly).
5. I'll spend less. Oh yes, I will.

And the exciting bit: I just signed up for my first swap! (I didn't say it would be exciting for you!). It's the Nightmare Before Valentine's Day Craft Swap over at Meridian Ariel, and I am eagerly awaiting the 14th of January when I get the details about my swap buddy! Yayayayay!!