Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

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Here’s what I’ve been playing with this past week:

For my “Try This” posts in July, I’m working with kits.  This week, I made a needle felted flower.

The kit suggests attaching it to the back pocket of a pair of jeans, turning it into a pocket on a purse or attaching a pin to it and adding it to a hat or jacket lapel.  The kit had more than enough wool roving, so I may make a couple more flowers and use them on a yarn vase.

I added trim and embroidery stitches to my crazy quilting pouch.  Next, I’ll add silk ribbon flowers and embellishments to the embroidery stitches.

Daily Inspiration

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.

African Proverb

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My Aunt Alma was my favorite aunt.  Although, my mom had 10 sisters and 1 brother, my Aunt Alma was the only relation on my mom’s side of the family that lived close to us when I was growing up.  She had many wonderful qualities, and when I look at my life, I can see her fingerprint in so many beautiful ways.

She was the only woman I knew that drank beer.  When I was little, I asked my dad why he drank beer and he told me it put hair on your chest.  As a little girl, I desperately wanted a hairy chest, so you can imagine my admiration for my Aunt Alma and the hope it held for me in the future.  I lost my desire for a hairy chest and never acquire a taste for beer, so no harm done.

My aunt worked for many years at a store that sold office and party supplies.  She had several books with actual samples of the party supplies (napkins, picks, place cards, invitations).  I LOVED looking through those books with all their color-coordinated paper beauty.  I was blessed with a stay-at-home mom, so my “professional” aunt fascinated me.  I still love office supplies.

My Aunt Alma was a reader and her favorite book was Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  She also loved old movies and Hollywood glamour.

She was more than a little responsible for my love of collecting and my appreciation of beautiful things.  Going to her home was like going to a magical place.  She collected EVERYTHING.  When I was young, her home was beautifully appointed and her collections were nicely displayed.  She had collections of tiny ceramic animals; she had a curio cabinet set-up with “rooms” filled with dollhouse furniture; she had a collection of beautiful dolls, old and new.  She helped me appreciate the beauty of small details and the history and stories behind objects.

My aunt lived in a house with a creek in her backyard.  How cool is that.

She had a little chihuahua named Trixie.  A cute little dog, with a cute little name; what little girl wouldn’t love that.

She passed away many years ago, but I’m forever grateful, in ways big and small, for the care, time and love she gave to me.

Daily Inspiration

 

The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.

Erma Bombeck

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This is a fun little list from Marriage: Experience the Best by Dr Steve Stephens.  So, which are you?  I highlighted what I am in red.

Extrovert or Introvert:  Extroverts love crowds while introverts would rather spend time in solitude or with a close friend.  Extroverts are energized by people and introverts are worn out by people.

Leaper or Looker:  Leapers take risks; when they see an opportunity they want to jump on it before it’s too late.  Lookers are more cautious.  They like to carefully check everything out before making a decision.

Outliner or Detailer:  Outliners have a general focus and look at the big picture.  They think in terms of direction and getting things done.  Detailers look at the nuts and bolts.  Their concern is how to get things done.

Spender or Saver:  If spenders have extra money, they want to spend–on themselves, on others, on worthy causes, on anything.  If savers have extra money, they want to put it away for a rainy day.  They do not like to spend unless it’s very important.

Planner or Flexer:  Planners love structure with everything organized and neatly packaged.  They like schedules and deadlines.  Flexers bend with the flow of life and take things as they come.  They tend to be spontaneous and laid back.  Loose ends don’t  bother them because they believe everything will work out.

Scurrier or Ambler:  Scurriers are always busy.  Speed and efficiency are their watchwords–accomplish as much as you can as fast as you can.  Amblers take their time and set their own pace.  They might not do as much, but they enjoy what they do.

Thinker or Feeler:  Thinkers focus on facts and principles.  They base decisions on objective data and tend to be task-oriented.  Feelers focus on people and emotions.  They base decisions on subjective data and tend to be relationship-oriented.

Dreamer or Worker:  Dreamers are creative people who love to come up with ideas.  They are optimistic and oriented toward the future.  Workers are practical.  They like to take other people’s ideas and make them happen.  They tend to be realistic and focus on the present.

Collector or Tosser:  Collectors gather things.  They hate to throw anything away because they know they just might need it sometime.  Tossers get rid of things.  They hate clutter and they insist that if you haven’t used something recently, you probably never will.

Juggler or Holder:  Jugglers are multi-channeled and can deal with many things simultaneously.  Holders are single-channeled and can only deal with one, maybe two, things at a time.  If they try to do more, they become stressed and overwhelmed.

Daily Inspiration

 

Having someone wonder where you are when you don’t come home at night is a very old human need.

Margaret Mead

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This summer, I’m participating in a few classes offered by Artful Gathering.  During the first session, I’m taking Crazy Quilting 101.  I did my piecing last week.  This week, I added trim and embroidery stitches.

I added two pieces of trim.

A sequined applique.

And a piece of lace with bead detail.

 

Then, I added my embroidery stitches.

A herringbone stitch.

A chevron and lazy daisy stitch.

And a feather stitch.

Next week, I’ll add silk ribbon flowers, beading and embellishments.

Daily Inspiration

   

It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it. 

Jacob Bronowski

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Here’s what I’m doing on Thursdays during June and July…I’ll pick three items; the first week, I’ll tell you what I know and the next week, I’ll tell you what more I find out.  I’m doing this in order to motivate myself to record the information and stories behind my heirlooms and special things.  Here are my three items for this week:

Green Bottle

My mom gave this to me.  It belonged to her father’s brother (her uncle).

 

Oil Painting

 

Oil Painting Details

This hung in the hallway of the home I grew up in.  I’m sure my mom told me a little about it when she gave it to me, but I don’t remember.  I had it stored away and just recently hung it up.

Chair

 

Chair Label

My mom gave me this chair.  I assume it is a “family” piece, but I don’t know anything about it.  It has a label on the bottom, “Holland Chair Company, Holland, Mich.”

Oz

February 16, 2000 – July 1, 2012

On a sad note…My friend, Kat’s kitty Oz has gone over the Bridge.  If you have a chance, please visit her blog (Dog Gone Right) and read her loving tribute to her little boy.  In addition to his human family, Oz leaves behind a kitty sister, Willow, and a greyhound sister, Gwyn.

Daily Inspiration

Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.

William Shakespeare 

For July, my “Try This ” posts will feature kits.  I don’t buy a lot of kits, but every once in a while I see something I can’t resist.  I’m starting with a little needle felting kit from Feltworks.  The lure of this kit was the 97¢ price tag.

The great thing about kits…they usually include everything you need, which makes them a great way to try something new without spending a ton of money on supplies that you may or may not use.

This kit includes a white piece of felt printed with a flower, white and black roving, a foam block and two felting needles.

Begin by placing the white felt on top of the foam block.  Then, place a piece of the wool roving in an area and push the felting needle straight down through the roving and into the foam block.

 

Continue poking the needle in and out of the roving until it is attached.

I filled in all the black spaces first.  I didn’t finish this project.  I’ll keep working on it and  show you the final product next Monday.

Because I own a large needle felting mat, I used that.  It is much nicer to use than the little foam block.

Last week, I finished up a month of making flowers.  One of the flowers I demonstrated was the folded petal flower.  Lynne, of Dip-Dip and The Bridge, made one of these flowers as a pin for one of her outfits.  Didn’t it turn out beautiful?  Thank you, Lynne, for sending me this picture to share!

Daily Inspiration

 

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For the past six months, I’ve been telling you about things I love.  What do you love?  Do you have a favorite product?  Have you discovered something you want to share?  Are you excited about a new artist or Etsy shop?  A book or movie you think folks should read or see?

I’d like to share some of your favorites.  Leave a comment or send me an email at whatremainsnow@gmail.com.

Daily Inspiration

 

We cannot live only for ourselves.  A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.

Herman Melville

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Here’s what I’ve been doing in my studio:

I finished the flowers I made in June by giving them pretty centers.

 

I did the piecing work for my crazy quilt pouch.

I made my first attempt at the Blogville Ladies Crochet Society’s July project…a potholder.

See that ripple?  I didn’t pay careful attention to counting my rows, so one side was larger than the other.

I found this clever little device to help me keep count.  I put it on a cord so I can wear it around my neck. 

If you’d like to learn to crochet, please join us.  This is only our second project, so you have plenty of time to catch-up.  Our first project was a dishcloth.

I finished June’s project for the 2012 Creative Color Challenge.  Each month, I’m making a yarn vase for the challenge.  June’s color palette was Red & Roses.

 Daily Inspiration

 

A man’s work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.

Albert Camus

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A few weeks ago, we asked for questions for Freedom, Casper, Nikki and Twinke.  We had a wonderful response and thank everyone for their questions.  I decided to split the interview into two parts.  Part 1 was last week, and the “kids” are ready to get started with Part 2.

Bunny of Tales and Tails asked what each of you consider to be your must-have fashion accessory?

 

Freedom:  I just wear whatever Mommy puts on me.  I’m not much into fashion.  Casper’s the pretty boy.

 

Casper:  Ahhh, let me think.  I love my bowtie because it makes me look very handsome and irresistible to the ladies.  I also love my Union Jack collar because I’m a rakish lad.  Right now, I’m sporting my “summer fun” collar.  Some people have commented that it looks like a girl’s collar because it has pastel colors, but I’m confident in my masculinity, and I can pull it off.

Nikki:  I like anything that shows up against my black fur.  I usually wear pink…or pirate stuff.

Nola of Dachshund Nola asked several questions:  Where do you get your pawsome collars?  What food do you eat?  What’s your favorite treat?

Freedom:  I’ll take the first question.  Mommy wants to have a long list of places where we get our collars, but it always seems that Miss Alisha of 2 Hounds Design always snatches up her money before she can spread the love.  So for now, we have to say that almost all our collars come from 2 Hounds Design.

Casper:  We eat Purina Lamb & Rice.  Mommy wants to switch us to a food that has less fillers, but she’s always spending money on collars, craft supplies and e-courses, so she never gets around to it.

Nikki:  Well…we love all treats, but Frosty Paws is our favorite.  It tastes good and lasts a long time.  We also love bully sticks for the same reason.

Dip, Bridge & Elliot from Dip-Dip and The Bridge want to know what you all think of little dogs and what is your reaction when you see one outside?

Freedom:  Other than a little sniff, I ignore little dogs.

Casper:  I love little dogs.  I have a friend called Emma, and I like to play with her.  Mommy watches us pretty close though because she is afraid I’ll hurt Emma when I play bow and when I spin around.

Nikki:  I like little dogs, but I’m shy so I don’t play.

Freedom, Casper and Nikki act nicely around small dogs, inside and outside.  They act nicely around kitties inside.  They’ve never seen a kitty outside.  They are always on lead during these outside encounters.  When Emma comes over, they aren’t allowed outside together. 

Dip, Bridge and Elliot’s Mum wants to know if Casper fancies coming to live in the UK with her? and Deccy of Declan’s dogs blog! wants to know if Casper does come over, does he fancy going out for a pint some time.

Casper:  To Dip, Bridge and Elliot’s Mum…YES!  To Deccy…You know it mate!

As much as I love my little boy, we joke that his theme song should be “Love The One You’re With.”  Casper is always on the lookout for the next best thing.  I have no doubt he would drop us like a bad habit if another offer came along.  Thankfully, he doesn’t have a passport.

Miss Veil of Home Is Where the Hounds Are asked where your favorite place to go for a walk is and have I ever tried a triple-lead leash?

Freedom:  We love to walk around, everywhere.  Our main “walk” is around our neighborhood.  Mommy has used a double-lead but never a triple-lead.  She didn’t even know they made such a thing!

Patty of Two Greyhound Town asked if I walk you all at once and if one of you starts pulling, do the other two pull in other directions?  She also asked what is the worst thing you have done such as tearing things up or grabbing dinner off the counter.

Freedom:  To answer the first part of the question…Mommy prefers to walk us individually.  We’re pretty good if we all go out together, but she says we all have a different pace and rhythm.  I’m fast, Casper is medium, and Nikki is slow.  Regarding the naughtiness…Once the gate was left open and we all ran away.  Mommy noticed it pretty quickly, and found us all together down the street, but the panic that she experienced when she noticed we were gone almost killed her.  Killing Mommy was probably the worst thing we ever did.  Just me…I will eat out of the trash if it is left out, but I don’t consider that bad behavior…I mean, why wouldn’t I?

Casper:  I can’t think of anything I’ve ever done wrong.

Freedom:  You almost pulled the living room curtain rod off the wall.

Casper:  How did that happen?

Nikki:  Not to gross anyone out, but I’ve been known to eat poo.  Sorry.

Freddie & Gloria’s Momma of Basset Momma wants to know if you ever have your wild and crazy moments because you always seem so well-behaved.

Freedom:  I think I can speak for all three of us when I say that we all go crackers when anyone in the house touches a leash or a harness.  I’ve also been told that I can be a little pushy in the yard, but I don’t see it.

Casper:  I like to spinnings in the family room and when I have a bath, I come out of there like a crazy pup; I do zoomies all over the house.

Nikki:  I don’t get wild and crazy.

Freedom:  What about when Mommy gets the leash?

Nikki:  Okay, I get a little wild and crazy then.

Miura, Zonda & Eva, your best buddies asked, “When we visit your house it is very clean.  Does your Mom always keep it like that or does she make you keep moving with the vacuum before guests come?  Is your mom always dressed all coordinated and nice?  Our mom wears a robe all weekend, and wow she hustles before guests come.  She moves our toys into one place too – that isn’t a fun game – the game is putting them all over – duh!”

Freedom:  It is all an act my Mommy puts on for guests.  Personally, we’re glad she’s a slob because our beds stay nice and stinky like we like them unless we have company or there is a holiday.

Casper:  Regarding my Mommy’s wardrobe…Whenever our Daddy sees her in work clothes, he usually asks her what she’s dressed up for.  He leaves for work before my Mommy does and gets home after her.  When she gets home, she gets in her jammies so fast that my poor Daddy goes for weeks without seeing her in street clothes.  So, when he does see her wearing regular clothes, he thinks she’s dressed up!

Nikki:  In the winter, it gets really weird.  She has hot flashes, so sometimes she runs around the house in a tank top and then she gets cold and she just adds layers…whatever is laying around.  Once, she answered the door for the UPS man and she had on one of her crazy combos and he actually got a scared look on his face.  He thought my Mommy might be a crazy hermit person. And then…

You know, I think we answered Miss Amy’s question just fine.

Now for Twinkie’s questions…

 

Nola of Dachshund Nola and Jay from The Depp Effect ask how YOU feel about living with 3 dogs.

Twinkie:  Actually I don’t like it.  They’re okay as far as respecting me, but they’re HUGE and they don’t always watch where they’re going.  Another thing (actually quite funny when they’re not scaring me to death with it)…they STILL have trouble with hard floors  It’s like the floor is ice.  It’s the goofiest thing you’ve ever seen, and I LOVE IT.  Here’s something else I find totally crazy…My Mommy keeps my litter box downstairs so they don’t disgrace themselves by eating my poop.  Mommy knows that they disgrace themselves because when Freedom and Casper first came to live with us, she thought something was wrong with me because I wasn’t pooping!  As you can see…I’m the most intelligent one in the house.

KC from KC’s Declan’s dogs blog! asked how you keep three hounds in line.

Twinkie:  KC, first let me tell you what an attractive kitty I think you are.  My preferred method of keeping the hounds in line is meowing loudly as a warning and then, if they get those long snoots anywhere near me, I give them multiple slaps in quick succession.  Casper is my favorite hound to slap because he gets a really funny, confused look on his face when I do it.

Thank you to all who played along with us!

Freedom, Casper, Nikki & Twinkie:  Thank you everybody!

Daily Inspiration 

  

Silence is not an absence of sound but rather a shifting of attention toward sounds that speak to the soul.

Thomas Moore

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A few of my favorite jokes:

1.  Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a state police officer sees a car puttering along at 22 mph.  He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!”  So, he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.  Approaching the car, he notices that there are five little old ladies, two in the front seat and three in the back, wide-eyed and white as ghosts.  The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand. I was doing exactly the speed limit!  What seems to be the problem?”  “Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”  “Slower than the speed limit?  No sir!  I was doing the speed limit exactly — twenty-two miles an hour!”  the old woman says quite proudly.  The state police officer, trying to contain a chuckle, explains to her that “22” is the route number, not the speed limit.  A bit embarrassed, the woman grins sheepishly and thanks the officer for pointing out her error.  “But before I let you go, ma’am, I have to ask…is everyone in this car OK?  These women seem awfully shaken, and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer says with concern.  “Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute, Officer. We just got off Route 119.”

2.  A burglar broke into a house one night.  He shone his flashlight around the empty room, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, “Jesus is watching you.”  He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.  When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head and continued.  Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard “Jesus is watching you.”  Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.  Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.  “Did you say that?” he hissed at the parrot.  “Yep,” the parrot confessed, then squawked, “I’m just trying to warn you that Jesus is watching you.”  The burglar relaxed. “Warn me, huh?  Who in the world are you?”  “Moses,” said the bird.  “Moses?” the burglar laughed. ‘What kind of people would name a bird Moses?”  The parrot replied, “The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.”

3.  A guy was sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a magazine.  “What was that for?” he asked.  “That was for the piece of paper in your pants pocket with the name Laura Lou written on it,” she replied. “Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Laura Lou was the name of one of the horses I bet on,” he explained.  “Oh honey, I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have known there was a good explanation.”  Three days later he was watching a ball game on TV when she walked up and hit him in the head again, this time with an iron skillet, which knocked him out cold.  When he came to, he asked, “What was that for?”  She replied, “Your horse called.”

Daily Inspiration

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.

Mark Twain