Penny Sanford Designs

String Quilt Headband

Here is a little something I whipped up recently while procrastinating on a deadline.  *grin*

I had a growing little pile of scraps from the happy spring-hued sewing projects, and I decided to make a headband.

The headband is inspired by Heather Bailey's headband tutorial, but I have not yet downloaded her free pattern, so this is not exactly true to her design. I think her pattern incorporates some elastic which is a good idea.

I had some soft stretchy denim and this pretty pile of little scraps, so I just started sewing little scraps onto the denim.  Then I trimmed it into a headband shape, and used some favorite drapery material (that I have made into travel dirty-clothes bags and shoe bags) to make the headband reversible.

I don't know what you would call this little detail, but I let the yellow striped drapery material be something of a binding on one side, and the string quilted side provided a binding on the other side.  What is that called?

This was a fun little diversion for a couple of hours (because I hand sewed it all and even quilted the seams of the pieced side).  I'll be making more because I love wearing headbands, and Gordon likes the "housewifey" look of them.

Procrastination can be loads of fun if you refuse to feel guilty!  *grin*

Scalloped Collar Slipcover Pattern (Free)

Here is the improved, tweaked and Leash-looped Free pattern for my Scalloped Pet Collar Slipcover!

It started as a three-scallop design (the yellow version), but the slipcover lived up to its name: it slipped around on the dog's neck. 

Then came the five-scallop design (the red version). 

Annie did such a good job modeling these two early versions that I just "had" to share her photos...not that I am an over-the-top-proud fur-mom or anything .  Ha!

So now, here in Easter pink is the six-scallop design that is just right for the neck size of our Westies. 

You can always reduce or enlarge this pattern on a photocopier to fit your posh pooch's neck.  I also have suggested an alternate spot on the pattern to place on the fold line for a shorter collar slipcover for a smaller neck.

I'm using another of Heather Bailey's lovely fabrics from Free Spirit.  You can see in a photo below the collar and the cut fabric pieces laid out, ready to sew.

1. Sew one long side of the collar slipcover, reinforcing the "v" points of the scallops with an extra backstitch or two.  Clip the "v" points before turning the collar and topstitching.

2. Hem both ends.

3. Sew in a buttonhole where your leash loop exists (on the end or in the middle of the collar).  Note that I whipped on an additional piece of fabric on the underside to give extra stability to the buttonhole. I discussed the need for a buttonhole for the collar's leash loop here.

4. I also sewed two simple running stitches before cutting the buttonhole apart so that my stitches would have something of a guide that would help my stitches be more uniform.   

5. The final step is to thread the collar into the slipcover and run a loose gathering thread on either side of the collar.  Give the collar lots of room to wiggle around (so it is easy to take the slipcover on and off.)

You will notice that the red collar is gathered more than the pink or yellow collar.  Play with this part to fit your personal tastes.  The suggested gathering lines are marked on the pattern.

I'd suggest you save the pattern to your computer's photo file, then print it out to fit on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper.  Enlarge or reduce it on a photocopier to fit your particular pet's neck size.

This pattern is for your personal use.  Please do not reproduce or reprint the pattern without my permission.  If you make these pet collar slipcovers for a fund-raiser, please be sure to donate some of the proceeds to the pet Rescue organization of your choice!

Send me a photo of whatever you make from these various pet collar slipcovers I have designed.  I'd love to see your interpretation and creativity!

Also, share a photo of your handmade pet clothing and accessories on my Flickr group here. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  You may also want to see the previous pet collar slipcover patterns I designed here and here and here.

Easter Ric Rac Free Pet Collar Slipcover Pattern

Today, I share two more Free Pet Collar Slipcover Patterns with you.

First, the Ric Rac simple slipcover that is similar to the green and yellow Ric Rac collar slipcover I showed you here.

This version is a bit wider, and it is embellished with one of my Heart YoYo's (see Free Pattern here) and with some large pink Ric Rac I found last week in Grandma's stash that we are assimilating.

1. I started with two pieces of an Easter-y fabric.  This fabric by Heather Bailey for Free Spirit reminds me of Easter Eggs.  I cut the pieces three inches wide and a little longer than the collar.  This collar is 3/4" wide.

If I had wanted the finished collar to look more gathered, I could have added an inch or two to the length of the collar pieces. (That will make more sense after you read step #6.)

2. Place the right sides together with the Ric Rac in the middle and stitch down the middle of the Ric Rac.  For me, that was about 3/8 of an inch. 

I sewed these collars by hand because I like hand sewing and because I was too lazy to set up the sewing machine for this little project.  One of these days I will have a sewing room where my sewing machine will have a place of honor, ready for my smallest sewing whim.

3. After the first long side of the Ric Rac Collar Slipcover is sewn, turn and top-stitch to give the collar a crisp finished appearance.  I chose to use embroidery thread, but a machine stitch is just as nice.

4. While the collar is still "open", turn under the ends and slip stitch the ends, and put in a buttonhole where your pet collar has a leash loop (either in the middle or near the connecting ends). I discussed the need for a leash loop here.

I added an extra piece of material to the underside to give the buttonhole extra stability. You can see how I turned under the edges of the extra piece of fabric and slip stitched. I don't like my edges to ravel, even on a simple dog collar slipcover. (Did I hear someone say, "a bit obsessive compulsive"? *laugh*)

Notice on the buttonhole that I ran two parallel straight lines of stitching down the middle of the future buttonhole before I cut the buttonhole apart.  This gives that bit of raw edge some extra stability while I make the buttonhole stitches.  Here I used three strands of embroidery floss.

5. After the ends of the collar are hemmed and after the buttonhole is constructed, place right sides of the remaining side together, insert Ric Rac and pin in place.  Turn and topstitch as you did with the first long side.

6. Insert the collar into the Collar Slipcover and pull the leash loop through the buttonhole.  Then  I ran a long gathering stitch a 1/2" from each of the long edges, through both layers of fabric, using a strong quilting thread.  Be sure to leave plenty of room for the collar to slip in and out of the Collar Slipcover.

When you have sewn this gathering stitch the entire length of the collar, pull the thread to put gathers in the collar.  Then securely tack thread and move to the second long side.

You will notice that I did not start my gathering stitch at the very end of the Collar Slipcover because I wanted plenty of freedom in sliding the slipcover onto the collar.  I started my gathering stitch about 1" from the end. The gathering stitch goes through both layers of the collar.

7. Then I attached a Heart YoYo and button from my free pattern.  To ensure the Heart YoYo looked picture perfect, I tacked it down in three additional places, the tip and the two rounded humps of the heart.

I like this type of collar on Annie, one of our Westie Rescues because it emphasizes her Westie ruff.  She is such a girly-girl, and I like pretty ruffles and gathers on her!

My favorite source for dog and cat collars is Carol's Charming Puppy Palace.  Her hand-made collars are sturdy, washable and come in some great prints.  Annie and Mackie have more of them than I want to admit.  I talked about Carols great collars here. 

These Collar Slipcovers just expand their wardrobe and give me a chance to make "baby clothes".

If you make any collar slipcovers from this guide, please send me a photo! Remember to share a photo with my Flickr group of Handmade Pet Clothes and Accessories.

My other posts about Free Pet Collar Slipcover Patterns are here and here.

The long-promised Scalloped Collar Slipcover next!

Another Free Pet Pattern!

Here is another Free Pet Collar Slipcover Pattern!  (The green one. I'll post the red scalloped one tomorrow.)

This really does not need a paper pattern.  Lay your collar down on the fabric and measure two inches longer than the collar and clasp.  Measure the width of your collar and multiply X 3.  (In otherwords, if you have a 1/2 inch collar, cut the fabric at least three inches wide.  Here's the math:  .5x3= 1.5 but since I cut it on the fold, that makes the width 3 inches.)

Turn the raw edges of the ends under and slip stitch (like a rolled hem).  With right sides together, sew down one long side of the collar.  This gives you one big sleeve. Turn inside out. Press.

Decide where your Leash Loop is located (either the center of the collar or at the clasp.)  Mark the spot and proceed to put in a button hole at this place (through both layers of fabric).  Make sure your button hole is a tad larger than the leash loop.

Here is where I decided to do a Bound Button Hole.  I've done one before.  One of them.  Back in Home-Economics in ninth or tenth grade.  That was 1977 or 1978.  THIRTY years ago!  HA!  It seems like yesterday, and I was genuinely horrified that I did not quite remember how to do it.

My solution was to sew that pretty ric rac right around my awkward bound buttonhole!  LOL  Now you would never have known that if I had not blabbed it!  I hope my high school Home-Ec teacher, Mrs. Henri Sue Kennard of Starkville, does not read this!  She made the prettiest bound button holes! 

There are tutorials out there, and I will eventually get around to making one just to smooth my dented ego!  LOL

The ric rac was fun, and I had even more fun putting vintage buttons on this.  I plan to make more of these for our fur kids!  If I need to post a paper pattern, I will be glad to do so....tomorrow.

Here is a quick look at Anina's beautiful Miniature Schnauzer, Syd.  This is his Easter outfit, with the big S monogram on the back.  COOL, Syd!!!

Please share a photo if you make something from one of my patterns or ideas!  Remember to post a photo in my Flickr group of handmade pet clothes and accessories!

If you are reading this blog for the first time, you can find other free patterns under my category of "Projects"(look at the directory on the right side of this web page.)

Improving a Free Pet Pattern!

Here are some more Dog Collar Slipcovers I whipped up to share with you.

You may notice that I put some tucks in this triangle slipcover with the embroidery thread in order to pre-position some of the fullness created because the triangle wraps around a rounded surface. 

I am enjoying the resulting free-form embellished art "look".   It was fun to embroider too!

Here is a closeup of those tucks.  This particular Triangle Collar Slipcover was sized for our 60-pound English Shepherds.  Because I was trying to get these tweaks posted tonight, we grabbed the nearest clean dog, and that was Mackie, our newest Westie Rescue...so the collar slipcover is a little large, although proud-fur-mom thinks it still looks dashing on him!

First, here is an excellent tweak to the previous Triangle Collar Slipcover Pattern that I shared with you. 

Many thanks to Nedda H. for reminding me that many dog collars have the loop for the leash in the middle of the collar.  The dog collars in our Fur Babies' Wardrobe all have the lease loop at the point of closure, so it stays in front, under the chin.  If we have a leash attached, the leash loop pulls around to the side.

Nedda and Cynthia H. recommended a button hole where the leash loop would need to emerge from the collar slipcover.

So, here is what I tried.  This example is for our leash loops that are positioned next to the collar clasp. I added little two-inch pieces to both ends of the existing pattern, and in the appropriate end, I make a button-hole using embroidery floss and a button-hole stitch.  Easy!

If your leash loop is in the middle of the collar, just put in a button-hole in the middle of the pattern, near the fold.  You will want to make your button-hole just a tad larger than the actual leash loop.

This tweak means that your Posh Pup will have a stylish collar that will continue to look stylish regardless of how the collar slides around on the neck.  (Yes, I cannot stand to have our collars too tight, so they slide around.)

The last two photos are of the collar slipcovers I made back in January before the Leash Loop Tweak.  It would be easy to go back and add on a two-inch tab with a button-hole on either end of the slipcover.

Do you have charms on your dog or cat collar?  I think they are fun.  We have a little bell on Mackie's collar because it is the only way we can know where he is in the house at all times.  It also gives birds and other critters a "head start" when his prey drive kicks in.

Hey, did you notice the little "DAR" charm?  I'm a DAR (member of the Daughters of the American Revolution), so, of course, I think our fur-kids are worthy of DAR designation.  "DAR Dog"...kinda rolls off the tongue like it belongs! *Big Cheeky Grin*

SOMEONE brought in a little vole (looks like a small version of a mole.  One has a tail and the other does not.  I never can remember which is which).  SOMEONE left the vole for us under the table on which we have cannisters of dry food and supplements.  We think SOMEONE was Mackie.  Rosalie brings her offerings to the step and leaves it outside.  Annie has never brought us an offering.  Mackie seems to be the best candidate until other evidence is assembled!  Ha!

By the way, on the pattern, I wrote, "I pinked the seams...".  By that I mean I used pinking shears to trim the seams close.  Is that term still used?  If not, what are these shears called now?  Please let me know!  A couple of folks have teased me about it without telling me the current term.  (I love to be teased!)

There are some folks waiting on this post tonight, so I must close for now.  I have two more Collar Slipcover Patterns to share with you, so stay tuned!

These little slipcovers would make great donations to a Rescue Organization for new adoptions to wear to their Forever Home.

Send me a picture of what you make with this little pattern.  Keep sending any suggestions or tweaks!  Many, many thanks to Nedda and Cynthia!!!

If you make something from this pattern, please share a photo.  Here is the Flickr group of handmade pet clothes (not just stuff from my free patterns.)

Needle and Thread for Rescue

Today's post is about sharing your talent, your creativity, your glue pot, scissors, needle and thread to benefit pet rescue organizations. "HUH", you ask?  (I'd love to see your mental image at this point as you ponder how you can use glue, scissors, needle and thread to help a rescue cat or dog!  *grin*)

Westie Rescue Foster Mom Martha of Bessemer, AL, sent Molly to her new Forever Home with this adorable blanket that she had made. 

Martha was careful to put all of her family scents on the little blanket, both two-legged and four-legged family members.  Molly was able to enter her new life with the reminder of the Foster family that had loved her for about a month.  It was visibly comforting to her.

Martha's little blanket has been loved by all four of our Westie Rescues.  It is a perfect weight, and, of course, it has that highland plaid and the adorable appliqué Westies in each corner. 

Martha gave me permission to share her Westie and/or Scottie pattern, and I have drawn another Westie pattern to share with you, (FREE) with the hope that you can donate your time, needle and thread to make a few of these to donate to Westie Rescue to go home when a Rescue goes to his/her Forever Home.  I plan to make some!

One reader of a previous post about our Westies said she quilted for Rescue.  I hope to hear more from her to learn whether she pieces or appliqués little baby blankets to go home with Rescue pups or if she donates proceeds from her quilting to Rescue.

You may want to check out my free pattern for a  Pet Collar Slipcover.  If you make something from this pattern, please share a photo.  Here is the Flickr group of handmade pet clothes (not just stuff from my free patterns.) 

I have made two more free pet collar slipcover patterns to share with you, hopefully later this week...so check back.  Any of these Pet Collar Slipcovers would be super to donate to a Rescue organization.

So what if your favorite breed is the Great Dane or the Maine Coon Cat?  Well, there are Rescue organizations for almost every breed that has a name. 

Google it, and get in touch and offer to donate some Fur-baby Blankets or Pet Collar Slipcovers.  (Please share a photo of what you make from any of my free patterns!)

Another idea, again from Marvelous Martha, is to make handmade note cards depicting your favorite breed.

Martha has marked all of our Westie arrivals and deaths with a special card she has made. I can tell you that it means far, far more to receive a card a friend has not only written and mailed, but has constructed as well!  I treasure and save all of Martha's cards to our fur-kids.

Martha has a nice selection of Westie stamps of a number of styles and poses as well as scrapbooking supplies.  She is also a distributor for Oma's Pride and Bravo.  Furbaby Gourmet is the name.

(That reminds me:  I need to ask Martha if she can get any more of those dehydrated turkey hearts that Molly adored.  They were great to sneak medicine into Molly. Annie takes herbal medicine for her arthritic hips.)

If making something with needle and thread is not for you, then what about making something with scissors and glue?  You could make some Westie (or breed-specific) cards for Rescue to either sell at a fund-raiser or use for special mailings.

Here is a card that I made, a portrait of Molly's loving eyes.  It is titled, "My Eyes Adore You".  Gordon and I are donating all labor, equipment, etc, and providing these to Louisiana Westie Rescue for just the cost of the materials.  They will be selling these to raise money.  Contact Laura Ardoin, the founder, for details.

Why does a Rescue organization need money, you ask?  The adoption fee we gladly paid for Molly, Annie, Rebel and Mackie did not begin to cover the veterinary cost for those babies. 

In our experience, Martha and Vickie donated their time, transportation of our fur babies, their food, grooming, toys, etc.  For each of our four Westie adoptions, we returned to the farm with a big bag of food, treats, supplements and favorite toys.

There are many little Rescues that have health problems that make adoption almost impossible.  The Rescue volunteers usually adopt these heart-breakers.  You can read other stories on Pet Finders that will break your heart.

Under the Fur Babies category on this blog, you can read about our current pack of four English Shepherds, two Westie Rescues and one rescue Siamese-mix, the reigning queen of the farm.

In time, I will be sharing some of the funny stories our fur babies have caused me to write!  *grin*.   An English Shepherd acquaintance gathered many of the little stories we shared with an English Shepherd email discussion group and posted them on her website.  My mother, Alice Sanford, also contributed to these little fun stories.

Thank you for the outpouring of empathy about Molly's story.  Is it not amazing how these little fur balls can elicit such powerful emotions from us?

It's Time to Talk About Molly

This time, last year, we had not learned of Molly's cancer. We were just days away from learning that our surrogate child only had a few months to live.

Molly was the wonderful little Westie Rescue that we adopted from Louisiana Westie Rescue on December 28, 2005.  She was our anniversary present for our third wedding anniversary on December 31.

I've already started to cry as I write this, even though it is primarily a happy story.

Dear, sweet, fun-loving, precious, adorable, intelligent, lovable little Molly was over 12 years old when her family dumped her in a kill shelter in Collierville, TN. 

She had a bladder infection and skin problems that can be common to Westies when they are not given the right diet.  Surely the people who had given her a home for 12 years would not have dumped her for those very fixable problems!  The skin problems would probably have kept anyone from adopting her out of that kill shelter.

The Westie Rescue network learned of Molly in the kill shelter, and they immediately jumped into Rescue Mode.  One volunteer with the Missouri Westie Rescue got Molly out of the shelter and transported her to Martha, a foster home in Bessemer, AL, for Louisiana Westie Rescue. 

Martha put Molly on an all-raw diet (BARF) and special bath ingredients that soon cleared up the skin problems and solved the bladder infection. Then Martha began to love Molly back from her traumatic experiences.

From the scant information on the surrender papers and from Molly's reactions and responses, we have pieced together Molly's sad little story.

Apparently Molly stayed shut up in the laundry room every day while her people were at work.  The surrender papers said Molly would have an accident after 12 hours or more in the laundry room. (I would like to put that previous owner in a laundry room every day without a potty break for 12 hours! No wonder the little tyke developed a bladder infection!)

The surrender papers said Molly could not be trusted with kids.  From Molly's skittish reaction to a few "triggers", we deduced that a grandchild, perhaps, liked to taunt or startle Molly.  She had just about lost all of her hearing, so to wake her up, we had to let her smell our fingers for a few minutes until her eyes opened and she recognized her human.  Otherwise, she would wake and lurch into a snarling, snapping defense posture. As long as she knew a human was approaching, she was a perfect princess.

Molly literally flirted with Gordon and Unc.  Marilyn Monroe could have learned some tricks from Molly on flirting! 

She would perform her cute little tricks (sit, shake hands, speak, twirl around in a circle, fetch, chase a flashlight beam) and just turn on the cuteness with the men.  Her perfect manners and delightful tricks indicate that Molly was loved and given some very attentive pampering in her life.  But at night, Molly would curl up next to me on the bed and suddenly growl and challenge Gordon when he tried to get into bed or get closer to me. 

I think there was a man in Molly's life who had loved and helped train her.  Perhaps a second husband did not like Molly and pulled her off the bed to sleep in the laundry room at night?  The surrender papers said she slept in the laundry room which left me to wonder when the little baby was allowed to spend time with her people!

The surrender papers said Molly's only trick was "play dead"...meaning she slept all the time.  She never responded to a "play dead" command.)  Well, even a human who is neglected and depressed will sleep all the time. If Molly was shut up in the laundry room all day and all night, there was very little for her to get excited about! The tone of the comments on the surrender papers indicated to me that the man who left her at the kill shelter did not like her.

Molly was a perfect Rescue for our first Westie Rescue.  She was so well-behaved, pristine manners, happy to snuggle but happy to go walking.  Neither Gordon nor I had been owned by a small dog before, so we were unprepared for the way Molly stole our heart and became our surrogate baby.

With understanding and patience, we learned how to avoid triggering Molly's "fight or flight" reaction, and we were able to, as The Dog Whisperer says, "rehabilitate the dog and train the human" to give her the security of a properly-ordered "pack" with humans as the Alpha in the pack.

Both Gordon and I grew up with pets, so we know that loving a pet means accepting a bite, a nip or a scratch from time to time.  Accidents happen.  My father taught me beginning with my first puppy, "to train a dog, you have to be smarter than the dog".  That is good management advice for pets as well as for humans!

So, the first time Molly bit me, a fear reaction to being waked up by feeling a hand petting her, Gordon and I did not give up on her or on the adoption.  We knew Molly could learn to trust us if we were just smart enough to understand what triggered her fear.

It is so easy to get lost in a cute face or in a heart-wrenching story and not anticipate that any pet in Rescue will have some issues to be dealt with.  I do believe that a settled Rescue pet can be more loving and more appreciative than a pet loved and nurtured from infancy, but sometimes one has to work hard and think smart to rehabilitate that pet to its loving nature.

You know, Molly TAUGHT me how to groom her!  She loved to be groomed and clean and pretty, so someone in her past had taken good, loving care of her.  She would hold up a paw or turn her head in such a way as to guide my hand.  If she resisted or squirmed, I could deduce that professional groomers had not trimmed in that spot before. Molly was just amazing!

We took Molly to have some lumps removed on April 11, 2006.  Dr. Duncan found a large mass on one mammary gland, pressing against her ureter, that was deep and aggressive.  I can remember trying to write down the big medical words Dr. Duncan was telling me while sobbing at the horrible news that our little baby was not long for this world.

The pathologist confirmed that Molly's cancer had spread to the lymph system.  We did not want to put Molly through treatment that would give her discomfort and pain.  We chose to make her final months as happy and as pain free as possible.

Molly's foster mom Martha and Laura, the founder of Louisiana Westie Rescue, cried with us about Molly's diagnosis.  Martha often told me that Molly was special in a way that I still cannot define with words.  She had a special charisma and wisdom that I don't know how to describe.

Molly's final months were happy.  She was with a human literally 24/7. When she hurt especially badly, she would find a spot in the laundry room to curl up and sleep.  That broke my heart to find her voluntarily sleeping on the hard floor in the laundry room.

She was so excited over a little wicker basket we got her after surgery, that we realized that she must have slept in that kind of a wicker basket the first 12 plus years of her life....in that lonely laundry room.  After that, Molly had a special wicker basket in the studio, in the old farmhouse...in a number of places.

Westies have a huge prey drive.  They were bred as hunting dogs.  Molly was beyond-delighted to discover her own kitty-cat to chase indoors.  As the months progressed, Rosalie the Rescue Siamese-mix would sneak up and pounce on Molly just so they could have a nice chase. 

Toward the end when Molly was not up to much running, Rosalie would saunter over and bop Molly on the nose with a furry paw (no claws) just to make Molly give her a little chase.

We celebrated Molly's five-month-survival birthday and continued to pray for the cancer to go away.  I believe in miracles, and Gordon and I were not too proud to ask for one for our precious little Molly.  She had already survived longer than Dr. Duncan had predicted, so I was hopeful....

By the night of October 6, 2006, we knew the end was near.  Gordon and I stayed awake with Molly all night as her heart raced and her breathing became labored.  We took turns holding her, petting her and talking to her. By morning, we knew it was time to stop her suffering. She died in my arms as we rushed toward Dr. Duncan's office early the next morning.

Everyone grieves in a different way.  I have friends who have not gotten another pet for years after a special fur baby died.  For me, my love of Molly just stretched my heart larger.  When she died, the best medicine was to find another Westie to which I could pour out that love.

Louisiana Westie Rescue had a pair of Westies that we picked up from Vickie in Hammond, LA, just a few days after Molly died.  I related their story here.  Rebel, of that pair, was not with us for long.  He was quite old and feeble, and neither he nor Annie deserved to be neglected and dumped by their family like a pair of old shoes!

Tonight, while writing this (and crying because I miss Miss Molly so much), I can pour that love into Annie who is snuggled beside me and into Mackie who is curled up by my knees.  Annie no longer bites, and she is much happier and more calm with a secure "pack structure".

Gordon and I have gladly put away any memory of the bites or nips or accidents that we endured while these babies recovered from the hurt of loss and abandonment and illness caused by their first human families.  I mention them only to give you a realistic picture of the risks in adopting a rescue pet.

We feel so strongly about the valiant work of Rescue organizations that we will only adopt rescue pets in the future...to give a home to some wonderful creatures. 

The true heroes are the rescue volunteers and foster homes where the rescue pets are first loved back to health and where the behavioral reconditioning begins. These foster parents fall in love with their little furry visitors, but they willingly go through the pain of giving up their foster babies to a Forever Home because there are so many more Rescues waiting to be rescued.

There is a Rescue organization for any of the recognized breeds of dogs and cats.  To find one near you, just Google it.  Rescue organizations work together for the same noble goal, so don't be afraid to ask, for example, a Westie Rescue organization in a neighboring state to help you find a Westie to love and cherish.

If you know of someone who is in the difficult position of having to give up a pet for whatever reason, PLEASE help that person connect with a Rescue organization.  Please save the pet from the trauma of the conditions that can be found at some of the kill shelters.  Many shelters struggle without funding or volunteers, so I don't mean to throw generic blame at them.

By the way, Westie is short for West Highland White Terrier, a sturdy, highly intelligent, power-packed, noble breed.

I wish for you the priceless, unconditional joy of a pet.  We have four English Shepherds, two Westie Rescues and one Rescue Siamese-mix.  I wish we had room, time and patience for twice as many!

Wags and wiggles,
Penny

Come here little Spider!

The things one does at 2 am.....

The purpose of this post is to attract the attention of the little spiders over at Technorati.  I was instructed to paste a little string of html code into this post to make a little link like this:

Technorati Profile

Apparently when the Technorati spiders find this little piece of code...they do something.  At 2 am I don't care what they do as long as they do not bite. 

I did not mention it before, but Gordon was bitten by a spider about a month back.  From the photos on the web, it looked like a brown recluse spider bite.  We used some good old-fashioned herbal treatments, and the bite has finally healed.  It was very painful, he said.  So right now, I am even LESS inclined to be nice to spiders.

So, you little Technorati spiders, you behave while you are here!

Oh, and what is Technorati, you ask?  Well, I really don't know.  My uber-geek hubby registered this little blog with them, and I am sure it was for a good reason.  He just told me to complete my profile which is where the little spiders came in. *shrug*

 

Enjoy the daffodils with me.  These are naturalized on the open meadows around the farmhouse, studio and my grandmother's house (that we are s-l-o-w-l-y renovating).

This is a magical time of year on the farm!

The Happy Penny Award!

I am tickled pink! 

Today I noticed two fellow bloggers who have put a link to my new blog in their list of recommended blogs!

Wow! I am flattered and honored!  Honored, especially, when I see how creative these two ladies are!

I think this is the first time I have made anyone's "Favorite Blogs" list.  That makes me feel SpEcIaL! 

Thanks, Sunshine and Anina!  I want to send you each a little Happy Penny Award...one of my new Sewing Lady brooches (that can also be worn as a necklace!)

Just email me privately with your mailing address, and I will get one of these little hand-made porcelain pieces to you this week.  Tomorrow will be my first day back in porcelain since this silly flu grabbed me three weeks ago, so it will be later in the week before your Happy Penny Awards are ready to ship!  (I need a little icon for this award.  It will most probably surface again!!! *grin*)

By the way, Back Forty Quilting in Port Gibson, MS, and The Stitch Niche of Gulfport, MS, are the latest shops to carry this new Sewing Lady piece!

Heart YoYo's Sprouting Everywhere

Well, I never intended to be giving Heart YoYo reports, but some of these ideas are so cute that I just have to share!
Sunshine's Creations has taken my Free Heart YoYo pattern and made a delightful shamrock out of it!  Take a look at her excellent photographed tutorial!  Sunshine started a Flickr group for YoYo lovers.  Great inspiration!

Another discussion list, this one at iVillage Garden Web .  Here is another, my half of the brain .  I like that name!

I look forward to seeing how A Prairie Home Quilts uses the Heart YoYo in the pillow she talked about here and here.

Pixieblossom talked about the Heart YoYo pattern here, along with some other projects on my blog.  Wists, a "social shopping" forum jumped on the Heart YoYo train.

Anina at Twiddletails made a Heart YoYo and used a heart-shaped button in the center.  That is even better!  Isn't Twiddletails an adorable name for a blog?  She has some great ideas as well as a cute name!

Internationally, some more sites in France have linked to my little free Heart YoYo pattern including this one and this one.  I was very thrilled to see a good bit of traffic from Denmark addresses, and then I discovered this Danish site had linked to my Heart YoYo tutorial.  I adore Danes!

Art for Housewives links to my free Heart YoYo pattern in the same paragraph as their discussion about and links to Anna Marie Horner, an exciting fabric and home designer. Wow, that puts me in "high cotton"...just to be mentioned in the same paragraph as Anna Maria!

Speaking of Anna Maria Horner, she had an egg-shaped yoyo on her blog the other day made from her new line of fabrics, Chocolate, for Free Spirit.  Sunshine also has an egg-shaped yoyo plus a pattern and tutorial.  Easter is the next decorating excuse, folks!

One more thing to share in this post.....
Anina at Twiddletails sent me a wonderful picture of her Schnauzer Sydney wearing a St. Patrick's Day Collar Slipcover from my free pattern.

I have a Flickr group for photos of your pets with handmade clothes, collars and accessories.  Drop in and see many beautiful pets and the loving handwork made for them.  I see Syd in there several times with several dashing collar slipcovers!  He is such a handsome fella!

Here is my free pet collar slipcover pattern .  Enjoy, and please share photos! I love to see your fur babies!

Coming up:  My first awards to be presented to two lovely readers and fellow bloggers!