Holiday Sewing

I love English paper piecing and happened across a new shape, the rounded thimble. It's refreshing, creatively, to work with a new shape. Since this shape forms rings, it also takes less of them to create the desired end result. I can see myself making more variations (crossed rings, half rings, rings with solid centers, rings with diced up centers) in the near future. For now, I wanted to make a table runner before my parents arrived, which was just the motivation I needed to stick with one project and finish it, while watching Homeland or Scandal. The pink block was a personal preference to keep it "not so red and green" and I'm happy with the color combination.

I made a pillow for Mitch, who is now a Kappa Sigma. There will be more Kappa Sigma presents under the tree. His Great Aunt gave him a Kappa Sigma bow tie for his birthday last month (he LOVES bow ties!) He thinks they're cool. :-).

After making little Duke I decided to make another and change the face a bit. I think I like the small felt pieces versus the stitched ones on the doll faces because they show up better. I still want to change the eyes. Eyes are difficult to get just right. Jack's class was collecting toys and he said, "Mom I know just the thing I'd like to take but I don't know what you will say because you worked so hard on it." My sweet boy. Off it went!

Duke is doing really well! He had blood work done Friday to see what level his meds are at in his system. We find out the results today and may be able to lower the dose. He has adapted really well to them. I see a slight balance issue with standing on one hind leg to pee, but that's about the only difference to how he was before the seizure weekend fiasco. The medicine has made him more hungry and what do ya know....he has gained 10 pounds this month. Oops! He was slim before so it was hard to notice. We've come to the conclusion that everyone in the house can't give him treats all day long. He will stand by the dish and bark, and we all obey!

Here's hoping all of you are enjoying your holiday preparations ~

Kris

Little Duke

I am happy to report that Duke has a new little friend to keep him company during his recovery. The pattern is from Dollsanddreams.com and altered a bit to look like Duke.

(See my last post for the details on what happened to Duke).  

I was in a bit of a rush to finish it yesterday before friends came over for a craft night.  Duke is happy to snuggle with "little Duke"!  HAHA

I made some easy-peasy bunting for the staircase.  Just starch the fabric really well and feed the triangles through the sewing machine (join with regular thread).  

I'm Christmasing the house!  This weekend is the official lighting of our downtown Christmas tree.  Santa Claus arrives on a fire truck.  It's such a fun family event.  Next Saturday is our Christmas boat parade.  We could watch it from our bedroom window where it's toasty warm, but we choose to bundle up and walk over to the city dock with others singing Christmas carols.  So fun!  This year I'm hosting a Christmas Cookie exchange first, amongst friends here at the house.  We will have chili around fire pits in the front yard and serve "grown up drinks" to stay extra warm.  :)

Mitch was home from college for Thanksgiving and he was so happy to be with Duke. 

 (and the rest of us, probably!)

We are all so relieved that Duke is doing so much better.  

He is his bossy self, barking for treats and hip rubs!!

xoxo, Kris

linking up to Finish it Up Friday

at Crazy Mom Quilts