The Army Wife

I have a soft spot for Armed Forces Wives.  Not just because my mother, grandmothers, friends and myself are/were ones, but because I totally get it.  We are not only a wife. We are cheerleaders. Travel agents. Mechanics. Repairmen. You name it. I found this definition the other day and it pretty much sums it up:

Wife of an soldier. An emotionally strong and independent woman who does what is necessary to care for her family. A very devoted wife who is proud of her husband. She is normally very modest and kind. She makes a million sacrifices for her family, and the Military Life yet wouldn't have it any other way. She waits out long, sleepless nights and experiences worry and fear. She also experiences incredible pride in her soldier and a true Military Wife will wait faithfully for him to return from the war. She is the most supportive, loving, strongest woman on the earth.

A few days ago I was contacted by a Valkyrie Facebook follower if I could make her family dog a SchnoodleFish collar using pink and ACU's (Army Combat Uniform).  I happen to have a few scraps left over and told her I would love too.

We soon began to chat over Facebook IM and I found out a few more things about her and discovered a true Kindred Spirit in Amy. I totally got it.  She needed a lanyard for work and so I told her I would also throw that into the box.

It turns out she also has a Canon DSLR, but was too shy to ask if my straps fit her gear (yes they do) so I "accidentally" made up with rest of the scraps a strap that I used and tossed that in as well.

I love being able to surprise people. Particularly good people.  The world needs more good people and Amy is one of them.  It's not a lot, but I do know that as a Military wife, even the little things can make your day.  I'm so glad I was able to make her smile!

P.S. Penelope Just ROCKS the SchnoodleFish!

#51 "Ocelot" {September 2104}

Size: 44" w x 45" h
Pattern: Jumbo Coins Baby Quilt by Natalia Bonner
Fabrics: Various earth tones from my personal stash
              White strips: Moda Bella Solids "Off White"
Thread: Aurifil Quilt Patchwork and Embroidery Thread - Cream (2021) 50wt
Backing: Northcott Stonehenge Light Yellow
Batting: Warm and Natural
Binding: Northcott Stonehenge Light Yellow

A fun commission from Etsy for a soon-to-be-Momma from her girlfriends.  The theme was Phish's "Ocelot" song, hence the silhouettes of the cat, guitar, redwood tree, moon and stars.  They wanted to give her something with deep earthy-tones, and really nondescript fabrics. Just simple easy going colors for a little boy.  

 

Originally we were going to put the "Slightly slouch though the night" saying on the back, but the front was still open and I really wanted it to be there.  Even though the silhouettes and the wording are done with a chalkboard fabric, I outlined the phrase in Aurifil's Cream thread and left just a slight edge so that the edges would ravel and fuzz up; something for the baby to feel with little fingers.

 

The quilting was a deep meandering, again, in hopes the texture would be conducive to little fingers. And in hopes that the quilt would become a woobie and drug all over the place!