Happy Birthday to Our Schnoodle

On 31 March of last year I received phone call from Shari while Steve was on his way down to train with K9’s For Warriors.
“I know who we are going to place with Steve,” Shari all but hummed in a very zen tone.
“Oh? A Lab? That German Shepherd that we kept seeing photos of?” I replied. I know he was hoping for a shepherd or a bigger lab, something with some “heft” to it.
“Our Schnoodle. Charlie,” Shari answered.

My mind came to a screeching halt, and I suddenly had visions of Steve in the High Alps drinking schnapps out of a clear glass and a plate of strudel with a dog in the chair next to him. “What in the hell is a Schnoodle?”

“He’s a half giant schnauzer half standard poodle. He’s cream colored and right now he a little rough looking because we had to shave him all the way down, but I am certain this is the guy Steve needs.”

No truer words have ever been said. 2 years ago today, Charlie came into this world. He did not know he was going to have a purpose or even be a working dog. I have a sneaking suspicion, that he was probably one of the movers and shakers in the litter knowing his personality.

His first years were not easy, nor did he cave in and just give up. Had it not been for the right time and the right people, Charlie and Steve would have never have found each other, and I can not even imagine our world without him. We have our various nicknames for him: SchnoodleDoodle, Charlie Brown, SchnoodleFish, Muttonchops, and when my brain comes to a screeching halt, Hey You. He always, ALWAYS has a smile, a butt wiggle, and the softest eyes. When he sees Steve your heart melts, and now when Steve sees him, you automatically sigh and take a deep breath. You feel the rightness with their connection.

Charlie is intelligent, inquisitive and a force of nature pushing Steve to have to get back into life again because “This Dog ain’t gonna just sit around.” He’s won the hearts of a university President, Dean, Facility and Staff. When Steve graduates this May, a large part of it will be because Charlie physically hauled his butt to and from classes even when he didn’t want to go or was too upset to go. Charlie had his people to go check in with, and therefore Steve has to go to and there was nothing he was ever going to let happen to his Papa, he has his back. When Steve gets his diploma, I’m hoping I can work something out and give one to Charlie too; he’s earned it.

Happy Birthday to our Schnoodle dog, Charlie. You are the softest, kindest, most bull-headed and stubborn animal I’ve ever met. Your job here has been a tough one, but you’ve settled in nicely and you are so very dear to our hearts. Thank you for your butt-wiggles when we need to laugh. Thank you for being a tuba and annoying the crap out of us with your “I’m bored lets go do something.” Thank you for being a part of our lives. Thank you for giving me Papa back. Now, scrabbled eggs and bacon with a pumpkin/peanut butter/yogurt cookie for birthday breakfast today?

              

A Little of This...A Lot of Sewing

158 orders. 27 Days. 5 International orders. All shipped out before Christmas. 150 were chevron fabrics, the rest were either damask, or florals. As of 21 December my brain turned to a yummy blob of tapioca. That was hands down the most intense 27 days of my life. It was both exhilarating and demanding, and now I know how to plan for the holiday season in 2014! Game on!

About 6 hours before we left to see family in Seattle for the holidays, and I had *just* wrapped up and mailed off the very last envelope, I decided that *I* needed my own camera strap for my Nikon.
So I splurged.
I cut into my Bobbins and Bits by Pat Sloan for Moda Fabrics layered cake and make one fore me. Can I just say, these straps are pretty darn comfy and I'm not to bad at making them? (grin) I kinda rock at this!

At the same time as this I also started working on several clients quilts, which I'm happy to say are finally getting started on this week! I have a great pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew called "Pow-Wow" that has just been a hoot to play with and I'm working on my second attempt into finishing up a Moda Bakeshop's pattern called "Simply Woven" for some very, very patient clients. I've also been working on 3 quilts for the Patchwork for Paws quilt group and hope to get a few images up of these here shortly, but here's my bragging tid bit.

So, even though I managed to get myself into some sort of WTH moments with client quilts, I took the night off to go play with the newest Canoe Ridge Creations Fresh Mini Quilt Club BOM and got one more knocked out, just for me. It's proudly hanging in the bedroom waiting to be quilted. Someday. I'm going to call it "January's Northern Lights."

However, today belongs to more sewing and an afternoon with Boys. I can't begin to tell you all how much these two animals have made a difference in both Warrior Husband's and my life. Each with their very own different personality, each with their little qwerks, and each very much wanting nothing more in return than love and affection, which the receive in spades. If it had not been for so many of the right things to happen at the right time, well, I don't want to think about that part.  Needless to say, the Boys have made a huge difference.

Cold and snowy tonight.  2 dog/1 Kat kinda sleeping weather. Love it.

SchnoodleFish Quilted Dog Bed {January 2014}

Met the puppy, and I must become his Auntie Keri; moral imperative. Made the bed/sleeve in less than a day because it was just a series of charm squares. My two are pretty jealous they don't have something as cool as Indi and it turned out better than I anticipated. Thinking about making this into a tutorial for others to use?

Size: 40.5” x 31.5”
Pattern: Simple patchwork (random color draw)
Materials: Benartex Fossil Fern Charm Pack
Backing and Sleeve: Kona Solids - Navy
Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton batting
Thread:Aurifil 40wt - Silver
Internal Pillow: Boots and Barkley Dog Bed Insert X-Large

GirlyGeek Gadget Gear: Laptop Sleeve Tutorial

Figuring out the Mathematics:

In order to cut your materials, you need to begin by calculating how big each of your fabric cuts needs to be. The width of each of your cuts should be: your computer's width + your computer's thickness + 1.5. Round up to the next 1/4” should you have a strange cutting number. The length should be: your computer's length + your computer's thickness + 1.5". Round up to the next 1/4” should you have a strange cutting number. Example, a 13” MacBook Pro: Thickness: 0.95” Width: 12.78” Length: 8.94” To cut the width:
 12.78” + .95” = 1.5” = 15.23” (Round up to 15.25”) To cut the length: 8.94” + .95” + 1.5” = 11.39” (Round up to 11.50”) So I will cut my main fabric panels, interior lining, and fusible fleece panels at 15.25” x 11.50”

Cutting Instructions

2 - Main fabric panels calculated by your measurements.
2 - Interior lining fabric panels calculated by your measurements
2 - Fusible fleece panels calculated by your measurements
2 - Flap panels 6.5” x your calculated length -1”
1 - Fusible fleece flap panel 6.5” x your calculated length - 1”
1 - 2” x 6” coordinating fabric for bias tape loop Press fusible interfacing to the insides of the OUTER main body fabric panels only. Be sure not to pull or stretch the fabric as you iron.

Assembly Instructions:

Main Exterior

• Cut the interior and exterior fabric pieces (4 pieces total) according to your measurement calculated above. (Remember! Measure twice cut once!) Set aside.
• Cut 2 fusible fleece panels the same size that you cut your exterior/interior pieces.
• Iron on fusible fleece pieces to the wrong side of the exterior main fabrics. Should you decided to do a meandering quilting stitch or some sort of quilting stitch, do it now on both the front and back pieces. Once done, set aside.

Decorative Bands

• Decided what pattern if any you would like to do for the bands across the front. The final dimensions should be no larger than a finished 5” high by the length of your cut length of your exterior panels. (This is a super fun part, so be crafty and unique with it!)
• Cut out and iron on the light weight fusible interfacing to the back side of the completed strip. This will help stabilize the stitches as well as help keep the darker colors “bleeding” though the lighter band pieces.
• On the band, mark lightly a 1/4” on the long top and bottom sides, turn under and steam press.
• Place the band no lower than 2” from the bottom and no higher than 2” from the top. Pin and sew on.

Joining the Main Exterior

• On the fleece side of one of the top exterior piece with the band, using a lid or soup can or something round, trace a half circle using a marker or a pen you can see on shortest end.
• Place your exterior fabric right-sides together. Pin the two long sides and one short side.
• Cut out the half circles.
• Stitch all three sides using 1/2″ seam allowance.
• Turn right-side out. If needed, clip the half circle edges. Push the corners out with a turning tool or a chopstick or whatever you like to use and press it nice and flat.

Flap

• For the flap, using 2 coordinating fabrics, cut out a 6.5” x your measured length - 1”. So with my 13” Mac it would be 6.5” wide by 10.50” long.
• Cut 1 fusible fleece panel the same size that you cut your flap pieces and iron on to the wrong side of the front flap material. If you want to quilt this as well, do so now.
• Make a 1/2” bias tape by cutting a 2” x 6” strip of fabric, press in half lengthwise and the fold the raw edges to the inside center. Sew closed on both sides.
• Fold the strip in half to form a loop and baste to middle of the flap with the edges sticking out 1/8” and the loop facing in.
• On the fleece side of the flap, using the same round item you did for the body, trace a half circle.
• Place your flap fabrics right-sides together and cut out the half circles. pint the 2 short sides and the side with the loop. Leave open the opposite side.
• Stitch all three sides using 1/4″ seam allowance.
• Turn right-side out. If needed clip the half circle edges. Push the corners out with a turning tool or a chopstick or whatever you like to use and press it nice and flat.
• Topstitch 1/4” from the edge around the sewn sides.

Interior Lining:

• With right sides together, pin both long sides of together, stitch down both long sides using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
• Stitch part of one short-side together, but leave an opening in the middle. Make sure to only stitch in about 1/3 of the way on the short side of the fleece.
• The opening needs to be in the middle for you to be able to turn the laptop sleeve later.
• Clip the corners to remove bulk.
• Keep inside out and baste the flap, centered, on the inside of one side with the side of the flap you want visible facing up.

Assembling the Interior and Exterior

• Plat the main sleeve INSDIE the lining, right sides all facing together with the flap side of the lining on the bottom.
• Line up the raw edge of the exterior fabric and the raw edge of the main/fleece.  Pin in place, right-sides together.
• Stitch around the top using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
• Gently, pull the exterior fabric back through the hole you left open in the lining and then turn the lining right-side out as well.
• Close the hole either by hand or by a quick run on your machine.
• Tuck the lining inside the exterior and work the corners into each other. Press the top edges well.
• Top-stitch around the opening using a coordinating thread and a 1/4” seam allowance.
• Put the laptop into the sleeve and close the flap. Look for where the loop lands and lightly mark it. Take out the laptop and sew on the button.

Ta-Da! You are done!

#34: “Carnival” {November 2013}

Size: 48” x 48”
Pattern: V and Company’s “Ombre Flying Dutchman”
Materials:

• Marble Ombre Dot Blue 9883 12
• Marble Ombre Dot Lime 9883 17
• Marble Ombre Dot Red 9883 21
• Marble Ombre Dot Orange 9883 22
• Kona Cotton Solids: White

Backing: Riley Blake Small Gray Dots
Binding: Kona Solids Black
Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton batting
Thread: AURIfil Quilting Thread 40wt - White

#33: “October Breezes” {October 2013}

Size: 22.5” x 22.5”
Pattern: Sea Breeze Mini Quilt from the Fresh Mini Quilt Club: October 2013 By Megan Bohr from Canoe Ridge Creations
Fabrics:

• Moda Bella Solids: Kansas Red
• Moda Bella Solids: Prussian Blue
• Moda Bella Solids: Feather
• Moda Bella Solids: Cheddar
• Moda Bella Solids: Longhorn
• Moda Bella Solids: Chocolate
• Moda Bella Solids: Pesto
• Moda Bella Solids: Dark Teal
• Moda Bella Solids: Merlot
• Moda Bella Solids: Charcoal

Backing: Dear Stella Honeycrisp Rings in Brown
Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton batting
Thread: AURIfil Quilting Thread 40wt - White

#32: “Desert Vision" {September 2013}

Given to Stan Downs as a thank you for all of his kindness, support, charm and contagious laugh. He also knows how to rock the desert look, pick a great beer, and will always be my "Desert Rat Friend."

Size: 48" x 48"
Pattern: Ombre Flying Dutchman by V and Co.
Fabrics:

• Kona Solids - White
• V & Co: Simply Color Ombre - Lime Green
• V & Co: Simply Color Ombre - Sweet Tangerine
• V & Co: Simply Color Ombre - Aquatic Blue
• V & Co: Simply Color Ombre - Eggplant

Backing: Kona Solids - Black
Binding: Kona Solids - Black
Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton batting
Thread: AURIfil Quilting Thread