quilt: cabin in the woods

[Need to find a picture.]
(winter 2004)

My mom and step-dad live in the mountains, in a cozy log cabin. When I saw this fabric, I knew exactly what to give them for Christmas. The center is one panel, but the surroundings are pieced together from a coordinating fabric. The original print also featured badgers- but badgers don't live near my mom's, so I cut out clusters of animals that are indigenous to the area. The backing is a giant piece of flannel, and the batting is pretty heavy- so this little blanket is quite warm.

I hand stitched most of it, but used a fusible webbing for other parts. After giving them the quilt, I learned that I didn't use the webbing properly- oops! So I called my mom and gave her the instructions. She ended up machine stitching the whole thing, just in case. Lesson learned. :)

costume: puppy dog

AWARD WINNER
Chula as a puppy, Halloween 2004

Whenever my two year old doesn't want to do what we've said, we have a brief confrontation, then she turns into a puppy dog and the doggie does everything we tell it to. I guess it's her way of saving face because it's the puppy following instructions, not her.
So it's only fitting that this should be her costume this year.

We entered her at the childrens costume contest at the University. She won 2nd place! Honestly, she should have won first- that lame kid was wearing a STORE BOUGHT costume (what ugly words!) of Captain Hook. Anyway, her prize was dinner for four at Chuck E. Cheese, with complimentary drinks and tokens. Hooray!

This was a "cheater" costume- where I used an old pair of jammies as a base, sewed the fur to the outside, and then cut away the jammies when I was done. I typically use this method when sewing with bulky, furry fabrics so ensure a good fit. The bulk of the costume is a warm, caramely brown. I added chocolate colored spots in the same fabric. The suit is one piece with a front zipper and a large hood. She's got a waggy tail and floppy ears, lined with pale pink flannel. I added a cardboard bone nametag to her zipper pull, and drew on some whiskers with an eyeliner. the fire hydrant was the photographers idea- but it's pretty cute- if I do say so myself.