Marg Low Designs

puppy dog

Last week we made the very difficult decision to say goodbye to our puppy dog, Azzy. He might have been 14 but to us he was and always will be 'puppy dog'.

I loved his optimism, checking his bowl first thing each morning just in case he'd missed a bit from the night before or in the hope it had been magically refilled. He wasn't too fussy about his food enjoying fabric, lolly wrappers, tissues, toothbrushes, loaves of bread, Red Skins (very chewy red sweets), and no we didn't deliberately feed him these things he just had a knack for finding them. He loved checking out handbags and the unwary would find him with his nose right at the bottom pushing it around the floor.

When I decided a bit over 6 years ago I needed to lose weight, it was Azzy that dragged me around the hill. He loved the walk (as all dogs do) and so I kept at it each day, simply so I didn't disappoint him. His walking days had been over for the past few months, but my routine was established and I am forever grateful for this.

He loved us unconditionally, as only a pet can, and is greatly missed - even his man-like snoring.

friday sewing

Sewing was at my house the other week, and Azz took advantage of Michelle's quilt. He was just getting really comfortable and it was time to move.

So wish you could hear him snoring, or maybe not. It's difficult to concentrate on writing this post it's so loud. Sometimes he wakes himself with the volume, with a look on his face that asks 'what was that', other times we wake him - just to hear the TV or in search of a decent nights sleep. Yes sad but true - we have left our warm beds in the middle of the night to roll him over in his basket after calling has failed to wake him. 

The postive/negative nine patch Helen made from Patchwork on Stonleigh's fabric club fabrics. I love it even more than mine.

 

Every three months you receive a newsletter, pattern and 10 Fat 1/16's of antique reproduction fabrics.  I used all mine up last year when I made this quilt, but as you can see it doesn't take long them to multiply again.

I've decided to collect them in this old sewing machine draw. When I can't squeeze anymore in I'll know it's time to make something. Well that's the plan, whether I stick to the making bit is another thing, but they make a pretty display and it's nice to run your hand over them every so often and dream!

poor Azzy, lucky me

  Poor Azzy had both his ears operated on last Monday; he does look a little sad.

He has had surgery before to remove foreign objects from his stomach, like the satay stick he managed to get down whole, and something the vet described as 'cloth'. I wonder where he could have found that?

He and me both will be very happy when the bandages and collar come off. He keeps on bumping into things and it's a bit tricky jumping up onto the furniture wearing it. We do our best not to let him see us laughing and are quick to lend him a helping hand. After all he is a precious family member!

  I received a lovely suprise in the post today. This gorgeous fabric from Lynn at Li'l Bloke's, Bendigo. Now I know exactly what I am going make.

After Christmas, once all the decorations are packed away (well they're down but not entirely packed away), there always seems to be a bare spot just crying out for something new. I have a long and narrow hall table that needs a tablerunner and I think these fabrics will be perfect. But should I start before I've finished writing my new patterns Easter Treats and Christmas Charms? It won't take long and I know what will be more fun. No I must be good!

 

easter and a snack for Azz

Today I dropped off the samples and requirements list for the projects I'll be teaching at Avonleigh.

I have been having so much fun with the Easter project, that I want to make more, more and more. Any fabric purchase I've made of late has been for this project. It's like I'm wearing a pair of blinkers. But I do so enjoy this feeling when one design captures you wholely and solely for a time. 

 

And I found the perfect use for Barb's daisy buttons and bunnies with attitude. How cute are they!

This week I'll be writing the pattern; nowhere near as much fun as designing and making the project. But there is no getting out of it if the pattern is to be released early Feb. Looks like I'll be spending most of my time on the computer rather than the sewing machine.

And I just had to show you this. No I didn't have problems opening the packet. Azzy (the dog) decided to go through my basket looking for a snack. So lucky he stopped at the plastic, didn't eat the staples or swallow the buttons. We do feed him, promise!  

friday sewing

Sewing was at my house on Friday. Jan had been to the Sydney Quilt show and brought some gorgeous bits and pieces for show and tell.

Sue-Anne had been to A Patch of Country in Wangaratta and spied this on sale. Sorry, the photo is a bit of a tease. I think its single bed size. I wasn't paying too much attention as I was busy thinking about how soon I could make a trip to Wang on the hunt for a similar bargain. Would it have been impolite to tell the girls there was salad in the fridge and help yourself to lunch, 'I'm off to Wang'!

The pattern is 'Brick Garden' from the book Daylily Days by Need'l Love.  Sue-Anne loved this quilt when she first saw it and purchased the book and fabrics to make it.

If your anything like me you'll have a list a mile long of quilts you'd love to make and own one day. Here's a way of achieving it, if only we can be as lucky as Sue-Anne.

Now I'm not the only one who enjoys sewing at home. Azzy loves having visitors especially if they're coming for lunch. The performance he puts on would lead you to believe he hasn't been fed in a month. He cannot control himself when it comes to food. And it doesn't have to be 'food' food. Fabric, tissues, paper, I even caught him eating some spilt potting mix the other day.

I've come to the conclusion he needs more supervision than a toddler. The moment we realise we haven't seen or heard him in awhile, we start looking. Experience tells us he's usually doing something he shouldn't be. Like the time he jumped up on a bed and gobbled down two packets of throat lozengers, wrapping and all. The label carried the warning an adult should consume no more than one packet in 24 hours. He'd eaten two in less than 15 minutes. I find it difficult enough to consume one lozenger they taste so awful.  Perhaps they taste better with the wrapping on! We didn't know if we should ring the vet or just wait and see. We opted for the latter and he showed no ill effects from this impromptu snack.

Here he is trying to get my attention as I work away on the computer. Looking at him who'd think he'd have such bizarre eating habits. Now I would like to point out that we don't deliberately leave 'food' lying around within his reach. He has an uncanny ability to locate unusual snacks.  An unzippered handbag is a picnic hamper, my basket of fabrics a smorgasboard and the soles of Bec's workshoes (from the bakery) a tasty treat.

For the moment, he's on the couch, sound asleep and staying out of trouble.

Even the dog looks good in red

Last week Azzy spent an afternoon being pampered at Gucci Poochi.

Doesn't he look cute, gorgeous, angellic almost? Well, we are not speaking to him. He has just been caught eating fabric, again. Just every so often he has to snack on it.

Now I admit, I do drool over fabric but have never been tempted to eat it, so it's not a habit he's picked up from me.

Apart from having to toss out some favourite pieces, the real issue here is if the snack results in a visit to the vet. And it already has on one occassion.

And yes, if you were wondering, the fabric was RED. Well I guess you can't fault his taste in fabric.