Category Archives: family

DIY Kitty Vending Machine

We’re a bit busy around here this week getting ready for back to school and all the things it entails, but I do have one small, fun thing to share: 10 seconds of cat video!

This is our newest family member, Rose (adopted at the end of March this year), fetching a treat for herself. She gets treats every day to help with her shedding, and she can gobble up her entire ration in about 2 seconds and come out wanting more!

I found this on Pinterest and unlike most projects I’ve pinned, I actually made this one! Rose is a treat gobbler, so we thought anything that would slow her down would be a good thing.

I was able to find a blog that mentioned the craft, but not one that credits who came up with it.

This month, ALL photos of projects made from Sewhooked patterns, including Paper Piecing Vintage, shared with the Sewhooked flickr group will be entered to win a copy of Jack Leaves The Light On!

Have a great weekend! I’ll be back full-swing soon!

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We Did A Thing

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Sorry it’s been so quiet just recently!

This past Friday was my 20th anniversary and the hubby and I celebrated by spending a long weekend tramping the streets of New Orleans. It was a great time and reminded me that Austin is not as humid as it could be! 😉

I’ll be back tomorrow for Talk To Me Tuesday.

See you then!

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Featured Pattern: Wee Lil’ Penguin (2 sizes, paper pieced), just $2.95!

Another Furry Goodbye

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On Saturday, we said goodbye to our furry boy, and the eldest of our kitties, Merlin.

I won’t go into details here, only know that he suffers no more.

Almost exactly a year after we said goodbye to our other old furry boy, Tackett (the TTMT kitty), we let our Merlin go.

We miss him so much already.

Tackett & Merlin, 2010, both of them fat & happy.

We adopted Merlin in March 2001, when he was 3 years old. We found him at the Austin Humane Society, where he had been for quite sometime. He was a big boy, 13 pounds when he was skin & bones, and no one wanted him because he was a black cat.

They don’t know what they were missing. He had the sweetest temperament, just low key and loveable. He and Tackett were companions and buddies for over a decade.

He was such a special part of our lives that in October 2002 my daughter decided that there would be nothing better to be for Halloween! It’s hard to see in this photo, but her tag says “Merlin” and she’s sporting a long black tail. 🙂

We are very lucky to still have our two beautiful girls, the new: Rose (left) and Marie (right). Marie was the baby when we still had our Kitty Herd. The girls aren’t quite getting along yet, but we’re working on it and hope that they will have a long, happy life together.

To those of you that follow me elsewhere online and sent your condolences over the weekend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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How can evil be so cute? And Cats, just because.

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Happy Saturday!

Yesterday, I crocheted the dark green Cthulhu you see her for my hubby to take to work.

Baby C has lived in on his bedside table for quite a few years now and he really wanted another to geek up his desk at work, so I obliged. Big C was relatively fast to make and just so cute! Baby C was Caron Simply Soft, and Big C was made from worsted acrylic. It was a cake of yarn, so I’m not sure what brand, could have been Bernat.

The free pattern is here.

Our new baby, Rose, is doing well. She is still mostly hiding, but I can coax her out with treats and when I do, she is so, so sweet and snuggly. For some reason, some loves my big toes and will lay in my lap with her paws on either side of one toe, like she’s holding on to it. That’s a new one on me!

She has met both Merlin and Marie, and while there had been very mild hissing, there was an initial 5 seconds of tail poufing and that was it. M & M have pretty much ignored her since becoming aware of her existence. I think once she comes out of my bedroom, they will take more interest. The door has been wide open for three days, but Rose hasn’t ventured past the door yet. I carried her to the top of the stairs and she was pretty much scared silly, so I put her down and she dashed back under my bed.

This is Merlin in a sunbeam, just because. At 16 1/2, he’s the old man of the house now. He’s had a few health issues recently, but as my wonderful vet said, he’s doing pretty good for a guy his age.

Our beautiful Marie is no longer the baby of the house, but the sassy lady. She’s very curious about Rose and I have a feeling that once the Miss R settles in, they will be excellent playmates.

PPV Prize April 2014

Share your Paper Piecing Vintage photos with the Sewhooked flickr group in April and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of Quilts From 100 Blocks, Fall 2013 (includes a pattern designed by me!) as well as copies of my patterns Poppies from the Past and My Kitchen Window!

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Sign up for Paper Piecing Vintage
and get a new pattern in two sizes each month during 2014!
That’s 24 patterns for just $12!

Love is in the air!

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Meet the newest member of our family!

She’s approximately 1 1/2 years old and is Siamese with orange tabby markings (what a perfect mix!).

She was at my vet’s office waiting for adoption. When I asked about her, the wonderful girls there told me she didn’t have a name and she’d been very blue since she’d been there, but was very friendly and snuggly when held. The very first thing she did when I met her was to tuck her head under my chin and right into my neck. Tears sprang right into my eyes. I haven’t been chin-tucked since right before we said goodbye to Tackett.

She met Merlin and Marie through the carrier and no hissing, which is a minor miracle. She’s currently hanging out in our bathroom until she gets used to us and is here long enough not to smell “other” to M & M.

She doesn’t have a name yet, but I have an idea.

Happy Friday!

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Individual block patterns go up to $2.95 April 1! Get yours while they are still $2!

Goodbye, my Faithful Furry Friend

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After a long fight with various health issues, we said goodbye to our beloved Tackett today.

He gained many friends with his various surprise visits on Talk To Me Tuesday.

He was a loving, talkative companion and we will miss him with all our hearts.

Tackett “Ticky”

1997 – 2013

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One Day Sale!

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*throws confetti*

My daughter is graduating from high school tomorrow! We’re proud and sort of stunned, all at the same time. I guess that’s how this works, huh?

HOW is that possible? I’m still working on figuring that one out! I’ll let you know when it actually sinks in!

To celebrate her accomplishment, my family and I are taking two weeks off to spend time together before she gets ready to leave for college in the fall.

Because I want you to celebrate, too, I’m offering 20% off your purchase of $5 or more in my ETSY shop, just use coupon code VACATION! Offer valid only on ETSY. My store closes until June 18 starting tomorrow making this offer TODAY only!

Prefer instant download to waiting for hardcopies in the mail? My Craftsy shop is always open!

Have a fabulous first two weeks of June…see you on the flip side!

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Featured Pattern: Fleur-de-lis (paper pieced), just $2 on Craftsy!

Adieu, Button

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It was a sad, sad day in our house.

Our sweet Button, furry calico Diva, passed away in her sleep last night. She was snug in her favorite basket when she went. She was just about 18 years old and she lived a good, long, and very well-loved life.

We will miss her with all our hearts.

Bee Happy, Make Quilts!

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Here’s a little something fun!

Honey Bee Quilt Store in Austin, Texas has kitted up Tree Trimming and A Little Haunted with fun fabrics!

The kits even include binding!

You can pick up these fun quilts in the store or by giving them a call at 512-257-1269.

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I’m in the middle of a computer crisis today. My laptop had critical hard drive failure this weekend and I’m waiting for repair and to see if any of my data can be restored. I am usually faithful about backing up because of all the pictures, patterns and documents I produce. Unfortunately, and insanely, I have not backed up in several months which means if my data can’t be recovered, I will lose design work, photos and documents from those last few months. If it wasn’t shared either online for via email, I won’t have it. I can’t even begin to express how distressing the prospect is!

To detract from the stress, I’m diligently working on cleaning my studio, finishing some charity projects and pushing ahead with 12 for 2012. My August quilt top just needs borders and I’m about to pull September out of the bag.

Hopefully, the quilt therapy will keep me sane until I know what the damage is!

The Tabby Face Block Lotto is another ray of sunshine. I’ve received quite a few messages and photos from you all sharing that you’ll have Tabby Faces in the mail this week. How can a slew of happy kitty faces not make me feel better?

And for everyone checking in to see how Tackett is doing, we have not really seen any change. He hasn’t lost weight, but he’s not gained any since the first couple of weeks of his treatment. He still seems chipper, though, so we remain hopeful.

Thanks for listening…see you for Talk To Me Tuesday! Tomorrow’s will be a little different since my computer is out of action…along with all my usual files!

To celebrate the Tabby Face Block Lotto, use coupon code TABBY in my Etsy shop to receive 10% off your total order during the month of September!

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Time is running out!

Learn to paper piece with me now through December with my full-length video workshop available only through STITCHED. You get access to over 20 classes AND instructors and registration is only $40! Click for details

NOT cancer!

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Just got back from the vet…and it’s NOT cancer!

*throws confetti*

Tackett has lymphoplasmacytic inflammation of the liver. He will continue to need treatment, but the prognosis at this point is good. We go back in a month for more blood tests to see if his liver is functioning more normally and then we’ll go from there.

THANK YOU for your love and support through the stress my family and I have been under.

*hugs you all*

*hugs Tackett*

In case you missed it, this is Tabby Face, a free pattern from me to you as a special thank you for all your love and support. Read more about it here.

Use coupon code TACKETT right here on Sewhooked and in my Etsy Shop for 25% off your total order during the month of August. This special coupon has been created as a fundraiser for my beloved and sick kitty, Tackett. Tackett is a regular visitor to Talk To Me Tuesday and even has his own Facebookpage. The great majority of the patterns I’ve designed have come into life with Tackett sitting in my lap or on my feet.

Have you made patterns or projects from Sewhooked? I would love to see! Add them to the Sewhooked flickr group for a chance to be featured on my blog!

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Time is running out!