It's been WAY too long without a post...and believe me, I have a month full of fun/creative things to share. Let's start with a general update today with some basic highlights (scroll down for more Garin photos and a video)...then get into some creative posts over the next week...
Our trip to Nashville was a great getaway...this trip proved to be a wonderful sightseeing adventure, even though what I probably needed most was a simple beach or lake vacation with a good book to clear my head. My favorite outings included The Grand Ole Opry Show and Backstage Tour (we got to see Luke Combs perform), Cheekwood Estate and Gardens (https://www.cheekwood.org) and the Belle Meade Plantation tour and wine tasting (https://bellemeadeplantation.com/)….but that is just a small sampling of our journey - we also went to the Nashville Zoo (which was lovely), the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, TN, the Parthenon, and visited an array of other attractions/museums - plus we listened to some incredible live music. Talk about cramming a lot into just five days - we made great use of our time. We drove ten hours each way – so it was a lot of car time too...which was actually nice, because it was some "one on one time" with my husband, who has had an insane travel schedule for over a year. Oh...and how could I forget...we stopped at Hancock's of Paducah in Paducah, KY on the way home...my quilting friends will understand how exciting this was for me...and I only bought four yards! (Click on any image to enlarge...)
Grand Ole Opry - Luke Combs on stage...
Instruments backstage at the Grand Ole Opry
A favorite image from one of the Cheekwood gardens...
Cheekwood - Carell Woodland Scupture Trail - "Crawling Lady Hare"
Cheekwood - "Intrude" Exhibit by Australian Artist Amanda Parer
Cheekwood - "Intrude" Exhibit by Australian Artist Amanda Parer
Belle Meade Plantation
Sampling the good stuff at the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, TN
A glimpse inside Hancock's of Paducah...
After being home about a week (working round-the-clock on Quilt Market deadlines),
I headed to Lake Summerset, IL for an extended weekend with my mom and Dan. It was another long drive, but there is nothing like time with family. Unfortunately, it stormed quite a bit of the time...but we did manage to get the boat out on the water the first evening and have a campfire (and a s'more!) before the rain started pouring. We also made a special trip to Wisconsin
to the Fireside Dinner Theatre (https://www.firesidetheatre.com/)
for a Saturday matinee dinner and Broadway performance of 42nd
Street – it was WONDERFUL – my mom and Dan have season tickets and were able to
add me to their reservation. The trip seemed too short, but work deadlines were calling my name back in Iowa.
Fireside Dinner Theatre in historic Fort Atkinson, WI
Another FULL week of work and then we were off to Minnesota to pick up Garin from his three months of puppy boot camp. What a joy it was to see him again - he is doing GREAT – etremely well-behaved (for a puppy) – and I am quite impressed with his training - I sure am happy to have him home!! He definitely obeys commands and walks perfectly on heel, but is obviously still a puppy...we work with him daily to keep up with the training and keep him sharp. He knew who we were right away and that made me smile - he is going to be the best companion...and he is very protective of me! It was an all day trip - we left at the crack of dawn to get there by 10:00 AM and got home late into the evening. Here is his graduation video and photo...and if you can't see the video below, you can see it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/lxp2-zSQKWg.
Once Garin was home safely, we headed to Boone, Iowa the next morning to run the Gladiator Assault Challenge (a mud run with with a bunch of challenging muddy obstacles) with a small team from our local gym (http://www.gladiatorassault.com/). I was a bit concerned when we pulled up and could see some of the course from the Jeep...but yet, I persevered. It was definitely out of my comfort zone - I got SUPER muddy, soaking wet, and winded...and I finished!! It was actually a great experience and I would definitely do it again (with more cardio training!). Several weeks before the event, I had started running each day after lifting to train for mountainous inclines, and now I am motivated to keep running. I feel healthy - I feel good.
So May was gone in a flash - seriously, where did it go?! I think I crammed something into just about every minute of every day. The good news is, I met all my big work deadlines (I can't wait to share some of the projects with you!) and I am now back to making TONS of project bags and completing piles and piles of needlework finishing...my studio counter is covered in organized piles for some very patient customers! I will be back soon to start sharing some of my recent creative finishes...there are A LOT of them...so many in fact, that I made a list of things to share so I wouldn't forget anything. Make sure to stop back in the next few days to see some gorgeous needlework pieces, several quilting projects, and a plethora of custom sewing projects...
Happy Friday friends! I thought I would pop in on this bitter cold afternoon and visit with you. The winter months are wearing on me and I am already dreaming of springtime and sunshine. This week I have been focusing on balance - it has been a struggle since we added a puppy to our family at the end of October. Trying to keep on a schedule and accomplish everything I have to do has been a bit overwhelming...and truth be told, I could really use a vacation....but I'm trying to keep on track and steadily work through my deadlines and work obligations.
This past week, I finished up a couple magazine models for Just CrossStitch Magazine - look for a new ornament in the July/August issue (Christmas Ornament Preview) and another in the special Christmas Ornament Issue. I can't show them to you before the publications are released, but here is a photo teaser of the ornament backs (upper right) - I will tell you, they complement my previous woodland ornament series.
I have also been working on a huge pile of Stitch Start Ruler Sleeves - the last couple weeks have wiped out pretty much all of the stock in my Etsy Shop...so if you have contacted me or have been waiting, I should have a good assortment listed in the next week.
Between client special orders, I have been working on a mini heart quilt and I'm in the process of basting it for quilting. I used a layer cake from the "Lovely" Collection by Sandy Gervais for Moda - isn't it adorable?? I can't wait to get it quilted and bound...it makes me smile!
I also have a couple fun cross stitch photos to share with you. Even though I cancelled Christmas this year, I still received a few heartwarming packages in the mail from a couple very dear friends. Check out these cute, unique ornaments...and several AMAZING squirrel gifts...each one of these pieces fills me with joy!
Finally today - for those who have asked, here are some recent photos of Garin. He is growing leaps and bounds...and believe it or not, he will be old enough to leave for his formal training at the end of February. We sent Miss Schatzi through this exact same training when she was a puppy and it was worth every penny and the time we were apart. As you can see from these photos, Schatzi and Garin have become best friends - they play hard, but every once in a while, they rest long enough to get a photo...
*WARNING* Cuteness overload. Today, I want to introduce you to the (soon-to-be) newest addition to our family - he will be joining us at the end of October. We are pretty sure we will be naming him Garin (German for warrior). He is a long-coat German Shepherd...and is actually related to Schatzi. Miss Schatzi and Caldonia (the mother of the puppies) have the same father. After losing Simba last fall, we talked about getting a playmate for Schatzi - I went back and forth on getting a smaller dog or another GSD...it was a really tough decision. We actually decided on another German Shepherd back in December and started the process, but (as some of you know) my husband was put on special assignment with UPS and has been in Chicago three weeks of every month since January - I didn't want the entire responsibility of a new puppy on my shoulders (they are a lot of work to add to my already full schedule!), so we had to postpone adding to our family. My husband will finally finish his special assignment at the end of October and then this fluffy little boy will be ready to join our household! We are excited and counting the days...
20-days old.
4-weeks old.
5-weeks old.
6-weeks old.
As you can see, he is growing fast...pretty soon those ears will be up! I'll try not to overload you with puppy pictures, but I will keep you updated...
Happy Friday friends and followers! I have been busy finishing up my "pink" project...and details on how to obtain this very special design will be posted in the near future (stay tuned!)...for now here is a sneak peek at the finished project titled "Red Rosies and Pink Posies"...
I also thought I would share a short video with you today...this was taken last weekend at Raccoon River Park. My husband and I took Schatzi to the lake for a swimming lesson, and here is just a bit of what I got on tape...she is learning quickly and does like the water! She is growing like a weed - last week at her vet visit (14 weeks) she was 35 pounds...
I have been cross stitching up a storm in quiet moments (which are few), working on my special "pink" project...and I have the main part of the design complete...just working on a few small extras and last minute details...I should an update and photos for you soon!
Schatzi continues to grow leaps and bounds...here is a recent photo from last night - she is twelve and a half weeks old and over 30 pounds...and yes, she should grow into those ears!...and she can finally wear her pink camouflage collar. She is keeping me on my toes...and although she is a complete handful, I have already grown quite attached to her...I will just be much happier when she is out of the "puppy phase" which is quite exhausting...
Well, I am off to get lunch started and mark off a few to-do items before my husband leaves for work...I now have to prioritize my day around the puppy (I never thought I would be saying that!)...
Travis with Schazti when we picked her up in MN...8 weeks old...
Hello friends! I finally have a moment to myself and thought I would do a quick blog update...things have been a bit hectic in our household to say the least... Last weekend we drove up to Minnesota to pick up "Schatzi", our new German Shepherd puppy...and she is a handful (to put it kindly). She is all puppy and is definitely keeping me on my toes. The name Schatzi is German for "little treasure"...and although she is not going to be little for long, she is definitely a treasure (she was 19.5 pounds at her vet visit last Sunday). I pretty much have her attached at the hip for 17-18 hours a day...the other six or seven hours is during the night when she is sleeping in her kennel...at this age, I can't let her out of my sight for long, or she is busy being a puppy (finding things to chew or "exploring"). She is doing quite well with the house training and is already going to the front door when she needs a potty break (which is often). So far, Simba is "tolerating" her...they aren't best friends yet, but they can handle being in the same space. Here are a few photos for those who asked...then we will talk about other things...
First night in our home...8 weeks old...
A calm moment in our yard - 9 weeks old...
Play time in the yard...9 weeks old...
Now on to other things...
I am still dealing with a terrible cough in my chest and I'm feeling rundown...but the other flu symptoms have subsided...which is a great thing! Thank you for the well wishes and the home remedies you have have shared with me...I am hoping I am finally on the mend.
I have finished the class project for the New England Stitcher's Retreat and have sent finished photos and details to the event coordinators...as soon as I have the okay, I will be sharing all the information with you!
I have quite a few Blue Ribbon Designs "irons in the fire" right now...and I am doing my best to get some new releases ready...plus a special project is in the works and I will have details soon. The flu and the puppy have slowed me down, but I am hoping to be back on track in the next week or so...
On the sewing/quilting front, there is not much news...but I did manage to finish some fun birthday gifts over the last couple weeks and I will be sharing those with you in the next few days...
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and experiencing sunshine in your little corner of the world...take time to do something you enjoy!
Thank you all for your notes about the new puppy joining our family in just over a week. The puppies will be 8 weeks old on the 9th on May...and we will be making the journey to Minnesota to pick up our "pink collar" girl on Saturday, May 11th. Many of you would like to know if we have a name picked out yet...well, we do have a name in mind, but we will be waiting until we spend a little more time with her before making it official. I don't have any new photos to share with you today, but I do have this adorable video...guaranteed to make you smile! Here is the entire litter of nine and their momma (Anna) out for a morning stroll...enjoy...
I have returned from my whirlwind teaching trip to California...and I was blessed to stay a few extra days for some rest and relaxation with a very dear friend (which I desperately needed). I have tons of photos and stories to share with you...however, during our few days off, we both managed to get some sort of cold/flu crud and I am completely miserable...so today's blog post is going to be a bit short and I will return when I am feeling better with a post or two all about my travels.
Recently, I shared with you that we might be having a new arrival in our home...well, it's official - on Saturday, May 11th, a German Shepherd puppy will be joining our family! My husband made a trip up to our breeder in Hugo, MN last weekend while I was away and got a few photos of our little girl. The breeder thought the pink ribbon girl would fit best into our family...and sure enough, when he let all nine of the puppies (five girls and four boys) out, the one with the pink ribbon ran right up to Travis and said hello. Here are some of the photos...including one of all nine of the girls (she is on the left)...
Truth be told, I really did not want another dog in the house - Simba is definitely enough responsibility for me...but this is my husband's dream dog (he grew up with a German Shepherd) and he has been begging to get one for fifteen years...many of you know I tend to be a bit of a control freak and have to have everything a "certain way"...but I have decided life is short and it is time be a little more relaxed...so here we go...my first attempt...we'll see how I do after a few weeks with a puppy in the house...I'm sure I'll have more to share in a couple weeks when she is old enough to join our home...
