Creative Abundance

Princess Pass

My dentist told me that I have a “Princess Pass” ....I am in phase two of recovering from a root canal that “went bad.”  My new dentist, I fired the other one and am contemplating a letter to the state licensing board, is wonderful.  I am beginning to trust folks with syringes filled with Novocain and high speed drills. 

Since I’ve had a Princess Pass, I am finishing the binding of a quilt (pattern is by Peggy Martin) so that it will be off of my UFO list.  It’s almost there and I am crossing it off of my UFO list and linking to Susan at Blackberry Creek Home Arts.

I have plenty of dedicated medical support during my Princess Pass weekend - in the form of Ms. Peachy with her Candy Striper outfit.  

The last time Peachy wore her little Candy Striper outfit was on Christmas eve when I played the harp for residents of an assisted living center and Peachy “accompanied” me with her charming personality.  

This weekend is an anniversary for her - three years ago I drove to the Fayetteville, North Carolina area and adopted her from a fantastic humane society, the Robeson County Humane Society.  The members there had treasured her and provided massive amounts of TLC.  She had been ill - the Humane Society had “pulled" her from a local “kill” shelter - she was scheduled to be euthanized and no one even recognized her as a poodle because she was in such bad shape.  Peachy was lovingly cared for, and she spent most of her time in the office - not the kennels.  She became their mascot and office assistant.  Being a Candy Striper is second nature with her professional experience as mascot and office assistant.

We had some health challenges when she came to live with us, but that was perfectly fine with us.  She was nearly blind when we adopted her but cataract surgery restored her vision.  She adores patrolling the yard for squirrels, and it is very clear that restoring her vision enhanced her quality of life immensely. She had a tick born disease which had devastated her immune system, and she was heart worm positive. My incredible vet and the vets and North Carolina State veterinary teaching hospital were responsible for restoring her health.   She had just returned from her last medical treatment at NC state when this picture was taken, and the picture became the cover of the Robeson County Humane Society Calendar - Ms. Peachy was also Ms. February - so very appropriate,,,

All that is behind us now - I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to help her overcome those health challenges.  This little poodle has given back more love and affection than I could ever imagine. That’s why honoring this weekend is so special for us.  

It’s been a long time.....

I’m participating in a motivational activity graciously hosted by Susan at Blackberry Creek Home Arts designed to help complete projects that have been languishing.  

I can report some “finishes."  Two of these “finishes” were never previously written about, which kind of makes them appear like they came from nowhere.  

The first was finished late in the fall. Because we had such a warm fall, our begonias and impatiens were still in bloom by Thanksgiving.  This quilt now hangs on a wall adjacent to a stairway - a difficult place to photograph it. 

I used a New York Beauty block and two block patterns from Carol Doak’s book, Mariner’s Compass Stars I was exploring the use of florals and marbelized fabrics in the round areas inside the New York Beauty blocks.  

I was so pleased with how it turned out, that I made another.  

This quilt was a gift to my wonderful veterinarian. For the past decade we have been adopting senior, special needs, canine companions - typically the poor souls who are unadoptable.  Our vet has gone above and beyond in helping us restore their health.   I was racing with time to complete it before Christmas.  I did not have time to finish a label, and I believe I want to revisit the bottom of the quilt - the binding looks a bit off. I am hoping that I can “borrow” it from her next week to sew on the label, revisit the binding that needs a little adjustment - and perhaps I can get a better photo!  In this photo, the binding was not quite done, and I was holding it!

Friends who saw this quilt in person commented on how “glowy” it is!  And again, the mariner’s compass star blocks were the “Africa” and “Belguim” blocks from Carol Doak’s book.

And finally, I think this qualifies as a finish.  It’s been languishing since I stopped blogging - about a year and a half ago....  

The binding has just a few more inches to go (bottom left) but I think it qualifies as a finish.

Thanks, Susan, for the inspiration and motivation....