Life

I never imagined when my husband found this little dog that my life would change profoundly. It's not any type of change that you can see, but rather something deep inside my heart. It's a feeling that I've known her forever. A special feeling of connection and I have no idea where it comes from. I just know it's there. Bitsy isn't particularly pretty, but if you look into those eyes you will see the beauty that I see.

Taking a 12 year old dog into your life is a risk in itself. You know there will be lots of happy times, but for sure there will be health issues and things to be taken care of. It's like adopting an old grandmother. Yesterday Bitsy went back to the vet to have a second tumor removed. A mast cell tumor is similar to other cancers, in that it can return if you don't get all the cells. The vet had make a very large cut yesterday, along with two other little areas. When I picked her up, she looked at me with those eyes and I cried all the way home. As my friend Anne told me yesterday, we do these things for our pets because we want to save their lives. She said soon she will be running and playing once again.

She is a brave little dog, and today she is doing better. She has pain medication and antibiotics and they seem to be working because she keeps standing at the front door waiting for her walk. No don't worry, that isn't going to happen! She seems very anxious to get back to her normal life. She has the heart of a very young dog!

I think the rule is that you don't add another post when you're having a give away. But we all have times like this and sharing helps us through them.

Please say a little prayer for Bitsy. She deserves a longer life with us.

And, if you haven't added your comment to my give away in the last post, do it now! You could win these little treats!

Hugs to you all,

Anne

A Decorating Give Away!

It's a bit early for Valentine's Day, but I've been having so much fun making things I've decided to have a give away! These little treats are hand-made by me just for you! They'll help you decorate for that special "Love" day.

Remember that shabby log cabin block I showed a few posts back? I had one left over from my quilt and decided it needed a good home. I made a little 8" pillow that's perfect to tuck in front of a few other pillows on a chair or bed, put on top of a dresser or tuck in a basket. It may be tiny, but it will brighten up your room! And do I see pink lace trim on it? Yes, I think I do!

Personalize your home with your own crafty projects and you'll have a wonderful place. It's the key to making a house a home. We often have left-overs from craft projects that could be put to good use. The piece of fabric I used for the white heart was destined for the trash can. It's a left-over scrap of fabric from my slip cover project. I couldn't stand to throw it out so I made a heart and added three of my vintage glass buttons, and some pink velvet ribbon.

The heart on the right I made from my newest fabric "Flowers For Emma". It's also made from scraps, then I added some crystals and pink velvet ribbon and now it's destined for one of you!

If you're the winner of this random number drawing, what can you do with these hearts? There are so many things I can think of, I've given you a few ideas, just in case you win!

You know what you have to do to win this drawing! Leave a comment and I'll pick a winner on February 3rd. It's another random number generated drawing and it could be YOU!

Nite, Nite my sweet readers!

Look What Arrived!

Look what the UPS man brought me yesterday! It some of the advance yardage of my new line "Flowers for Emma"! I was so excited I gave him a big hug. Poor guy, after carrying this heavy box of fabric he probably needed it! Nothing could have made me happier than to get this advance yardage in my hands! Yards of the most beautiful pink, green, brown and blue gingham checks in two sizes! And even better it's a woven fabric! That means it's the same on both sides and wonderful!

I've been waiting for this fabric to come because it's the key to tie "Miss Emma's Garden" to my new line "Flowers for Emma". Both lines are designed to work together and work they shall! I can't wait to get started designing! I should have the remaining advance yardage within the week and then I can surround myself with fabric. My husband would say "so what's new?"

I can't take all the credit for this check fabric, because it's not like I sat down to draw all the checks! I just said to my wonderful fabric company, Henry Glass Fabrics, to please give me a gingham check in "these" colors and "these" sizes and ta da! Here they are!

Now I wait everyday for the UPS man to bring the rest. He's starting to think I'm a nut! I will have a VERY limited amount of advance yardage available for designers to work with. Please email me if you'll be at spring market and would like to make something from these fabrics. I can't promise I'll be able to get enough, but I'll sure try.

Happy Gingham Friday everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

Weekend projects

The weekend just flew by for me! It's been a busy one and I need at least one more day. I've been working on house projects and Bunny Hill projects! Look at all the fun things from the weekend! Mary Sanderson sent me a photo of the little quilt she made using my free pattern. Isn't it cute? She featured little bug fabric! I've added it to my Flickr set and you can see them all here http://www.flickr.com/photos/11824218@N07/sets/72157603428702502/ If you want to make this quilt you can get the pattern here http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns

Remember the log cabin block I showed you a few posts back?

Well, I'm also doing a "shabby cabin" version of the same quilt! Here's the same block in soft, cottage colors. Notice the pink center for the "heart of the cabin". I'm using Serenity from Moda Fabrics. You'll find it in the stores any day now so if you think you might like to make this log cabin quilt buy a fat quarter of the whole line and add it to your stash. Better yet, just buy the fat quarter bundle. You'll love it!

Our old red chair joined our family again this weekend! It's been sitting in the garage since we moved last May. It comes in and then goes back out. It's has sentimental value and I just can't part with it. Years ago I decided to take an upholstery class, and my husband found the chair for me at the thrift store for $50.00. I took it to class, the instructor took one look at it and said, "get rid of it, it's not worth doing". So we all carried it out to the dumpster. I went home, looked at my husband, and knew I had to go back and get the chair. So back we went to retrieve the chair. I believe they call that "dumpster diving"! I quit the class and sent the chair to be upholstered, and my $50 chair became a $600 chair.

Now, years later, the chair is starting to look pretty bad again, but as bad as it looks we still love it. This weekend we carried it up to my studio where it sits waiting for a new slip cover. Yes, I'm making a new white slip cover for this old red chair. I made a pattern using a sheet, and now I'm ready to sew the slip cover. Nothing fancy...no piping. Whatever I do, has to look better than this!

I'll show you the results, good or bad in a few weeks.

Have a great week!

Looking for Whiteware

In my quest to decorate our home and to prove to all of you that pink is not the focus of my life, I'm going to share "before" pictures (something I hate to do) and then later on the "after" pictures (whew, I feel better already). I'm taking a big risk because I'm not positive that what I'm doing will look good. I'm showing you this before I've finished. But remember, risk taking is at the center of creativity. So, here it goes...

In the spotlight is our fireplace that resides in our YELLOW family room. It has a tall mantle that's too high for a mirror. I'd have to stand on a chair to see myself. So, I found an old window, hung part of a "cutter" antique quilt behind it, and now it's the focal point of the fireplace. It didn't matter that the window pane goes across the center of the quilt block. I knew that would happen no matter what I put behind the window.

So how did I hang the quilt? First, I stitched a sleeve on the back of the quilt. Then I put a wood slat through the sleeve and made sure the slat was about 1/2" longer than the quilt on each end (but not longer than the window). I put an eye hook on the top of the slat at each end. The eye hooks are attached with tiny nails to the frame of the window.

My idea is to line the mantle with whiteware pitchers of different sizes. I started with one...

then found two more...I'm shopping ebay, garage sales, friends houses, any place I can think of to find more pitchers. Home Goods has to be a destination place for me soon! I only need about 12 more and then I'll show the after pictures!

And guess what? I'm getting ready to start the slip cover for our old RED chair. I'll show you the "before" chair in all it's glory in the next post.

Meanwhile, if you love decorating like I do, Andrea over at http://www.cottagemagpie.com/ has been to Ikea and posted a wonderful office space.

Off to find white pitchers...

Anne

Tell me if you see pink?

Kimberly over at Fat Quarter Shop http://www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/has a contest going on her blog right now. It's all about a pink Jolly sign and somehow almost everyone is guessing it's me that sent it to her! It's something about me liking pink.

Now that I have the wonderful photos from Gregory Case, let's just review them and see if I really like pink that much. I mean help me out here...I can't have the reputation if it isn't really true!

Here's the photo taken in our living room. Do you see that much pink? There are White curtains on the windows everyone! What about that White table and the White in that chair? White birdhouse? BLUE bitty bird? Maybe there's a tinge of pink on the walls, but not enough to really count! INNOCENT I am!

And look at this photo of "Postcard Cuties for Summer"! I'm seeing some RED, YELLOW, even BLUE! The only pink in this picture is the Adirondack chair and who wouldn't want a pink chair like that? Oh, and then there's the tiny bit of pink on the wall. Again, not enough to even count. NOT GUILTY for sure!

And this one taken in our family room? I'm seeing some YELLOW walls and lots of WHITE pillows and bedding. How about that BROWN dog? Maybe a bit of pink on those pillow ruffles but come on...every pillow needs a ruffle and I can't help that they were pink. "Buttons and Bows" might have a little pink in it, but only because it was in my fabric line. I can't help that. FALSELY ACCUSED again!

For goodness sake I can't help it if the lamp shade is pink. It came that way from the store! Did you notice that YELLOW chick and the BROWN bunny? Maybe there's a pink block or two in this "Postcard Cuties for Spring" quilt, but it's spring and everyone wants a pink bunny don't they? It's almost slanderous being accused of liking pink so much!

OK, I can explain about the pink in this guest room. It had to be painted pink or I couldn't have used the pink Target shower curtains that were left over from Quilt Market. I would have had to go out and BUY curtains, and that would have been expensive. Especially when you have these basically FREE shower curtains, just sitting there. This would be considered a "thrifty" pink and doesn't count. Especially when you put a WHITE bed in front of it.

So there you have it everyone. I'm innocent! How on earth did I get this reputation for liking pink so much? Kimberly, I'm innocent right? Just ask her...she'll tell you!

A Photo Shoot!

Yesterday was a photo shoot day at Bunny Hill with the famous Mr. Gregory Case and his assistant Elena. Not only are they the best photography team around, they are also dear friends of mine. I haven't updated the slide show on my web site for almost a year and wanted some new pictures! Ta da! Coming soon!

Elena and Greg arriving.

I've always looked at books and magazines, enjoyed the photos and never once thought about what went into shooting the photographs. Now I look at everything differently. Staged photos mean a lot of moving things around, a lot of finding just the right props, a lot of arranging and rearranging over and over. Staged photos mean a LOT of work. Everything looks different through the eye of the camera and it's the photographer's eye that makes a good staged photo. Sometimes we move things no more than an inch just to get a good picture!

While Greg and Elena were working their magic, the Bunny Hill committee was not very impressed (sorry Greg). They were busy napping and just couldn't be bothered. I snapped these pictures with my camera as Greg and Elena worked.

Bitsy rests on the day bed in our great room with her soft fleece blankie.

Chelsea sleeps on the chair in the Living Room. She also has a soft fleece blankie.

Noel came to visit with Nireko, my assistant, and was busy eating all the cat food while we worked. She got in so much trouble Nireko made her pose in one of the photos. Here she is sleeping on the floor. I don't think she can get up after all she ate. (: You will love the photo when you see it! She laid perfectly still and did exactly as she was told. Good dog, Noel, good dog!

Then, at the end of the day when I was so tired I could hardly pick up the computer mouse, I found this award waiting for me from Angela at http://www.cottagemagpie.com. To think that I make her day is so humbling because believe me she absolutely makes my day! I love to visit her blog, can't wait until she does a new post, and if you have a decorating question she will help you! Free! Just email her and she's there. The rules to this award are that you can pass it on to up to 10 bloggers. I would send it back to Angela, but how silly is that?. It could go on forever with us! (: Thank you Angela! You make my day too!

Another Mini Quilt!

When I give a free pattern http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns NOTHING makes me happier than seeing what you do with it! It's like someone gave me a present over and over! Rebecka Schafer, of Lincoln Nebraska sent me this photo of her mini quilt featuring little "critters". I just couldn't believe she found this fabric in just the right size. Each square has a different little animal! Then to make my day even better she put a bunny in the photo! She bought "Iris" from one of my favorite blogs http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/ If you'd like to see the collection of miniature quilts click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/11824218@N07/sets/72157603428702502/. Email me your miniature quilt photo and I'll post it on my blog and add it to the collection!

Yesterday was "Bunny Club" at our local quilt store Thimble Creek. This is a wonderful group of ladies who have talked me into getting together once a month for talking, sewing and general fun. Did I say talking? Well, it ranges from quiet chatter to hysteria...4 hours worth! And all the while they sew! They get previews of what I'm working on and sometimes an occasional project. I really need to take my camera each time, because the things they accomplish are amazing! My friend Bobbie Ball made the Garden Bunny pattern and added a picket fence in the border. It's so cute! Could someone out there remind me to take my camera on February 8th? I'll make it worth your while. While you're at it could someone help me get more organized? Isn't there some kind of computer program that will open each day and tell you what you need to do for the week? Please don't tell me it's built into my computer. I'll feel like the dummy.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

A Perfect Gift!

The perfect gift is one you are not expecting. One that comes when it's not your birthday, not a special occasion, and not Christmas. One that comes by surprise when you open an envelope in the mail. One that makes you smile just knowing that someone did something special just for you. I received such a gift yesterday, inside a little card in the mail!

Denise French from Ontario made this beautiful scissor case just for me, to hold my favorite scissors! The Bunny Hill carrots and bunny are so itty bitty! The applique is gorgeous! The case is something I will treasure forever! Thank you Denise for the wonderful gift, made with your precious time and thoughtfulness.

I made this little card for Denise! It's a blogger thank you card!

Hugs,

Anne

What's She Doing With That Fabric?

When you think of Bunny Hill you don't think of darker colors do you? Surprise! That's right, believe it or not if you look at some of my patterns I've used darker colors a lot. How about "Patchwork Pines"? http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/store/products/details/?product=w1075 It's for all those customers in snow country.

I actually love darker colors in a quilt. It adds richness, contrast and most important, fun . Here's a sneak peak at a new design I'm working on using the wonderful log cabin block! I've joined two Moda designers together to make this quilt...hope they don't mind! Knowing how nice they are I doubt they will (: I'm using "Hemming House" by Brannock & Patek and "At Water's Edge" by Blackbird Designs. One line is giving me the dark colors I need and the other is giving me the lighter colors I need. Of course I've added some surprises so you'll have to wait to see the finished quilt.

A traditional log cabin quilt block with the red center signifying the heart of the cabin or home. Don't you wonder how many of these blocks have been made? Think about it!

Of course it helps to have a beautiful box to keep your fat quarters in! I wish every box came with crystal feet!

So, now this little quilt is off to Oregon where Anne will work on constructing those log cabins and the other surprises. I may not get it back because she LOVES the darker colors. No, the box does not travel with the fabric!

Creative and Organized!

January 1st arrives and with it comes the need to clean and organize! There's something about starting the new year fresh and organized that appeals to all of us! Some of us are a bit more creative when cleaning than others. Wish I had thought of this...

My assistant, Anne Bryson found this extra quilt block when she was cleaning her sewing room and look at what she did with it! She had an empty frame from Ikea, with a 5" opening and she framed the extra block. This simple little block has become something to treasure and will decorate her home!

Wish I had thought of it. Hope I still have those extra blocks...wonder where I put them?

Happy organizing everyone!

It's Raining, No It's Pouring!

Can anyone tell me if a Chihuahua that weighs 5 lbs. can get blown away by winds of 60 to 75 miles per hour? Seems to me that could happen! How about a dog that weighs about 9 lbs? How about a lady that weighs...ha!...nevermind...I think I'll be fine. In case you haven't heard we are having a HUGE storm here in Northern California. I'm sure all of you living in snow country are thinking we don't know what a storm is, but 8 to 10 inches of rain in 3 days is a LOT of rain! Soggy, muddy, wet, slippery, gloomy forecast. A good time to stay inside I say!

So while it pours, I'm starting new things. Today I started working on a new fabric line for spring market. It will take me several weeks to pull it together, but the process is so much fun! I have a special pencil I like to draw with. It makes very fine lines (3mm.) and I can get great detail with it. So out came the sketch book, the erasers, my special pencils and then soon will follow the Bristol Board and paints. And with a lot of luck, a few good pencil lines and some help from the art staff at Henry Glass, I will have gone from this...

...To this with another fabric line! This print is from "Flowers For Emma", the companion fabric line to "Miss Emma's Garden"!

If we don't get blown away by the wind, I'll post again soon! Soggy hugs from Northern California (: