Bird Legs

My little dog has bird legs and she doesn't even know it. Now I have to tell her she has to have surgery on both of these beautiful little legs. Poor Chelsea jumped up for a toy, came down and started crying. She's been limping off and on every since. Of course a visit to the vet was called for. We've been there so much they know us by name. She has something with a long name called luxating patella. Why on earth they can't just call it a slipped knee I don't know. I think with a luxating patella you can charge more.

She has to have this surgery or she'll go lame. It's just killing me to do it. I would rather have the surgery myself! I made the appointment for March 12th. ...a day I would rather skip. We couldn't do it sooner because the vet needs a full morning. It's surgery on both little legs.

Has anyone been through this with their pet? I understand it's common with these small breeds. What's so amazing when you own a pet, is the feeling that you would do anything for them. It's the licks and the cuddles!

I have an area in my studio where I can sit and watch TV. It's a rocking chair with some magazines close by. I'm all ready for her (:

In the meantime, Bitsy has recovered.

She's very happy tucked in bed with her head on the pillow.

Nite, nite!

No we don't treat our pets special. Get serious!

For the love of Quilter's Home?

I received my first issue of Quilter's Home Magazine by subscription last week. Yes, I subscribe to it, but if you had asked me a year ago to subscribe I would have said you were nuts. No possible way would I spend my money on this magazine! No Way! Maybe I'd occasionally pick it up if I saw it in the store, but subscribe? I figured there must be a reason they didn't offer it by subscription!

So now take a look at that man on the cover. Him and his little dog. They have driven me crazy and somehow turned me into a devoted reader. Mark Lipinski. The man who has taken the quilting world by storm. I NEVER would have believed he could convert me! NEVER!!!! Maybe it's the dog. After all he is pretty cute! When this magazine first came out, I got a brochure in the mail introducing this wonderful new magazine and asking if I was interested in advertising. Well, think about it...a magazine called Quilter's Home HAS to be about quilting, home decorating and along the lines of Country Home...wouldn't you think? I jumped at the chance to advertise and picked the best "county home photo" to show off my decorating taste. "Simply Cottage" by Bunny Hill Designs was the quilt I carefully selected to place in the magazine... sweet, the photo even has roses (photography by the famous Gregory Case).

Advertising isn't cheap and I wish you could have seen my face when I read the first issue! There went some dollars down the drain. No one would ever be collecting the first issue. The magazine wouldn't be around long enough!

Was this man nuts? Really, I thought he was! I couldn't believe I just spent all that money on an ad in this magazine! I remember Sandy Klop (American Jane) and I having a conversation at Quilt Market. She loved the magazine and I hated it! When Lisa, the advertising rep came by my booth and asked if I wanted to meet him I couldn't have run faster to get away! (: No way did I want to meet him! Lock the doors and throw away the key. Don't put me in the same booth with him. Pleeeease! The only reason I kept reading the magazine was to make sure he didn't write anything negative about me!

Now fast forward to today and I swear I LOVE this magazine. I don't know when it happened, or even how it happened, but he has me. I'm a devoted fan and I read the magazine from cover to cover. I read EVERYTHING he writes and how many magazines can you say that about? He doesn't even have the same taste in quilts as me and yet I still read it! I'm swear we are polar opposites! Other than our love of little dogs, fire and ice, salt and pepper, sugar and lemon drops describes us.

Now I'd like to meet him in person at Quilt Market, and no, I don't want to stand in a long line surrounded by women waiting to get his autograph. I just want to meet him and say congratulations for taking a chance and making it work. He doesn't even have to make a joke! I hope I won't be disappointed in him. After all, I subscribe to the magazine!

So how about you? Do you read this magazine? Do you like it? What about the dog?

Charm Patterns are just plain fun!

Gotta love those charm square patterns! They are fun to design and fun to sew! Just plain fun for all of us. There's something about those little packages of squares that I just love! I've even added a section to my web site just for charms, jellies and layer cakes. Sounds like a combination good enough to eat! Visit me at http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/store/products/?category=25 to see my selection and look for new ones to be added very soon!

"Swell" is a new Moda fabric line shipping this week and I've designed a charm pattern to go with it! I love this fabric, even though I think the name is a bit strange. LOL! It's a little bit retro, and really cute. And to go with this fabric I'm introducing "Posy Time"! It's my new charm pattern with easy yo-yo flowers. No yo-yo maker necessary. Yo-yo's are the easy to make and instructions are included in the pattern.

I've added something else new to my web site...it's a list of shops who have kits available for Bunny Hill patterns! As soon as a shop lets me know they have kits available, I'll add a link or a phone number from my web site. I'll try to keep it updated so it's always current. We'll see how it works! You can find it under "news"! http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=News

Leave it to that sweet, beautiful Kimberly over at Fat Quarter shop to come up another fun thing for you! She's an endless source of ideas! Who doesn't love a good mystery, and Kimberly's got one! It's a mystery block of the month and 12 designers have contributed blocks for this fun quilt, myself included! If you like the new fabric line "Peace on Earth" from Moda Fabrics you're sure to love this quilt. Just think, every month you'll get a new block designed by someone new! Click on this link and you'll be right there! http://www.fatquartershop.com/fatquartershopquiltclubs-charmpackquiltclub-tinboxquiltclub-fatquarterquiltclub.asp?Shopper_id=35092161456553509&Store_id=499

So the real mystery is how does that beautiful brain of hers work? (:

White Pitchers on Yellow Wall

You'd think this was an easy thing to do...buy some white pitchers and arrange them on the mantle. Well guess what? It's been a decorating fiasco and it's all because of my husband. Yes, my husband who thinks he is the decorator. My husband has this "thing" about symmetry.

It was fine when we just had one pitcher. Not much he could do with that except move it into the center. Of course he just couldn't resist. It wasn't long until I noticed the pitcher right in the center. I think he even measured to make sure it was right.

Then it wasn't long until he took my three pitchers above and did this...

One in the center and the other two on each end, equal distance apart.

And with five pitchers you get a range from large to small....

So now after I've threatened you know what, I finally have this...well, as of 1:o4 PM Pacific time.

Of course now I have 10 pitchers...even number, can't have that. We may have to add on to the mantle to make us both happy. (:

Bunny Crazed

I had a phone conversation tonight with my friend Anne, about how to balance things in my life. You know, work vs. play? Seems mine is a little out of balance right now. So the minute I hung up the phone I went shopping. Well, I didn't actually leave the house, but it's a start!

I spent an hour shopping on the internet. Thought I would just peek at the Easter goodies, maybe find a new bunny, maybe not. Well guess what? I am addicted to bunnies! I can't help it. Given the chance and a credit card I can buy lots of bunnies in a very short time. So much for my comment on being picky about bunnies in the last post. Lasted for a day.

Pottery Barn was my first stop and look at the bunny platter I found! It has little bunnies around the edge! How cute will my fresh baked tarts look on this platter? You can have one too! Just go to http://www.potterybarn.com/ and do a search for "bunny platter".

Next stop was Sur La Table http://www.surlatable.com/. They have all kinds of kitchen things and at this time of year they also have bunnies! Here's what's coming to my house very soon...a topiary bunny. One I have to try to keep alive! He might even sit on that bunny platter I bought! At least for a photo (:

... and egg cups for all those Easter eggs I'm sure to decorate!

No, I didn't buy these little bean bag bunnies. But aren't they cute? I may have to go back.

Tomorrow I'm off to Home Goods. Yes, the real store. There's one near my house and I hear it calling my name!

You know life is too busy when...

You know life is too busy when...

• You've been tagged and you don't remember until days later
• You haven't blogged in days
• You think cooking is frozen dinners in the freezer
• You ask yourself why on earth you committed to do all the things you said you would do way back when they sounded so great
• The only clothes you wear make you look like you can't afford to buy any new clothes
• Your valentines dinner is a subway sandwich

I've almost finished the projects I've committed to and soon I can move past these deadlines and onto others! I hate working under stress, but I seem to always find myself right in the middle of it. It's like I wait, run and jump right into the stress pot. My friends that know me, are shaking their heads right now saying, "yes, that's how she is" LOL!

So now that I have a minute, it's time for a "TAG" game! Jackie at http://www.cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/ has tagged me (check out her post on her Ikea table for her studio. That table is wonderful!).

The rules :

• Place the name of the person and URL on your blog.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Write 7 things about yourself.
• Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
• Send and email letting those bloggers know they've been tagged.

I can't name 7 of my favorite blogs because I have WAY too many favorites. It's getting to be a problem because my list is getting very, very long and it would take up the whole post! I can't be alone in this. Don't you find your list has grown?

Here's who I'm tagging...

Angela at http://cottagemagpie.com/

Elizabeth at http://the-latebloomer.blogspot.com/

Pam at http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com/

Brenda at http://web.mac.com/fromlittleacorns/little_acorns/blog/blog.html

Vickie at http://www.bloomcreek.blogspot.com/ (She's really going to kill me so everyone go over and tell her you are waiting for her to blog...that will stress her out!)

Seven things about myself...not very exciting but true:

1. I never pump my own gas unless under dire circumstances. It's a rule with me and I go out of my way to make sure I don't have to. I LOVE when I cross that state line into Oregon. In Oregon you can't pump your own gas, it's the LAW! In California they don't care LOL! See this pump? It's not my friend.

2. I'm a real bunny snob. Now there's a surprise! I've walked past many a bunny that doesn't fit in my collection. It's a horrible thing to be, but I can't help it. I know a good bunny when I see one, and good bunnies are hard to find. The Bunny Hill lady is a bunny snob. Who knew?
3. I'm also a lamb lover but with lambs you can't be so picky...they are much harder to find!

Would you believe these are in my back yard? (Only kidding!)

4. I'm a collector of pie birds. Yes, pie birds. I can't help myself. Did you know that pie birds are not always birds? See that little fox in the middle? He's my favorite. I can't resist a pie bird.

5. I love to read mystery books. Light hearted mystery books with cats. How can you go wrong with a cat mystery?

6. I search all over for vintage books. I love the really old ones. I love to pour through the pages, read how they were written and then stack and decorate with them.

7. I have all but 2 of the back issues of Victoria Magazine. You can imagine my delight when I saw that it was being published again! This is one of my favorite magazines and I love to sit and look through them over and over.

So now you know 7 things about me that you didn't know before. Or did you? I get razzed a lot about that pumping gas thing! No one knows about the pie bird thing...not even my husband! He's oblivious to things like that and hasn't a clue what they are.

Hugs, to all of you! May you have a stress free week (:

Anne

It's raining deadlines!

Hi everyone! I'm feeling a bit stressed because I have so many deadlines looming right now. I know I said I'd be doing the "tag" blog, and I will...just not until I get through these current projects. So stay with me. I'm still here!

So how stressed am I? Well, I've resorted to machine applique in order to get this project completed. I know you are all SHOCKED! Don't worry, I still love hand applique and it will always be my favorite, but there are times when you just have to get it done faster than your little hands can do it! I love this machine applique so much I'm going to do a tutorial for all of you when I get a chance. It's amazing how fast you can get done, and even more amazing how it looks! I never use invisible nylon thread. I use DMC 50 wt. machine embroidery thread in both the bobbin and the top. Look at how those stitches just sink into the fabric! I had this block done in one evening!

Here's something else I've learned about my newest fabric "Flowers for Emma". Sometimes you're so close to things you can't see the forest for the trees. I spent so much time drawing this main fabric that I never thought about cutting it up into blocks. I was only thinking of it as a main focus print. But when I desperately needed some four patch blocks I cut it up and look at the result! I have four patches with swirls, birds and all the colors I love!

Don't feel too sorry for me having deadlines and work to do. The one you should feel sorry for is my little Bitsy girl in the photo below. She's trapped inside this helmet for another week. She's doing much better so I guess it's worth it.

Hugs to you all!

Anne

Busy Little Bunnies

Yesterday was my Bunny Club meeting at our local quilt store, Thimble Creek. It's a bit like the photo above, we all fit into one area and we all kindalookalike (that's my made up word...isn't it great?) . Sometimes there's a shy one, but usually they get drawn into the "goings on" one way or another.

We have show and tell, fabric envy, shopping fever and lots of fun! What a nice group of ladies and you can't imagine the amount of talent they have! Some work on applique, some on embroidery, some on wool projects and then of course some work on Bunny Hill projects.

Pat at http://pat-bitsandpieces.blogspot.com/ was kind enough to email me a reminder to take my camera so I have pictures to share! Thanks so much Pat!

A French embroidery project from Chickie in those chic colors, beige and red.

Chickie also made a wool pillow using my "Cabin for Rent" pattern,

only she added binding and the tiniest yo-yo's as decorations!

Fabric envy

A head start on Christmas...a Primitive Gatherings pattern!

And all the applique that you can imagine!

And for a perfect ending to a very nice class, Chickie let me take a picture of her cute little bunny pin she was wearing. Something about those bunnies I just love!

Wish you all could have been there!

Next post I've been tagged by Jackie so get ready, you may get tagged by me!

Bitsy, Mary, Me and Mary's little friend

18 stitches later and I'm feeling really guilty. Poor Bitsy had to go back to the vet today. When we got up this morning I didn't like the look of her incision. My instincts were right. We think she might be licking her stitches at night when we're sleeping. During the day she leaves them alone, as long as I'm nearby, and so I've let her go without the plastic hood she has to wear. See why I feel so guilty? She was very brave while she was stitched up once again. Now it will be another 10 days before they come out. The vet said she can have the hood off she's right next to me, but otherwise it has to go on. I must say she looks like I'm beating her when I put it on. This has not been easy for either of us.

Now, for the Mary part of this post. Here's a picture Gina at http://www.quiltersbuzz.com/
sent me the other day. It's Mary Engelbreit, me and Mary's little friend at fall market! I have to say, Mary's little friend (right side) isn't at all impressed. Somehow I doubt that Mary was either because this is one of hundreds of photos people took of her...photos of her, not me (:

I'm actually working on a little design using Mary's new fabric line. Opps, I gave it away when I said a little design! Drats! I was so surprised when I opened up Mary's fat quarter bundle and found a full panel of her little friend (on the right) on top of the bundle! She comes with the bundle! A full panel!
So, here's a preview of her fabric line and my little project. Looks so "Mary" don't you think? You can never have too many dots! Never!

I'll keep you posted on Bitsy.

Going to Australia!

We were sleeping on the job yesterday! I totally forgot I said the giveaway would be Sunday, and Chelsea wasn't any help at all. Bitsy and Chelsea slept right through Super Bowl Sunday! Not very good assistants for sure!

This morning we got up early (well at least one of us did) and did the random number generator. I could have made this drawing really cute, but remember I'm already a day late! So I added the three comments from the "Life" post, put in the numbers 1 through 91 and the winner is #12, Dawn in Australia! She is new to blogging, and only has one post. You can visit her blog "Stitching for Pleasure" at http://stitchingforpleasure.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment so she'll know you were there! Dawn, email me your address and these little treats will be on their way to you in time for Valentine's Day! Congratulations! Get ready to add another post to your blog! We'll all come visit again!

Thank you to all who left a comment. I love these giveaways and I'll do more in the future.

Hugs,

Anne

Bitsy Button

I am overwhelmed by your good wishes and kind thoughts for Bitsy. I've read every comment over and over and they all mean so much to me! Thank you my dear readers, for being there for me, and for caring about Bitsy.

She's doing pretty well, but we did have to make a quick trip back to the vet this week. She has a drain in her incision and it seems it was pulling a few stitches out. I bundled her up, put her in the car and off I went with a trembling dog in the front seat. Seems she knows now that every car ride is to the vet. (Something I'll have to remedy when she recovers.) She's back home with some staples added, but the good news is that tomorrow she goes back to the vet to get the drain out. I hope she'll feel better after that and she can get onto the healing process. I promise to keep you posted on how she's doing.

This is the look Bitsy reserves for me! I feel so honored to have her!

Chelsea has been really good with Bitsy. She walks carefully around her, and never gets too close to her incision. She knows something happened and seems concerned. But as good as she's been, today she just had to bring a mouse for me to throw for her! Please mom, please!

And today I got the cutest pictures from my friend Anne. It's a cat show with Jack and Arnie! Jack and Arnie are rescue kitties from the Humane Society. They are the cutest cats you have ever seen! Anne put in this "cat" video for them to watch, and for almost an hour they were glued to the TV! It's a video with fish, birds and other cats.

First came the fish...

Then came Jack's paw... he's trying to get a bird.
When the video changed and the bird went off the screen guess what he did?

He went around to the back of the TV to see if he could find it!

They watched for so long that Anne says she is going to limit their TV hours.

Anne's a good mom!

Tonight I'm sitting in my old red chair, binding a quilt and watching TV with Bitsy at my side. She doesn't seem to care about what's on TV! (: