Bathing the cat

Wil and Tine have asked why we gave Trev a bath. Trev was very pleased to know that someone felt sorry for him. He did look very sad and pathetic in the photos, didn't he?

We've given him regular baths ever since we've had him. He was a stray cat that adopted us about 12 years ago. The vet at the time said he thought Trev was about 5 years old which makes him abut 17 years old now. When he first moved in he was all dirty and his fur was matted together so we trimmed his fur as much as we could then bathed him in the laundry sink. We thought he'd go beserk but he just stood there. We use special anti-flea shampoo for cats, and bath him every 3 to 4 weeks.

This web site details a couple of ways to bathe a cat, but you'll be happy to know we don't use either of these methods. Trev is REALLY happy we don't use these methods!
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/van/238094636.html

Not Happy! (a note from Trev)

A picture tells a thousand words - no more are necessary...

this month's piece for the chooseday challenge

January's challenge topic was 'mask'. Here's a few photos of my piece. Since taking these photos, I added some colour to his nose, as in the photos it looks like he doesn't have one. I'm debating whether to add some more embellishment yet.

machine wrapped cords

I've just done a two part online workshop called Machine Wrapped Cords. It was a free workshop through this website: http://edu.creative-textile-and-quilting-arts.com/
I had made some a couple of years ago in a workshop with Faye Twining. Here's some photos of both lots. It was great fun, and makes a change from making quilts. There were a few other techniques covered in the free class that I haven't tried yet. It was definitely worth doing!

colour wheel cookies

I've just started doing an online workshop with Susan Sorrell. It's called 'Fear No Colour'. In the first lesson, we are exploring colour mixing using food dyes. Here's what I ended up with. The colours are not quite right because the red food colouring didn't turn red no matter how much I added, but the theory is the same. I've dyed lots of fabric colour wheels, but didn't get to eat them!

I'll include the recipe for the butter cookies if anyone wants it, but please don't ask how to do the frosting - you'll have to sign up for the class for that .

Butter Cookies

4oz butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

2 cups self raising flour

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Stir in sugar.

Roll out on floured surface and cut out with cookie cutter. Bake at 180degC (350degF) for 8-10 minutes.

You can also roll out into a sausage shape, wrap in foil and chill for an hour (or up to a couple of days) before cutting into slices and baking. You could just roll spoonfuls of dough into balls, flatten a bit then bake. They will probably take a few extra minutes to cook. Try adding chopped glace cherries or ginger, slivered almonds, coconut, choc bits or whatever else takes your fancy!

atc's

I have discovered atc's (artist trading cards). Why didn't anyone tell me they were such fun? I have heaps of ideas for more but need to do something with the ones I've got first. Here's a preview. I have to put the eyelets in the ones in the bottom photo. What do you think?









Now I'm off back to the studio to find my rubber stamps and the foil off some chokkies we got for Christmas.

I'm back

It's been a while since I updated my blog. Warm weather and having MS - not a good mix at all. When does the weather start to get cool again? I'm so glad I live in Tassie, and not on the mainland anywhere. It gets too hot here for me.

I have been playing around with a few bits and pieces. I made a chenille bag for my mother for
christmas. It was easier than I thought and I was happy with the way it turned out, and plan on making a few more.



I made this little quilt which is about the size of an A4 sheet of paper (journal quilt size). the middle piece of fabric is a manipulated hand dyed piece that I've had for a year or two. The borders are polycotton pieces that I threw in with some cotton I was dyeing, again a couple of years old. I added some pale seed beads down through the centre. They sort of remind me of water.







I also had a go at Xmas postcards. It's the first time I've made any postcards so they are not very adventurous, but they were fun to make!