Thrifty

We should go skiing today but it’s only 9 degrees... Of course, Daddy-O is on the Mountain (he’s tough) instead, Gus, Nimbus, Tauzer and I decided to have an art day (with Ding Dongs!). I know, isn’t EVERY DAY art day?! I found this cool wooden case of art supplies at my favorite Thrift Store a few months ago (for $5!) and stowed it on the art supply shelves in the studio. I’d forgotten about the find until yesterday when Gus was asking to do some acrylic painting.

He was inspired by my friend Katie Sevigny’s paintings at the Gallery and one of her Sunflower paintings we have at the cabin. I’m going to do a little felting of some sheep because I found a new source locally, for large quantities of wool batting from Pamela at Far North Fibers. I also picked up these two new handy dandy felting tools that are essential for felting larger surfaces or when you need more punches per second! Quilt Tree had these two tools for at least $4 cheaper than JoAnn’s. Speaking of Quilt Tree, they now sell my Art Quilt Patterns! Yaaay!

And speaking of Art Quilt Patterns, I finally finished up my latest pattern “Happy Husky Howl.” This one took a bit longer than I expected to get all three dogs just right. My first sketches either had the dogs looking rabid, goofy or cross-eyed! I added the swirls of “howling breath” coming from the second dog during my free-motion quilting process on a whim. It seemed he was just calling for it. I’ll wrap up the technical instructions tomorrow and send it off to my friend and pro-quilter Ann C. to proof, edit and test quilt it. The dogs were inspired for Anchorage’s upcoming Fur Rendezvous and the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. The Quilted Raven is having the Iditarod Quilt Challenge and entries are due Friday, February 25. I’m editing one of the dogs for the 10” x 12” requirements and adding a bandana to him. Should be fun -MUSH!