Hopeless in Hoopville

Well, it turns out I can't marry that white dog--or this black one, or this orange one (and will you look at those eyes?). . .

. . . because apparently they have this whole family already--and who's going to break up this crew?
Certainly not me. Humph.

Puppy Love

One day, when ladies may legally marry dogs--well, felt dogs--this guy will be my husband.

Meanwhile, I'm off to make vegan meatloaf from the ground seitan I cooked up this morning!

Love Bird

Tis the season--nearly--of hearts and lace and chocolate boxes and swooning, so I thought, for those who are into that kind of thing, I'd remind you of this tutorial.

I'd love to hear what you think if you try it.

P.S. I am aware of the spam problem that has suddenly developed in my comments section, and I'm thinking about how I want to handle it. Drats.

January Doings

The first portrait of 2012, in progress, with pups galore.

We are returning to our "school" schedule, both home school and university. This semester, Annabelle is studying reconstruction of the South after the Civil War, a bit of algebra, piano (of course), reading Lord of the Flies, and I've resolved to give her a cooking lesson each week, with the aim of her being able to cook independently in a couple of months. Meanwhile, I'm preparing to teach a course on Apocalypse in American Novels. Cheerful, huh? First, though, I'll give these folks some faces.

More Making Over

I whipped up a patchwork cover for my old gold chair--Sophie likes to scratch around on things before she lies down, some kind of hardwired nesting instinct, I guess, and it's hard on furniture.
If you've been around since the posts where I talked a bit about my minimalism, you'll recognize this old girl, and you won't be surprised that I made a cover instead of buying a new chair. It's making me very cheerful--and there are different squares on the other side...reversible!

Makeover

Remember this little guy?

He got a bit of a New Year makeover in order to serve as a baby gift for a towhead named Pierce. As you can see, I haven't quite convinced myself to put away the Christmas table cloth, though the tree made its reluctant way out the door today. Mark and Annabelle would hold onto it--and play the music, eat the candy canes--all year long if I let them. Me--I'm ready for the new. You?

Baby Brother

Well, he's not such a baby anymore, is he? In fact, he's 21, but you know how it is--when I look at his handsome man-face, I still see the fat cheeks and cork-screw curls.
The lovely young woman snuggled up to him is his girlfriend, Bridget. The hoop was my Christmas present to them--and kind of a nod to their long-term relationship, a welcome into our family. And I accomplished all that with wool felt! :-)