Where am I?

I'm getting ready for market, and it's about this time of year that I'm just going crazy trying to get a bunch of designs done, stitched, printed, packed and ready to go for market at the end of the month. It is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work, so it's harder for me to get to things like the blog, my dears.

This is Yoko. She has a cold. I dropped Isolde off at the shelter this morning (she's back to health and doing great!) And they had five more cats with colds. I am really only able to do one adult at a time (or my cats go CRAZY!) Southern Pines doesn't really have much for kittens right now (any that we have are in foster care.) But I continue to help the cats who are fixed but who have the sniffles, so they don't have to be put down. Yoko is very sweet -- inquisitive, affectionate and she has beautiful honeydew sorbet colored eyes (kind of an icy pale, pale green.) She'll be with us a week or so, until she feels better.

Azreal is still at the shelter -- but she's doing great. I don't think it'll be long before she gets adopted, as she is very social and elegant. The Southern Pines Pet Photography Project took some pictures last week at the shelter, and I loved this one of Azreal. Those photographers do a great job, and all of their time is donated to help find the animals forever homes.

I updated my Raise the Roof blog just now with a picture of the March Angel. She's very cute...go take a peek at www.raisetheroofdesigns.blogspot.com.

Isolde and Dottee

Steve and I scooped up these two lovely girls yesterday after they came down with colds at the shelter. Isolde had just had her surgery, and Dottee couldn't go (because of her cold.) Once again, we saved some furry little lives. They're doing great, and I thought I'd share pictures. I may already have a home for Isolde with a customer here at the shop! I'm trying to get together a group of volunteers for a Sneeze Brigade; fosters who are willing to take in these dogs and cats who just need ten days on an antibiotic in order to survive. No takers yet, but lots of friendly support.

This is Dottee. She's a grey and coral-pink calico with olive-colored eyes. She's a chunky gal (there's just more of her to love.) She's very happy to rub her face on my legs, and she's got a quiet calm manner about her.

And this is Isolde. She walked into our house last night, checked out the joint, then found a nice spot on Steve's lap while he watched Storage Wars. She's very lean and lanky and is kind of a seal point/tabby mix -- silver with blue eyes. She loves to knead her tiny little feet on anything soft, and she spent the night resting comfortably on the pillow in our guest room.

Wren's new owner, Sharon, wants to express her thanks for all of your good wishes. Steve and I drove him half-way to Pensacola and got to meet his new family -- Sharon, and her daughter and her mother. There was some discussion about what to name him, but they decided on "Tabasco." Sharon reports he's doing great in his new home; he's found the food and water no problem and loves to snuggle at night.

Azrael (aka Zee Zee)

This is Azrael. I didn't take this lovely picture; it was taken by one of the volunteers of the Pet Photography Project at Southern Pines. Azrael came home with us on Wednesday, because she developed a little cold. Standard protocol at the shelter is to euthanize cats with colds, due to space restrictions (they don't have the room to treat a cat for a week and a half) and fear of spread of infection (these colds are very catchy, and sometimes can wipe out our entire cat cottage.)

She has just been fixed and is a lovely girl. She's got long pretty fur, a white chin and bib, and white socks. She was trapped outside, but I am thinking she had to have been someone's cat, because she came to our house and immediately acted right at home, finding a great spot on the couch to hang out. She's very affectionate with a nice, loud rumble of a purr, and gets along well with our other cats. She does like to be held and be close to people, so I know she's going to make a great pet for someone.

("Azrael" was Gargamel's cat in The Smurfs and is also the archangel of death...yikes! This morning I started calling her Zee Zee, which seems a little more friendly.)

The shelter estimates Azrael is a year and a half old, so her adoption fee is $50.00. That helps cover her surgery, rabies shot, microchip, and health and temperament evaluation. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Azrael, contact me by e-mail at xspeddler@yahoo.com.

Kitten update

You may remember we adopted out Fargo two days before Christmas...he is settling in at his new place and getting bigger already! His name is Dexter now, and in addition to being "a major snuggle monster" to new mommy Sam, he also tipped over the fish bowl and ate her fish. She said he's very happy and loving. Aw!

In other news, we came home with a new foster cat yesterday. She had been to surgery, and was set to go to PetSmart, but had come down with a cold. Unfortunately, that's usually a death sentence, due to space issues at the shelter. FORTUNATELY for Azrael, we just happened to be walking by the right people at the right time, and we scooped her up. I'll post a picture tomorrow, but I will tell you she is grey with a white bib and chin and a tiny sliver of white on her forehead. She's a long-haired beauty, about a year old, who is SO loving and sweet. I'm hoping maybe we can find her a home here from someone reading the blog (hint hint) or on the Southern Pines Animal Shelter web page. I've only heard her sneeze a few times...it doesn't seem very serious, but we're going to keep an eye on her for a few days.

New Blog

Just a quick announcement. I started another/new blog this morning for Raise the Roof Designs. The first post includes some big news about Raise the Roof...some pictures...and some dorkiness/humor. Find me at www.raisetheroofdesigns.blogspot.com.

Jane Pattison Thread Pack

I'm very busy getting ready for Nashville Market/Market Season -- my friend Kathy is very busy stitching on Jane Pattison's reproduction sampler! This is being stitched with The Gentle Arts WOOL threads on 32 count Vintage Navy Bean by Lakeside Linens. You will be able to substitute The Gentle Art cottons...the names are all the same. But the original was stitched in wool, and Kathy tells me it's looking really awesome in the wools.

The Gentle Art will be doing pre-packs of the threads for this sampler; we do not know yet how many skeins will be in it or the price, but if shops are thinking they'll pick some up at market, Jim said you can let him know at The Gentle Art how many, and that way he can make sure to have enough to fill market orders.

I CAN tell you the colors of the wools/cottons (but again, I do not know yet the amounts):

• Tea Rose
• Chives
• Harvest Basket
• Faded Rose
• Maple Syrup
• Baked Clay
• Schoolhouse Red
• Terra Cotta
• Parchment
• Old Purple Paint
• Soot
• Barn Grey
• Cidermill Brown
• Forest Glade (I do know you will need a LOT of this color)

I am also designing the new Jenny Bean Gentle Spring Sampler. It's LOVELY so far and is in beautiful soft and gentle springy (think antique spring) colors. The fabric is 32 count PLATINUM Belfast linen, but Navy Bean in Lakeside would make a nice substitute if you prefer hand-dyed. This will also be going in a Family Tree Co. (a.k.a. Crescent Colours) frame.

I will release more information as I have it, and yes, sneak peeks will eventually come your way.

Great news for Wren

He's going to be a Florida Orange (Cat)! One of my customers/blog followers from Pensacola, Florida is adopting Wren. She's got three teenagers and three other cats. She said they fell in love with his little face, and her daughter has already called snuggle-dibs at night time with sweet Wren.

Wren is feeling fantastic -- on top of everything else this last week, I took him to the vet to get his ears checked, and he had mites. Now that he's been treated for all of his woes, he's a new man and gained SEVEN ounces between Friday and Tuesday! I can practically hear him growing. He's an affectionate and happy little guy, and I am so glad to know he's going to be part of a loving family with a few cat friends to boot. Hooray!