Friday, November 13, 2015

AUDITION

Now I am at another design decision point.  I must figure out what to quilt in the large triangles framing the center of Mom's quilt


 I considered a celtic knot, to mirror the appliqued center block.  I realized that would require ruler work and I haven't practiced with the curved ruler yet.  I thought about long parallel diagonal lines but that, too, would require ruler work.  I prefer Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) to the tedium of ruler work.

I decided to try feathers with background filler to set them off.  I tried pebbles and straight lines. The pebbles gave the background more interest and texture; plus Steven liked that better.  Who am I to reject good advice?

 It's dark here in New York by late afternoon and the bright florescent lights don't show up the texture in a photo.  I illuminated this with a small,  lighted make-up mirror. (I use it to check the backing stitches).


Here you can see the detail better.  I used an old sheet and some scrap batting to make a piece the same size as the triangle in the quilt.  It shrunk up quite a bit.  I like the effect.  I think I can accomplish this on the Nolting.  



I stitched this out this afternoon on the 201-2.  It was good therapy.  Overnight, Wilson was up three times and was clearly getting weaker and sicker.  He deteriorated through the morning and while I had hoped to keep him home until he passed,  he was clearly suffering.   He lay peacefully in the back seat of the car, his head in my lap as we drove to the vet.  We didn't have to move him inside.  Despite the bad weather, they came out to the car to lovingly tend to him. 

He is buried in the yard.  It was sleeting and snowing as Steven and I filled in his grave.  Wrigley and Frannie came out but didn't really pay much attention to Wilson's body.  Wrigley sniffed, Frannie whined and barked from a few feet away.  They did not seem perturbed.  Even my sudden bursts of sobbing don't set them off now.  He was a good boy and a fine dog.  I will miss him so very, very much.



13 comments:

  1. So sorry about your dog. We went thru this with our dog, almost 2 years ago now. It's really hard to make that decision.

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  2. I am sorry to hear about Wilson. He was a good sewing companion .

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  3. So sorry for you. He was a terrific friend to you. Tonight, I went to a fundraiser for WNY Heroes, Inc. which helps veterans in all areas of need in the 8 counties of WNY. A new venture they started this year was for therapy dogs for vets.The head of the organization has a dog which warns him of seizures. A lot of therapy dogs were at the gala working. Even though Wilson was not a therapy dog, he served his time with you selflessly and was a loving friend. I will search for what I wrote when I lost my beloved Cinders, the cat. It says things better than I am here.

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  4. Sad to see Wilson go. He was obviously a well loved dog.

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  5. Very sorry about your boy. Godspeed, Wilson.

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  6. Oh, Elizabeth how sad for you both. These dogs do get under our skins, they are such a joy to us. You deserve a gold medal for the care you gave him, both at the end and thoughout his life, he obviously was well loved and treated right. Take care Sharon. P.S. your quilting looks great.

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  7. Much Peace to you at this sad time.

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  8. So very sorry for your loss of Wilson. God Bless you and your husband for giving him such a wonderful life!
    ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

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  9. So sorry about Wilson. But it was good he came to stay with you. I'm sure he had a wonderful life and made your life wonderful too. Thinking of you.

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  10. I am so sorry to hear about your loss of Wilson. I have my daughter's elderly dog( now very much my baby) that is at the same point and it is very sad to hope one day they will just go in their sleep since I am such a wimp about letting go. I don't want her to suffer for sure so will do the same for mine soon. I know Wilson will be greatly missed and hope you can soon just remember the fun times with him and not the sadness of goodbye though it will be awhile.

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  11. Soo sorry for your loss. We too lost a good 4 legged friend although it has been a few years now. We finally a year ago added to our family with a puppy last year. She has been such a great comfort and joy. Putting together a small photo album is a good way to keep the memories alive. Hugs.

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