It’s been a week of dog dreams for me. Since spending so much time at the dog show last weekend and enjoying Tazer and Jinx,
I contacted a breeder for the first time in my life about a puppy. After much soul searching, I decided I am still too afraid to get another dog so these two will not have to put up with a puppy this winter.
Telly in the chair and Roxie at my feet.
I finished the shirt quilt and it has a great “feel” to it. Every piece except the binding is a shirt from the thrift store and I could not be more proud of it.
Here is the pieced back.
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Another Faye bouquet.
Another small table quilt just recently in the finished pile, too.
Can I show you some more dogs from the show?
Jenny is home from Louisville and came to see EJM – look at the size of this cat!
Next blog post I’ll introduce you to Mojo, my little Facebook and blog puppy friend who has me yearning for my own little terrier. You’re gonna love him!
Remember — small acts of kindness could change the world.
My first love is cats but I love dogs as well. Their faces are so wonderful and expressive.
Thanks for the picture of EJM. He is the most handsome ever!
Love the pictures!!
My daughter and her husband have two terrier mixes they rescued. The dogs are from different rescue facilities but fell for each other when they met in the rescue mission where the male was kept. These two are inseparable and even share the same food and water bowl! They are such good company for each other during the day when the kids are at work. We love Holly and Cooper,
I too am looking for a puppy. I lost my beloved Daisy in January – she was 14. Such a great dog. I’m just about ready to retire, and so am looking forward to getting a puppy or puppies. Of course, they will be rescues, but with a labrador streak in them. I appreciate all the pictures of dogs – makes my day,.
Thanks so much,
Kathie
Mary: I think you need a Brittany!!! ❤️
I love the shirt quilt, the next Ernie quilt I make, which will be soon, I am going to offset the blocks like you did. Also, giving me an idea to make one with the Japanese Indigos with a linen color solid. And all the dog photos, love them as well as EJM, what cattitude he is showing. Great post today.
Mary your shirt quilt is so lovely. Makes me want to start heading to thrift stores to start collecting. I’m s big fan of thrift stores & have found me some treasures. Those dogs are so cute and your flowers too. Is that cat EJM? Mary you’ve seen pics of my Henry. Theses two look to be similar in size. My Henry is a “mere 25 lbs ” the last time I checked. The cat is so pretty.
Donna – Ernie is at least 25 lbs – he and Henry would be quite a pair, wouldn’t they?
Yes Mary it would be fun to have these two meet. EJM could show my Henry that he’s not always the “boss”. I would love to meet EJM. Is he a good mouser? I only say this due to his size. My Henry has never caught a mouse to my knowledge but he’s indoors more than out.
The quilt is fantastic….and I love seeing all the dogs….it took us 1 1/2 years after Cindy died before we could face a new dog….We just needed to grieve her….
Your heart will know when you are ready. Dearly love the cat!
Your quilt is amazing, both front and back!! And Ernie Joe Mauer looks very content in Jenny’s arms.
All the photos of the dogs remind me of when we had our yellow lab, Sasha. We will always remember her and how she allowed our daughter to dress her up and paint her nails. Such a love. I so enjoy reading your posts. Thank you!
Mary, I love how you put the strips together in the shirt quilt. That turned out so nicely:) Ernie Joe is my favorite because I do love red, big cats, but that Chow ( I think) and the Husky are beautiful. I’ll put in another vote for rescue. My friend got a little dog from our Humane Society. She is sooooo alert and cute that I think she’s going to start talking to us when we have a conversation!! Before Squeak adopted us, we got Spike because I kept looking for my baby, Pyramus!! You’ll know when it’s time:)
What breed of dog is the one sitting on red pillows in a cage? I don’t think I have ever seen one like that. I loved all the dog pictures. I also like the shirt quilt. I have been buying shirts from the thrift store for a long time and now you have inspired me to make one.
Sara – I honestly don’t know what kind of dog this is and could find know one to ask right then. Not really very cute, is he?
Roxie looks a bit miffed…perhaps it’s the angle of the picture. Hahaha
The shirt quilt is wonderful. I showed it to one of the aides, he says it needs color. His favorite is red, he is from Kenya and only like BRIGHT colors!
Show me pictures of Danes, Shepherds, labs….Then I too would yearn for a dog. In the mean time, Blacky has been with me since birth…just requires loving.
Mary..there is nothing wrong with getting a dog from a breeder. Nothing at all. Some people who get dogs from breeders do not take the responsibility of ownership seriously and even those dogs end up in shelters. You TOTALLY would take care of dog. I’ve struggled a bit with that but when the time comes for me to get another beagle, I know I HAVE to have a puppy. For the safety of all the kiddos around here I have to have a pup that grows up with kids. As long as you are going to be a responsible owner it matters not where the dog comes from as long as your heart is in it…Spring is the perfect time for a pup.
Love the shirt quilt. What fun – think I’ll make one. See what an inspiration you are! The dog pics are awesome too.
We will welcome him. The shirt quilt is wonderful and already broken in.
Love the shirt quilt! I may have to make one like it! It just looks so cozy.
Thanks for all the dog pictures. I’m a dog lover and seeing them all makes me want one. We lost one of ours in August and it has been hard for all of us, my husband, the other dog and me, to get used to being without him! I’d love to get anothe, probably a rescue , but we are talking seriously about moving and I don’t want to have another dog when we do that. Selling this house will be bad enough. We have been here 36 years and there is too much to get rid of!
Thanks for sharing.
I know the dilemma about getting another dog. It’s not that I don’t want one, I do, but finding the right match with our lives and current dog is a balancing act. I love the shirt quilt, your selections were great!
I have lost many dogs and it never gets easier. I lost my last two Shih tzus 1 year apart and then because we traveled a lot we went 3 years without a dog. I then put my name on the waiting list for a puppy from a good breeder. He was born as I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The decision was made to get him anyway. I had a lump removed from my breast and a week later picked up our adorable puppy. It was the best therapy for me with chemo and then radiation. I am so happy to have him in our lives. Puppyk have always helped through the difficult times. They bring joy, love and much happiness into our lives… I wish all of this for you as you make your decision as to when you will be ready for it.
Jane R
Mary, I love the shirt quilt, too! You may have posted this already and I know that I can make the strips any size and vary the number, but exactly how wide are your strips and how long? I want mine to be like yours!! 🙂 Thanks.
Tanya – my strips were cut 2-1/2″ x 10-1/2″
Mary,
You shirt quilt is fantastic! Love the colors, design and the quilting! Way to up-cycle! Puppies are a lot of work but I wouldnt trade that time with my Lucy for anything! They are so like little kids, there is tons of laughter too! Lucy’s best friend at Puppy Kindergarten was a tiny little terrier- they were so cute together-the “big” Lab and the tiny terrrier rolling and wrestling all over. They were having too good of a time to pay attention to the instructor or their moms!
I hope you will consider a rescue organization when you are ready for your next dog. There are many wonderful purebred rescue Groups
Chris – I have always had rescue dogs and I will always consider rescue first and foremost and each of the owners/handlers at the dog show were all very eager to discuss purebred rescue. But if the stars all align and God says it’s Ok for me to get a purebred puppy one time in my life before I die, this might be the time I do it. I will always have multiple dogs and I will always be a rescuer at heart but just once in my life I want the dog that looks like what I dream about, not what dog happens to need me the most because I can’t save them all. I wish I could. I wish more people would adopt rather than shop. Don’t get me started on pet store puppies! Because I will come unglued if I start discussing puppy mills. If anyone is reading this that has purchased a puppy from a pet store, I don’t ever want to know your name.
Love the dogs and I truly wish you lived next door to me. We have so much in common. From re modeling an old farm house to the chickens to the dogs. I am a Yorkshire terrier lover and have had one or more since 1956. There have been many strays that found a loving home with me. I have two dog houses that always get straw for the winter and there is always food . As I write this I have 3 dogs 2 yorkies and I chorkie. (a new breed) Jackie
Jackie – thank you for taking in those dogs that needed a home. God is watching.
I have to make a shirt quilt.Thanks for sharing the pictures.After I saw the redwork quilts from the quilt show,I started the American history quilt.It is one of Ruby Mc Kim’s designs.The pattern was in some of my mother’s patterns.I have always loved red work.Thanks for inspiring me.
Sandra – and after I saw those quilts I ordered the patterns for Farm Life and. Bible Verses by Ruby Mc Kim. I’d better get started – ha!
Love all the quilts, but I gotta tell ya’ some of these dogs take the cake!! The guy sitting in his own “camouflage” chair with his ribbons. . . . And the one after the bull dog. . . . With the “party colors” & long hair. . . What kind is that?? A real cutie!!
Peggy – the dog following the bulldog is a petite basset griffon vendeen — long name for a darling dog, huh?
Oh, this is the short dog with long ears and spots on his cream colored body. Adorable.
Hello, I was wondering if it was still possible to order your Rugs from Rags book and DVD?
Melissa – yes, you can still order the rug book and DVD for $20. Send to Mary Etherington, 2345 Palm Ave Garner, IA 50438
Pretty Basenji!
Thank you, Mary, once more! Your pictures of the quilt have inspired me and I must make one! Also those doggie pictures are so wonderful to look at…….especially the first one of your extra dog show ones…the white pooch with the big ears looks so much like my little rescue, Andy. We’ve never been able to figure out what he has in him but he really has an uncanny resemblance to that first white dog…..any idea what that dog is? Andy has given us so much joy….he is a true gift. I know how hard it is to add another little pal to your home…..I waited years. Take care and listen to yourself…..you know best.
Carol – I had never heard of this dog before – he is a podengo .
Thank you so much for writing back….I’ll look into it…..! You are so very generous…
Remember that if you get a puppy, it will need you for 10 – 15 years. And will a puppy be able to handle long hours of you sewing? I am sure you will do your homework on the various breeds. Jack Russells are high strung. I have a poodle/probably schnauzer mix, found when she was about three. On the upside, you and your hubby are both retired, so the dog will have optimally, both of you. I am sure you will come to a good decision on how to proceed.
Most importantly thank you for the wonderful dog pictures! I love seeing all the dogs you doggy sit for also, currently I have 3 Boxers 2 were purchased from breeders and the other I rescued literally off the streets, seen him and his female companion for a couple weeks at least, when I last saw him I got him in my truck and called our local Lost Pet Hotline. Nobody had reported them missing? So I called the paper, had an ad to start running in 2 days. After the 1st couple of hours I had him I realized he had obviously been severely mistreated by a man. Needless to say I called and cancelled the ad as well as the Hotline, this handsome boy needed a loving home and he found it right here! That was 7yrs ago he is just now to the point he’ll get within 5 feet from an unknown man. He also “had” a severe case of heartworms, but we took care of that as well. He is such a sweetheart and full of love and happy to say he learned how to play around after a year or so.
2nd, I have trouble getting smells out of thrift store fabrics of any kind, do you have any great ideas? I’ve ran out🙇
Jeri aka Boxer Momma
Jeri – what a heartwarming rescue story! Your fella is a lucky guy you were there for him.
There are odor removal beads to use in the wash that might help – I use them for pet odors.
I totally understand about the huge decision of adopting a puppy. I got my last one from a breeder. He is my heart dog. Very trying at times… but I love this dog with my whole heart. Good luck! Your heart will lead you to your next dog ❤️ Love your shirt quilt! I have shirts deboned and ready to go. What type of batting do you use?? Also is your quilt .. 30 Stars for 30 Years still available?? Keep blogging… I do love every entry!!
Joyce – I use Dream Poly batting – very thin. Yes, 30 Stars is available by copy machine. If you decide you want it, send $10 to Mary Etherington, 2345 Palm Ave Garner, IA 50438
Ernie looks like he has some Ragdoll in him like my grand kitty Norton. Is he very laid back and
loveable? Love your dog pictures and quilts too!
Absolutely love the quilt it looks so soft and warm. The pictures are amazing of the dogs.
Mary, love all your posts. Our guild is thinking of having a workshop using one of your patterns – Black Beauty #204. Can you contact me about getting multiple patterns – Pam – email: grebniw@tds.net
Thanks!
Pam – yes , I will email you.
Was the one dog in your photo’s a wirehair pointer? We just put down ours in August (16yrs.) and miss
her soooo much. Like you I’m not sure if I am ready. I also like the parson terrier in your pictures. Might be a little too much energy for me. Also not sure I can handle puppy especially with winter coming. Any suggestions?
Sandy – I am very conflicted and each comment makes me more uncertain. I am the wrong person to ask advice of but I am very sorry for your loss. It is so heartbreaking and it takes so much time to be able to move on. Just as soon as I think I’m ready, somebody pulls the rug out from under me and I question myself all over again.
Love the shirt quilt!!! It really turned out nice. Thanks for sharing all doggie pictures…..
Love them all!
Love the pictures of all those dogs, but two is enough and I wasn’t even in the market for another one. Howe ver, when I found out about Zena I wanted to give her a better life and I know she is having that.
I love your quilt, it looks great! Thanks for the dog pictures…never get tired of those. I think you’ll know when the time is right to bring a new dog into your life, don’t rush yourself. They have a way of showing up when the time is right. We have 3 Schnauzers. We adopted Gus after I saw him on Petfinder and knew he was the one. We made a flying trip from near Madison WI to Oklahoma City on the 3 hottest days of the year to adopt him, and my husband thought I needed my head examined but now we couldn’t imagine life without him. You’ll know that face when you see it…take care.
Mary – thank you! Sometimes I think I need a push. I didn’t use to be this cautious/afraid!