Friday, February 22, 2013


HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVER!
 
Today is Oliver's 17th birthday.....or at least his "approximate" birthday.  I adopted Oliver from the ASPCA 16 years ago and the vet estimated his age at 1 year at that time.  Since his assumed birthday is February 22, also George Washington's birthday, Oliver's middle name is Washington...... Oliver Washington.
 
I had no intention of adopting a cat.  I stopped at the pet shop to pick up dog food for my Labrador, Arielle (she passed away a few years after I adopted Oliver) where the ASPCA had set up an adoption area in the store for the day.  Long story short, I fell in love,  filled out the application and Oliver came home with me the next day.
 
He and Gracie have enriched my life in so many ways.  All of you pet lovers understand that a pet in your life can be one of your greatest comforts.  Gracie passed last July causing great grief for Oliver (and me) but he now seems to be doing well on his own.
 
I don't know how much longer I will have Oliver.  He has two life threatening health issues that are somewhat under control as of this writing.  I hope to have a few more years with him, but this is an unknown, making this birthday very special. The quality of his life is still very good but it could change in a heartbeat and I keep very close tabs on his health and behaviors. 
 
So, today, I celebrate Oliver's loving personality, his unconditional love, and his tender charm.   I thank God for creating animals that would become faithful, loving companions through life's ups and downs, giving everything of themselves, asking nothing in return. 
 
Happy Birthday, my sweet Oliver!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

It's All About Me Blog Hop

Welcome to Gracie Oliver Arts!
 
 
Here we are, the first day of the It's All About Me blog hop!  We were generously provided a free pattern by Amy Bradley (one of my absolute favorite designers) to get our projects off to a great start.  Thanks, Amy! 
 
I also want to thank Marlene and Madame Samm for all of the organization that goes behind keeping us all on track and on time.  These wonderful blog hops don't just happen..... they are orchestrated and planned from the get-go.
 
So here's my interpretation of me.  I didn't change the pattern much at all.  I gave myself a short hair cut, which actually does resemble me when I wake up in the morning (I call it my exotic chicken look!) .... dark brown hair with streaks of gray....... and added my favorite little fellow, Oliver.... and my Faith necklace. 
 
 
 
My DeMille close up.  I'm also wearing sunglasses because my eyes are super sensitive to light..... (hey..... maybe it makes me look cool too!)


 
 
And here's Oliver, close by my side, my shadow, my most loyal friend.

 
 
I made this to hang on my Ackfeld stand where it will smile back at me in my sewing room. 

 
 
Thank you so much for visiting today!  I hope you will return often for more visits!

Please visit all of the other "Biased" blogs today and see their wonderful creations too!



 
 
Happy It's All About Me blog hopping!


Monday, February 18, 2013

 
Get ready...... the It's All About Me blog hop begins tomorrow (not the 21st, the 19th).  There were so many participants that they added a couple of days to fit everyone in the hop.
 
Here's the full schedule.  Notice that I will show my blog creation tomorrow.  I hope you'll stop by and check it out as well as visit all of the other blogs!
 
Tuesday, February 19
 
Wednesday, February 20
Thursday, February 21
Friday, February 22
Monday, February 25
Tuesday, February 26
Wednesday, February 27
Thursday, February 28

See you tomorrow on the blog hop!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

 
 


Happy Valentine's Day!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Monday, February 4, 2013

Finally...... my last Christmas gift has been completed and delivered so that I can now show it to you.  (Kathy had been warned that it would be late.....really late.)
 
I wanted to make something for her sewing room, a little caricature that would make her smile.  The finished measurement is 20" x 22".
 
 
 
Here's a close up of the embroidery.  I did it as a blue work project, using a navy cotton perle for the whole picture.
 
 
 
 
Closer yet......
 
 
 
 
And the quilting.  I only used straight lines, nothing fancy.
 
 
 
This is the backside.  Depending on the project, if I can, I back the fabric with the darkest color of thread that I'm using on the front.  This coloring looks light.....but this backing fabric is the same navy fabric that is on the front of the hanging.  I fuse it to the lighter front fabric after I have drawn my pattern and before I begin to stitch.  When you do this, you don't see through the front fabric and see the places where you have made knots or carried the thread.  It just keeps the project very neat and tidy looking on the front side.  It's the same principle as backing a double sided document with a dark piece of paper so that the writing on the backside does not show through on a scan. 
 
 
 
 
Hope you like my sewing lady..... she was fun to create and Kathy likes it.....that's the most important part!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

 
 
Maybe Phil knows more than we think!