Our theme for Promo Day at the Lifestyles Channel is “The Dog Days of Summer,” a time in July and August, when the weather often is steamy, humid and lazy.  A warning I recall from childhood was,  ”Be careful around the dogs because they can get irritable during this weather.”  I don’t know how true it is, but it seemed best to heed it. In ancient times, this also was considered the time of the “dog star.”

However, let’s see about quilting that “goes to the dogs.”  Are there quilt patterns out there with dog and pet designs?  These would be wonderful for pet lovers, for children with a favorite puppy pet.

Here are ideas for quilts with dog/puppy designs.  You could alternate different dogs in various size blocks.  Depending on the size quilt you want you add multiple borders.

Also, look for fabrics that have dog/pet designs printed on them.  These make delightful crib or lap quilts, whereby the top (and back, too) consists of the printed fabric.

What have you designed using dog/puppy/pet designs?

(Amazon images; click on them for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting “Goes to the Dogs”

 At the b5 Lifestyles Channel, our promo day theme consists of food…Potluck Summer Pitch-In for summer meals and more.  The Food Bloggers, a group I’ve joined that shares food ideas, memories, and recipes, have a number of interesting posts this week.  So I’ll share them with Quilting and Patchwork viewers and Lifestyles Channel readers.

*Think outside the basil box when it comes to pesto...how about artichoke?

*Green Eggs – Try this healthy–and yummy–alternative to traditional breakfast foods.

Memories of Tea with Tasha Tudor – One of Mary Emma Allen’s favorite memories is tea and cinnamon toast with children’s author Tasha Tudor. 

*Pear and Cranberry Tart - It’s never too early to start planning for the holidays and this tasty (and Vegan) tart makes an elegant addition to a family feast.

*Poussin with Pernod – Bastille Day–the French National Holiday–was last week and this recipe for Poussin (Cornish game hens) with anise-flavored Pernod captures the spirit and taste of France.

*Recipes for a Delicious Healthy Diet  - If you’ve already bought Dr. Connie Guttersen’s book, The Sonoma Diet, hopefully you’ve tried some of the delicious recipes included. If you don’t have the book yet, follow this link for two free Sonoma Diet recipes from Jean.

*Time For Some Fair Food  - A round up of fair food recipes.

Enjoy!  Have some potluck food fun!

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen 

Post from: Blisstree

Potluck for Quilting & Patchwork from the Food Bloggers

The View from My Window is the Promo Theme this week at the b5media Lifestyles Channel.  So how does this relate to quilting?

When we talk about windows and quilting, a number of thoughts come to mind.

*The view from the window of the room where we quilt

*The design of a quilt, such as Cathedral Window

*Inspiration for a new design or pattern

*Taking a workshop that opens up a technique for us…a window into another aspect of quilting or fabric art

*Meeting new quilting friends who add richness to our life

For me, the View from My Window brings to mind my mother, who for a long time desired a window above her kitchen sink instead of a wall and a shelf.

“Then I could look out and see the barn and cows and the fields beyond, right up to the woodland.  Then I could see the deer walk across that corn field next to the woods.”

Eventually Father cut a window above the kitchen sink and Mother enjoyed her view as she washed dishes.  When it was my turn to do the dishes, I found pleasure in this view, too.

Later, when Mother lived in her Alzheimer’s world, she talked about seeing deer out the window. It took me awhile to realize which memories she was experiencing. Then I realized then how much this window to her world had meant to her.

Wherever I’ve lived since I married and left the family farm, I’ve desired a window above my kitchen sink, too, instead of a wall.  If I couldn’t have a window, I hung a scene that took me outside.

Do you have a window, either a literal one, or one that leads you to a new avenue of quilting?

(Amazon image; click on cover to see details) 

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

The View from a Quilter’s Window