Lazy Spring Doggies

Doggy day is upon us once again and this was one of my weeks for posting over on Dogs on Thursday. Please check it out... April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month and tomorrow is the ASPCA's 143rd birthday. You can read a little bit about both in the DOT post. Also, you may have noticed I placed a new ASPCA fundraising banner at the top of my blog. If you are planning to become a member or renew your membership, would you please consider donating thru my banner? Last year I completed my goal of helping to raise $1,000 and thank everyone for their help in getting me there!

We are now three weeks into spring and I'm still wearing my winter sweaters. Its been cold and rainy here for the past week, so there hasn't been much going on outside. Instead, we have been very lazy have had fun inside... and you get a picture heavy post today!

Zeus {click linked names for more pics}, who'd love to be outside stalking watching his birdie friends, but when asked if he wanted to go out to see them... "Nah, I think I'll stay dry."

Sophie, aka the Princess, has become very annoying taken a very strong stand against going outside in the mud...

Teutul seems to have mastered the lazy days of spring rain...

Lola took a little offense to being called lazy, but her sister shows us the proof!

My favorite shot form this week... I'll hold your hand, if you hold mine...

A few words on Wednesday

Happy Wordless-Emma-Wednesday! I do have a few words for today however... Emma got to go home yesterday!!!

I want to take a second to publicly state how very proud I am of her parents... and proud to have them as a part of my family! Aren't they darling?

REVIEW: Crocheted Wire Jewelry

Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs & Projects by Leading Artists

by Arline Fisch
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Lark Books (March 3, 2009)

Originally released in 2006 as a hardcover book, Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs & Projects by Leading Artists has now been re-released in a more pocketbook-friendly paperback edition. With the ever-growing popularity of crochet and jewelry making, it seems like perfect timing!

Crocheted Wire Jewelry covers the basics, including various wire types & sizes, tools, findings and basic crochet. The crochet stitches and techniques are clearly illustrated, which is especially helpful to beginners and those who opt to use some of the more advanced techniques. The author, who is touted as the world's foremost expert in adapting textile techniques for metal, really does take the art to an entirely new level. With her thorough overview of the basics, even beginners can make breathtaking wire jewelry.

Sixteen talented artists combine to bring you 29 beautiful projects as an introduction to crocheting with wire. Projects include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pendants and brooches and have been separated into 6 main categories; Chain Stitch, Single Crochet, Crochet with Beads, Double Crochet, Hairpin Lace and Other Crochet Methods.

While I personally do not crochet, I can tell you that I love the look and I love jewelry! Some of my favorite projects from a pure "ooh and ahh" standpoint include...

Purple Haze Necklace - an elegant necklace made from 16 separate lengths of chain

Pinwheel Brooch - made from 4 separate squares which are then stitched together to form a pinwhell, this would make a lovely shawl pin

Silver & Hematite Beaded Necklace - made from 9 lengths of chain stitch and some beads, this is a simple number that can be dressed up or down

Round Spiral Brooch - a beautiful circular brooch crocheted with beads, would also make a fantastic shawl pin (note to my crocheting friends out there... this would be the item I'd pick from the book)

Amber & Crystal Bracelet - a sparkling little number, using various shapes and colors of beads

About the Author: Arline Fisch is an internationally known artist who applies the structures and techniques of fabrics to precious and non-precious metals, creating intricate, colourful jewellery by knitting, crocheting, plaiting and weaving. As a teacher and lecturer she has inspired countless artists all over the world. She is the author of the definitive book in the field, Textile Techniques in Metal.

CONTEST! I am going to give away this copy of Crocheted Wire Jewelry to one of you! To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me what your favorite review(s) of mine has been thusfar and if it influenced you to purchase that item (if your comment doesn't automatically link to your blog or email, please be sure to include a means of contact in case you win). Deadline to enter is Tuesday, April 14 at midnight. Winner will be selected by random number generator. Thank you to Lark Books for providing the book for review and giveaway.

Rainy Monday

It has been a rather dreary, rainy Monday here in Lapdog country. It was actually a rather rainy, blah weekend as well... and we've got a few more days of rain ahead of us. Oh joy... muddy paws... lots of muddy paws.

Even though it was a rainy weekend, I didn't get quite as much knitting done as I had hoped, but I still have a couple finished objects to show off. First up, 3 very basic preemie hats for the donation in honor of Emma. I adored the jester hat I made last week, but figured for this purpose, basic + quick = more hats produced. I cranked out these 3 over the past week and a half...

Ravelry project link is here. I used scraps of Moda Dea Tweedle Dee (blue tweed) and Plymouth Encore Chunky (yellow) that I had laying around, as well as some Moda Dea Baby Talk (light purple). I actually like the fabric that was produced from the thicker yarns better than the Baby Talk.

My other FO was Bella's Rockstar Scarf (again, Ravelry project link). I was originially going to knit a rock-n-roll style outfit for a teddy bear as Isabella's 3rd birthday gift, however when her Mom said she didn't have much interest in her current teddy bears, I instead set my sights on this cute puppy dog...

Armed with some funky pink yarn that I found in my stash (the label says it is Made in Italy and brand is "Coral" - and it was greatly discounted whenever I did add it to my stash), I cast on 14 stitches and knit.. and knit... (garter stitch). I thought Bella would adore the color and funkiness of the yarn and that both she and Mr. Puppy Dog can wear the "Rockstar Scarf."

As usual, I had some nosey onlookers during the photoshoot...

Of course, Lola couldn't stand looking from a distance for too long... and even Sophie had to come check out what was going on, but Zeus couldn't have cared less.

Tut might look like he was innocently trying to give Mr. Puppy Dog a kiss in this picture, but I can assure you that was just a test to see if he was going to bite back...

Happy Friday!

Its been a long week and I'm so glad to say... TGIF!!! Now, time for a little Friday Fill-Ins...


1. Angel or not, I will not sensor myself for anyone, so if you think I'm too intense with my love of dogs and talking about animal welfare, then you probably don't enjoy reading this blog.
2. You'll never hear me utter these words: any way you want me.
3. As my mother used to say, you're full of shit.
4. I drink lots of fluids after I'm done working out or doing something strenuous.
5. Even in the most crowded of rooms I can pick out familiar voices.
6. Any overly stressful day is a day fraught with peril.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to starting Emma's bunny hat (the yarn just arrived from Jimmy Beans!), tomorrow my plans include going to see Shinedown and Sunday, I want to knit, watch the race, knit some more, hang out with the dogs... !

Just a reminder for anyone who wanted to send in preemie/infant hats for the donation in honor of Emma. I need them to arrive by Thursday-ish as I'm planning to deliver them, along with her Mom, on Saturday, April 11. Thank you to everyone who's so graciously donated! Emma is thinking of you all - and smiling big - in her sweet dreams...

Now, since it is Friday and I don't really have any knitting content to show you... and it is my blog... and I did mail off the invites to the Welcome Emma party this morning... I can shamelessly show off not 1, not 2, but 4 of my favorite new pics with Emma...

Happy Friday!!! Don't forget to tune into another brand new episode of Dog Town tonight! Tonight's episode, Starting Over is about two homeless dogs named Haley and Hana, who are rescued from an underground cave in Ethiopia where it is believed they survived for more than two months after being dumped there by locals. Also, Hugo, a 100-pound bloodhound, is returned to DogTown after seriously biting a family member. And a golden retriever, Ava, has just arrived with a paw ripped apart by a coyote trap.

Chucky's baaaack!

I'm finding it hard to believe that its April already and Doggy Thursday! Where is time flying off to? Little Emma is five weeks old already. I got to spend some more quality time with her last night (before taking her parents out for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory - yum!), but will save those pictures for later since today is all about the four-legged children!

Although we've had some cooler temps and rain, you can tell its Spring around here (and it just might reach 60 today!). The kids had their first Chucky sighting on Sunday. Here's Lola peering thru the window at him (with the rain and all, the silly woodchuck is kind of hard to spot, so I've included a helpful arrow).

When questioned about all her carrying on and inhospitality-like actions, she couldn't bear to face the camera...

Sophie said "Chucky??? I wanna get 'em!!!" ... but he can't see me!

The boys were acting as if they were embarrassed by their sisters' actions, but they were carrying on just the same...

I was going to share more pics with you today, but Flickr is acting up and taking way too long to load, then not showing all of my pictures, so a short doggy post for today... enjoy the rest of your little-Friday!

Wordless Wednesday

Which is better known as Emma Wednesday around here lately... please keep sending her good vibes, she needs them so she can get stronger and come home soon!

Aren't they the cutest little family?