when cats go bad

looks as though butter wouldn't melt eh?

On Friday I had planned a full day of sewing - including putting together a quilt, making some headbands and bears.  I am very high tech here and instead of a design wall there is a design floor, for working on quilt layouts, with a sheet laid down and a stool to stand on so you get a good view of a quilt layout.  This was all done the night before - with strict instructions that children were not to walk on it.

I forgot to tell one cat that she was not to have a party on it.

I arrived in the downstairs living room on Friday morning (aka sewing room, playstation den and hang out zone) to find quilt pieces in chaos. 

(This was after I pulled the sheet back to reveal the mess she had made and tried to place a few blocks back).  The evidence - a few extra "pin holes" that had been left in the blocks. 

Under interrogation she said she was sleeping...

and that she had witnesses...

I did get some sewing done, but not as much as planned.

P.S. - I will have Sherbet Pips fabric (that Alley used as a dance floor) in store in about 2 weeks - cannot wait.

The Knack Market and Miss M's Magic

I have the most completely awesome daughter.  (She has me under her spell, while she massages my back).  She is amazing, what would I do without her!  "What else do you want me to say Miss M?"

"Mum, you have big ears".  Hmmmm not sure that was quite what I had in mind!

As you can see I am easily bought.  For the price of a massage or someone playing with my hair I will do anything. 

And the final result....

(Where is the make smaller button on blogger!)  This is a rare event a photo of me on my blog, I would much rather post photos of others ...

Such as Alley enjoying the spring sunshine on Miss M's bed, while Miss M reads Tomorrow When the War Began series (my books).  "Mum they are really good books" - yes I know.

Or fabric.....

Sorry for the lack of blogging around here, but now all my wholesale orders are completed, hopefully my life will get back to normal (well sort of).  I may even get some making in and be able to blog about that.

I am also getting ready for a market this weekend - the Knack market is on this Saturday from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm at South Wellington Intermediate (SWIS) in Newtown.  Love to see you there!

Long Rainy Weekend

Equals lots of sewing...and mess....

Ready for the Knack market this month, just a few of the reversible headbands made 

and bibs

More Wonky Bears, waiting for their faces

 It also meant sleep-ins for some (although everyday is sleep-in day for this girl, I have to make the bed around her).

Hope you managed to stay warm and dry.

sad

I have not been able to blog about what happened to Harley up until now.  We found him on Thursday night.  He had been hit by a car.  Our last big act of love for him was to have him put to sleep.

He was the best buddy and packed so much excitement and love for life into his 3 1/2 years.  I wish we could have had him for longer but we were privileged to have the time we had together.

I said to my sister "he thought the whole world loved him" and she corrected me and said "he knew the whole world loved him".  Everyone was a friend.

Feeling Sick with Worry

I am feeling kind of sick with worry.  Our wee boy cat, Harley has gone missing.  The last time we saw him was 3 pm today and he is one of those cats who is around and is always home for dinner. 

We have walked the neighbourhood calling him and looking in the gutters, in case he has been hit by a car, but there is no sign of him.  I am hoping that his friendly and nosey nature has got him into some place that he can't get out of - somebody's garage or shed.  He is well known and has many friends in the neighbourhood, including neighbours who feed him crayfish and salmon!  Fingers crossed that he shows up tonight or tomorrow,  because he is one very much loved puss.

A Great Book and the Cats that Own Us

I would like to share with you a great book that I am reading at the moment called Cleo how an uppity cat helped heal a family. Written by Helen Brown, a New Zealand journalist, it is a true story of a cat that came into her family's life shortly after the death of her son.  I like Helen's slightly irreverent style of writing and I cannot recommend this book enough.

I am a cat person - I/we are owned by two cats Alley (aka Elvis, Alley Belly Ballerina) and Harley (aka H-man, Harlemesiter).  We were only ever meant to have one cat (says Alley) but a couple of years ago we fostered kittens for the SPCA.  We were going to be home over the Christmas, New Year holidays and the SPCA was desperate for foster families.  We were interviewed, had our house inspected and deemed worthy fosterers.  So three kittens came into our lives, all black and white and all from different litters.  A few days later the SPCA asked whether we could take one more - he was black and white - so of course we had to say yes.  We named him Harley because he roared around the place like a bikey on a Harley Davidson.

Now when we entered into the world of fostering I was very clear to my family that WE WERE NOT KEEPING ONE.  Well it was me that crumbled - I was sprung by family one day introducing Harley to Alley. 

So Harley joined our family..

The rest is history and we would not go back.  But for now I am banned from fostering for the SPCA.  Alley would not allow it.....  it might spoil her beauty sleep.

I would however highly recommend fostering, it was a great experience, but be aware you may end up with an extra cat or two and a new lived in look for your lounge suite/curtains.  It was all worth it.