I took three walks today. My work day stacked up that I wasn’t going to get a walk until after 3 pm, but an earlier meeting ended short so I got a 20 min walk in before a two-hour meeting. Then after my two-hour meeting ended at 3:00 we hit the pavement for two miles. It was gorgeous! And look. There’s spring all over the place!
Then we started our evening walk after 7:00 and did the first mile in daylight! It was so wonderful! I love having the light back in the evening.
I didn’t think I was going to do any sewing tonight but I felt the need to put my hands on some fabric and work with some beautiful colors. When I got into my sewing room I saw a small stack of fabric that ordered a week or so ago, and it arrived yesterday.
I love my reaction when the camera hits that green fabric on the far right! It’s so gorgeous! I love it when a design or color gives me a physical reaction like that!
So, after I fondled and appreciated all that gorgeous fabric I started working on a new bag. I wanted to play with a little more color in the Aboriginal fabrics. I started with some of my left over strip sets and made them into blocks. then I started playing with fabrics to go with them. Here’s what I came up with.
And here’s the other side of the bag… almost exactly the same, but the 2 inch squares are different.
I love that red and purple fabric on the top and left side of those panels. I’ve been going through my stash and selecting 1/3 yard pieces and am cutting them up before I cut my larger pieces. I’m generating quite a nice pile of Aboriginal scraps. I used to purchase fabric in 1/3 yard increments. It’s not really enough for larger projects so those pieces are perfect for these bags. I buy more half yards now, unless it’s a fabric I know I’ll use more of or something I really love, and then I buy more.
Here’s a lovely close up to show the fabrics and some quilting.
And both panels in one photo so you can verify that there are actually two different panels.
I actually have an appointment to get a hair cut on Friday afternoon! It’s been a full year since I’ve had a hair cut. My hair hasn’t been this long since I was in college!
I was actually a little shocked when I took this photo today. I had no idea my hair was that far down my back!
Bender has been on his increased medication for his seizures for just two weeks now. The first week he seemed to be basically unaffected by it. But the last week he’s been really wobbly. There are times when he appears to be completely drunk. He’s been slipping more on my laminate floors, and he actually wobbled and fell down on his hip this morning.
It’s not unusual to have this happen with increased meds. Most dogs will adjust over time. But I’m actually happy to see him affected by the increased meds because that tells me that his body is processing them correctly and he’s not just peeing it all out. So I’m hopeful that it will control his seizures and we’ll be back on another long seizure free streak. This weekend was two weeks since his last. It’s not five years, but it’s a start. Fingers crossed!
Poor kid. But I’d rather have some drunkenness than seizures.
PS. That’s not blood in the tub. It’s a red towel to keep him from slipping!
agilejack 
remember those old time rubber I’ve bags? Poor guy looks like he has a hangover! Lol
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I still use them! They are fantastic. I have two. A smaller one and a great big one!
Anne
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Ice bags. I hate spell check.
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Happy to hear that Bender is doing better! May he continue meandering.
Love the new fabrics and beginnings of the new bag!
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Thanks! I’m really loving the fabric jag I’m on right now!
Anne
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Sweet Bender, cute picture! Wow – your hair is long! Mine was also, I cut it on Monday when I took my 96 yr young Dad for his hair cut 😄. Those aboriginal fabrics are scrumptious. I might have to take a 2nd look at that website you provided. The Aboriginal fabric I liked was $22.00 for 2\3 yard – maybe it was just that particular one? Or is that a normal price? I am loving your Aboriginal bags! Enjoy your beautiful weather 🌞.
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The Aboriginal fabrics I buy are priced similar to KFC fabrics. So $12 to $13 a yard, depending on where you buy it.
Several people have commented on my blog today about places online to buy tehse fabrics: Fabrilish, Artistic Artifacts, Pinky’s cotton. And I have a local store that has a good selection: Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, Oregon. They have an online store and you can find them with a google search.
Anne
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Glad you clarified what the red was in the bathtub!! I was thinking a beet juice bath, haha. Your aboriginal fabrics are simply gorgeous! I never see those in my local shops. Can you share where you shop? Maybe they sell online?
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Several people have commented on my blog today about places online to buy tehse fabrics: Fabrilish, Artistic Artifacts, Pinky’s cotton. And I have a local store that has a good selection: Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, Oregon. They have an online store and you can find them with a google search.
Anne
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Hi Anne, Bender and Rico👋! Love the Aboriginal fabrics you’ve used in your fabulous bags. Where do you usually order the fabric from? I think I need some 😬…
I’ve been following Bender’s progress and have my fingers crossed for him🤞🤞🤞. Happy trails and wagging tails to everyone!
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Several people have commented on my blog today about places online to buy tehse fabrics: Fabrilish, Artistic Artifacts, Pinky’s cotton. And I have a local store that has a good selection: Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, Oregon. They have an online store and you can find them with a google search.
Anne
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Congress passed a bill yesterday I believe to eliminate the time change. It will start next year 2023 when daylight savings time begins again. So the last fall back is this fall!!!!
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I was talking to a co worker today and he said that if we leave DST in place, on the longest day of the year here in Portland the sun will come up at 8:58 am!!! He knows this because he’s on the air every morning at 5 am!
Anne
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Artistic Artifacts, PinkysCotton, and many others sell online! I’ve purchased all my Aboriginal fabrics online and have been very happy with them. Few quilt shops stock them, I guess. They are such fun to work with and are good quality fabrics.
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They can be hard to find, or if a store has some, they only have a few bolts. I buy a lot online, but do purchase pieces in stores when I see stuff I either don’t have or like. And yes… they are lovely fabrics. Very soft and really saturated colors. Reminds me of KFC fabrics in that.
Anne
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When I read your comment about Bender’s medication, I was also looking at the silly photo of him with the rubber ducky on his head and I thought you wrote meditation, and was thinking, wow, how does she get her dog to meditate? And perhaps the rubber ducky helps. Hope the meds work and he’s seizure free for a long time. Love your aboriginal fabric bags.
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OMG! I wish I could teach him to meditate. He would get so much out of it!!!
Anne
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Oohhhhh, That red, the orange and the lime green….does anyone else gasp 😱 at the beauty? You have some fun awaiting you! I hope Bender doesn’t get hurt being wobbly. He need a cuddle on your lap 🥰
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See! THIS is how I react to certain fabric combos!!! I know when I put something together and I have a physical reaction… IT’S GOOD!!! Does everyone not experience that???
Anne
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glad bender’s doing better . . . hope it continues.
you mention strip sets a lot – do you just make them from yardage you buy, like maybe those 1/3 pieces or 1/2 yard pieces, using the entire wof just to have them on hand or are they leftovers from other things – if so, what all leaves you all these lovely strip sets?
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I haven’t purchased a strip set in many years. The left overs I’m using are from a quilt I started a few months ago. I cut some of the strips I used for that quilt, and I used a bunch of strips that a friend cut for a quilt. She had so many that she gave me a stack.
Before I started making bags, I would cut and organize scraps… If a piece was WOF and less than about 6 inches wide, I’d cut all the 2.5 inch strips I could out of it. Then I’d save the strips. I made two 16 patch quilts out of scrap strips during the pandemic.
Anne
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I’m so glad to hear that Bender is doing better. My older BC is wobbly too, but it’s due to vestibular disease. Luckily dogs seem to be able to deal with being less sure footed than we are. I have several of those same Aboriginals! Lucky me has a quilt shop nearby that stocks a big selection of them. I’ve got a hand pieced top going right now that is using only them. It’s really colorful!
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I have a lot of darker Aboriginal fabrics, but I’m really loving all these brighter new designs. I can’t stop buying them!
Anne
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That looks like a Redbud tree in bloom. I’m jealous. We don’t even have buds yet but with our warmer weather starting there is hope. I haven’t had a “real” haircut for 2 years but have been trimming it myself. At least with curly hair no one can see the uneven lengths.
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Hmmm. I was thinking it’s a flowering plum as they are in full bloom now, but I’m not positive. I’ll take a closer look on my walk tomorrow. the color may be a little too deep for a plum.
Anne
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Love your Aboriginal fabrics & your new bag panels. Another online store that has a great selection of both Aboriginal fabrics & batiks is Fabrilish. At the moment they are collecting quilt blocks for Ukrainian refugees – I just sent some off yesterday.
Bender & his rubber ducky is adorable.
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Oh! Thanks for the mention of Fabrilish. It’s always good to have another source for fabirc!
Anne
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