Happy 4th Blogoversary!!!!!

My Blog is 4 years old!!!!! Yippie!!!! Can't believe that I have been blogging for that long! Time sure flies when you have things to post! Anyway, As I had promised, I did a drawing for all those who have posted and the winner is.........


.................................................. MYA!!!!



So Mya, come out, come out where ever you are to claim your custom made prize!

King of the Jungle

Move over Tarazan, there's a new kid in the jungle!

I couldn't resist posting a photo of Azlan in a more appropriate setting. He actually has become quite accustom to his new look and loves that we are all telling him how REGAL he looks and he just ROARS! Now he sticks his tongue out at the other cats. lol The rest of them are just lion wannabees! I think the groomer should have left just a puff on his tail as it looks more like a feather than a lion tail.



It's so funny to see him run! He looks like a streaker here! lol



......But he is still ever so handsome, even if he is a bit nakey!

PS, Just 5 more days 'til the blogoversary draw! Any comments from the posts March 16th to March 28th are in! I will do the draw on the 28th.

Heavenly Spring

I was thrilled to see that my daffodils are in full bloom so I picked a bunch still dripping from the rain showers. Although I love the rain, it too can cease for awhile. Too much of anything can't be a good thing. We have had some flooding and the ground is so saturated that if it continues, we could all be floating down stream! I do love the green grass, the budding of leaves on the trees and looking forward to Easter baskets..... even if they are occupied by cats!

Today was a good day to run around and get some errands done and order new flooring. I had made an appointment at the groomers for Aslan. Poor guy was so full of matts and I knew something had to be done or the poor guy would have his circulation cut off. I told them to do what they could and if it didn't work out, a good shave would do. I went to Home Depot and ordered my flooring. By the time I had gotten done, I went back to the groomers and my little lion was ready to come home!



You can see where his poor little hide is sore from where the matts were.



Poor little guy is now really em-bare-assed! I may have to make him a coat to keep warm if the weather changes. lol


Later this afternoon, we went out to cut down some pussy willows! OH how soft and fuzzy they are! I once had a cat named Willow, after the fact. He had gray toes just like these!

I cut several branches so that I could get some new starts to plant.


Remember Bob cat? He hadn't been to the house to eat in a couple of days. We missed him as he and Tang were usually together.





While we were gathering willow branches, we happened to look over on the other side of the creek bank and there lay our poor dear Bob cat. I hollered at Bob hoping that he was just taking a nap, but unfortunately he hadn't. Poor guy had too much of a rough winter and must have taken it's toll on him and passed away in his sleep. We are sure going to miss him and I am sure his friend Tang will too. We gathered up his poor little body and will have a proper burial tomorrow in our private little cat cemetery. When the pussy willow gets it's start, I will plant one in his honor. He looked like this when he was laying on the bank.


Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Hitting The Bottle

.....well at least the top of the bottle!



I found myself working with bottle caps lately. Not that I needed another hobby, but got an idea in my head, so purchased some supplies and away I went! I took a photograph of each one of our cats and made bottle cap pieces. I knew a charm bracelet would be too small to put them all on, so designed this neckpiece. The intent was to put it on display to raise awareness and funds for The Pet Orphanage. I help out at the low cost spay and neuter clinic and have become one of their board members recently.

I thought I was smart photographing myself wearing my newly made piece in a mirror. It wasn't until later that I realized I could read the letters backwards on the center bottle cap! LOL Well, at least you can see that it drapes nicely! I finally photographed it again laying it out flat on the same shirt.

This is the only way I can get a group shot of all of our cats at the same time! LOL Now If I could just get them all to smile!



I decided to do a reverse and put the cat's names on the backs of the caps.



I did zipper pulls....



and I did key chains....



Even though I am a cat purrr-son, I couldn't help but do some dogs too! These are my mom's fur babies. I shall save this and give it to her for Mother's Day.



I also made a bracelet for my niece with her three "boys" on it:)



Then I was working on some letters. Love these colors!



And then had to do some scrabble tiles too! I love these typewriter keys!



Now to put cords on them and have them ready for the local up coming craft fair and when I get time, to put some up for Etsy. If you are interested in helping out the Pet Orphanage, let me know and I shall get back to you for details and pricing. Just email me at needlewings@yahoo.com and put Pet Orphanage in the heading. Our fur people are depending on us.

I have a Blogoversary coming up in a couple of weeks!!! Time has flown and this is my fourth year! (OOPS, I said third earlier, I guess it really has flown!) I shall give away a bottle cap creation with photos or initials on a key chain for the winner in their choice of colors. All you have to do is to sign up as a follower if you haven't already and or leave a comment. I shall do the drawing in a couple of weeks! Good luck in the draw!

Heavy Metal

I simply had to post the second doll that I finished. As you can see she has quite the metal jacket! Thought it too funny to add nipple rings. lol Her goggles were made from a watch band that seemed to work perfectly. The wheels I found in the doll house section of Hobby Lobby. It almost makes her look more Civil Warish! More like canon wheels! lol



Her wings quite adorned with more metallic options of bells and whistles. It's how she rolls!



She wouldn't be complete with out a key to wind her up!

I also finished making several medallions.


This one was just too whimsical!



I also decided to work on some ATC's for a trade and the theme was love. I was still in the metal mood with the background treatment. I used the metallic tape onto a card and then used one of my lino block pieces as a basis for a rubbing the design to be impressed into the piece. Afterwards I used black acrylic paint and covered the entire piece and wiped it leaving the color in the recessed areas.




In between being a metal smith, I did get back to quilting and finished this one up for Mary. These are the colors that I want to work with in my bedroom.









I also got one of Suzan's quilts finished. Such a variety of fabrics!


Well time now to regroup as I know I will be working on the floor in the studio soon, so I shall hang up my torch and goggles, needles and threads, and switch to carpentry skills.