Tag Archives: Bailey

Bailey’s Guilt Offering

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BaileysGiftThis caption is so happening on a gift under our tree this year!

To: Big Ruff (Master)
From: Small Ruff (Dog)

Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Barooo, Ruff, Sniff, Ruff, Scratch, Ruff, Grr, Ruff (Translation Below)

Dear Master, (Dada)

I am so sorry that I ate your slippers…again.  I don’t know what comes over me but when I see the Christmas tree come out I get so excited that I must kill something.  The insoles of your slippers beckoned me with the reek of your wonderful foot stink.  They were simply irresistible.  I had no choice really. I had to kill them.  So Lady-Master made me get you another pair.  Hope you like them.

Love, Bailey

P.S.  If they are satisfactory, can I please finish off your old ones? They still have a bit of chew left in them and the imprint of the soul scent lingers.

For those of us whose love language is gifts, this is one of the most anticipated times of year.  I love gifts…both giving and receiving.  A gift can communicate such a powerful message of love, value and thoughtfulness.  With such a simple thing, one can transform a moment into a memory.  But all too often, the stress associated with obligatory giving, social expectations, and a guilty realization that we have not fostered a close enough relationship with the recipient to know them well enough to bless them, distracts us from the beauty found in the grace of giving and receiving.  Let’s not give up on blessing others, and practicing thankfulness just because busyness threatens to steal from our relationships.  Perhaps we can make an early New Year’s resolution to become better students of the people in our life and more present in our interactions with them so that when we bless them from a place of abiding in the “Prince of Peace” who was gifted to us so long ago, they truly discover the treasure they were created to be!

Inspirational Scripture:

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14

“…‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “
Acts 20:35

Bailey’s Boutique Squeaks

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BoutiqueSqueaksThis is Bailey’s favorite toy.  She love’s them.  I mean she absolutely loves them!  And because they bring her so much joy, they just might delight a little creature you know. Therefore, I have to share.  I used the word creature because although I designed these with a puppy in mind, I have had multiple people say that a baby would love them too. There are 3 bone plushies as well as a kitty and puppy plushy on each fat quarter of fabric.  Insert disclaimer here…Hopefully it is obvious that I wouldn’t be suggesting someone should give their kid a bone but one never knows who might read this in bloggy land…Animals for the kiddo and bones for the pets…capisce? But really it doesn’t matter…I know some of your senses of humor…you are going to let your kids have the bone.  Disclaimer part 2…Some dogs literally EAT squeak toys.  These doggies must be supervised so that they don’t choke if you put a squeaker inside the plushy.  My doggie prefers to fetch with hers, snuggle it, and race around the house with it in her mouth, holding it by its tag.

“How does one make one of these beauties,” you ask?  Why, I am delighted you asked, inquisitive reader…continue reading for the complete tutorial below!

Supplies needed to complete this project:

  • Fat Quarter of Boutique Squeak fabric design of your choice
  • Sewing Machine
  • Squeakers
  • Stuffing (method A) or Quilt Batting (method B)
  • 1/2 inch double fold bias tape (if you choose method B)
  • Thread
  • Scissors

There are four different Cut and Sew panels to choose from.
0_SqueakPanel

Boutique Squeak Blaze’s Favorite (pictured above)
Boutique Squeak Good Dog Bad Dog
Boutique Squeak Linen Looks
Boutique Squeak Painted Linen
Boutique Squeak Sampler (All 4 of the above sized to fit on one yard)

First, cut out the designs along the outer lines, then chose desired method to assemble.

A1_CutOut

Method A:  

1. Sew right sides together leaving an opening to turn

A2_SewA3_LeaveOpening

2. Clip corners.  When doing the kitty or puppy shapes, clip and trim the seams a bit to make turning easier.

A4_ClipCurves

A4B_ClipCurves

3. Turn right sides out, insert stuffing and squeaker, and then topstitch closed

A567_TurnStuffTpStch

Method B:

(NOTE:  This is NOT my favorite method.  I tried it for the dogs I know that must kill stuffing, and their owners therefore try to have minimal fluffing arround.  It works for the bone shapes, but I wasn’t pleased with the results/lack of neatness of the bias application. And I even bought a special attachment for my sewing machine to try to assemble it all in one fell swoop.  However, if your machine and/or sewing skills are exceptional, then this could be a viable option, so I included it just in case!)

1. Trim batting slightly smaller than the circumference of the bone shape.

B1_CutOut

2. Sandwich squeaker between layers of batting with rights sides of design outward.

B2_LayoutSqueaker

3. Pin and then staystich .25″ around edge and encase seam with 1/2 inch double fold bias tape.

B345_PinBiasSew

Present to one lucky creature and watch them joyfully play!

Inspirational Scripture:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)