Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Pugtastic Tuesday: Pug Bracelets

Welcome to another fascinating edition of Pugtastic Tuesday where I showcase some of my never ending pug collectibles and usually throw in a gratuitous photo of my handsome pug boys. The good thing about starting this series is that it forces me to write at least once a week, which in turn, usually forces me to write more than once a week so that you will know that I am doing some sort of quilting or at least buying some fabric.

This week, I show off my pug bracelets. Unlike some of my other collectibles, which have been gifted to me by well-meaning friends and relatives and might not be something I would choose myself or that I necessarily want to decorate my home or office with, I truly love my pug bracelets. Two of the bracelets are available commercially and several have been custom made for me.

This is the first pug bracelet that I had custom made on Etsy back in 2008. I sent photos and charms and she made this wonderful bracelet for me. It is extra special because Mike took all of the photos of Romeo and Elvis, my first two pugs. Sadly Romeo passed away last April, but Elvis is still going strong at 15 1/2. This artist is no longer on Etsy.

The small blue beads and the tiny polymer pugs (which you can see in greater detail in the second photo) are actually intended to be stitch markers for knitting. They are still available from sellers, WeeOnes and Beadmarkers.
My bracelet is chock full of charms, beads and photos. Some of the little pugs have fallen off. Fortunately there are lots of baubles and dangles on this piece, so it still looks good.
Detail of the bracelet above.
I love this photo of Romeo and Elvis waiting at the gate. To get this photo, I am on the other side of the gate and Mike took this photo from behind them.
Another cute photo of Romeo and Elvis in their youth.
I purchased this bracelet on Etsy in 2012. The shop is called BeadPassion.
Detail from bracelet above. There is a charm with Romeo's name and Elvis' name.
I bought this bracelet many years ago at jeweler Erwin Pearl. They still sell dog breed jewelry. It only came with the large pug on the far right. I had the other two tiny pug charms added later. They came inside my hinged miniature pug boxes, seen here.
Detail of the bracelet above.
Detail of the bracelet above.
This is probably one of my favorite bracelets ever because Mike and my Mom have bought the pug charms for me over the past ten years. It is sterling silver and it is made by Esquivel and Fees. They also sell on Etsy as EFSilver. I highly recommend their work. It is exquisite. They make all types of dog breed jewelry and other animals as well. I had the good fortune to visit their shop (which I found by accident) the last time I attended the Houston Quilt Festival.
Detail from the bracelet above. Shown are the Pug in a Basket, the two pugs in a heart and Elvis' birthstone charm. Romeo and LarryPug also have birthstone charms. I would get one for Caesar except that he and LarryPug both have March birthdays. Perhaps I will get a charm with his name on it. I think I need to get a tiny silver PugMom license plate!
I thought I bought this bracelet on Etsy, but I can not find it listed in my past purchases. I may have bought it at a craft show. The pugs have very silly faces. They remind me of Caesar with his tongue hanging out!
I bought this bracelet in 2012 from the shop Livilubaby. It was custom made for me by Denise and Katie, a talented Mother-Daughter team in Oregon.
Detail from the bracelet above.
Elvis!
LarryPug!
This photo taken tonight by PugDaddy Mike. Cuddle buddies, LarryPug and Elvis. I may have to have this printed to hang in our house. It is so adorable.
In case any of you are wondering, I do not have a diamond studded pug bracelet. It would make an excellent addition to my collection.

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Monday, March 26, 2018

A visit to the Quinobequin Quilt Show 2018

Joannie, Marion, and I went to the Quinobequin Quilt Show on Friday night. I belonged to this guild many years ago when I lived in Newton. It was a very nice show. Marion always says that she likes to go to a guild show because there is usually a good mix of quilts: some that are so amazing that you could never make them, some that inspire you to make them, and some that make you feel slightly smug about your own quilting skills by comparison.

I took photos of many of my favorites.
Net Gear by Maxine Rosenberg.
The "gears" in this quilt are from the pattern "Passacaglia with Mr. Penrose" from the book Millefiori Quilts by Willyne Hammerstein.
A close-up of the quilt above.
Find the Telephone? by Maxine Rosenberg.

This quilt was inspired by Edyta Sitar's Bushel Basket Quilt.
Detail from the quilt above.
I found the telephone!
Mystery en Provence by CharAnn Brown

This was the free 2016 mystery quilt pattern designed by Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville.
Bunnies for Emily by Marlene Thurston
City Neighbors by Penelope Kulko
Window details from the quilt above.
Window details from the quilt above.
River's Edge by Elinor Nelson
Stash Buster/Builder by CharAnn Brown

This quilt was made in a class taught by Brown Bagger extraordinaire, our very own Lynne Godin.
Detail from the quilt above.
In Celebration of the Sampler by Catherine Gentile
Detail from the quilt above.
Black & White and Red All Over by Cathy Clemens
Detail from the quilt above.
Hurricane Season by Robin Jaeger.

Can you believe this is her first quilt?
Take Flight by Robin Jaeger. Her second quilt! Based on a pattern by Christine Echols.
Detail from the quilt above.
When You Only See Rainbows, Look For The Sun by Susan Downs
Detail from the quilt above.
Black Magic by Marleen Kroll
Detail from the quilt above. The images are fussy cut from a Paula Nadelstern kaleidoscope fabric.
Fallen Leaves by Carol Miller
Detail from the quilt above.
Hexies in Red and White by Maxine Rosenberg
Details from the quilt above.
Fishing for Love by Evy Megerman
Detail from the quilt above.
Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Threads of Resistance Quilt Show, Part 4

If you've been following along, here at last are the quilts from behind the curtain or as I call them, "the naughty quilts." Note to my Mom (and to others who are easily offended), you should stop reading NOW.

Here's a link for the Threads of Resistance Show as well as the show's travel schedule. Check it out, you may be able to see it in person! Currently, the next display is scheduled on April 5-7 at the
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
If you go to their site, you can look up each quilt by title to read each artist's statement. I encourage you to do so, they are quite powerful. You will find them under the posts for June and July 2017.

In case you missed my previous posts, here are Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. I did not post photos of every single quilt, so please use the links above to see the whole thing if you can't make it to the show.
There actually was a sign and a black curtain in front of the entrance to see these quilts. Sadly, this was at the very end of the hall in a dimly-lit corridor and if you didn't read the sign, you would have missed these quilts. And they were amazing and powerful.
My Body My Rules by Sue Bleiweiss, Massachusetts
Don't Shoot (Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes) by Shelia H. Riess, Maryland
Roe v. Wade Must Stand by Cyndy M. Rymer, California.
Absolutely Nothing by Kathy Nida, California
The Disgrace -- Words and Deeds by Barbara Brandel, Arizona
Detail from the quilt above. All hand-embroidered.
Political Power Grab by Sara Mikes, Pennsylvania
Dear Mr. Trump by Neroli Henderson, Australia
Detail from the quilt above. The quilting was amazing as were the life life details in this piece.
Gusher by Tanya A. Brown, California
Liberty Assaulted by Judy Coates Perez, California
Poisonous Words by Susan Brubaker Knapp, North Carolina
Detail from the quilt above.
Work in Progress by Kathy Nida, California
The Kiss by Maryte Collard, Lithuania
Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy