Nothing so homey

As a cat amongst the pillows.

Tomorrow is the 12th anniversary of when we brought Max home. He was a scrawny feral kitten, between three and four months old. Now he's fat and happy--and mean as a snake. But we love him, and he totally rules the roost!

My sister, Ginger, wrote a poem for me about Max a while back. I posted it a couple of years ago, but, in honor of the anniversary, I thought I'd copy it here along with the pictures from that earlier post. (As you can see, Max does like the pillows!)

October

As darkness fell

I knew that I must

Try to find some food.

I crossed the road and down I went

Into the neighborhood.

First house was dark, 

As was the next

One sitting right next door

So on I trudged with hopeful heart.

Oh, my, how many more?

I finally caught a glimpse of light.

It was just down the way.

So off I went to see if it

Would serve me food today.

It was October, long ago,

When I ventured out

One lonely night to find some food.

Who knew how it'd turn out!

They sat behind their dinner plates

O'er at the sister's house.

I heard the laughter from inside,

Stayed quiet as a mouse.

Then all at once, I saw the thing

Its hair was long, and then

She ran for me, and I was scared;

Around the house, I went.

We hissed and spewed

And meowed and pffffft,

Made lots of noise, and then

I heard the door;

It opened wide,

And then it shut again.

Oh, yes, it closed...most right away,

I heard the whisperin',

"This door, I will not open 'til

You promise to take him."

How could she know,

My person, then,

That I would be just right

To change her world and curl right up

Within her bed each night.

She'd lost her love of many years.

He was her soul-mate fellow.

Imagine her surprise to see...

"Replacement"

Came in yellow.

Well, it was tough to get to go

Home with my chosen one.

Her family begged and pleaded with

That grumpy, big ol' one.

He finally let her take me home.

I tried so to stay calm.

I later learned to love him, though.

You know, his name is Tom.

Well it was tough to get them trained

To do just as I bade.

But now it's sweet and happy times.

Oh, meow, I've got it made.

We've moved just once,

But that's okay.

I really love it here.

Although they tick me off sometimes

By sitting in my chair.

It didn't take me long to get

That door to slide my way.

And now when they're not looking

I'll slip outside to play.

They do their best to keep me close.

You oughta see that gun.

That water squirts at least a mile.

Oh, my, oh, my, it's fun.

I run inside to get away.

I hope that I can make

It to my chair before they do

Cuz then I'm finally safe.

They think it scares me, but oh, no.

No better time have I.

Water stream is closing in.

Oh, me, oh, my, I'm sly.

And even when they let me out

I have to stay real close.

I wave my tail high in the air

and sniff with my pink nose.

The morning is my favorite time.

The land is cool and still.

I'll slip away if there's a chance.

I know I'm such a pill.

She just won't let me go out far.

Imagine her dismay

When I sneak off

All by myself;

It really makes my day.

Don't think it's always easy, though,

That I live without a care.

Sometimes I have to get real tough

When there are strangers there.

There was a little lady that

used to come to clean.

She came into my person's room

I had to act real mean.

Geez, I wouldn't really hurt her,

But she sure got really sore.

It took her thirty minutes to

Come out that bathroom door.

She's no longer with us,

Killed two birds with one stone.

Maria comes and shines our place

and

I'm never left alone.

One time I thought my person

Was a booger bear that night.

I saw her walking to the back.

She gave me such a fright.

I growled and hissed and scared her off.

Imagine my surprise

To see her coming through the front.

Could not believe my eyes.

I felt a little bad for that.

Was I wrong? Oh, I suppose.

But when I think back on that night

I get to laughing so darn hard

That milk comes out my nose.

Oh, yes, I love my persons,

My mom and big ol' dad.

I am the luckiest yellow cat

This world has ever had.

I'll be sitting right here forever.

Nowhere I'd rather be

Than sitting at my window sill

Just him - and her - and me

Buttons and Such

I love embroidered fabrics, love embroidering fabrics. There are so many ways one can use them.

Years ago, my sis and I visited an upscale fabric shop in Austin and found a silk with hand-embroidered bullion roses. I fell in love with the fabric, but it was too rich for my budget so I grabbed a sample and have mimicked it several times. Here's a pillow I made as a gift.

This began as a plain silk pillow found at the thrift store. Adding the roses notches it up a tad, don't you think?

Lately, I've been doing embroidery in smaller patches for covered buttons.

This started as a simple linen onto which I stitched french knots. When I saw it in my head, I thought understated would work, but once it was done, it didn't for me so I tossed it into the button box. A couple of years later, I decided to amp it up. The stitches aren't my best--bullion stitches are a tad difficult on an already-covered button. Still, I like it worlds better than I did.

This sachet was made of a piece of ribbon embroidery I did ages ago and never put to use.

And here, I've used a hand-embroidered covered button to accent a pillow I whipped up from an old Battenburg lace tablecloth.

A closer look at the button:

Does it look like a bird to you? 

How about now?

I think it does, think I'll have to try doing one that more definitely is cuz I like thinking of a tropical many-colored bird on a button.

I'd like to hear what you have to say about embroidery--on a button, or a pillow, or a sachet. Is it something you'd use in your home or does it feel too old-fashioned? All comments appreciated, y'all.

I've linked this post to Timewashed's Blissful Whites Wednesday. Check it out here. 

Checking In

Things have been pretty hectic around here for a while. We've had illness in the family, and all my attention has been on that. That's in a holding pattern right now so I thought I'd post on my current projects.

First some background: about a year ago, I was approached by an author regarding a book she was writing about tea cozies. She wanted to use a picture of one of mine in her book.

I gave her my permission for the one pictured above, and then again when she asked to include the one  below.

In our conversations, she mentioned the Pearly Kings and Queens of London and wondered if I'd ever thought to use them as inspiration for a cozy. I'd heard of them but had never been so inspired. Ah, but once she mentioned it....

It's a loose interpretation, and I don't love it, but it took hours and hours of work, and I'm not about to start all over with something that might please me more.

The final thing I have to show today is also button-related. I've seen--and admired--embroidered buttons on Etsy and thought I might try my hand at it. So I did one that was all over French knots. I was so underwhelmed I let it sit in my button box. The other day I came across it and wondered what I could do to kick it up a notch.

And yes I know my bullion stitches aren't to brag gable--barely showable--but I claim the difficulty in embroidering an already-covered button! I'm thinking this one I'll use as an accent on a matelasse pillow. More to come later.