Remember when...

Remember when we used to take pictures and develop film? Wow! I realize how much technology has changed just in the last 11 years since we got Emmitt. On October 8th, it will be exactly 11 years since we brought him home. I just realized this morning that my very first picture of him when we picked him out on the breeder's driveway at 5 weeks old is in a frame, but no where else! I scanned it into my computer this morning and wanted to share it. He is about 5 pounds here and basically sitting in Fred's hand. Isn't he cute?

Why I love creating and sharing my Pug Art!

Happy Friday!

I just received the nicest e-mail from one of my Pug Notes customers who lives in Switzerland. She runs a school and has a beautiful pug named Daisy. You can meet Lex and Daisy on their website, Daisy The Pug.

Hi Melissa - I finally got a good shot of Daisy with one of my students who was reading Emmitt's book... check out Daisy's blog entry 9/28/07. We had so much fun reading it and have been doing the workbook too. It's perfect for my students and they LOVE reading a book about another pug!!! Big pug hugs from Switzerland, Lex & Daisy

This is absolutely why my work brings me so much joy!

Rectangular Knitting Loom

I think everyone knows by now how much I enjoy my circular knitting loom that I bought at the Wool Market in June. I think I have made at least 10 hats, and I just finished a neck gator, which is a hat with two open ends that you wear as a scarf, but it is a tube.

Well, more excitement! I bought a new rectangular loom on Monday on sale for only $7 at Hobby Lobby. :) It knits flat pieces instead of hats and tubes, so I see pot holders, scarves and possible some pug dolls in the near future. I spent sometime learning how to knit with it yesterday and here is my progress so far...

It is very easy. You just wind the yarn around the pegs and use the hook to pull one loop over another to make a stitch. A few times around and you can see the fabric is peeking out the bottom of the loom. It is really fun and relaxing. I will keep you posted on what this turns out to be. Since I grabbed the yarn I make my pug dolls with, I think I know what direction I am heading with this project. :)

Photoshop Painting

I was playing around in Photoshop today and created this painting. I liked it so I saved it to share.

I also learned how to map a gradient of colors to a photo. Here is my picture of the morning sky combined with orange and purple hues. I love photoshop!

Amazing Morning Sky...

It looks like a tornado is coming!

But if you look closely, it is the smoke from the power plant hitting the low stormy clouds hovering over the mountains this morning. I am excited that is only going to be 6o degrees today. Fall is here! My favorite time of year. The colors are just starting to change.

The Best Quilt Show Ever!

Melanie and I had the BEST time at the Quilt-A-Fair show in Longmont, CO yesterday. It was held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds and we have never seen so much fabric! We bought a ton of stuff. Everything from varigated thread to vintage feedsacks to fabric by the yard.

We even found the same kind of patchwork material (but in different colors) that I used to make shades in my office earlier in the year. I used it this morning to make a new shade for my sewing room. I still cannot sew a straight line, but I do not think you can tell. :) The secret is to make something that hangs way up high so no one can get a close look. Ha!

Here are the office shades I made earlier in the year.

Pug Playing Cards

Happy Friday everyone! I just added the first of many new products I will be offering in the coming weeks. Pugs and Pals Playing Cards!

http://www.pugnotes.com/playing-cards.htm

Sewing Machine Cover # 2

I am so glad I took notes while I made up my pattern for the sewing machine cover because it made making a gift for my sister so much faster and easier! Note to self: taking notes - Good! It is always nice ending the day with a pat on the back and a smile.

Sewing Machine Cover

I just completed a fun sewing project. I made a cover for my sewing machine out of the one of the pre-quilted fabrics I bought a few months ago. It was so much fun. I made up the pattern as I went and I think it looks pretty good!

Sneek Peek at Pugs and Pals Coloring Book 3

I am so excited! A proof copy of my new coloring book, Pugs and Pals Volume 3 is on the way to me from the publisher. It was so much fun to put together with 11 new pugs and 19 new pals to color and enjoy. The pal breeds are... a Boston Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Brittney Spaniel, Bernese Mountain Dog, Golden Retriever, Collie, Westie, Bull Terrier, Shar-Pei, Norwich Terrier, Sheepdog, Maltese, Rottweiler, Chinese Crested, Puggle, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, a hound mix and two cats.

A great story to end the day...

Surfer Rescues Dog Swept Off Pier
AP
Posted: 2007-09-12 18:54:12
Filed Under: Nation News, Weird News
(Sept. 12) - A surfer rode a wave on his stomach to rescue a struggling dog that had been swept off a pier and into Lake Michigan by a wave.

Surfer Matt Smolenski, right, and Joe Riopelle help save a dog who was swept off a pier into Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, Mich., on Tuesday. "He (Smolenski) put the dog up on his surfboard, and the dog rode the surfboard in to shore," said one bystander who witnessed the rescue.

Matt Smolenski, 25, said he grabbed the pooch's collar just as the exhausted, black-and-brown mixed breed stopped dog-paddling on Tuesday. "He put the dog up on his surfboard, and the dog rode the surfboard in to shore," said Royce Rodgers, an off-duty Muskegon Heights police officer who witnessed the rescue. As the dog crouched on the board, Smolenski held on from the water, fighting large waves and a strong current all the way to shore. "I've watched the dog about a million times," said Smolenski, of Grand Haven. "He barks at the waves and then jumps back when they wash up on the pier." Rodgers, who had started walking his own dog on the pier but turned back around after seeing the size of the waves, said the other dog wasn't on a leash when the wave swept it over the side. The same wave knocked the animal's owner off his feet, Rodgers said. "The dog was trying to swim, but the waves were very large. It was struggling," Rodgers said. "The owner was screaming for the dog." Rodgers said the owner thanked Smolenski and gave him a high five. He then "left so fast, I couldn't get his name," he said.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-09-12 15:31:05

Creating Art in Photoshop Elements

My new class started again yesterday from Eclectic Academy. I have been taking Photoshop classes for about a year now and I just love them! I have learned so much. Sara Froelich is the most wonderful instructor. I never thought I would learn so much from an online class. I cannot believe it is only $20 per 6 week session. Most classes are hundreds of dollars. I highly recommend her classes to everyone interested in learning Photoshop. She makes it fun, easy and very interesting. I use it practically everyday from editing photos for my website to making digital collages. In fact... SHHHH! It's a secret, but I am creating a new Pugs and Pals Coloring Book using PSE4 right now! It should be ready for the holidays. Look for an announcement for CB Volume 3 in the coming weeks!

Pottery Class 101

I am so excited! My sister and I are taking a beginner's pottery class together for 5 weeks, every Monday evening, at Mudslingers in Louisville. It was so much fun. I do not have any photos yet, as our creations are drying on the shelves right now, waiting to be fired. We each made a pinch pot, a piece made from slab hand building technique and a little dog sculpture. Mine is a pug, Mel's is a corgi. It was about 9pm and we both looked at each other and said I'm toast, let's make a sculpture. It was great! The last time either of us made pottery, we were in summer camp. I think we must have been 9 or 10 years old. I cannot wait to see how they turn out. I am looking forward to the glazing lesson.

Pug Painting A61

I LOVE my newest pug! He just makes me smile! Happy Friday!

My new Graffitis

Graffiti Parrotlet

It is like drawing on a Etch-o-sketch with color!

Graffiti Pug

I just drew this pug on Facebook with an application called Graffiti. How FUN!

New Knit Hats

Here are the two hats that I knit while on vacation. The yarn was fun to work with. Fred and I will match while walking Emmitt this winter.

San Diego vacation 2007

Fred and I had a wonderful vacation in San Diego. We stayed at a small condo on the beach in Carlsbad. It was perfect. We will definitely do that again soon!