Thursday 14 February 2013

I Blame the Dog

It was all going so well today. I cut the freezer paper pieces last night so today started with auditioning the fabrics to be used for my little cottage in the countryside. Eventually happy with my choices I started ironing on the freezer paper pieces, cutting and sewing. All without incident. Yay!



So confidently I decided to start on the garden. I chose my grass fabric, and my front path fabric, got my British bulldog and set to more piecing. Obviously I made the fatal mistake of getting overly confident because the next thing I knew I was looking at one upside down bulldog. Cut in a wedge shape so I couldn't just take him out and flip him 180 degrees.

Then I got really pissed off at myself when I realised he was my last usable bulldog. I had my heart set on a bulldog for this tiny quilt. I auditioned other dogs. We had the too big, too small, too long and the gormless.


The only one left that fit the wedge shape properly looks like he is afraid of his own shadow! Sometimes I really hate compromise!


At this point it was time to walk away from the sewing machine. This is how far I have gotten with this project today. I shall probably ignore it for weeks now as I am so annoyed with making that mistake.


I hope everyone has had a lovely Valentines Day. Mine was fine until that dog messed me up. Honestly, it was the dog's fault.

Susan

40 comments:

  1. speaking as the owner of a puppy I can confidently confirm that it is, indeed, always the dogs fault. Especially the farts.

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  2. I'm with Charlotte on this one....my dog always farts when I am sewing!

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  3. Ooops, that's a bummer, did you get really cross with youself, i would have!! On a bright note, what you've done looks fab (that doesn't help does it) : )

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  4. ARG!!! From your photo, it looks like there might be enough fabric (except the rear end) to salvage your bulldog. You didn't throw him out did you?

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  5. love the gormless dog !! had to back and have another look at him !!

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  6. Oh Susan - I so KNOW how you are feeling. Don't give up. Don't be beaten. Get back on the horse tomorrow. You can do it! BTW, I too the gormless one but then I love an underdog - geddit?

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  7. Susan,
    If you really want the bulldog on the quilt I would frame him in the green floral fabric and replace the whole right side of the walk. Use the entire piece that is now there as a template to centre the dog. It will look like it was meant to be that way!

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  8. Bad dog! Very bad dog! But it still looks lovely :-)

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  9. I can send you a bull dog by first class post if you want to replace the scared one, the dogs are my least favourite HR...I'm allergic to them!

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  10. Oh bugger! I think M has a solution or accept Indianna's offer! Better to try to fix it now because you will be much happier! Otherwise it is a cute house!

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  11. See, this is why I hate pets!!
    Love kerchief girl though, bet she is about the chuck a bucket of water over that stray!

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  12. I bet he's hiding under the shed with his tail between his legs! Can you put him on the other side of the path? (I think the slant would be the right way round then...) Love the rest of it - the doggy understudy looks like he's just been given the evil eye by the gnome...

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  13. I think he's perfect ... looks a bit timid but that's because he's new to the neighbourhood and sees kids on swings, gnomes and mushrooms in the yard, etc. and doesn't quite know what to make of it all.
    You totally amaze me that you drew up this pattern, and cut out all these perfect bits to create this scene. Stop blaming the dog and get on with it. :D

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  14. Awwww you couldnt have put a bit of border round bulldog and put him back right way up? So sad. Such a lovely block, dont let a mutt spoil that.

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  15. Ow don't you hate that. Darn dog. I think there's been some pretty good suggestions on how to fix it. As long as you have more of the "grass" fabric it shouldnt be too difficult to move the bulldog. Have a glass of wine and get back to it tomorrow.

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  16. Of course this would never have happened with a cat !!!. You could always pretend the dog's fallen into a pond .....

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  17. Put in a solid blue fabric, then fuse the bull dog right side up. Problem solved.

    Hope you have had a wonderful day dispite the misshap.

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  18. I'm with Hadley on this one. Arsing pets ;)

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  19. That is why we have a cat:) It still looks fabulous!

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  20. LOL! You are too funny! Perhaps the dog is afraid of the killer toaster in the window! Seriously though, it looks amazing! Jxo

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  21. I'm with Cindy on this one… fuse Mr Bulldog onto another scrap of fabric & Bob's yer Uncle :-)

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  22. Im with you on ignoring that project until you don't want to physically hurt someone again. I get so peeved when I make mistakes like that !

    I thought you were talking about a real dog when I saw the post title and then I remembered you dont have one...

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  23. I always knew Hadley was right about pets ;o)

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  24. I think that you should do as Sarah says and put the bulldog back, although I do like this cute uncertain one too.

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  25. darn dog. so sorry you didn't have another bull dog you could use. the pattern is so cute.

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  26. I'm LOLing at Charlotte's comment! Yeah, blame it on the dog! It sounds like something I'd do... I constantly have to remind myself to go slow and think think think. I get cocky and then sew something to my pants or something fun like that. :P I think your second choice dog is adorable, though, and the whole thing is SO nice.

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  27. Just checked my scraps and I only have the too big dog and the too scruffy dog :-(
    wondering if you have more of the 'grass' fabric - if yes could you put the bulldog on the left of the path, he'd be the right way up and the angle of the fabric would work?
    It is lovely though! And I now want a front door just like that!

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  28. it looks great though! I love the girl on the swing. Is that Tilda fabric you are using for the main walls of the house? I'm too lazy to go upstairs and check. I think it's in with a batch of mine that I'm turning into a quilt soon.

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  29. Okay all you dog bashers! I am going to stick up for the dog here and say he was only doing as he was told!! Like Helen's idea to put him on the other side of the path..... or accept the offer of a replacement.. and take better care of this one!!!! :-)

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  30. it looks fab and yes I feel your pain about the dog! so glad some folk are offering up solutions though and really hope you get mr dog ( the one you want) to fit in somehow! my pup peed on a field study block the other night so yes it is always the dogs fault!!!

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  31. Oh no! Bad dog! However if the bulldog is submissive like our Maddie she spends half her life on her back saying love me and tickle my tum while you're at it!

    Love the house. The replacement dog has done a wee on the best carpet and been scolded soundly I reckon!

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  32. It looks amazing and I think the dog is quite sweet really!

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  33. dogs are always a pain, but darn I liked that bulldog. I wish I had one to send you

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  34. It still looks great Susan, I know that doesn't help when its not what you planned though!

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  35. I would have taken the bulldog out and added fabric to it so that I could use it right side up. It looks like an interesting project.

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  36. So true, it's always the dog's fault but I wouldn't change mine even though he's a pain in the arse! All your dogs are cute but I agree, the bulldog is the coolest, hope you figure it out.

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  37. That is such a cute block :) I hope you can get the bulldog to fit back into the block if you prefer him, I was going to try and think of something to suggest, but looks like many more-knowledgeable-than-me sewists got in there first :)

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  38. Sometimes dogs just don't listen and cooperate! Love that you have a little gnome in there too :)

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