Dog Coats for My Yorkie

A button secures the collar

My latest sewing craze has been to create little dog coats for my 5-pound Yorkshire Terrier named Raleigh.

Since I like to keep him groomed in a puppy cut, he doesn't have lots of hair to keep him warm in cooler temperatures, therefore he needs to wear a coat when the weather turns.  Since we are finally getting temps in the 50's at night, for heaven's sake it is November, he needs a coat to keep him warm.

I pulled out a few remnants and sketched out a pattern and in no time I had a cute little coat.  I had to improvise a little along the way since I didn't really know what I was doing but I am happy with the results.

Since the fabric was stretch on one side and woven on the other, I couldn't pull it over his head so I added a button hole and button to secure it.  He is docile and patient so it's no trouble buttoning the collar under his chin.  Plus I think the button adds a little flair.  You can't really see the rusty colored light weight knit on the underside, but I wanted a contrasting color and something soft up against him.

 
Next up I sewed a second coat with a nubby brown wool-like exterior fabric and cream fuzzy interior fabric. What a mess that stuff was to cut and sew.  My black pants and top were covered with little white pieces of fuzz.  I sewed the collar a little differently this time.

I think it turned out so cute and Raleigh looks very dapper in it.

I solicited the measurements of my brother's and sister's dogs, Mollie, Rigby, Lucky and Buster and I should have a few coats ready for Christmas gifts.  I will post the coats on their respective recipients after the holidays.

Email me at pearlscottage@sbcglobal.net if you are interested in a custom dog coat.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Fun Holiday Decor

Easy to sew birds made with quilt fabric make fun holiday decor.

This year I made a few dozen holiday decorations for home and work.  I found a pattern in a quilting book for little partridges made from three different fabrics and stuffed with lizard litter, which is ground walnut shells.  The original pattern created little birds, I'm talking really little, so I made two larger sizes as well.

My six fabrics

I picked up six different fabrics, just 1/3 yard of each, at the local fabric store and went to work.  I created a template of the bird bodies and another template of the bird bases.  I cut out different fabrics for different parts in different sizes.  The cutting was easy and the sewing was easy, especially with my quilting foot to measure the quarter inch seams.  After sewing a number of birds together and leaving a small area open at the base, I was ready for the lizard litter.  It is strange stuff that reptiles love - think what is on the bottom of an aquarium that mimics the desert.  The texture is more course than sand but just as hard to clean up so I did this part of the project in my backyard.

Since I had made the birds larger than the pattern recommended, I realized that if I filled them with only lizard litter then they would be quite heavy and a handy weapon if needed.  Instead I stuffed the top half with polyester fill and then added the lizard litter and hand sewed the opening.  The change worked just fine and the birds were nicely weighted at the bottom by not too heavy.

Although they were quite cute at that point, the little partridges still needed a little decoration.  I added sequins for eyes and wool pom poms glued to sewing pins or jewelry wire to finish things off.

All told the project was fairly time consuming given the diminutive size of the results.  I think they would look good tucked into a holiday wreath, also I'm considering leaving one or two on a co-workers desk for a little holiday cheer.  Imagine adding a bird to a holiday gift basket or putting one on top of a gift wrapped in coordinating paper.

Maybe I'll think about making some pears in the same fabric.  Maybe next year.

Sweet Silver and Gold Necklaces

Christmas Gifts

A few weeks back I went to the Los Angeles Gift Show and picked up some supplies to put together necklaces for Christmas gifts.  My vendor came with a great selection of chain, supplies and findings.  I was excited to get home to start putting things together.

I picked up a few yards of chain in varying sizes and metal tones. That way I could mix and match it with the charms I was putting together.  Inevitably some of the decisions I make while picking out my selections change by the time the project is done.  My practice is to buy a little extra of everything, so I have the flexibility to make changes if I want to. Having a little extra also prevents extra ordering or trips to the vendor.

Three charms

 In addition to the necklaces, I made a few bracelets with some chunky rolo chain.  I like to use rolo chain in small or large gauge.

Bracelet for a dog lover

When I showed my purchases to my 12-year old niece and asked her to guess which things I selected for my two sisters, her aunts, she guessed correctly.  Not bad since her aunts both live many states away from her.  I'd say it is a testament to the time my sisters spend connecting.  I wonder if my niece could pick one for me.  That's easy because I like them all.

Sometimes I like to hang a few charms from one necklace.  Other times I like to mix up a few chains on the same piece.  Also I like to wear multiple necklaces with different length chains.

Looking for a gift this holiday?  Check my Etsy site for the necklaces above.
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/pearlscottage?ref=si_shop



 

A Day in Los Angeles - Six Great Things To Do

Sweets at Pie Hole

I am fortunate to live in Southern California where the weather is beautiful year-round and there is always something fun to do.

Last weekend I spent the day with my dear friend and business partner, Michelle. She makes a great travel companion because she is adventuresome, plus no matter how often I get lost, she never gets mad.

Look at the menu on paper rolls

We have spent many Saturdays together scouring estate sales and working on projects. Last Saturday we ventured into Los Angeles with a list of things to do and see.  Our first stop was Pie Hole, a coffee and bakery in the Art's District; a recently gentrified area with older industrial and railroad buildings turned commercial space and loft living.  Pie Hole serves delicious and smooth coffee and tea and sells baked goods that are made on the premises.  We ordered lattes and asked the helpful server to pick a sweet item for us.  He picked the maple custard pie which he pronounced nirvana with no meditation necessary.

Luscious maple custard pie

Let me tell you, that pie transported me to a state of perfect happiness. Sweet but not too sweet, perfect silky smooth filling, set in a sturdy crust.  Savory options are available like the quiche, pot pie and onion roll.  We stopped in around 11:00 a.m. so we arrived after the breakfast crowd and before the lunch crowd.  Beware: It can get pretty crowded at meal times.  After eating delicious pie and drinking a smooth chai latte I declared my day a success.

Next we stopped into Silver Fox Architectural Salvage which is on Cesar Chavez Boulevard off the 10 freeway.  Owners Seth and Selina were there and showed us some of the new items that had been delivered from their New York location.  I'll be back for rough cut barn wood when I'm ready to make shelves in my bedroom.  I coveted some big glass jugs that originally came from Germany or Hungary - I can remember exactly.  Later, at home I was flipping through Country Living magazine, and there were the same jugs.  Should have bought them, but where would I put them?

The Gift Show was going on at the Convention Center so we popped in to pick up some great jewelry supplies. Stay tuned for pictures and prices on those items.  Suffice it to say, I have a bit of work ahead of me.

Needing a source of energy and something to quench our thirst, we headed to Grand Central Market on Broadway.  The Market has been a landmark in Los Angeles since it opened in 1917.  Note:  park in the Grand Central Market structure and get your ticket stamped and validated for the first hour.

Horse Thief BBQ at Grand Central Market

Michelle had not been there, so I wanted to show her the variety of food stands in the market including a few new vendors.  We considered Valerie's for a salad s and sandwiches and Sticky Rice for Thai cuisine, however we decided to eat at Horse Thief BBQ and enjoyed our lunch at the adjoining outdoor tables.  The Los Angeles Times had mentioned the restaurant in the morning paper so by 3:00 p.m. they were out of everything except a little brisket and some baked beans.  No big deal cuz we wanted brisket sandwiches.  Outside of Texas it was the best smoked meat I've eaten.  Delicious smokey meat with a bit of crunch on the exterior. Mmmm, I could go for a sandwich right now.

Smokey brisket sandwich from Horse Thief

Pleased with our meal and fueled for another few hours, we walked a few blocks to The Last Bookstore located on 435 Spring Street.  The store is an impressive two stories filled with both new and used books.  The existing architecture, coupled with art made from books, gave the space a comfortable feeling.  We enjoyed our time wandering around and picked out a few titles.  I would like to bring my book club members here and eat brunch across the street at KTCHN DTLA that sets up at The Gorbals on the weekends.

The Last Bookstore

Our last stop of the day was K&L wine store in Hollywood on Vine Street.  The selection was plentiful, the staff knowledgeable and price range wide with selections from $9.99 to 259.99.  I picked up a few affordable bottles of Chalone Chardonnay that has great complexity for $12.99 a bottle.  Michelle found an Italian red that she reported was "just right" for her husband, Mark.

Nearly eight hours later I dropped her off at home.  We were both tired yet happy that our day went so well.  Good shopping, good food and good friends.  What more could we ask for?

Make Each Day Count

We all have good intentions when it comes to accomplishing tasks that we hope to check off our lists. During holiday periods the lists just seem to get longer.  I have to remind myself to keep things in perspective and remember the things in my life that are important and suddenly the list becomes shorter and I become happier.

One year ago I attended the funeral of a young man named Sam who was born with muscular dystrophy. He had a fighting spirit, a wicked sense of humor and a big heart.  Life was difficult for Sam as his muscles mass deteriorated and he lost the ability to walk, sit comfortably and eat and breathe without assistance.  Sam never complained according to his lifelong friends.  Despite his medical condition, Sam attended and graduated from Santa Susanna High School and went on to graduate from California State University Northridge.  He loved his job at the local Boys and Girls Club were he worked with the after school program and had lots of friends and fans.  Sam touched many people throughout his life.

At his service the words of Chaim Potok were read:
I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. Do you understand what I am saying? A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life.

Sam's life was abbreviated, however the years he was alive were filled with meaning.

I ponder the meaning I have created with my life. My time on earth is insignificant, as am I.  What can I do, despite obstacles far smaller than Sam's, to improve the lives of others?

Vintage Silver Adds Personality to Decor

Silver adds personality to vintage decor including candelabras, Champagne buckets, vases, coffee and tea service, silverware, and jewelry.

An easy way to add instant personality and character to your decor is to find nostalgic items and intersperse them throughout your room.  Keeping with the same material or theme will create a cohesive look.  Also, make sure the items reflect your personality.  If you love them, as time goes on you will not grow weary of your selections.


Silver adds personality to vintage decor.  Tarnished silver pieces like candelabras, trays, champagne buckets, vases, coffee and tea pots, and water pitchers look great in shabby chic, farmhouse and vintage settings.  The shiny items above are now tarnished because I don't have time nor the inclination to polish silver with regularity. 

Feature a silver tray on a dining room table or coffee table layered with other finds like old books, figurines, votive candles and flowers in a silver vessel.

Add  mixed height candlesticks to a shelf or mantle.  Candelabras are stunning, especially when lit. One of my favorite items is diminutive tea pots with lots of detail work. 
 

These look lovely as flower receptacles tucked in here and there in any room. Consider using them as vases at bridal showers and vintage weddings.  We threw a bridal shower for my niece at the Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington Library and Gardens.  Since we were in a beautiful historic garden setting it seemed appropriate to have beautiful flowers in the little tea pots on the tables.  The guests wanted to take the arrangements home when the party was over.  Silver water pitchers are great for flower arrangements too.


Think outside the box and use your silver pieces in unusual ways.  I put my Yorkie Raleigh's dog treats in a silver bowl on my mantle so they are available when he comes in from the backyard. No one knows the treats are there except Raleigh, of course.

Pearl's Cottage has beautiful silver items for sale at Etsy including my favorite mini coffee pots.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/pearlscottage?ref=si_shop

Time to Decorate Your Mantle for Christmas

Consider switching things up this year when you decorate your mantle for Christmas.  Use beautiful items that you have around your home, grouped together, to create a beautiful display.

Consider using like materials for a cohesive look.  Here I have silver plate items that are for sale at Pearl's Cottage's Etsy site coupled with greenery with red accents and some peppermint candies.  My business partner, Michelle, set up these items in just a few minutes.  The pickle castors are my favorite items because they are so detailed in their design and they harken back to a day where pickles were held in high esteem.  Now they are filled with peppermint candies to give them a little holiday cheer.

The other items on the mantle include a mini tea pot, a creamer and a vase that are filled with flowers and greenery.  These beautiful items can stay on a mantle all year by simply removing the holiday themed items.

Rare Antique Pickle Castor

Crystal and glass collectibles including vases, creamers and bowls look pretty grouped together too.  Try milk glass, pottery or whatever items you appreciate

Find greenery and flowers at your local Michael's, Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's stores.  You don't have to spend a lot, just pick up a few things to drape across the mantle and fill your receptacles.

The same decor looks good on a buffet table and dining room table.  How do you plan to decorate your home this Christmas?