Woof Woof!! Meet "Solly"

"Solly" in fabric, before quilting
(Note: the pink color is displaying much brighter than it actually is)

I've been watching the smiling image of "Solly," a sweet border collie owned by my friend Deanna, come to life on my quilt wall. It's always an adventure (kind of a scary one!) to start on a portrait quilt and wonder what the final product will look like. In this case, the guardian saint of doggie quilts has blessed us with this lovely image!

"Posterizing" the photo

How does something like this come together? I start with a photograph, and digitize it in Photoshop. It has to be "flattened" into a one-dimensional image that can be created in fabric. After many attempts and much angst, the likeness begins to appear.

Creating a pattern

I breathe a sigh of relief and start to make the pattern, by drawing the main lines onto wax paper. I won't bog us down with details here, but you can see it is a delicate process of tracing, drawing, comparing, re-drawing, re-drawing, second-guessing, and finally -- I have a pattern.

 Here are some of the pieces, showing how detailed this process can get!

Now it's time to choose fabrics... What is the right color for his fur? His eyes? Sometimes the color you think something is supposed to be is totally not the right color. Because Solly is black and white, I found that browns did not work in his fur. Black, white and grey were the dominant colors, with a touch of warm caramel for the eyes and three shades of peachy pink for his happy grin.

Choosing fabrics

Left eye

But wait -- we are far from finished! Now it gets even more intense, as I get out the threads and begin making choices, fill the bobbins, oil and clean my trusty Bernina, and contemplate quilting this puppy. (pun intended)

Check back soon as I post progress reports!

All creatures great and small ...

More animal pouches on their way to Cambria for the art show this weekend! 

Stop by my sister's studio - Patricia Griffin Ceramics - at The Old Schoolhouse on Main Street to check it out! She will be featuring functional art by four unique artists in her studio space! Things will be jumpin!

It's all part of the Cambria Art and Wine Festival this weekend, Jan. 24-26 - where you can stroll through town, dropping in to boutiques and art galleries while enjoying a cup of coffee or delicious beverage of your choice!

Woof Woof!! A different kind of doggie bag!

Handle is detachable

Not everyone gets to take home a doggie bag like this! I just can't resist putting our furry friends on these zippered pouches! 

I wanted to keep this one for myself, but I already have a stack of pouches and they keep growing! So this one is off to Cambria, where it will be on sale during the Arts and Wine Festival next weekend, Jan 24-26. 

Here you can see the front and the back, as well as the lining inside. They are priced at $38, higher than a manufactured pouch, but low for original, one-of-a-kind items made by hand.

Made with 100 % cotton, fully lined

Show your love for canine critters when you're out and about by carrying an original, quilted doggie bag! Woof woof!

Where to purchase: 

patricia griffin studio

patricia griffin studio

880 main st.

cambria, ca

(805) 924-1050

Turtle Pouch

I couldn't make a frog purse without a turtle one too!!

Here's the two outside pieces along with the lining fabric I picked out. I had a green zipper ready too!

Preparing the outside fabric and the lining to sew onto the zipper...

One side sewn onto the zipper...

Making the handle... (I used the grey fabric, but added a piece of the lining for color)

Outside panels right sides together and lining fabric right sides together  - ready to sew!!!

Now it is turned inside out for the grand reveal!!!

VIOLA!!!  Here is the finished pouch!!!