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Los Olivos, California, United States
You can reach me at fool4fabric (at) gmail (dot) com

Sunday, July 31, 2016

TEDDY AND THE TURTLENECKS

Sounds like a retro rock group, doesn't it?



The "Teddy" part is, of course, our new English Cocker Spaniel puppy...we picked him up from the breeders last week in Grass Valley. He's 9 ½ weeks in this photo, and full of beans! He eats, sleeps,plays and nips...those little puppy teeth are sharp, and Dave and I have the wounds to prove it.



Isn't he a handsome boy? His coloration is "Blue Roan with Tan" and his face
portends a real character...

The "turtlenecks" part is due to trying a new pattern, Rise and Fall Turtlenecks by
Papercut Patterns. I found a black and claret striped knit on Etsy that went perfectly with my Paris wardrobe, but I wanted to try out the pattern before I cut into it.


 The first try was in a rayon/lycra knit from EmmaOneSock. This view has a dropped shoulder and is somewhat loose. I used the higher neck from the other view.





The body on number two is a little more fitted, the neck is the same. This is also a rayon/lycra knit, also from Emma One Sock.

And here is the third one in that black and claret stripe...
.

Interesting to note is how different the collar is in each top...I wanted the high neck of number 1, but the different fabrics (all rayon/lycra) translated differently, 2 and 3 being more droopy.

Being a parent to a new puppy has curtailed my studio time a little...but I've done some listening...Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool and the sequel Everybody's Fool.,,very good, I do love his writing. Also now listening to The House at the Edge of Night, set in an island off Sicily during WW2. Also enjoyable. I read No Man's Nightingale by Ruth Rendell...love her Inspector Wexford novels, and gave up in the middle of Ethan Canin's A Doubter's Almanac, mainly because I didn't care for the major character and didn't want to spend any more of my time on him!  I read the latest Daniel Silva book, The Black Widow...I am hooked on his
 Gabriel Allon books!

Taking advantage of our plethora of French Plums, I made my favorite Plum Crumble

I make it exactly according to the recipe, except I double the fruit. I halved and pitted 200 French plums to freeze so we can enjoy this several times more. It's that good! Don't eliminate the candied ginger as it really adds to the flavor.

A few more puppy pics because, well, just because!



 The chairs and ottoman I reupholstered...



This dog finds the most comfortable places to sleep...




Come on over to Visible Monday and say Hello!

60 comments:

  1. Nice looking tops. Great pics of the new addition. Thanks for sharing those. Cute. I like his color.
    Marciae

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  2. Adorable puppy! May you enjoy many happy years with him. All your turtlenecks are beautiful! You certainly have a knack for joining the perfect fabric with pattern.

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  3. It's always so interesting how different fabrics sew up. Now you have a bunch of new turtlenecks (even though they make me hot with our 99 degree temps) for the Fall. Love the photos of your newest family member. Karen

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    1. Could you see the sweat on my brow, Karen? It was way too hot for a turtleneck!

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  4. Teddy is adorable... Love the turtlenecks, too! Xoxo

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  5. Oh my gosh...you're killing me with these puppy pics! Teddy is just that....absolutely cute and cuddly looking. And such a masterful expression...it must be very hard to say No to him.

    Two more favourites for me today...we have a plum tree too...I'll be making your crumble when they're ready, which should be soon.

    And ditto your thoughts on Gabriel Allon. Superb storytelling by Daniel Silva.

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    1. Thanks, Sue...Micmac is doing quite well..he's the boss, obviously!

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  6. Oh my, Teddy is a scene stealer - what a darling boy. Love your new tops too. xo

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  7. Margy, your turtlenecks are great! A perfect addition to your potential Paris wardrobe. And, OH, is Teddy adorable! I can see he has loads of personality!

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  8. Teddy is so cute, and your tops are fabulous!!!

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  9. ohmygosh, I think I love the sleeping photos the best - Teddy is adorable! I have also read those 2 books by Richard Russo recently. I love his writing too. The turtlenecks are great!

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  10. Wow, I can see a serious personality with Teddy!! What a cutie pie, snuggling in his new favorite spots. Your turtlenecks turned out beautifully as can be! Your plum crumble sounds amazing.

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  11. Kia Ora!

    Teddy is so cute! Your turtlenecks are really great - and I just learned that Papercut Patterns are headquartered in Nelson, so sent them an email to see if I could stop in for a visit. But most importantly, your shoes! I want your shoes. Whose? Where?
    Re

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    1. Thanks, ReAnn...the shoes are Fly London Yoko Wedge.

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  12. Your turtlenecks will fit perfectly in your Paris wardrobe or anywhere for that matter. I have fallen in love with Teddy also, his coloring, his sweet face. And the plum crumble looks delicious - unfortunately my kitchen remodel has gone very slooowly.

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    1. Thanks, Leslie! Kitchen remodels are the pits!

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  13. Oh.... your Teddy is so cute, i love him!! Have a good time with your little dog! I like your turtlenecks too.
    LG
    Christine

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  14. Lovely turtlenecks and a super cute puppy!!!

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  15. Love Ruth Rendell! Also Elizabeth George, PD James, and Martha Grimes. Always in awe of your sewing prowess!. So enjoy your blog.

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  16. Hi Margy
    OMG! I want a dog-rather, a puppy, just like Teddy!! We had an Irish Setter/Golden mix for 12 years while our family was in the growing up years called Mr. Furley. I miss that beautiful "gentleman" every day of my life! My husband is retired now so we travel a lot like you, and we've decided no more pets, but when I see a Teddy, I want another dog.
    How do you manage the traveling and the animals??

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    1. Hi, MJT....we are fortunate to have a wonderful housekeeper...she and her husband love animals and stay at our house while we travel.

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  17. What a lovely little foot warmer Margy, I hope he brings you and your husband many happy hours.The pairing of the black and red stripe with the vest is gorgeous.

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  18. oh, Margy: love that dog! love the turtle necks! would love to bake the recipe but your link to Epicurious does not reveal a recipe with candied ginger!

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    1. Oh, June, thank you for catching that! I have edited the link so it goes to the correct recipe! Give it a try, it's wonderful!

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  19. Teddy, Teddy, Teddy! What an adorable addition. I've been waiting to see him. I'd dog sit for you if I lived close. So glad you finally have him home. Love your tops and fabrics. Happy August.

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  20. Margy, I hardly know where to start with praise for this post...it's all so fun and helpful.
    Puppy Teddy is a bundle of giggles for sure, I bet you and Dave are chuckling non-stop!
    And thank you for the great info on the turtlenecks. I'm in the "droopy" collar camp and love knowing all of this!

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    1. Thanks, Gayle! As you may know, I have had a love/hate relationship with rayon knits FOREVER! I wish I knew how to tell if they're going to droop or drape!

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  21. Margy, thank you for sharing your reading list! My dad and I both decided we would finish A Doubter's Almanac out of love and respect for Ethan Canin, but sorting the puzzle wasn't worth it, in the end. (To us, at any rate.) Now we are re-reading Jackson Pollock's biography by Steven Naifeh. Reading the same books is how my dad and I bridge the thousand miles between us.
    I love a high turtleneck that stays where I want it - HIGH. Thanks for sharing the pattern and the pup. ;)

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    1. Hi, Robyn! Reading together with your Dad is a great way to keep in touch. How do you choose your books? I'm the same way with turtlenecks...I'm trying to find a way to keep them high...

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  22. Love your new puppy! Gorgeous color. Love the tops and I love the Gabriel Allon books too.

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    1. Thanks, Nancy...I wish Daniel Silva would write faster...

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    2. Oh I love Daniel Silva. Just went to his website and I'm THREE behind. The joy! All on hold at the library now. Thanks!!!

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  23. I love that Teddy has a Lamb Chop! He is such a handsome lad and you are so lucky to all have each other. You have more patience than me, no more housebreaking! My last two dogs were senior rescues so we didn't have to go thru it....in a way it's sad to miss puppy good...the soft pads, puppy breath, round tummies, pure silliness but in many ways I was happy not to go thru it again. Give him a big kiss and tummy rub from me!

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  24. Love all 3 of your tops....may try the pattern myself.....your pup is wonderful, we just received our 9 week old Soft Coated Wheaten terrier.....going to the lake today...we'll see how that goes! Wrote down your books to try. Happy sewing/puppy-ing the works!

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  25. Margy, love your clothes and shooz and the new dog is adorable. If you loved the narrator of The House at the Edge of Night, you might like Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter...same narrator and one of my favorite Audible listens. Another is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt...many people loved and many others hated it, but it won a Pulitzer and also is one of my favorite Audible listens. Can't wait to try the Plum Crumble.

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    1. Thanks, iluvsweets...I've listened to both those books and loved them!

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  26. Oh, Teddy! What a bundle of joy, no wonder you look so gloriously happy.You still seem to me to have been pretty busy - three lovely tops and a freezer full of plums!

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  27. Puppy Love is a beautiful thing. Oh, and the turtlenecks…such creative fun!

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  28. Teddy looks like he is part coonhound! A mini-coonhound. How adorable!

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  29. Great to hear that the latest Richard Russo is also a good read since I do love his books. Love the look of those turtlenecks and how creative they are.

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