Waiting for Wonder Under

I am so excited to announce that I have finally finished the quilt I started working on long ago. I will have pictures up in a day or two, as soon as my wonderful spouse has a moment to put them through PhotoShop. But I am very pleased to have it done. I'm pleased with the results, but I think the greater pleasure comes from completing the project. I promised I wouldn't say anything bad about this quilt, but during production, I had a working title that was alliterative and had to do with its size and the stuff that collects on the lining of your nostrils. Figure it out.
Well, I discovered that after working on something large, I really long to work on something small. Or several somethings.


Behold, Hamster Huts! Am I a nut, or what? (Stop with the rhyming, already!) Our two dwarf hamsters really love their new digs. I intend to make several more, so place your orders now!

These fiddly little things come from a book I recently had returned to me called "Omiyagi," a book about handmade Japanese gifts. They are mostly hand sewn, which is a real benefit when working with something so small. They are graded (from the top): EFG (extra fiddly grrrr...), EF (extra fiddly), and E (fun and not too fiddly). These are gifts, except for the pinecone one, which is for ME! No orders, please.

So, I am all ready to start the next series, but have long since run out of Wonder Under. It is available here on the island, for $12 A METER! (Probably, I should spell it metre.) I have bought it at this price, but when I complained to my sister, she graciously offered to send me a bolt from America. I am waiting for said bolt. In the meantime, aside from all the above mentioned items, I am sewing two teddy bears (from panels purchased in the states) which will be sold at my daughter's school holiday craft fair for fund raising. (Try saying that 5 times fast) Other than that, I have no other projects going. At least, none that I can mention before Christmas.

Tragedy

This morning we lost Charlie.

She was sitting on my shoulder (we only recently decided that he must be a she) while I was washing dishes and doing a load of laundry. I went out into the maid's quarters where the washing machine is, and was putting my clothes on the line when Charlie spooked and flew into the window of Glory's bathroom. She hit it hard, and was freaked out enough to fly in the direct opposite direction - out the balcony into a sort of stair well area behind our apartment. She flew in circles for a few moments, screeching, and I was calling and calling her, but then she flew out.
I ran outside in my nightgown and called and whistled for a minute or two, but there was no answer. So, I ran back inside and called Terry, who had taken Glory to the park, on his cell phone to let him know what was going on. He said they would come right home. So, I got dressed and went back out to look a little further from our apartment. There was a guy with a leaf blower going up the street, and I headed in that direction, but couldn't see the bird anywhere. So, I decided to head back home and wait for Terry or maybe for the bird to return. As I was heading down the sidewalk, I saw a lump on the street. A grey lump. With yellow and orange feathers.

I am so sad and my heart is breaking. She was a little over 6 months old. We will miss her.