Monday 13 September 2010

Chocolate Limes and Sausage dogs.

Recently I was asked to make some brooches in lime on a chocolate background. Last Friday at the felt group and I begged a bit of brown wool and made the felt, and with my newly dyed  velvet, I made the two shapes I was asked for but being me, I had to go a bit further.



Then further still.

I never do things by halves. 
I used up all the chocolate brown felt.


Now, what do you do when you are up to your neck in work for three big orders and are having sleepless nights worrying about whether you'll finish in time and your house is a tip?
Hmm?
When you have a little visitor 

who has a little rain coat?


That needs a little mending?

You mend it .
Then you think...hmmmm....
not too difficult to copy in Harris Tweed.



Then you get the model...


who is, shall we say, underwhelmed.

For a little dog who is elderly, can hardly see and hardly hear, and doesn't move about much,


she is incredibly difficult to photograph.
She isn't impressed.


I am.

61 comments:

Daisie said...

Love it! And who needs orders done on time anyhow? x

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

That is fantastic! Just wait till the glitterati see them! You'll be inundated with orders! I mean it! People will go mad for these for their dogs.
LOVE the brooches. Absolutely sumptuously deliciously gorgeous : )

Lyn said...

so am I!
it's so cute, and she looks cute too.
Those lime green brooches are also beautiful.
love
Lyn
xxx

Trekky said...

How gorgeous! Harris tweed too - lucky doggie!

Lovely lime brooches too!

Maggi said...

Gorgeous colours. Are you going into production with the dog coats? It looks great.

KerryFelter said...

Ah, the poor doggie!! It does look incredibly cute, however, and in Harris tweed, no less! The chocolate and lime are to die for--love them!!

ju-north said...

Make sure your doggie friends see this! (You'll be making horse blankets next!)

Rachel in Odd Sock House said...

Oh my god, what a lovely cute little dog and what a fabby coat! I am loving the chocolate limes theme, I seriously want to eat them! x

Iz said...

Do you do them for whippets?! Same size body, just longer legs?!

*jean* said...

oo that is adorable! what a sweet doggie

lilylovekin said...

The little pooch looks darling in her new coat, she was probably wiggling with excitement!

Julie said...

Gorgeous brooches and the dog coat is a triumph!

Ro Bruhn said...

Gorgeous combinations and great designs. What a dear little friend you have, she'll be the talk of the town in cool coat.

Karen said...

I am impressed too! and those brooches are gorgeous!!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

awwwwww - I don't know which I like more - the yummy chocolate and lime combination OR the sweet little brown eyes wrapped up in a little dog.

Anji* said...

Gorgeous brooches.. gorgeous dog :)

Susan said...

Beautiful brooches, and what a gorgeous dog, says me an ardent cat lover.

We had an old cat, she was poorly, 14, somewhat deaf, and we were not sure if she could see that well, but her sense of smell was wonderful. And when it was time to go to the vets she could out sprint everyone in the house!

jeanette, mistress of longears said...

Talk about a lucky dog! Even Inspector Oswald is impressed! (He has always had an eye for fashion!)
Too cool!

Lorie McCown said...

aww there that doggie with his tweedy on! Love your lime greens, I'd put all of them on my lapel! xo

Sheeprustler said...

Underwhelmed, perhaps, but warm and cute :) Love the leafy things, though now I am craving mint chocolate...

Thimble Fingers said...

Oh I nearly choked on my cereal this morning whilst reading this, I laughed so much when I saw you'd made her a coat, the temptation was too great huh? Its gorgeous and even though she's not too impressed I do think you've just opened up a whole new market for your designs.
Love the new colour scheme too.

Elderberry-Rob said...

Your chocolate and lime creations are really beautiful and your little dog looks totally embarrassed! but so cute in her smart coat. xxx

Pat said...

Coat is a triumph love the expressions of resignation at beiung photographed. The brooches are plain yummy!

Marigold Jam said...

Those brooches are just beautiful and I love the colour combination. The doggie coat looks very fashionable but it is the expression on your little friends face in the third photo of her! I think you'll be adding dog jackets to your stock once people see thes.

Jane

Unknown said...

Awwww how gorgoues and i love the brooches to, awesome colors xoxo

Unknown said...

Whoopppppsss i meant GORGEOUS XO
typing to fast for my own good lol

menopausalmusing said...

When I started to read this I thought you were going to put a chocolate and lime brooch on the original dog coat! What a lovely combination that chocolate and lime is...... Your little model is gorgeous in its new Harris Tweed coat......

Grangry said...

Jackie, what a practical person you are! Love those chocolate limes!!!!!

ShabbyChicShaz said...

These brooches just zing off the page, they are great. Love the dog coat as well, perhaps he's shy :)

Maria Dent said...

How fab are they! The broochs are like my favorite sweets and the doggy is so cute!

Fiona said...

Those brooches are just gorgeous. Good enough to eat. And as for the dog coat what can I say. I love it and the model is so long suffering!

Gina said...

The dog coat is fabulous Jackie and I love that chocolate lime combination

Chris Gray said...

...so don't worry about the housework...

...or whether the dog likes the new coat..


JUST ENJOY YOUR STITCHING!!! :-)

Sharne Gregory said...

I love the chocolate and lime combination. Forget the housework, it still be there for another day. Happy stitching!

Unknown said...

Your hound is a real cutie and your broaches are stunning...

Pam said...

Ooh Jackie they are just divine!! I love those two colours together.
and how clever are you to make that adorable doggie jacket. So sweet.
I haven't been around in a while, sorry. I've missed all your lovely posts and will have to catch up with them somehow. While I was waiting for your header to load, I noticed that you have the same template now that I do. I recognize the colour green. Such impeccable taste you have, as do I! ;O))) x

Rachel said...

Love the chocolate and lime combination. As for the coat - sometimes clients don't appreciate the work you've put in!

Carol said...

Hia Jackie it's Carol here - just been checking out your blog with my pupils Emily and she is going to make a dog coat for her GCSE project, any advice you can give her?

Twiglet said...

Choc n lime - perfect and the doggy coat is fab!!

Mary Welsh Hubbard said...

LOL!! That was hilarious! And ... that green ... OMG!!! Love it! :O)

Jacqui said...

The brooches are stunning! Love the colour combination and such detailed stitching. Dog jacket is a great idea. Bet you get orders!

Rosie said...

I have a little, old doggy too but he would take my arm off if I tried to put him in such a beautiful coat. Your brooches are brilliant. I have just started felting and needlework and it is totally addictive.

Heather said...

Designer Doggy Coats for Best Dressed Pooches! Wow! Your model is so sweet even if she is less than co-operative. I love those lime green brooches, and I thought I didn't like lime green!

Soggibottom said...

Ah.... good to see you have company when your sewing again. Even if bless her paws she is a visitor.
Long term or short :-)
She loves the coat really. Just hasn't got a pocket for her cookies.
x x x x :-)
I like it too :-)

Tammie Lee said...

your brooches are wonderful, each and every one. and your dogs cape is fun as can be.

Caroline said...

Your brooches are delicious - the photos postively zing! Dear little doggie - very stylishly attired, just not up to facing the paparazzi!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jackie, So funny and clever. Wonderful embroidery..OK fantastic! But, the look on your dachshunds face is priceless.

PICCALILY & BLOSSOM said...

Wow just AMAZING love love love the zingy lime. The thought of chocolate limes takes me back and makes me think of my mom. The dog HOW CUTE ! Do you do house rabbit coats. te he

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Love the colours (and chic dog) in this post. x

Emma said...

So you should be! My mouth is watering looking at those brooches, as for the velvets...!

Victoria said...

The brooches are of course gorgeous! And the coat on your adorable visitor, (who's pictures are really tugging at my heart strings) is beyond wonderful. What a sweetie-pie... give her a kiss for me. xo

Lynette (NZ) said...

Love the lime/choc creations, and the doggy coat is very sweet.

Dot said...

Am loving the lime green and chocolate color combo Jackie. And the litle doggie (and coat) are adorable. Think I am in love with this little being.
Dot xx

Karen said...

oooooooooo!! you've changed around? I like it x

Anonymous said...

It was certainly interesting for me to read the blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Julia Kuree
escort girls suisse romande

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Oooh love chocolate limes and your latest brooches ... all very very SWEET!

The doggie cover is inspired! Perfect for any fashion conscious pooch who wants to wear the height of couture but also just wants to blend in naturally (as not all dogs want to stand out in the crowd)

Loved your comment re. my thruppeny bits. See the ps. on my post ... I gave you a mention ;o)

gunnelsvensson said...

I love this lime colours and of course your beautiful stitching ! Cute dog also !!!

silverpebble said...

Now that is a stylish hound.

How I love the combination of that brown and zingy green. Stunning Jackie (look at all your comments! Wowee!)

Gwenda said...

Gwenda(owned by Blodwen the fashionista dachsi wearing the latest sensationalTweed creation) loves the Dacshicape. The heavy rain this morning ideal for modelling on the "catwalk"-whoops sorry "dogwalk!
"The gorgeous Harris Tweed with stylish flower detail just shrugs off the rain!! You have hit on a winner Jackie.
The Royal corgis will be queuing up when they get to hear of this and I am so privileged for Blodwen to launch her modelling career in her twilight years with this outfit.
Being a modelling superstar she is sleeping contentedly as I type!

As for the chocolate limes-yummy and no calories either!
XXXX Jackie you are a quiet genius!

Chris Daly said...

look what I missed. Extra cute dog photos. My reader is taking me back in time again. Love the chocolate mint combinations. The green just sings.

Linda Vincent said...

These brooches not only look good...they SOUND good!
So good in fact that I just treated myself to one :-)

Blodwyn looks fab in her coat; I think she's grateful in a subtle way......



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