New Beginnings Sunday

Lynda Thompson's tale of Catie, the kitty that loves to sing along with water:

I got Catie from our vet in Texas when she was a little kitten. I had told our vet to call me when someone dropped off a litter that wasn't wanted at his office. This kitten was the runt of a litter and she didn't look very good health-wise. She was white and a long hair and I had hoped for a Maine Coon. The vet wasn't sure what she was.

We took care of her and our son trained her with tricks he had seen on the Russian cat circus on TV. She's a very smart cat, a little too smart at times with her antics. She was a good cat but had a double personality, she could turn on you in a second. After our older Maine Coon died, she was in her own element and has been very loving. It turns out she is an unusual white Maine Coon. She loves to hear water (dishwasher, shower, etc.) and she will sit and sing a high melodious song, sometimes chasing her tail. That's the only time we hear her at all (she doesn't meow) and the only time she chases her tail. She loves to play. She hates to go anywhere so she hates the vet.

She is a lot of fun. She has an uncanny ability to know when I'm not feeling well and comes to see me and get in my lap. One time she came running at me and jumped in my lap and I later had an episode with my health. It was like she knew something was wrong with me.



New Beginnings Sunday is a weekly series featuring the story of a rescued pet and the ways in which the life of the animal and person has changed. This series will run through the end of 2009 in conjunction with Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit’s fundraising efforts for Bernie Berlin’s animal shelter, “A Place to Bark.”

**If you have a story that you would like to share, please email it along with a picture or two of your pet to BreakingTraditions@earthlink.net

2009 Sneak Peek

Here is the second Sneak Peek for the 2009 Exhibit!

This is "Faithful Pup" by Jeanelle McCall. Her artist statement is a quote that embodies the emotions of every pet owner:

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be your's, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." -Unknown

Stay tuned for previews of more work as they come in!

New Beginnings Sunday

A tale of the Mini Pinscher with big heart that unexpectedly landed in Kat Campau's life:


I was a reluctant dog owner. My dog, Buddy, came to me from my son, Zach. He adopted Buddy from a Mini Pinscher rescue group. They lived happily for two years, until Zach got a third floor apartment. This was difficult to manage for sanitary purposes. So he asked me to take care of Buddy while he searched for a new home.

Its been almost six years now. Since Buddy came to live with us, my husband is more cheerful. He gets down on the floor and talks baby talk to the dog. He cuddles the dog while surfing the internet. He takes Buddy to the bank, so he can get a treat from the teller. He bathes the dog every week to stave off my allergies. He covers Buddy with a quilt, because he's a cave dog.

Buddy keeps me warm while watching TV, in our chilly family room. He hops on my lap at the same time my seat hits the cushion. He follows me into every room, and sits at the stairway crying for me to stop sewing. Buddy is blind now, and can't smell anymore. But he listens carefully to hear his treat hit the floor, and swoops in circles until he finds it. He always lets me know when a car pulls into the drive. I like having him around.





New Beginnings Sunday is a weekly series featuring the story of a rescued pet and the ways in which the life of the animal and person has changed. This series will run through the end of 2009 in conjunction with Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit’s fundraising efforts for Bernie Berlin’s animal shelter, “A Place to Bark.”

**If you have a story that you would like to share, please email it along with a picture or two of your pet to BreakingTraditions@earthlink.net

New Beginnings Sunday

Nuala

A tale of the kitty trio that stole Roni McCullough-Sheppard's heart:

My neighbor runs a Feline Feral Rescue operation. When one dog and cat weren't enough she helped me find my little raccoon cat Nuala (pictured above). She loves to hang her paw in the water as she drinks and, frankly, she looks a little raccoon-ish. She was about 1 lb. and 5" when I got her - at 8 weeks. She is still very small.

Several years later I lost the dog and cat and one cat wasn't enough. My DH had no problems with another cat, so I went to my neighbor. She had a beautiful little golden girl kitten at 9 weeks old. She was rescued with her mother and brother but they had found a home for mom. So I went over to look and curled in one ball were two kittens -the little golden girl and her white and gold brother. So cute.

That night I took my husband over. They were still sleeping together. I pointed out the girl and said, 'And that is her brother.' And then I shut up. He looked a while, turned to me and said, fine, get them both.

Five years later my golden girl, Orla, is an adventurous lady. She hunts all matter of lizard, bug, rat and more.

Orla

Her brother, Desmond, has become the Warren Sapp of cats. He has grown to an almost 20lb. ball of long white and gold fluff. He is all love and sweet - until he gets in the game at which point he can bat his target around pretty good.

Desmond

Yes he is big but he gets lots of exercise and can still climb a 6' wood fence. And when he purrs? My heavens - it's like an 8-cylinder engine. And he purrs at anything.

Those are my three rescue kids. And though they shed like crazy, whine and moan for attention, I love them all and would be lost without them.




New Beginnings Sunday is a weekly series featuring the story of a rescued pet and the ways in which the life of the animal and person has changed. This series will run through the end of 2009 in conjunction with Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit’s fundraising efforts for Bernie Berlin’s animal shelter, “A Place to Bark.”

**If you have a story that you would like to share, please email it along with a picture or two of your pet to BreakingTraditions@earthlink.net

2009 Participation Prize Showcase

For those who are new to the exhibit, a Participation Prize is just that - something you have a chance to win simply by participating in the exhibit.

Prizes are donated and everyone's name goes into a hat and the winners are randomly drawn. This is one of the things that makes this exhibit such a joy to organize and be a part of. It feels as if we have all become one big happy family.

We are very lucky to have another generous donation from Gail Myrhorodsky of Gailforces Fabrics. There are four opportunities to win some of her fabric.

2 participants will get a one yard piece of Gail's gorgeous hand dyed fabric show above.

2 participants will receive a set of two fat-quarters of awesome coordinating fabric.

There are many more prizes that will be shown here on the blog in the upcoming weeks so keep a lookout for them!

New Beginnings Sunday

A tale of finding her doggie soul mate from Robin Koehler:

I have been married to a military man for 20 years with 2 lovely daughters. As children do, we were begged mercilessly for pets and in 20 years we have owned 3 fish, 1 ferret, and 5 dogs (some adopted -some purchased). All of these pets were short lived in my house. It is exhausting to raise the kids' pets if your heart isn't into it: I would get frustrated with all the broken promises and find a new, better home for the pet.

The last time we went through this same 'we promise...pleeeeease' dance, the family (husband included-he always sides with the kids to out vote me) was looking at a Great Dane/St. Bernard mix who was absolutely adorable and HUGE! I stood my ground but secretly snuck to the shelter to visit, Thunder, which eventually got me a nice toe fungus after he tripped me once-by accident. I finally put my foot down and said 'no'. I would be taking care of him and he was against everything on my "LIST": small, short hair, female, quiet with manners:) The family relented about Thunder but didn't give up the fight.

One January day when my husband was off, he talked me into a trip to the shelter. Don't ask me why I kept going. They all look so cute and helpless and I do want to help them, but I know it isn't possible and my heart can't take it. Once there, my husband told me he had found 'my' dog, as if they were doing all of this for me. I must be lonely since I work at home, right?

I walked down the corridor to see the sweetest little face looking up at us. She was terrified, anorexic, wore a thick black utility collar and was in quarantine since she had just been brought in the day before as a stray. Nothing was known about her except approximate age (10 months) and that she was a full breed beagle. While reading the card, her name was my deciding factor--Schmoopy. I agreed to go through the paperwork and the family was not allowed to change her name if we got her. I didn't think we would once they read our pet history. We had to wait 11 days before even holding her. My husband and I went back to see her again and she was so sweet that your heart melted.

When we got the call that she was ours, I was still very hesitant. Beagles are hunting dogs that chase animals and howl. She would be loud and not mannered. After her spaying surgery she came home to all the necessary dog stuff. The girls begged to let her sleep with them those first few nights while she got used to us....I agreed. Then came time for kennel training. I had never had a dog react so awfully to a kennel before. She howled and cried and I worried that she would tear her stitches out. We tried keeping her in the laundry room but she scratched the doors and I wasn't going to have her wrecking the house. Within the first week we learned that she was terrified of my husband and had severe separation anxiety, but she seemed housebroken and knew right where to go to sit for going out. Within 2 weeks we figured out that someone hadn't been very nice to her but she was an absolute doll who just wanted to be loved and snuggled. I found myself falling in love with her sweet face more and more everyday.

Schmoopy has been with us for 5 years now and I can't imagine not having her. It is like I hand picked my perfect dog. She is not a howler at all and when she wants something (water/bathroom), she sits quietly by her bowl or the door waiting patiently for someone to attend to her. Schmoopy is quite the nudge, finding every opportunity to place her head on someone's knee until we rub her ears. My husband is HER MAN too. We all knew how wonderfully lovable he is and it didn't take her long to figure it out. He can get her tail wagging like no one else. Schmoopy has been on family vacations with a scrapbook just for her as well as worn costumes for me and been in a dog parade or two. She buries bones in the carpet because we can't see them-Ha. She likes to be tucked into bed at night...with a blanket. She is my last baby and I love her.





New Beginnings Sunday is a weekly series featuring the story of a rescued pet and the ways in which the life of the animal and person has changed. This series will run through the end of 2009 in conjunction with Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit’s fundraising efforts for Bernie Berlin’s animal shelter, “A Place to Bark.”

**If you have a story that you would like to share, please email it along with a picture or two of your pet to BreakingTraditions@earthlink.net

First Sneak Peek for 2009!

View From My Front Porch
Jan Johnson

The first quilt for 2009 has landed! Just like last year I will post Sneak Peeks of the work as they come in. Once its closer to the exhibit and pieces are coming in on a regular basis, the Sneak Peeks will become a weekly series but as we are just beginning, they will be whenever work comes in.

This beauty is by Jan Johnson and is titled View From My Front Porch. From Jan's artist statement:


"Three seasons of the year I can come home after a day of teaching , put my feet up, and relax on my front porch. Living in the country is a quiet place affording fantastic views of the changing colors of the landscape during the different seasons and lots of wildlife that doesn't hesitate to enjoy my yard in one way or another."


What a wonderful piece to kick off this year's exhibit!