You know those jobs that just won’t come into focus?
The ones where you have a nebulous idea, a great idea, but one which just won’t reveal its details to you? Yeah… This was one of those jobs. I knew I wanted to make a Christmas gift for my friend Lyn, Lotti Greyhound’s mum. I knew I wanted it to be a Lotti-themed item. But I couldn’t get it to come into focus. A few days ago, it finally clicked, but I didn’t have everything I needed.
And here, finally, it is. Lovely Lotti in all her sleek and slinky glory,Β stretched at ease on her comfy bed, with a silly greyhound grin on her chops and one balletic paw poised at exactly the right angle… I picked out colours from within the photo to frame it out as a cushion. I cropped and tweaked and added a soft, vintage-y filter. I added a caption and flipped the whole thing, then made an iron-on transfer. The rest is pretty straightforward cushion-making, and I won’t bore you with it.
Mouse approves of the portrait of his girlfriend, even if he’s not sure why this cushion is going out of the house, since all cushions are apparently his property…
I’m glad I got it done before Christmas is entirely over!
talltalesfromchiconia 
Very! Very Nice!!!
Apparently Miss Lotti also approves, or at least that’s the impression she gave me when Mouse and I delivered it to her Mum this morning π
π SMILING BIG HERE!!!
Lovely Lottie indeed, what a seductress! No wonder Mouse approves of the glorious cushion! And I am sure Lottie is aware that a late arrival makes a more impressive entrance!
She’s very beautiful, white and caramel brindle, with that gorgeous dappled belly. She and Mouse make quite a pair when they’re out together.
Very well done! Sounds like you need to make Mouse one of his own featuring his girlfriend.
I’m getting the idea that it might be a plan… He’s harder to portray well, though, being black. Still, I have an idea…
It’s as lovely as Lotti is! And I’ll agree that Mr. Mousiekins needs a cushion that shows off one of his own beguiling poses. β€οΈ
I think the photo on which his own blog header is based might work…
Perfect choice of image!
I thought so! I have quite a few images of her, but this was so endearing I thought Lyn would enjoy it.
Great that the idea, journeyed around your soul and then appeared at the right time. β And made it on time β² π π
Barely on time! The transfer paper was the issue…
Aye, I know that feeling, Kate . . . just out of reach & oh, so enticing. But you hit this one outta the parkβ£οΈ Happy New Year! π π₯³
Don’t you hate it when you get the idea, then can’t quite get together what you need to execute it? Still, tis done now… Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you, Kate! π
Just what we’ve all come to expect from you – original, gorgeous, clever and designed with the recipient in mind. It’s just lovely π
Aww, you’re so sweet β€οΈ Miss Lotti is a lovely girl, and she makes a lovely cushion. I have been inspired to make Mouse his own, and the transfer image is in the works…
Sometimes, ideas just need to percolate. That one cooked just right. Happy New Year to you all.
Thank you, Marlene, and may 2022 be a happy and positive year for you in all the best senses of the word.
Lovely Lotti! It’s perfect!
I hope 2022 is full of joy and good things π
Thanks, Ann, and for you too! Maybe one of these days we can actually see our friends in person instead of virtually; I’d love to come down to Melbourne again to catch up with everyone…
How utterly wonderful π₯°
Happy Happy New Year my friend π
So happy u are in my life π₯°
And to you too. I should be asleep already as it’s day shift tomorrow, but although J’s snoring, I’m still awake. Hope you’ve had a wonderful anniversary, see you in a couple of months!
That is so cute!! It is the perfect pose to frame the cushion.
Happy New Year to everyone !
Thanks! I really love this photo of her π
Oh wow, your friend will be very happy with this cushion. And I do understand Mr Mouse loves it too, especially with this picture of his girlfriend on it. They all love cushions don’t they ! A very Happy Healthy and Fantastic 2022 for you and your family and for Mr Mouse ofcourse.
Thank you so much! A very Happy New Year to you too!
Gorgeous – Lotti and the cushion!
Thank you! Lotti’s mum liked it too, thank goodness π
I always aim for holiday weeks instead of just days. My daughter and I both mailed gifts Dec 27; the more local daughter got a ball of yarn and a promise. Very nice pillow! Of course Mouse has to try to claim it.
I like the sound of a holiday week! Mouse has now persuaded me he needs his own, which is in the pipeline behind a couple of slightly more urgent jobs. He fails to understand the delay…
It’ s really lovely and I am delighted Mouse is to have his own version.
Coming soon to a blog near you.
Love it! Many thanks Kate you captured Lotti perfectly! It now has pride of place on my bed!
I’m so glad you like it! I do hope she doesn’t take to it enough to try and disembowel it. We both know how much greyhounds love fluffy white filling…
It’s great, love the photo π
It’s a fun one, isn’t it? A very characteristic greyhound pose.
I can just imagine the glee on his mum’s face when she saw your gift. It’s a treasure, Kate.
I’m glad you like it! I like doing these cushions, such a big impact for small effort.
I did something similar for our outdoor patio a few years back. I enlarged photos of a couple of squirrels. They lasted about three seasons, but the sun as you know is harsh, so they faded. It still amazes me that I can buy a sheet of printer fabric.
But, they’re fun while they last. I’m not a big fan of printer fabric, to be honest, I find the quality not great, and much prefer iron-on transfers so that I can choose the substrate. Even those are pretty variable, so I’ve done a lot of trial and error. Also, my printer’s not forgiving enough for me to make my own printer fabric and run it through.
I’ll have to try an iron-on tranfser one day. Perhaps I’ll be inspired again this summer, when warmer weather seems to inspire my desire to sew.
The HP brand is good quality and produces a nice rich image that’s not either shiny and plasticky, or harsh and rough. My current favourite.
Thanks for the tip! HP was started in a garage in Palo Alto, just half an hour from here. It’s become such a common term (like Kleeex), that I often forget. They’ve always been known for quality products.