Every year since time began, I've been telling myself that I would have Dutch Beauty finished before I reached the age of 38. Then I switched it to 39, and then 40, and so on. My new goal is to have it finished before I'm 99.
The only way to make that happen is to work on it when Tilly is being her wide-awake, ornery self. Because for some reason, that feline has taken to using my sampler as a cozy spot to take her 4-hour-long siestas, which she does twice per day. (This must be quite amusing to her, considering my mother has always referred to my Dutch Beauty as "your Dutch Blanket.")
I've found that cats don't exactly move when you tell them to. As a matter of fact, every time I tell her to move off of my stuff, I get this feeling that she's mocking me, and looking at me like I'm Rodney Dangerfield or something.
"Tilly! You're on my stuff! Move!"
"Tilly!"
"Tilly, dag-nammut!"
"Tills, honey. You're on my stuff. If you move, I'll distract the Yorkie while you sneak up and go all screech-owl on her like you enjoy doing."
"TILLY, DOUBLE DAG-NAMMUT!!!!!"
And so her name is stricken, and she shall forever be referred to as "the Cat."
That is so funny. Can't wait to hear more
Posted by: Sheryl | March 09, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Oh boy! Can I relate! I have 6 of the little darling fur-making machines!
I do not have one piece of needlework, crocheted rugs, knitted sweaters, etc, that ares not full of extra "fiber"! LOL
Posted by: Erica | March 09, 2012 at 02:45 PM
Exactly. CJ in OK ;-)
Posted by: CJ | March 09, 2012 at 03:28 PM
Really cute! :)
Posted by: Elisabetta | March 09, 2012 at 03:44 PM
Love it! This makes me miss my kitty so much; I had her for 14 years. I adopted her when she was a baby, and she was so skittish at first, but we "bonded" over cross-stitching. I'd stitch and she'd slowly creep up to my lap, watching that thread go in and out...it was so funny. :) Love the Tilly posts!
Posted by: Kimberly | March 09, 2012 at 04:07 PM
LOL!! That's so true - cats don't budge - especially when you want them too. My Maddy is Miss Stubborn and the more I try and get her off the couch (so I can clean the fur off AGAIN) the more she hunkers down for the duration.
Precious pics!! Gorgeous stitching.
Tanya
Posted by: Tanya | March 09, 2012 at 04:36 PM
What a beautiful kitty! Love the pic of her peeking at you with sleepy eyes.
Posted by: Terry | March 09, 2012 at 04:39 PM
ROTFL! That's pretty hysterical!! I have to say, you're very kind to tolerate Tilly sleeping on your Dutch Beauty. If Mia ever slept of any of my stitching, I would go ballistic. Um, well, actually... Well yeah, there was one time she did go to sleep on my stitching. I take it back. lol! But still, I wouldn't let it become a habit. :D Doesn't she get poor DB all hairy??? Love the colors I see! How come I don't remember such pretty colors on DB?
Posted by: Margaret | March 09, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Two 4 hour naps a day!!! Can Tilly please talk to my kitties so I can have a break? Thanks Tilly! I'd much appreciate it!
Angela
Posted by: Angela | March 09, 2012 at 05:00 PM
Bwaaahaahaaaaa! That is going to be one hairy sampler! Cats....Lord love 'em!
Posted by: Robin Hager | March 09, 2012 at 06:09 PM
Tilly is gorgeous! Yeah, cats are stubborn for sure!! My mom has a cat that sits in between her legs all the time. Whenever she needs to move, Casper looks at her with a mean look on his face. He hates being disturbed. Then there is my cat, Sandy, who when she thinks she is starving to death (like this morning), she proceeds to take a mouthful of my hair (from the back) and PULL! Yup, cats are stubborn, but so loveable!
Posted by: Julie H | March 09, 2012 at 06:44 PM
ROFL!!! LOVE DA KITTY!!!!! lol The look on her face is the same one I get from mine. And I swear I hear her thinking...'funny woman...you're not getting this.' And then she closes her eyes again.
Posted by: Michele | March 09, 2012 at 08:37 PM
Hmmm,I was just getting the same treatment from "The Cat" in this house.
Posted by: Susan | March 09, 2012 at 08:57 PM
Love Tilly!! Love Dutch Beauty as well!! Tilly as great taste!!
Posted by: Marion | March 09, 2012 at 10:33 PM
I'm sorry, but the only thing I have to say is "you gotta love cats!" ;) Cathryn
Posted by: Cathryn | March 09, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Yep, Tilly couldn't care less about your request. She is way too comfy to move. LOL!!! You've got to admit she is so cute, though :-)
Posted by: Natalia Canaday | March 10, 2012 at 01:27 AM
One of our cats likes sleeping on my stitching, too. Since I keep each project in a cotton bag, I don't mind. I just keep wondering if that is really comfy, but she seems to like it very much.
Posted by: Billie | March 10, 2012 at 02:08 AM
If you want to see my version of your model "The Queen's Crowns", here it is:
http://leslutines.over-blog.net/
on the blog of my friend Virginie who I offered.
A version in pink and gray ... with errors! I'm sorry but it's still pretty. Not?
Thank you for this pretty chart.
Posted by: Véronique | March 10, 2012 at 06:02 AM
Oh my gosh!! Great pics. Suddenly I want to stitch DB!
Posted by: Siobhan | March 10, 2012 at 06:47 AM
My first thought was.... no way it'll take you that long to finish and the other thoughts were just like Margaret's; I don't remember the colors in DB being so pretty (I thought it was more browns and grays) and won't you have to pick out kitty hair from your sampler. Or, maybe she doesn't shed??? You are a very kind kitty momma to let her use DB as a blankie. The pics of Tilly with her pretty blankie are really great!
Posted by: Terri | March 10, 2012 at 07:37 AM
Oh j'aime ce chat ! I love the beautiful cat ....!!
have a good day
Posted by: ♥ marylin ♥ | March 10, 2012 at 08:36 AM
So cute, Paulette!! Dutch Beauty is really pretty too. :)
Posted by: Nicole | March 11, 2012 at 11:44 AM
This is just too funny!! I don't know how many times I've gone through this with Clarisse and she just looks at me like I'm losing my mind!
Your photos have captured the whole thing perfectly. Welcome to a life of removing cat fur from your stitching 'cause you just know that this will never end!
Posted by: Lynn Jones | March 14, 2012 at 09:51 AM
Ha Ha Ha !! Cats. Aren't they great? I love how they pick a spot and then own it.
Makes me miss my kitties and all their fur getting stitched into my projects.
We had our cats for 16 years but since they passed, we are catless for the time being.
Your pictures make me want new stitching cat companions!
Posted by: Terry G. | March 14, 2012 at 03:00 PM