For Sebastian - My Little Angel Forever

I remember filling my car with boxes up to the ceiling, fabric and clothes pressed against the windows on all sides. I carved out a little spot up front just for you that was strategically on top of more clothes - It was a grand idea to both of us because your little body would have access to that passenger window like never before. You hopped right in as you always did to make sure I didn’t go anywhere without you. And then we slowly backed out of the driveway waving to everyone as we said goodbye to our little home, my marriage, and all things familiar.

We blasted techno, shared fries and stuck our heads out the window whenever traffic slowed down on that 15 hour drive to Seattle. Then we spent many months in solitude in a 400 sq ft apartment sleeping on that stiff Ikea futon and living off of Safeway’s rotisserie chicken and flavored vodka. But it was heaven. I was living authentically and you were my little adventure buddy exploring our new city. For a moment in time, everything felt right. I’ll never forget that. 


I fell in love with Seattle and I think you did too. Or maybe you just loved having me all to yourself. Either way, I’d take your photo with the Space Needle at Kerry Park or at the Seattle Center every chance I got. And you always cooperated for those pics in your big puffy coat or ridiculous hat because you knew it made me happy. Dogs always seek to please and you were no exception. 


I know your presence gave me a lot of courage I might not have had otherwise. You’re my once-in-a-lifetime dog and everyone we came across could see that from a mile away. You had these soulful brown eyes when you looked at me, even when I wasn’t holding those salmon-flavored treats you loved so much. I’d catch you watching me and studying my every move. Sometimes I met your gaze with a quiet tear streaming down my face knowing these moments with you couldn’t be forever. 


I always worried when and how you would go. There’s a million ways I feared, but I never thought dementia would be one of them. I remember when you first started showing signs two years ago. It may have been so subtle that only a dog-obsessed mom like myself could notice. Then little by little, your spirit left as you stopped understanding commands, didn't want to wear clothes and would get anxious on walks you’d normally enjoy. You’d give me that look telling me you wanted to stay home instead of adventuring with me. My first couple walks around the city leaving you home were tough. 


More months passed and the stages of dementia continued to progress. You spent hours staring at walls or spinning circles until your tired body forced you to collapse, wherever that was in the house. Now I was the one watching you and studying your every move -  searching so badly for answers to what was going on in that brain of yours so I could help. I would hold you more and more as that was the only time your mind and body seemed at peace. And even in those moments, you brought me more joy than I could comprehend sinking your tired bones into my chest with your fish breath right beneath my nose. How could I ever say goodbye to that?


But your personality was gone and the light in my heart slowly dimmed watching you change like that. I thought just maybe the final goodbye would be easier knowing it was no longer you that was inside there, but it wasn't. Now that you're gone, I'll try my best to replace the hard memories of the past two years with the ten incredible years we had prior. I’ll miss you flying into bed each night rolling wildly on your back as you prepared to take half the mattress with all 11 pounds of your being. Mornings will be extra tough when I open my eyes and you're not there rubbing your wet nose on my neck with that playful growl demanding breakfast. How do I get out of bed without that? 


 I’ll be thinking of you every time I lay in the  grass and I’ll point my face towards the sun sniffing the air as the wind rolls by. I'll dream of going to Kerry Park with you one last time to watch that sunrise together. You'll always be in my heart, my little Angel forever. 















xoxoxoxoxoxo,

Erika and Sebastian

Enter Our Craft for Shelters Giveaway!

5 more days left to enter our amazing giveaway supporting local shelters!

Don't know what to make?  No crafty skills?  You could also bake dog treats for your local shelters!  Or just help spread the word (that counts as an entry too). 


How to Win (must complete all 3 steps):
1.  Share a photo of something you made for your local shelter
     (if you're unable to make something, repost our giveaway flyer as an entry!)
2.  Follow and Tag @SewDoggyStyle and @DogHairInc on Facebook and/or Instagram
3.  Include the hashtag #craftforshelters2017

What you'll win:
$50 Gift Card to my shop!
AND
 $50 Gift Card to Dog Hair Inc!


We'll be randomly drawing the winner on July 31st.  Unlimited entries welcome!



I hope you'll join us!


XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian




National Craft for your Local Shelters Day 2017 - Plus a Giveaway of $100 in prizes!

It's our favorite time of the year as our National Craft Day is approaching!



This year, we'll be running a giveaway for our online participants with our friends from Dog Hair Inc so listen up for your chance to win!

What you'll win:
$50 Gift Card to my shop!
AND
 $50 Gift Card to Dog Hair Inc!

How to Win (must complete all 3 steps):
1.  Share a photo of something you made for your local shelter
     (if you're unable to make something, repost our giveaway flyer as an entry!)
2.  Follow and Tag @SewDoggyStyle and @DogHairInc on Facebook and/or Instagram
3.  Include the hashtag #craftforshelters2017


We'll be randomly drawing the winner on July 31st.  Unlimited entries welcome!

Winston on top of a pile of dog beds for the shelters

I hope you guys will join us for this amazing cause.  And if you are hosting a Craft for Shelters event, please let me know so I can share!!

Sebatian and Winston posing with finished rope toys by our volunteers

Need some ideas of what to make or how to make it? Click here for a list!

2.  Braided Dog Rope Toys - it does not get any easier than this! 
3.  Pet Bed



XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian 


Happy Easter 2017!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!


With all the rain in Seattle this year, Sebastian is making good use of his new hang out spot too.  Tour coming soon!  =)



His pastel bandanas are available in my shop here.


XOXOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian

Sebastian Meets Up with Amara in Seattle!

Sebastian had his first official youtube experience and he loved it!  Amara in Seattle is so much fun and full of surprises!  See the below youtube videos where Sebastian makes an appearance and show our new friend Amara some love!

Photo by +Amara In Seattle 





And here is the full article written by Amara.  Cheers to puppy love!

XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian

Doggie Valentine's Day DIY Ideas

It's that time of year again and Sebastian is wondering how I'm going to express my love to him.  HA!  Here's a collection of some adorable ones we found online worth checking out, including one I did a few years ago that's a true keepsake.

The most obvious one first: FOOD

Here is a recipe from our pals over at Doggy Desert Chef who have been baking away for years now. I'm picturing these yummy heart-shaped treats with some cream cheese frosting or??? 



On the Etsy Blog - Adorable conversation hearts from a dog's perspective



Sebastian's personal recommendation: these sausage hearts from Fab DIY (minus the arrow, obviously).  I'm thinking the two halves could be "glued" together with a little peanut butter or something safer for your hungry beast?



And then some craft projects that will last longer than two seconds - Keepsake items are always my fav and I'm so fortunate to have a dog that appreciates anything I make him.

Here's a heart-shaped paw print keepsake we made a few years ago.



Over at TheBrokeDog.com is an easy printable project consisting of conversation hearts for your dog's collar.  How cute is that?!



Doing a Valentine's Day photo shoot with your pup?  You will need to check out this amazingly easy heart-shaped "head piece" from Pretty Fluffy.



XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian




Black and White Sunday

Introducing Sebastian's new personal instagram account!

@SebastianUnleashed


Happy Black and White Sunday and thank you to Daschund_Nola and Sugar the Golden Retriever for hosting such an awesome blog hop. 




XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian

DIY Serged Cat Security Blankets for Shelter Cats


We just completed our 5th Annual Craft for Shelters event and I wanted to do a special post on these cat blankets because they are so easy to make and such a cool concept!  Sebastian is posing with our finished stack we donated to Seattle Animal Shelter.

They are fairly small in size so you can make quite a few from just a few yards of fabric.  You can do a single layer of fleece, a double layer of flannel/other soft materials, or a cute printed quilting cotton with a fleece back.  And if you have access to a serger, you can just edge-stitch the blankets!


Rounded corners are faster to serge in my opinion, but nothing wrong with squared blankets either!  Grab a plate or any round object to trace your rounded corners with and then cut it out.


Set your serger for a 3-thread overlock narrow stitch and put it on a short length (between 1 and 2).  It's simple and effective.  We also did some with variegated thread and those turned out very cool!


That's all there is to it.  It's a 10 minute project!  We tried to get a photo of one of the shelter cats with our blankets and it's definitely not easy to make them pose.  Sebastian says I shouldn't be so surprised, ha!


Here's what the shelter coordinator said about how they utilize these blankets: 

"These are very special blankets… they will carry the cat’s scent with them to the new home and while they are in the shelter as their bedding is rotated and all other scents around them are replaced, the blankets will stay untouched. Think of them as distressing blankets more than for warmth… kitties will have other bedding for this purpose."

15"X15" was their requested size, but seems to me like the blankets can be a variety of sizes.  Or how about larger ones for the dogs.  Contact your local shelters and ask them what they need!  I also found this link online to the Snuggles Project, which is another great organization encouraging people to make blankets for shelters.

Additional resources we've found for blankets:



XOXOXOXO,
Erika and Sebastian

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