studio notes

2012-02-10T03:41:00.000-08:00

Alize & Collage 2

Here is the second warm-up collage in the series. As you can see, I used the black & white cross-hatched paper from the first collage in this second collage. This is going to be an interesting experiment, and it is one I like to repeat every now and then.

Alize is home from the vet clinic, and she is doing great so far! Here is her homecoming photo, as she models a fleece coat made for her by Katie and a fleece blanket made for her by Elaine. Both of these ladies donate their materials and skills to help rescue dogs stay comfy and warm!

2012-02-09T04:39:00.000-08:00

New Series of Collages

Above is this morning's warm-up collage, and it is the first one in a new series of collages. Each day I plan to use something in the collage from the day before's collage. So, tomorrow morning's collage will include one of the elements from today's collage in it. I hope you enjoy watching as the series unfolds!

P.S. Krystina has left a comment on my post about her and Bentley, if you would like to read her heartwarming words.

2012-02-08T03:48:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-02-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

Second Chances

This little puppy is Bentley. Last summer I rescued Bentley from a puppy mill auction when he was 3 months old. A rescue volunteer named Krystina fostered him for 2 months, and then he was adopted. The entire time that she fostered him Krystina begged and pleaded with her parents to let her adopt Bentley. She was totally devoted and in love with the little guy. Unfortunately, her parents said no, and Bentley was adopted by another family.

Fast forward and now Bentley is 10 months old, and I received an email from Bentley's adoptive family, saying that they were returning him to the rescue. According to them, he was not bonding with their family, and they felt like it would be best if they returned him. Little did they know that this would ultimately be the very best choice for Bentley.

As soon as Bentley's original foster mom found out that he was back in rescue, she requested an adoption application. She wasn't letting him slip through her fingers again. And this time her parents were on board with her adopting him. It was an amazing reunion when Bentley and Krystina got to see each other again after all these months!

Here's to second chances and the miracles they bring to those who grab onto them and make them count!

2012-02-05T03:02:00.000-08:00

Winter is Here

Winter has finally arrived in the midwest. We got about a foot of snow yesterday, and everything is covered in a layer of white now. It's a beautiful scene, but I'm glad I didn't have to drive in it yesterday!

2012-02-04T04:23:00.000-08:00

Alize

When I saw this photo of tiny Alize in a high kill shelter, I knew I had to try to save her. She was picked up as a stray, and no one came to claim her. Then they found out that she is heartworm positive, and that was a death sentence for her. But it made me more determined to get her out of there!

This is little Alize now, after two baths and trimming all the mats off her. She is so sweet, but very sick. At her vet appointment, tests showed that not only is she heartworm positive, but she has infections in both ears, a urinary tract infection, and 3 HUGE stones in her bladder. I can't even imagine the pain this little one must be in! Yet she is always friendly and sweet!

This is the x-ray of her stones. They are the marshmallow-like objects right above the lettering. They completely fill her bladder, so she has no urine control right now. She is on ear drops, plus an antibiotic for the urinary infection, and a prescription diet that will hopefully reduce the size of the stones. Until her heartworm treatment is done (one month), she is not a candidate for surgery. So please say a few prayers that her special diet starts to work on these stones and relieves her pain. Alize is only 2 years old and 4 pounds!

2012-02-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

Collage and Craziness

Above is another morning collage. I seem to vacillate between neutrals and bursts of color in my collages. Sometime I should note my mood as I create these. I would guess that there is a direct correlation.

Our home is about to get crazy! Yesterday we took in a little 4# female yorkie as our new foster. This little dog is so sick, yet so incredibly sweet! She has a urinary infection, and she's heartworm positive. When she arrived, she was filthy, matted all the way to her skin, and her ears were disgusting inside. It took two baths to get the smell off her! Through all that, she stayed friendly, even though she was very scared. Today I will be taking her to the vet to get her on the road to good health.

And tomorrow, we are accepting a second foster --- a little silky terrier puppy. We really didn't plan to have two fosters at once, but no one else has volunteered yet, and this little guy is way too scared to go to a boarding facility. So, he will stay here until we find another foster or someone adopts him. Say a few prayers that I survive 4 little dogs underfoot around here!

2012-02-01T03:50:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-31T03:13:00.000-08:00

Another Morning Collage

This one uses a magazine page as the background with layers of painted text and stripes, plus a rectangular scrap of one of my paintings. I love the neutral colors with just a little zing of color!

2012-01-30T03:38:00.000-08:00

This and That

I don't know where the week has gone, but I've been busy. The collage above is this morning's warm-up collage. I couldn't resist incorporating the large "K" in a collage when I found it in a magazine, and the cheerful colors are a great start to the week!

Yesterday I was asked to photograph this handsome dog for the rescue. Harley is a boxer mix, and he is in perpetual motion. I spent about half an hour photographing him as he romped in the backyard, and both of his foster families said that I captured his true personality. I love his brand new collar (for the photo shoot) that says "Live Love Rescue"!

Friday was a bittersweet day for me. Maximillian is a mastiff mix in rescue, and he is truly a gentle giant. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him, and I am not usually taken in by big breeds. We could not find a foster home for him, so he was transferred to another rescue that specializes in big breeds and had an open foster home for him. While it was the right thing to do for Max, I will miss our walks through the cornfields that surround the shelter and his slurpy kisses.

2012-01-25T04:53:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-23T02:53:00.000-08:00

Hands, Hearts & Paws

Sometimes the best photo is the unposed, unexpected one...

This is a little rescue puppy that arrived yesterday, very scared and clinging to the rescuer's hand for dear life! He is only 11 months old, yet he and his brother have been in 5 different places already. No wonder he is scared!

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Roxi's Adoption

Roxi, Cindi, Keaton

Many of you will remember a yorkie puppy named Keaton that I was fostering last Spring. He was adopted 7 months ago by Cindi, and now she has added Roxi to her family.

It was instant love when I took Roxi to meet Keaton! They wrestled with each other; they chased each other in the yard; and they gave each other kisses and kisses. It was an amazing sight to watch --- and one of the best dog pairings I have ever seen!

This is the rewarding side of rescue work --- to take a dog that was picked up as a stray, get her vetted and groomed, and then find the perfect home for her. It doesn't get any better than this!

2012-01-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

Zeke, the Model

Recently I was approached by an artist acquaintance who is offering a new line of fabrics for sale. She was looking for some people to make unusual items out of her fabrics, to help get viewers' creativity going and ultimately to sell her fabrics. I said I would make a couple of dog items, and Zeke graciously volunteered to be my model......LOL.

Zeke modeling his new collar cover

Zeke modeling his new bandana

2012-01-13T04:31:00.001-08:00

Newsletter and Purple

I sent out my January newsletter yesterday. If you're reading this, and you're not a subscriber but would like to be, just leave me a comment or send me your email address. My newsletter is usually a mix of my life, similar to this blog.

Here are two new artist trading cards, experimenting with purple. The backgrounds are original photographs, tinted in purple, and then I collaged on top of the photos and added paint. These were made for a swap that I am participating in this month.

2012-01-11T05:00:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-10T02:35:00.000-08:00

Roxi

Yesterday I took a road trip to rescue this little girl. Roxi is a one year old, female yorkie. She was picked up as a stray by animal control, and no one came to claim her.

So far, she seems like a perfect dog! She loves everyone, including all the dogs and cats that she has met; she appears to be housebroken; she did great at the vet and at the groomer; and she slept through the night last night. Doesn't get any better than that, especially for a first day with a new foster dog!

2012-01-05T04:07:00.000-08:00

Gilligan is Home!

I fell in love with funny, friendly Gilligan the moment I met him. He is 13# of silliness in a super cute dog! He loves everyone --- people, dogs, cats, you name it. He doesn't know a stranger. If you're breathing, he wants to play!

Gilligan has been in rescue for 2 months, which just broke my heart. He is a fence jumper, which eliminated numerous good homes for him. But today, he found the perfect home. They have a tall enough fence, a little girl to play and cuddle with him, and an airedale terrier to keep him on his toes. They think he is perfect, and I could not agree more!

2012-01-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

A New Year, A New Word

8"h x 6"w

$75

Each year I choose a word to guide the year that stretches ahead of me. For me, this works better than setting resolutions. In 2012 my word is "zen". It is a year to focus on a calm and peaceful life!

The painting/collage above is my first new artwork of the year, and I think the colors embody my new focus. It was fun to create, and I am very happy with the finished piece!

These smaller artworks all measure 3.5"h x 2.5"w and were created with the scraps from the bigger piece.

2012-01-01T04:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I love starting a new year! Wiping the slate clean and starting fresh with new possibilities, limited only by my imagination. I hope you have a year filled with family and friends, art and inspiration, love and hope!

2011-12-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

Zoey's Adoption

Yesterday little Zoey was adopted by Tiffany and Eric. They don't have any other dogs, so I have no doubt that she is going to be the spoiled princess of the house. They were so excited to see her and so thrilled to be the ones chosen to adopt her. This is the happy side of rescue --- to take a little dog that was abandoned in a cardboard box and find her such a great forever home!

2011-12-28T04:50:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-25T17:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Zeke & Mya in their Christmas outfits

Little Zoey in her Christmas outfit

2011-12-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

Adoption Pending!

The rescue received a ton of interest in little Zoey, and numerous applications to adopt her. Hopefully her adoption will be finalized next weekend, and she will start the new year in her new forever home!

As you can see, she is quite the toy hog, dragging them all to her blanket!

2011-12-22T06:09:00.000-08:00

Experimenting

In the past, I have never used much red in my art. Not sure why, it just wasn't a color that felt comfortable in my palette. Recently I have gone to the other side, and I am loving the drama that red can add to a piece of art. The small piece above was an experiment to use red as the primary color, and see if it loses its drama if there is too much of it in an artwork.

And this piece is an experiment to remake the earlier collage and see if it is more successful as a smaller piece. I think it is.

2011-12-21T04:16:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-20T12:22:00.000-08:00

It Happened Again!

Those of you that know me, know that I am never without a foster dog for long. I had hoped to take a break until after Christmas, but then I got the call. A little 8 week old chihuahua puppy had been found in a cardboard box outside an apartment building. And so, little Zoey came to live with us until she finds her forever home. She is a whopping 3#, so she is walking out of all the clothes that I put on her!

2011-12-19T05:58:00.000-08:00

Done or not?

8"x8"

I rarely struggle with whether or not a piece of art is finished. Sometimes I have to restrain myself when I KNOW it is done, but I want to keep adding to it. I think that is the bane of a collagist, always wanting to add more pieces. The collage above feels done at times, but other times it feels trite and over-simplified. I posted it here to see what you think.........

2011-12-16T05:21:00.000-08:00

Morning Collage

"Wrap It Up"

12/15/11

Once we get our first snowfall, and I start photographing the stark winter trees against the white snow background, it seems like my art gravitates to black & white images as well.Yesterday's morning collage was influenced by my gray-tone world and the Christmas season.

I've also been working on two larger artworks for an upcoming exhibition, "Plus One", which features black & white art with only one other color added. They are due on January 1, so I have been spending extra hours in the studio, trying to get them completed by the deadline!

2011-12-14T03:54:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Yum!

Zeke with his new chew

Mya with her new chew

On Saturdays we frequently take some of the rescue dogs to local all natural petfood stores and have a "Meet & Greet" for the public to come meet the dogs, before filling out an adoption application. These events are usually fun for the volunteers and the dogs, and I think the stores end up selling a bunch of toys and treats to the volunteers. Usually I resist this temptation, but I had to cave in at the last event and buy these chews for Mya and Zeke. They are big enough that I thought they would last for more than one day. Little did I realize that the chews are almost as big as Mya! She really struggled to haul it around, but once she got situated with it, she loved it.

2011-12-07T04:21:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

And More Snow!

2011-12-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Let It Snow!

Yesterday we got about 4" of snow, so I had to take a few quick photos of the Winter trees with just a touch of white highlights! Notice the brown pinecones in the last photo. What fun!

2011-12-01T06:21:00.000-08:00

Cats

Ever since I photographed the cats at a local shelter, I have wanted to find more cats to photograph. Since I am allergic to them, I am a bit limited on how close to them I can get. A recent artist retreat presented the perfect opportunity. There was a feral cat colony of 27 cats roaming the property, and I was lucky enough to get several good photos.

2011-11-30T03:35:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

Emilie

Emilie is one of the two newest dogs to arrive in rescue, and she was only fostered at my house for a few days before she found her forever home. What a great feeling to know that she went from a breeder surrender to a loving home, thanks to Hands, Hearts & Paws!

2011-11-24T03:13:00.000-08:00

DEAR GOD,

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE!

AMEN

Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends --- I hope all of you are richly blessed today and always!

2011-11-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

More of Her Royal Cuteness!

Emilie is such a good pup! She explores her surroundings and comes to everyone to give kisses on their hand --- plus she has gone potty on the paper every time! That alone is most impressive. She also got a bath, blow dry and brushing today, so now she smells much better!

We already have applications to adopt her, so I doubt I will have her for more than a few days at the most. Before she leaves, I had to take more photos. She is just so darned cute!

2011-11-20T04:29:00.000-08:00

Introducing Emilie

Emilie is the newest arrival at Hands, Hearts & Paws! She is a tiny 2 year old, 4 pound, female Yorkshire terrier. Three months ago she gave birth to SEVEN puppies! She is lucky to be alive, and I'm thankful the breeder surrendered her to rescue. Isn't she precious?

2011-11-16T04:16:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-10T04:36:00.000-08:00

Another Morning Collage

This morning's collage started as one of my reject leaf photos, then got several layers added to it. I keep my reject photos, offcuts from other projects, etc. on a corner of my work table, and they often get incorporated into my collages. Right now, I am in love with the Autumn colors!

2011-11-09T04:50:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

Morning Collage

Here is this morning's collage. It started out a little boring and bland, but once I added the horizontal paint stripes, it all came together for me. These are fun exercises, and I'm glad they are small. I allow about 15 minutes max for each one, and that includes drying time in-between layers.

2011-11-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

Autumn Oaks

Normally I am enamored with the red maple leaves at this time of year. This year the oak leaves are clamoring for my attention. They usually turn from green to brown, with no real in-between color. But this year, they are glorious oranges and yellows! These photos were taken at the lake by my house, and I have made several trips there to photograph the leaves and trees, and to gather leaves for art making.

2011-11-05T03:36:00.000-07:00

Evan

Evan is our current foster dog, and he is such a little sweetheart! He loves to cuddle and snuggle, and he gets so excited when he sees me and thinks that I am going to pick him up. When I remember the scared little guy that I got from the puppy miller, it is very rewarding to see how much he has blossomed. He is housebroken now; he sleeps in his kennel at night without crying; he plays with toys; and he is starting to play with other dogs. All huge steps for a little dog that spent the first 3.5 years of his life in a puppy mill!

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thankful for the Dogs

I am thankful for the dogs that have come into my life. They have taught me many lessons, and I think that I am a better person for having known them. Some of them are purebreds from a breeder, some of them are mixed breeds, and some of them are puppy mill survivors. All of their temperaments and personalities have been different, but they have all given me as much, if not more, than I have given them.

Lessons I have learned from the dogs:

1. Be patient.

2. Love unconditionally.

3. Always forgive.

4. Don't be afraid to show unbridled enthusiasm.

5. Be persistent if you really want something.

6. Live in the moment.

2011-11-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

Friendship

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so I celebrate it all month long. For me, today is the first day of Thanksgiving, and I am thankful for all of my wonderful friends. Time and time again, they amaze me with their thoughtfulness, their generosity and their loyalty. I am truly blessed, and I am grateful for each and every one of them!

2011-10-31T04:23:00.000-07:00

For Cat Lovers

When I was at a local animal shelter with my camera the other day, the manager asked me if I would mind photographing some of their cats. I am not really a cat person, mostly because of allergies, but I agreed to give it a try. These are my favorites from that photo shoot. I could have photographed the top cat all day --- he was so beautiful and photogenic!

2011-10-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Artist Trading Cards

(click image to enlarge) - SOLD OUT!

I just finished this series of Artist Trading Cards (3.5"x2.5"), and they are available for sale for $20 each, includes US postage. All proceeds will go to Hands, Hearts & Paws --- an all breed dog rescue where I volunteer. Recently they have had several owner surrenders that have needed extensive medical care, and their bank account is depleted. Email me or leave me a comment if you would like to purchase one (or more). Thanks!

This is one dog's story...

This dog was left tied up at a local shelter with a note that said he had been "injured for 3 months". He had a prong collar embedded in his neck that left several puncture wounds all the way around his neck when it was surgically removed. He also had a huge drain hole in the underside of his neck, that thankfully was allowing the infection from his wounds to drain. He later had a second surgery to remove a huge piece of wood that was puncturing his trachea. After all the x-rays, tests and surgeries, he is finally pain-free and healing, but his vet bills total $1000.

This is why I am fundraising for this rescue. Instead of euthanizing him as a hopeless situation, this rescue fought to find a surgeon that would try to save this dog. And now they need help paying his bills.

2011-10-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

Another Dog Day

(Seems like every day is a dog day around here......LOL)

The newest photo of Mya and Zeke in the yard with their favorite ball. They were tuckered out, and both of them actually looked at me when I called their names for the photo!

This is one of the new guys in Hands, Hearts & Paws rescue. He is a little 12 pound terrier mix, and totally sweet and friendly.

I loved photographing Gilligan! He is so photogenic and fun-loving!

And one last photo, just to convince you of his cuteness!

2011-10-26T04:23:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

One of Those Things...

I am not a big fan of making or wearing nametags. Unfortunately, one of my art groups has added several new members recently, and as a result, it was decided that everyone should wear nametags for a while. So, last night I got busy and made a unique one for myself. And ... it is designed so that I can remove my name when I am done using it as a nametag, and I will have a small frame-able piece of collage art. Now that I can live with!

P.S. On another note, I sold two pieces of art to a new collector in the Netherlands this morning, and I am thrilled about that!

2011-10-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

Another Adoption

Little Ms. Felicia was adopted on Friday morning, just one week after arriving in rescue. She was picked up as a stray and taken by animal control to a high kill shelter. We rescued her from there and transported her to Omaha. She loves playing in her new backyard with her cairn terrier sister, Gracie (on the right).

Here's the newest photo of Mya and our current foster yorkie, Evan. They are quite the pair --- similar in looks, but very different personalities. Mya is a little spitfire, always ready to play or chase something. Evan is a cuddlebug, always wanting to be held and loved.

2011-10-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

A Learning Experiment

I have been playing with spray paint and stencils, in an attempt to accentuate certain areas of a collage. In this collage, I wanted to bring the emphasis to her facial features. I used a piece of plastic needlepoint canvas as my stencil and spray painted around her face. I like the look, but next time I need to be a bit more precise. Black paint on her teeth is not very becoming! LOL

2011-10-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

Play Time for the Pups

Our current foster dog, Evan, really needs some socializing around other dogs. So I took him over to a friend's house to play for the afternoon...

JB in his basketball jersey, with his favorite ball

Annabelle in her new hoodie

Bella in her rhinestone-studded muscle T

Ribbons, one of her foster yorkies, about the same size as Evan

Mya with a toy that she discovered in the backyard

And Evan, just looking cute!

2011-10-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

Autumn in the Yard

We love the large ash trees that shade our backyard in the summer and provide privacy from spring through summer, but now is the time that we realize how many leaves it takes to provide that shade and privacy. So far we have bagged 10 HUGE bags of leaves, and that is after the leaves have been mulched into tiny pieces!

After all that leaf raking and mulching, it was time for a little fun! I made 3 new chickadee feeders --- one for Mom and two for us. The little chickadees love the peanut butter or suet in these feeders. Once in a while I see a downy woodpecker on them, but usually it is the chickadees enjoying the feast.

And lastly, a couple more blushing peppers from the garden. Our tomatoes are done, but the peppers are still growing and producing. These two will be part of our supper tonight.

2011-10-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

A Great Day!

Today started with a papa cardinal at the feeder with his two fledglings. He was trying to keep them both fed and teach them how to eat on their own. Throughout the day, they made many trips to the feeder, and I had such fun watching them!

(Sorry for the photo quality --- it was taken through the window screen, as I didn't want to disturb them.)

And my day ended with a great adoption! This is little Hope (now Roxi), who is a maltese/yorkie mix that was rescued from a horrible breeder situation. She flourished in her foster home, and now she has a wonderful forever family with 3 little girls that are already spoiling her! These are the moments that make all the hard work and heartbreak of rescue work worthwhile.

2011-10-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Whirlwind Week

I don't know where the week went, but it flew by. On Thursday I traveled to Lawrence, KS to spend time with friends and attend a workshop on Saturday. On Friday we spent some time with our cameras at Clinton Lake and in downtown Lawrence.

Here are two of the many deer that we saw grazing and playing around the lake. They weren't easily spooked, so we got to enjoy them for quite a while before they ran off.

There were spider webs everywhere in the morning light! Almost every patch of grasses had a zillion webs to photograph, and the sunrise cast the perfect lighting.

This was one of my favorite photos from downtown Lawrence. I guess every town has its share of street artists!

2011-09-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

New Man in My Life

This is Evan, our newest foster pup --- you knew I would get another one, didn't you? He is 3 years old and a little over 7 pounds. He's from a puppy mill, so he is shy and scared right now. So far, he is just about perfect though --- slept through his first night here, minimal accidents in the house, no barking or whining, and he is learning to trust us and come to us for petting. It would be very easy to hold and love on this one all day, but I am letting him learn to be a dog first. He loves the outdoors --- grass under his feet, sunshine on his back, gentle breeze through his fur. It's all good in his world now!

2011-09-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Logan Has A Forever Home!

Logan with his forever mom, Millie. She's in love with him, and I know he will have fun traveling the US with her!

2011-09-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Busy, Busy, Busy

This morning I had an appointment at Sunderland Gallery to drop off all the artwork for the Considering Red exhibition, which opens on Sunday. It should be a great show, featuring fiber art from artists all over the country.

After that appointment, I headed out to photograph 4 rescue dogs. The photos above are Simon, one of two pomeranian brothers available for adoption. They were breeder releases from a puppy mill, and they're a little shy right now.

2011-09-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

My Life

My life has gone to the dogs. Studio time is stolen in between walking and playing with the dogs. I don't know how this has happened, but I see the effects every time I walk into the studio and see the half-finished pieces of art. I'm not complaining. It's a cycle, and I know that this winter, I will return to the studio and fostering dogs will move to the back burner.

This is Logan's favorite position when he is sprawled on the floor. I have always called it his "frog legs" pose, but another reader told me that when her dog does it, she calls it his "polar bear rug imitation". Either way, it is a cute pose!

This is little Hope, a maltese/yorkie mix. She is just under a year old and just under 5 pounds. A breeder released her to rescue, and she is in a foster home while she waits for her forever home. I am amazed at the change in her personality. When I first picked her up, she didn't want to be touched at all. Now she is the first one to greet everyone! Watching mill dogs emerge from scared animals into loved pets is probably the most rewarding aspect of rescue work. And even though I am not the one fostering this sweetheart, she will always have a special place in my heart!

2011-09-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day!

Mya has more clothes already than she will ever have time to wear, but when I saw this cute little dress on clearance for $3, I couldn't resist it. She was the hit of the BBQ!

2011-09-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

Bentley's Forever Family

Remember little Bentley, the silky terrier male puppy that I rescued with Mercedes? Well, Bentley finally found his forever home on Friday, and it is a great home for him. He has a little maltese/papillon puppy sister and two kids to play with him. I'm so happy for him!

2011-08-31T04:07:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

Newest Arrival in Rescue

This is little "Hope", a young yorkie/maltese puppy. She is almost a year old and weighs a whopping 4.7 pounds. She was a surrender to rescue and is being fostered by a family with two dachshunds. She is so sweet and cuddly!

2011-08-28T04:50:00.001-07:00

And The Winner Is .......

"Peggie" from Tucson, Arizona

Please email me your mailing address, and Lark will mail your book out to you. Congratulations!

2011-08-25T02:01:00.000-07:00

Masters Art Quilts Volume 2

Martha Sielman has done it again! Masters Art Quilts Volume 2 is every bit as exciting, stimulating and inspiring as the first volume, if not more so. In this new volume, she has chosen 40 more artists to spotlight. These artists represent a diverse array of themes and techniques. They come from all over the world and share insights into their inspirations and techniques. Many of these artists were new to me, and I loved seeing their work and reading about their motivation and processes. There were also many artists that I already knew, but I was able to see new work and gain more insight into their work. This is truly a book that belongs on your reference shelf!

*** Lark Crafts has generously given me a complimentary copy of this book to give away to one lucky person. If you are interested, please leave a comment, and I will draw a name on Sunday morning, August 28th.

2011-08-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning Cuteness

I checked out a new shop the other day that is full of surplus infant stuff from Carters. I picked up a couple of shirts to remake for Mya and a chew toy for Logan. Here's Mya, all decked out in one of her new shirts that says "I'm a Little Cutie", along with one of her new bows in her hair. A friend of mine made Mya about a dozen ribbon bow barrettes for her hair. Mya is not too enamored with them, but I think they're cute!

And here's Logan with his new toy --- a stuffed bunny with teething rubber for paws. He loves it!

2011-08-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday Mornings

When we first got Zeke, 4 years ago, we started scrambling an egg for him on Sunday mornings. Then we adopted Mya a year ago, and she joined in on the Sunday morning ritual. Today we introduced Logan to the taste of scrambled eggs since this was his first Sunday morning with us. I think he is hoping for a forever home where they will continue with this tradition!

2011-08-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

Ribbons

I got an email from a rescue friend in IL. A puppy miller in her area was releasing some of her older dogs, and since they were Yorkies, she wanted to know if I was interested. I said yes, and eventually the miller released two female Yorkies that were approximately 7 years old and 5 pounds each. Both of them had numerous health problems and required extensive vetting, but through it all they remained happy and appreciative of their new life, and they are both in great foster homes. Yesterday I got to spend some time holding and photographing Ribbons, one of the two Yorkies. I absolutely love her!

2011-08-19T05:09:00.000-07:00

Sketch of a Monarch

I started this sketch of a Monarch on the coneflowers, but then I got busy with other projects, and now I've lost interest in it. I think I like it half finished......LOL.

2011-08-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Logan, The Sweetheart

Logan, our little foster Yorkie, is settling in quite nicely. He follows me around the house, always wanting some attention, and he tries so hard to please. He's quickly learning the house rules and a few new commands. I can't believe someone surrendered him to a kill shelter. He is such a sweetheart!

2011-08-17T06:01:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

A New Foster

You knew we would get another foster, didn't you? This is Logan, a 4 year old male Yorkshire terrier. He is housebroken, crate trained, and a total sweetheart!

Logan LOVES to be outside in the yard or going for walks on the leash. I think he would stay outside all day if I'd let him!

He also loves all kinds of rawhides and chew toys. Today he discovered Dingo bones, and I think those are his favorite so far.

This afternoon, Logan and I went to visit Keaton at his house, and the two dogs had a great time playing for a couple of hours. I thought they were so cute together!

2011-08-10T03:00:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

A Return to Sketching

A good friend of mine has been sketching dogs from the photos that I've taken, and she has inspired me to get my drawing pencils out. I had forgotten how portable this can be, taking just a sketchbook, a set of pencils, and a good eraser with me --- no paints or collage supplies! The sketch above is one of my friend's foster dogs. He's been adopted now, but he was such a cutie!

2011-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

James Arthur Vineyard

Last week we took a few days off and stayed in a bed and breakfast with the dogs and did a bit of relaxing. This is a vineyard that was nearby, so we stopped one morning to look around. I had been here before, but I had never walked around the grounds, so it was fun to see all the acres and acres of grapes growing in the sun.

Grape vines growing as far as we could see, field after field, acre after acre.

Lots of grape leaves, but we didn't see any actual grapes. I guess it is not the right season yet.

This was a waterfall that was in a garden area on the property. They have several areas where you can sit and enjoy the sprawling views.

I chuckled when I saw this sign. I guess the lovers have a tendency to wander off the trails.........

2011-07-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

Mercedes is Home!

Mercedes was adopted today, and she has a wonderful forever home. Here is her adoption photo. They all fell totally in love with her, and I am sure that she will be loved and spoiled!

2011-07-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

Morning Mercedes Fix

It looks like Mercedes is going to be adopted tomorrow! I am excited for her, because I think it is a great home where she will be treasured. I'm also a little sad, because we have really enjoyed this little ball of fluff.

I still don't know what the optimum time is for fostering a dog. If you have them too long, it is harder to let them go. If you don't have them long enough, you feel like there is so much more you could have taught them and given them before you send them off.

And then a little one like Mercedes comes along, and you fall in love instantly. Both Jim and I agree that she would be a very easy one to keep. She is going to be a heartbreaker for us!

2011-07-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-23T04:13:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Gallery

More photos of our adorable new foster puppy. Mercedes is so much fun to watch, as she explores the yard and discovers the joys of grass and birds and the neighbors' dogs. I hope she finds a great forever home soon, so that they get to experience her puppy curiosity and exuberance!

Available for adoption from Helping Hand 4 Animals.

2011-07-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Newest Rescues

Meet Bentley and Mercedes, two little silky terrier puppies that came from a puppy mill auction. I picked them up yesterday from Missouri, and after a long trip, they are safely in rescue now. We are fostering Mercedes, and Bentley's foster family came to get him last night. They are both such sweethearts!

Mercedes is an adorable little female, weighing just over 3 pounds. She is a total lap dog and wants nothing more than to be held all day. She follows me everywhere, hoping that I will pick her up!

Mercedes

Bentley is a handsome little male silky terrier, weighing almost 5 pounds. He is very outgoing and loves to play --- with people, with toys, with other dogs. He is Mr. Social!

2011-07-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Where Has The Week Gone?

I have no idea why, but this last week has flown by. I know it was a busy one, and perhaps that is the answer. On Saturday I went to a dog show, and I fell in love with watching the agility dogs. I didn't know any of the dogs or trainers, but I found myself applauding each and every one of them as they completed the course. Now I am on a quest to learn more about this sport, so that I will have a better understanding of the judging at the next event.

I also spent some time this past weekend photographing this little cutie. He is a puppy that I fostered last year, and sadly, his owner returned him to the rescue, because she is too busy for him now. First I was angry with her for tossing him aside when he no longer fit into her life, and then I was upset for little TJ, that he would have yet another new environment. Eventually I calmed down and realized that she obviously wasn't the right home for him, and I vowed to myself to do what I could to find him the perfect home this time. Happily, he has a couple of great families interested in him already!

2011-07-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Double Birthday Fun!

Zeke's and Mya's birthdays are today, so Mom and I headed out to one of the local dog bakeries to find some birthday goodies. We settled on these carob pupcakes and got one for each dog. Here they are, in their birthday collars, patiently waiting to sample their birthday treats.

Next, there was a little sniffing to see if they smell as good as they look.

The pupcakes passed the smell taste, so onward to the taste test. Both dogs absolutely loved these treats, so I think we have a winner for birthday treats from now on!

2011-07-10T08:21:00.000-07:00

Zeke's #2 Toy

Before we got Zeke, we did a ton of research on silky terriers, trying to make sure that the breed would be a good addition to our family. One of the things we read was that they would play fetch until they were ready to drop from exhaustion. That has certainly proven to be true with Zeke. No matter how tired or hot he is, he will always have energy for a game of fetch. And many times, he will take the tennis ball in his mouth and actually sling it at us to get our attention!

2011-07-09T03:59:00.000-07:00

Unexpected Treasures

This is a section of a photograph that I took. I was focused on a little wren singing in the tree, but when I opened the photo in Photoshop, I loved this section of it. The splotchy leaves against the blurred background create a wonderful abstract composition, and I can't wait to use this in a collage --- or two or three.

This is Keaton, our last foster puppy, enjoying his new backyard. His forever mom just got her backyard fenced, so this is the first time that Keaton has been off leash in his new home. And Keaton, being Keaton, is rolling in the grass and having a great time. I love this photograph that she sent to me, because it is so "Keaton", and he is so full of pure pleasure!

Both of these photos are unexpected treasures in my day, and I appreciate both of them!

2011-07-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

Zeke's Favorite Toy

This is Zeke with his #1 toy --- a pair of socks. He has loved them since the day we got him as a puppy. He doesn't chew holes in them. For him, it is all about sneaking a pair off the dresser or out of a stack of clean laundry. Once he has it firmly in his mouth, he races down the hall to the living room, and just waits for us to follow him. Then he prances around with his prize in his mouth. I don't know why we have a huge basket of dog toys, when all we really need is a basket of socks!

2011-07-06T07:22:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday