The Magic Sleigh blog

Working hard

2011-11-15T11:22:00.000-05:00

At this time of year, for me the custom orders are coming in fast and keeping me busy, as of tomorrow, I will no longer be accepting new custom orders so get them in now, or else I can't guarantee that they will be done in time for Christmas delivery.
These are some of the custom pieces that I have been working on, you can see that the colors are not developed yet, they come out true in the last firing of the clay body. Ignore the mess, at this time of year, I do not clean!

Whats New?!

2011-09-29T08:27:00.000-04:00

Introducing some new designs,

Santa's Milk and Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

I do not have all breeds in all designs, but feel free to contact me to make your breed and or color in any design!

Christmas Balls

Carousel Christmas

and New Breeds

Briard

Gorden Setter

And the end of my Halloween line until next year, there are just a few of these left, get them before Halloween, after that, they will disappear!

Way behind...

2011-09-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” Albert Schweitzer
I admit it. I have neglected blogging for a long time. The poor dog blog is just about DOA, and this one is nearly there also. Something about no time? Who has time, extra, any way? Time is what you make of it, the time you give to things you care about. Time to refresh the soul, time to work, time to love, time to share, time to care. This one is for those friends and family who have helped me rekindle my spark. You know who you are!

New Border Collies....

2011-05-20T09:18:00.001-04:00

and one old one...

Kira and Scampi are doing well, I apologize for those who have been wondering what has happened to the dog blog, but I find I do not have the time to go comment on all of our friends, we are still occasionally reading, catching up on the dog world, but I do not feel it is fair to post and not reciprocate, so until I find the time, Kira and Scampi's blog has sadly been put on hold.

Sculpting Corgis...without words

2011-05-15T14:08:00.000-04:00

Sculpting a wee little dog....

2011-01-14T12:26:00.001-05:00

An artist cannot talk about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture. ~Jean Cocteau

A photo essay of the process of Creation,

first comes the sculpting....

After the first bisque firing, the waxing of the bottom of the piece, then the glazing

re-firing in the kiln to a high gloss, porcelain china

She came out beautifully, and yes, she is already sold and on her way to one of my collectors in Europe

Why I am not Santa Claus

2010-12-29T11:14:00.003-05:00

A little sarcastic note to my customers and friends
and a big reminder for me for next Christmas

Even though I have many Reindeer friends, I am not Santa.
How do I know this? Let me count the ways...

1. I do not have 100+ little elves helping me make things.
        Everything I sell is made by just me. I do not wake up in the morning to find everything made and finished by my little elves that work for me. I wish.....

2. I really have no sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer! I cannot deliver everything overnight.
As much as I love the post office, I cannot guarantee that the item you order on December 22nd is going to make it to you by Christmas.

3. Ho, Ho, ho....
   I have discovered I am not very jolly when overwhelmed with work.

4. Cookies and milk...
           hmmm.... I forgot to go to the store, the milk went bad, and who has time to make the cookies????

5. Making his list, checking it twice....
         I really need to work on this one, I am not perfect, I have little sticky notes all over my studio..... no organization at all

6. Finding out who is naughty or nice
       This one I really wish I could do, some people came be so naughty, but the nice ones make up for it. I wish I just did not worry so over the unkind comments.

7. I am not coming to your town.
      Really, now who would make these if I did, sorry I missed your party, but the orders were coming in and I took on too much. I need to learn to say no.

8. North Pole
      I live in sunny Florida, and my Siberian Husky has never even seen snow. Something I have promised her one day....at least she likes to go to the beach and swim.

9. Snow White Beard
        Blond hair, no beard, but the white is coming in rapidly....

10. "Christmas is not just a day, but a frame of mind" (Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th street)
    This is the one which sustain me through out the year, and if I can put a smile on someones face this Christmas, then I have done my job. I may not be Santa, but I am one of his followers.

Last Day!

2010-11-30T07:58:00.000-05:00

I am actually swamped with custom orders, so today is the last day I will accept any custom work for Christmas delivery... in fact, I think I will sleep through January too, since I am unable to sleep right now.....

You people think differently??

2010-11-02T08:17:00.000-04:00

I actually had someone say that to me at an art festival. "You people", as in artists.

Do we? I mean, really? I do not think so, although I am the first to admit my mind zooms off in a hundred different direction most of the time, I also admit I have a severe case of ADD and take medication to help, that way I can at least focus on finishing what I start.Fragments and shards everywhere! My mind would move so quickly that I couldn't keep up with my own thoughts. Some artists think differently than other people, and some artists think differently than other artists, but a lot of artists probably think like a lot of other people. The reverse is probably true as well.. I don't think that being an artist is the dividing line. I think it's a matter of how people think and see things.

Sometimes I feel as though I am trying to say something, explain my thoughts through art. I see a light shine on a leaf, the reflection of a sunrise in the water. I am enthralled.

I was out the other evening and I was watching a little sparrow taking a bath in a decorative fountain. The way the lights shone on the water, the sparkling of the the droplets in the air, the sweetness of the joy of the little bird. Some woman came up and went "yuck a bird", and shooed it away.

I guess if this is how other people think, I am glad I think like an artist.

My Chihuahua was featured...

2010-08-30T16:22:00.000-04:00

On a blog today,(codyandcompanyblogspot.com)

they were so happy with their purchase of my little ornament they wrote about him and my store.

If anyone needs adorable little clothing for the little tiny pups, feel free to check out her store!

Cody and Company Pet Products

I do not see my Kira wearing any of these, (it might just fit her little foot....)

but, it is always so nice to have my customers send me feedback on their purchases.

It gives me the warm fuzzies when they are happy.

Have a Magical Day!

Inspiration and finding your passion

2010-08-19T08:06:00.002-04:00

What inspires my art? What inspires You? Do you even know? There are things I think about, that I am passionate about. My love for animals, nature,

the way light reflects on a leaf.

Find your passion and do something with it.

Not necessarily creating art, but creating thinking minds, teaching, learning.

One of the things I do....

One of my passions..(besides creating and painting)

I am a volunteer dog trainer.

I love it. I am helping dogs become better pets, but more importantly I am helping people understand their dogs and become better owners.

Often, my job is more about playing human psychologist rather than dog trainer.

Along with my passion for training dogs comes my passion for educating their humans. It is far easier to train the human than to try and rehabilitate a dog that has been abused or neglected.

There is nothing better than seeing a former student in a higher level of class, still working on his training and knowledge. Knowing I might have helped get him there.Knowing that my knowledge of dog behavior combined with my love for teaching may save the life of one dog. That makes it all worthwhile.

(from http://anmolmehta.com/blog)

Questions to Help You Discover Your True Passion:

What is it that you like to do for its own sake, without any concern for reward or compliment? Do you like the joy of building things? Do you like to just create music? Do you like to teach? Do you like the challenge of watching your thoughts in action?
If you won the lottery, I mean the really, really big one how would you like to spend the rest of your life?
If you were informed you are about to die shortly, what would you regret most as not having spent your time doing?
No matter where on Earth you are. In a rich, first world country, in the bush lands of Australia or high up in a Himalayan village what do you see yourself doing regardless of location?
What activity do you always find yourself coming back to throughout your life?
What activity can you just not see yourself doing without?

Is it time??

2010-08-05T18:18:00.003-04:00

For Halloween yet????

New dogs, Angels...

2010-07-31T11:45:00.000-04:00

New for this week,

Bedlington Terriers

Cane Corso

Rhosesian Ridgeback

and introducing my Angels on Etsy!

For a limited time my highly detailed Angels are now available on Etsy. These Angels have been featured in select galleries and art shows in the United States. You will not find Porcelain Angels like these anywhere else besides through me. There will be just a few available, although custom angels can be made, please contact me for pricing.

~~~~ To see the entire sculpting, firing and glazing process with lots of photos~~~~~
~please see this link www.themagicsleigh.com

2010-07-30T10:31:00.002-04:00

MyTagArt is pleased to announce that Artist Pamela Fleming has signed with us and will be Available on August 6th !

Another new painting!

2010-07-22T16:30:00.003-04:00

Now I just have to add a background.....

New Painting

2010-07-16T19:47:00.001-04:00

Ornament Survey

2010-06-29T14:08:00.008-04:00

Please, help me out with this short survey on some new ornament designs! All comments and suggestions are welcome!

These are my three best selling designs,(not breed specific)

I would like to introduce several new designs,

let me know what you like and dislike by clicking the following survey.

( New designs, above and below)

All comments left on survey are anonymous, so feel free to critique
Click here to take survey

Custom Christmas Ornaments!

2009-10-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

It is that time once again! The holidays are coming soon! Only 64 days until Christmas! I am currently accepting custom orders for Christmas delivery!

Email Me with questions!

To get your own custom ornament or figurine, the following must be provided, photos and or description of your pet, including any unique characteristics, (white tip at end of tail), that may not show up in photos

I will work from photos emailed to me and descriptions!

I can make a dog or kitty in your choice of pose- Sitting, standing or rear up,

and style.( including but not limited in any way, with favorite toy, shoe, lights, as an angel......)

Figurines can also be made with no ornament hook

Please be aware that due to drying and firing times of the

porcelain clay allow 3 weeks for your item to be finished,

Link to my Etsy Store for custom ordering

Inspiration

2009-10-09T16:44:00.001-04:00

Inspiration comes in many forms for me, a comment on a previous work,a shadow on the ground,, light coming through the trees. Sunset, sunrise, a memory and a prayer..., a song, this song reached out and touched me when this album first came out. For those of you who don’t know Trans Siberian Orchestra, please check them out.

I want to paint this, I have not yet had it come to me, something with a Unicorn in a night sky, snowflakes, stars...so far this is all I have come up with, but I can feel it, wrap itself around me, it will come, this painting of mine....

SOMEWHERE BEYOND WHERE THE LIGHT RARELY GOES
SOMEWHERE BEYOND WHERE THE DARK BARELY BREATHES
SOMEWHERE THIS NIGHT WHERE THE DARK ONLY KNOWS
SHE AWAITS EVER PATIENT
SHE AWAITS RARELY SEEN
BUT HER MOMENTS ARE TAKEN
FOR IN THE DEAD OF THE NIGHT
GATHERING LIGHT
CHRISTMAS DREAMS

…AND A TEAR FALLS UPON HER SNOW-WHITE HAIR

AND IT RUNS TO THE END WHERE IT LINGERS THERE
THEN IT FALLS THROUGH THE AIR OF A WINTER’S SKY
TILL IT CAPTURES A DREAM AND IT’S CRYSTALIZED….

LET IT GO!
LET IT GO!
THIS OLD WORLD THAT I KNOW
FOR SOON EVERYTHING WILL BE CHANGING
IN A SINGLE GLANCE
WHERE IT ALL ENCHANTS
AND EVERY HOPE IS WORTH SAVING

Change

2009-09-29T08:52:00.004-04:00

I know I have neglected this blog for a long time now. The dog's blog took over ! (sorry Kira!)

Life is about change. Some changes are big, some are small. In the past month, I have had a new change in my life. My last child living at home moved out to be on her own. Now for you without children, you may think, so... you now have more freedom, more time...

You are suddenly also now old. There are three stages in a woman's life, the maiden, the mother, the crone.... I am now the crone...The word crone once meant simply 'wise woman' and, in antiquity, was a term of respect. Now a days is means simply you are old! I do not feel old! I look in the mirror and go ahhhhg! who the #@%*^# is that?

So time marches on, you clean the house,change the bedrooms into guest rooms, pick yourself up and go on....and wonder, as an artist how this is going to change my work. Every year I grow, my art grows. Something major happens, the art changes. That is because the art is me. I change, my art changes. It will be interesting to see the way I go now.

Does this cloud look like a dragon to you?

2009-08-09T11:47:00.001-04:00

One Lucky Penguin

2009-07-20T21:07:00.001-04:00

World of Whimsey

2009-07-20T08:57:00.001-04:00

World of Whimsey

In 1000 Markets by Amazon

Come see what we have!

New Watercolor

2009-06-25T11:55:00.001-04:00

"Bilbo and the Damselfly"
my first attempt at watercolors

It is a long way until Christmas...

2009-06-09T09:51:00.004-04:00

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge — myth is more potent than history — dreams are more powerful than facts — hope always triumphs over experience — laughter is the cure for grief — love is stronger than death.”-Robert Fulghum

I have been in a creative funk. Nothing I make, create, sculpt or paint has been to my satisfaction. This is traditionally the slowest time of year for me, sales, work, everything. This year it has been worse than usual. I know the economy is bad. Times are tough, people are having trouble paying there bills, feeding their families. After what this country, and the world, has been through the past few months, we need hope. We need this feeling to return to our lives. I think right now, we need Christmas.
It is a long time until Christmas, and a long ways from Christmas.
I need to remember why I do what I do. To bring magic into my life, and hopefully into the lives of others. Christmas is not only about the giving, the loving, or the magic. the most important thing to me about Christmas is Hope.
So remember Christmas today, keep it in your heart. Even if you are not a Christian, remember the peace, the love the spirit of the season, even if it is not the season. It is the joy of living, of appreciating the little things that God (or the Gods) have blessed us with. The drop of water glistening in the sunlight, the colors of the sky,the green of the leaf, the kiss from a dog, the smile of a stranger.
Remember, smile, and pass it on....

A few thoughts on cat baths...by the Cats:

2009-06-03T08:56:00.010-04:00

'But you said you loved me!'

'You will pay, as God is my witness,

you will pay.'

'Struth, you call this water warm???'

'I don't think I like you anymore.'

'You lied !!!!!!'

'E.T. Phone home......quick!'

'No, I'm not your Good Little Kitty anymore.'

'Traction...I'm losing traction!'

'I want my Mommmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!'

'No, no, no, no.....NOOOO!!!!'

2009-05-25T20:35:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Florida!

2009-05-07T15:15:00.003-04:00

Umm, I don't think so....

A wall (almost) too high

2009-05-04T12:11:00.000-04:00

When you’re big, things are usually easy. Jumping, running—we take it all for granted. That goes for squirrels, too, I guess.

Now, consider a wall. If you’re a big squirrel, you jump right on top of that thing. But if you’re a little squirrel, it might as well be 100 feet high. You just are not going to jump up there.

However, maybe you have some friends. Maybe you didn’t even know you had them. They make it possible for you to jump on that wall. Isn’t that what friends are for?

First Place!

2009-04-29T15:08:00.006-04:00

I entered one of my paintings at Lockheed Martin's Management Club’s 12th annual Arts in April Art Show. This was the first time I ever entered one of my paintings in any exhibit. I am proud to say it won 1st place in Oil and Acrylic Paintings!

Rainforest Macaw

36" x 48" Acrylic on Canvas

(Click on pictures for larger view)

detail of orchids...detail of macaw...

Don't forget

2009-04-24T20:33:00.002-04:00

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

To be, or not to be

2009-04-22T20:52:00.003-04:00

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.: Henry Ward Beecher

If this quote is as true a most would believe, than I have a problem. My true nature rears its ugly head as a cute little puppy. (or a pretty, pink Puff Dragonling)

While I may love to work in realism, spending hours sculpting or painting one particular item, my true gift is creating the whimsical, cute, and just plain adorable. It just comes naturally.I can't help it. The harder I try to create the amazing likeness of realism, the cuter it gets. Take these two unicorns, one I created over several hours of sculpting, working, studying form , function, how the leg turns, how the muscle would move, the other as a whimsical figurine, in less than a quarter of time the other takes, so what sells? The downright, comical, "awww, its sooo cute". The other barely gets a passing glance.

I accept my gifts, as much as I try to rebel sometimes, I want to

be a serious artist, but I guess I am a whimsical, fanciful, comical, silly, cute artist. My true nature at work...

New Tape How to Train Your Adopted Dog....

2009-04-16T09:05:00.003-04:00

Now On Zazzle

2009-04-15T14:50:00.004-04:00

Gladiator Dog

2009-04-14T07:41:00.000-04:00

Bo Oboma

2009-04-13T17:05:00.002-04:00

Isn't he cute?

Portuguese Water Dog Information

Birds of a Feather???

2009-04-08T08:36:00.010-04:00

These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned.

Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.

Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon that we have here in rehab. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in....even sleeping in front of the door to the cage.

Then, 2 days ago, I only counted 2 bunnies in the cage, so I hurriedly picked Noah up from the front of the cage so I could look inside. And to my surprise...there was the tiny bunny...under Noah's wing...sound asleep! The bunny had crawled through the cage....preferring a featherbed, no doubt.

Now, they are all together, and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he extends his wings out to surround them..and they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak!!!!! This is amazing!!!

Freedom

2009-04-07T10:37:00.003-04:00

Freedom and Jeff

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery, it was broken in 4 places . She's my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand and both wings were broken. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vets office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with

shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday

, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her o

wn, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington . We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV . Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma.. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whol

e bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them

pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom.

Hope you enjoy this.

Roger E. Mundinger

US. Army Retired

Houston, TX.

A Mother's Love...

2009-04-06T16:13:00.002-04:00

Normally I don't send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read it. Hope it touches you like it did me.
This is so beautiful it'll bring a tear to your eye....

A little boy says to his mother, " Mommy, how come I'm black and you're white?"
His mother replied, "Don't even go there! From what I can remember about that party, you're lucky you don't bark!

Brand New from the kiln...

2009-04-05T15:18:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to introduce my brand new line of dog and cat porcelain beads.

These are fully three dimensional like my ornaments and figurines, but on a tiny scale!
Look for them in my Etsy shop starting today!

Helping Shelters Help Pets

2009-04-02T19:35:00.004-04:00

Lots of things make great last-minute holiday gift ideas. Candy, chocolates, gift certificates for more candy and chocolate… but live animals should not be included in that list! There’s something crazy about going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming home with a pet as well. But that exact kind of crazy happens all the time around Easter.

Each Easter, many breeders and pet stores set out live rabbit displays right along with the chocolate bunnies and candied eggs. And, sad to say, some people continue to fall prey to the cuteness of a baby bunny. Yes, unrefined bunny cuteness is formidable stuff, but still. This is a spur of the moment purchase that needs love and care for many years to come. Sad to say, a couple months or so after Easter, animal shelters and rescues start filling up with these unwanted rabbits.

Rabbits require a lot of work and TLC. Sure, they make great pets for the right home, but like any pet, they’re not for everyone. Especially not for somebody who was only looking to get a child’s smile on Easter morning and didn’t do their research. Well guess what? There’s a better way to give a gift this Easter! A way to have your jelly beans and eat them too.

How about adopting a stuffed rabbit to help a real one? Best Friends is partnering up with Stuffed Adoptions.com, an organization that helps real animals by selling toys. Here’s how it works.

You hop on their website and browse the goods. This time, feel free to let the cuteness wash over you. A stuffed rabbit may not have the same adorable zing as the real thing, but they don’t chew through your carpets, either! The idea is to adopt a stuffed rabbit as a gift for somebody, but with the added bonus that in doing, so you help real rabbits in the end. Not only do the profiles of the stuffed animals represent real rabbits in rescues across the country, but the rabbits at Best Friends receive a portion of the proceeds for every stuffed rabbit you adopt. The funds will go toward Bunny House renovations.

So go ahead, make an impulse purchase. No buyer’s remorse this way. You can even sponsor a Best Friends rabbit to go along with the toy. The perfect double gift!

Visit StuffedAdoptions.com

Story by David Dickson
Photo by Sarah Ause

Wednesday Funnies

2009-04-01T07:58:00.003-04:00

The
YaYa Sisters

And my Favorite One......

Cool Photos

2009-03-30T21:34:00.005-04:00

Twittering.....

2009-03-29T17:42:00.001-04:00

Now in Living Color

2009-03-27T07:32:00.006-04:00

So do you like the colored background, or the white background??????

Kitten Fairies!

2009-03-26T10:15:00.005-04:00

The first three of my new series of paintings," Kitten Fairies and Orchids"

"Miss Priss", a darling kitty from my childhood

"Bilbo" The Siamese Kitten

And last , but not least "Hajii" a kitty who was owned by my Mom, but was born at my home! Much loved by all, the original monkey cat!

The Garden of Manners

2009-03-22T19:27:00.000-04:00

From Heronswood Nursery:
The Fortuneteller’s Garden

I wonder sometimes how spectators felt as they exited the Roman Forum, having observed, say, a Christian eaten by a lion, or two gladiators battling to a bloody death. Did they depart with hearts aflutter, exultant spirits and a bounce to their step? Did they head off to a tranquil taverna and bask in the glow of the day’s revelry?

The Roman spectators, I imagine, felt ghastly–as if part of themselves had been consumed by the lion, or conversely, they themselves had engaged in cannibalism. I imagine that they were enveloped in a dank cloud of shame and self-recrimination–the climate that holds when our lowest natures have been evoked.

I think I know the feeling. Today our media has become an electric Roman Forum, where notions of decorum and dignity have been supplanted by coarseness and brutishness.

On CNN, Fox news and MSNBC–all ostensibly dedicated to informing the public of the news of the world–one is treated instead to a daily carnival of grotesques, a daily food fight of ill-considered, ill-expressed opinions delivered with a shout. It matters not whether the views reflect those of the right or left. Bill O’Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow all convey the same message: talk, don’t listen; defame, don’t defer; discord trumps discourse.

The American public has followed these talking heads into the Tower of Babel that is the new media. Glance at the readers’ online postings affixed to an article at the Washington Post or any major online media outlet, and the same willful crudeness and misapprehension is everywhere in evidence. Hiding behind the anonymity of a screen name, impervious to the consequences of their rudeness, I can hear America whinging.

It used to be said that Americans were rude when young, and polite when grown up. Europeans, by contrast, were polite children who grew into rude adults. I do not think that matters–or manners–remain that clear-cut today.

To the contemporary mind, manners can seem like an incursion on democracy, an arbitrary, restrictive code imposed from without that stifles expression and spontaneity. In this view, manners are inauthentic, insincere contrivances employed to indicate class or status–a velvet glove with which to club the less sophisticated into submission.

Some confuse manners with etiquette, its close relative. Writing thank you letters (Napoleon wrote,: “A letter not answered in five days, answers itself.”), properly setting a table and correctly serving tea are all fine things. One might observe all these niceties with utter fidelity and yet never rise to the magnificence of manners.

True manners are far from a cultural ready-made; they are in fact a triumph of the imagination. They stem from an understanding and respect for the feelings of others. They are the Golden Rule in action: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Too Biblical? I offer you Confucius, “Do not do to others, what you would not have them do unto you.”

The Republic of Manners is altogether democratic. Manners are oblivious to considerations of income, class and education. As any reader of history knows, Royalty and Aristocracy have supplied us with boors of legendary crassness and brutality. As any observer of mankind can attest, people of slender means, possessing little else, can be rich in sublime manners and unbought grace.

Which brings us, naturally, to the garden. The Garden of Eden, we recall, is where sin was born, when Adam and Eve defied God’s injunction and ate of the Apple of Knowledge. “In Adam’s Fall, we sinned all.” Bad manners are the bitter fruit of this mother of all faux-pas.

The garden also represents a perfect testing ground for manners. Here, so unlike cyberspace, every insult, every sin of omission and commission becomes a cause with palpable effect. Act thoughtlessly or impetuously and the effects of your action are readily reflected in the health of your plants and flowers. Nature is exacting in matters of etiquette; ignore this fact and your garden will devolve in a wasteland. The garden is not just a refuge from civilization; it is civilization’s sanctuary.

Thus, I give you The Garden Of Manners—as simple and effective a pre-school as these economically troubled times allow a young family. A Victorian writer wrote, “Let us repair to a cool place of retreat at the point of interrogation.” In these parlous times, let us pay heed. Ladies and Gentlemen, shall we take a look about the garden?

Florida Bald Eagles

2009-03-18T06:26:00.000-04:00

At dusk most every evening , around the bend on the golf course, a pair of eagles stops by for a few minutes. First, one arrives, then a few minutes later the other. They always "talk" a lot when they see each other. Their nest is about 1/2 mile away.

They only stay 20 minutes or so, then fly off. They repeat this ritual in the early morning at dawn, then again at dusk. Not sure why.
These eagles do not migrate, they stay year round here, I have seen them for several years now.

For a nest map view click on the following link and type in zip code 32779
(sorry I could not figure out how to get the map on here)

http://www.myfwc.com/eagle/eaglenests/nestlocator.aspx

New Store is now open!

2009-03-16T13:21:00.003-04:00

Finally, I have started up the new store on Etsy for my Gouache paintings. Right now I only have a couple of items, check back soon for more!

Etsy
Buy Handmade
MagicalTails

Lions and tigers and oh my!

2009-03-14T06:14:00.000-04:00

See my other blog for more photos of this little visitor to a bird feeder!

Toxic Foods for Dogs

2009-03-13T08:39:00.001-04:00

As a puppy trainer at dog school I often get asked about certain foods you should and should not feed your dog. Here is a good list of certain foods that may be toxic to your dog and puppy.
. Unfortunately, there are many we are not often aware of that are just as dangerous. Below is a list of common foods that are harmful to dogs.

Toxic Foods:

Chocolate/Caffeine:

Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours. Symptoms include Staggering, labored breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, death.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.

Onions/Garlic:

Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.

Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Symptoms include Hemolytic Anemia, labored breathing, liver damage, vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.

Mushrooms:

Mushroom toxicity does occur in dogs and it can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten. Amanita phalloides is the most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US but other Amanita species are toxic. Symptoms include Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting diarrhea, convulsions, coma, death

Grapes/Raisins:

As few as a handful of raisins or grapes can make a dog ill; however, of the 10 cases reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), each dog ingested between 9 ounces and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.

Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia nuts are another concern, along with most other kinds of nuts. Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

NOTE: Pets owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can’t get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.

Baby Food:

Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.

Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources:

Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

Cat Food:

Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats.

Fat Trimmings:

Can cause pancreatitis.

Milk and other dairy products:

Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.

Raw Eggs:

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw Fish:

Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

Artisans Challenge is Back

2009-03-11T20:10:00.001-04:00

From Blockhead Radio:
All you Artisans out there make a note of this date:

March 23rd

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Either way there's a bit of construction going' on over at Blockhead Radio as we prepare to relaunch a cool weekly contest. Seriously, if you head over there you will hear power saws, drills and jack hammer's workin' 24 hours a day. Okay, no you won't but you WILL hear some really great music by indie artists :)

Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was change to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard!

For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge , let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!

So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbors... the people in the checkout line at the grocery store... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!

What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun????

It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!

Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in.

Tortie Tuesday/ Beaded Tail

2009-03-10T06:37:00.000-04:00

This Tortie Tuesday is brought to you today by Beaded Tail Jewelry. I have made several Fairy Cats now and wanted to make a tortoiseshell, I have never owned one , so I looked to my friends and Sharla of Beaded Tail kindly sent me several pictures of Isabella. You can see Isabella on her blog here.

I also wanted everyone to know the great job these women are doing with their shop! The proceeds are all donated toCharity! What a wonderful thing this mother and daughter are doing together. So here is a paw it forward to you Beaded Tail !
Visit her shop today and purchase something knowing it is for the greater good!

Beaded Tail Bio
Hello! I'm Sharla and along with my mom, Sheri, we are using our love of creating beaded jewelry to benefit our love for animals. Recent news reports regarding animal hardships have put us into action to design and create beaded jewelry which we will give a portion of the sales proceeds to animal awareness causes. Each of our one of a kind designs contains an animal theme from paw toggles to cat face beads or animal awareness ribbon charms or butterflies.

Our items come from a smoke free environment, however, we are owned by both cats and dogs.

The following are a list of the organizations that we support:

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals .... www.ascpa.org
Humane Society for the United States .... www.hsus.org
Dogs for the Deaf.... www.dogsforthedeaf.org
Alley Cat Allies.... http://alleycat.org
Chintimini Wildlife Rescue .... www.chintiminiwildlife.org

Total 2008 Donations $407 - Thank you to all our customers!

Our January 2009 donation was $44.50 to The Anderson House - safe home for women and children affected by domestic violence.

Copies of receipts are available upon request.

I have had pets literally all my life and currently my husband and I have a Husky named Sadie that was rescued from a puppy mill by the humane society and we have two cats, Isabella and Angel, that we adopted from the humane society in 2006. My mom has an American Eskimo named Samy that she adopted after someone got him as a puppy and was unable to take care of him. Our animals are a huge part of our lives and now live like royalty!

In addition to our current pets, we've had many wonderful pets that we've adopted from the humane society or had found abandoned so we certainly know that there is a great need for animal awareness education to prevent overpopulation, abused and homeless animals. We are grateful to be able to sell our jewelry here on Etsy in order to benefit animals.

We're making tails wag one bead at a time!

Sculpting Corgi's!!!!!!

2009-03-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Fairy Welsh Corgi

Tri colored Pembroke Ornament

Cardigan with lights ornament

Pembroke with squirrel toy Ornament

Hey I am in a Etsy treasury, plus....

2009-03-03T19:32:00.005-05:00

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=43743

I am the featured artist interview on this blog today!
Visit All things Jewelry and Then Some for the interview!

I am also in a Fantasy Artists of Etsy Exhibition

New Pegasus and..

2009-03-02T20:01:00.004-05:00

or Fairy Pony...
New Faerie Cat...
New Pink Dragon....

Tagged again...

2009-03-01T15:27:00.005-05:00

I got tagged by Threads of Magique in a game of blog tag. game rules: pick out the sixth photo in the sixth picture file on your computer and write a bog about it, then tag six other bloggers. Pretty simple, join in if you'd like, and pass it on.

"Let your thoughts rest here awhile
in beauty and in love"
André Smith, Founder - Inscription at Chapel entrance

Here's my picture. It's the chapel over at The Maitland Art Center. I did my college internship here. I spent many hours working on the gardens, they are in much need of tender loving care. The place was neglected for many years, and now plans are under way to restore this landmark.
The Maitland Art Center was founded as an art colony (called the Research Studio) in 1938 by visionary American artist and architect André Smith (1880-1959). This tradition continues at MAC today, with gallery exhibitions, resident artists (Artists-in-Action), a strong curriculum of art instruction in an intimate atmosphere, and community programming. Visit this historic, aesthetic gem set in the middle of busy, growing Central Florida.

The Art Center is one of the few surviving examples of "fantasy" architecture in the Southeast, the Center has been recognized by the State of Florida as a historic site and has been entered on the National Register of Historic Places. It features Mayan/Aztec motifs and includes 23 separate structures linked by beautiful gardens and courtyards.Founded in the 1938 by visionary artist and architect Jules André Smith (1880-1959), the Center was originally called the Research Studio, hosting a number of famous painters, sculptors, and printmakers, including: Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Doris Lee, and Boris Margo. Today, that tradition continues with resident artists (Artists-in-Action), and a strong curriculum of art instruction in an atmosphere which encourages experimentation and creativity.

I do not like tagging others, so if you are reading this and need a posting for your blog, feel free to be tagged

Sculpting In Porcelain

2009-02-27T16:22:00.004-05:00

Siberian Huskies, the rest of the story....

Not cats and dogs

2009-02-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

Custom Ornaments....

Wordless Wednesday/ White Puppies

2009-02-25T10:10:00.005-05:00

Here Kitty, kitty kitty...

2009-02-23T06:49:00.002-05:00

Three new paintings......

this black one is my favorite so far, working on a brown tabby Maine Coon with daisy's....

Kira's Portrait

2009-02-21T07:54:00.004-05:00

You can click on picture to make it larger...

Yes, I finally finished it... I am thinking about aking it available as Christmas or Note cards, maybe, I will see what the response to it is...

Wordless Wednesday/Pink

2009-02-18T08:22:00.005-05:00

Procrastination and Inspiration

2009-02-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

An artist's career always begins tomorrow. ~James McNeill Whistler

Inspiration is sometimes hard work. I can spend hours procrastinating, wondering what I want to make, what I should make.Those are usually two different things, which makes it even harder to create something. I know I have to make what sells, this is what I do for a living. There are some days I wake up and just know… ok, I must make this today or I have this wholesale order that has to be there by the end of the month, so I have to create exactly what someone else demands of me.This is a lot different than other types of artists who create works that will hang in galleries, waiting to be loved, purchased and taken home. You get the good with the bad in this case, if I make what I want all of the time, I wouldn’t be able to support my own habits of buying clay…eating food.

So what happens when the muse is gone, won't come visiting, there you sit, in front of a blank canvas, or if you worked a sculpture too hard that it becomes a odd looking lump of clay? Luckily for me, I sculpt and paint, usually if one isn't working I can work on the other. Some days neither is, then what. Do I give up? Sometimes, Do I try something else? Sometimes. I like to read. I can pick up an art book, go to a museum, visit a park. The most important thing I can do for myself is to seek outside influences, Other artists. Artist tend to be isolated, like me, we work at home, or in a studio by ourselves. Inspiration can be difficult without feedback. Working with other artists is the best inspiration. You can be amazed what other artists will do for you. Offer suggestions, give you ideas for new designs, they really can and will encourage you to move ahead with your art. We all are filled with creativity, sometimes we just need that little spark to light us along the way.

Even on the internet, quality artists are out there to help you. I have to give a pay it forward to two artists who have helped me recently. Thank you to Dreameyce Studio for shop advice,and a great big hug to Popogirl Animal Art for her eye opening artistic advice.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

From Bentley, Princess and The Magic Sleigh

One World, One Heart Winner!

2009-02-12T08:43:00.002-05:00

Ok here it is, the winner

Of this adorable Cavalier Sculpture,

picked by a random number that Scampi picked out of a basket...
was.....

Elizabeth: January 23, 2009 8:43 PM

Elizabeth's Blog is Bluebirds and Bubbles
be sure and visit her soon

Congratulations Elizabeth and thank you to One World One Heart for Sponsoring this event!

A Wonderful World

2009-02-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

Re-Working the Store

2009-02-10T17:28:00.007-05:00

I have spent the last few days deciding how to go forward with my online store, so here it is, from now on, all dog ornaments and figurines will be custom. You can see photos on my website or in the galleries in my store, and order precisely what you want. There is still a higher charge for custom made from photos, but that does include the design fee, for you get to choose what design you would like.

For example if you have a Basset that eats daisy's... you can get this.

Or a westie that loves bags, you can get this.

Or any random lovable mutt, I will work off of his photo for a great likeness.
Please let me know what you think of the changes, any suggestions will be most appreciated! It is still a work in progress, not all pictures are up yet, please leave comments!

Wine vs. Water

2009-02-09T08:40:00.001-05:00

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine.. And those who don't.

As Ben Franklin said: In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria. In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember: Water = Poop Wine = Health

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of shit.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information: I'm doing this as a public service.

Best Friends Animal Society

2009-02-07T16:04:00.004-05:00

Every year I donate 10% of my profits from The Magic Sleigh to an animal rescue group.
This past year with my customers support we earned enough to "adopt " two different birds from the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary.
I thank you, my customers and friends for supporting this needed organization.

After looking long and hard at many groups in need, I have chosen the following.

My Charity for this year will be- The Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Animal Society is guided by a simple philosophy: kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us.

In the late 1980s, when Best Friends was in its early days, roughly 17 million dogs and cats
were being killed in shelters every year. Despite the commitment of shelter workers to the animals in their care, the conventional belief was that little could be done to lower that terrible number.
Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign created a new vision: A grassroots effort to place dogs and cats who were considered "unadoptable" into good homes, and to reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs. Since then, the number of dogs and cats being destroyed in shelters has fallen to approximately 5 million a year. There has been much progress,but there is still much more to do.

At the sanctuary
The Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at Angel Canyon, at the heart of the Golden Circle of national parks in southern Utah, is home on any given day to about 2,000 dogs, cats, and other animals, who come from shelters and rescue groups around the country for special care they can only receive at Best Friends.

Most of the animals who find their way to Best Friends have special physical or behavioral needs, and our expert staff of veterinarians, trainers and caregivers offer them all the help they require. Most of them are ready to go to good new homes after just a few weeks of special care. A few, who are too old or too sick, or who have suffered extra trauma, find a home and haven at the sanctuary, and are given loving care for the rest of their lives.

Remember, even if you do not purchase from me, support an organization of your choice, at these worst of times financially, it is the charities who hurt the most and are in need of the most support we can give them.

Dog, Cat, Rat

2009-02-06T07:02:00.000-05:00

for those of you who haven't seen this video, ..... it is a wonderful commentary on getting along...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85yrIgA4Nk

Sculpting Husky Dogs, Day 1

2009-02-05T05:47:00.004-05:00

After the drying period the figures will be bisque fired in the kiln...

watch for updates in a couple of weeks!

Wordless Wednesday/White Cats

2009-02-04T06:12:00.003-05:00

Seeing more UFO's

2009-02-02T09:06:00.003-05:00

Some doctor on the TV this morning said that the way to

achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you

have started. So I looked around my house to see things

I'd started, and hadn't finished and, before leaving

the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of

Merlot, a bottle of shhhardonay, a bodle of Baileys,

abutle of vocka, a pockage of Pringlies, tha mainder of

a botl Prozic and Valumscriptins, the res of the

Chesescke an a box a chocolets. Yu haf no idr who

fikin gud I fel.

Peas sen dis orn to anyy yu fee ar in ned ov inr pece.

UFO Painting

2009-01-30T10:27:00.005-05:00

ManaMoon Studios has inspired me once again,
she explained about UFO's, UnFinished Objects...in her blog post.
I have many of these laying around, too many to mention.

Here is one that has evolved over time, first a small pen drawing, 2 years ago

Then with a painting.... last year
This year I added feet, blacken the background..but she looks like a porcupine,
and the feet are awkward....

Now she is back to a head and one foot, I put her aside again for another year or two,
another UFO...

Lemonade Award/Youniquely chic

2009-01-29T08:32:00.007-05:00

Thank You

Youniquely chic

She has awarded me the Lemonade award. It's meant for positive-attitude blogs (you know, when life gives you lemons type of thing).

She has such stunning jewelry, I have to show you her giveaway -right now, only until February 1st, so hurry, visit her blog for more details!

Youniquelychic Etsy Shop

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

2009-01-28T06:28:00.000-05:00

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

A Beautiful Day On the River

2009-01-26T06:39:00.000-05:00

We went boating/camping this past weekend, on the St.Johns River. It was a gorgeous ride up river and we saw lots of wildlife. I thought I would share some photos I took.
Click on any to enlarge.
Gator (large one)

Blue Heron
DeerCormorant

Manatee

White Egret

Tagged again...

2009-01-24T06:31:00.000-05:00

Life's little questions

Your turn for anyone who cares to answer these publicly...

Where is your mobile phone? no idea...

Where is your significant other? work?

Your hair color? semi- Fake

Favorite Song? too many,
Your favorite thing? reading
Your dream last night? something to do with cats
Your dream goal? to support myself in my art
The room you’re in? studio
Your hobby? Movies, dog training
Lost a loved one? yes, a brother
Where were you last night? Home
What you’re not? social
Been in a movie ? no
Sung a solo -yes, many times
The last thing you did? took a shower
What are you wearing? sweatshirt/jeans
Your TV? Dusty
Your pets? dogs, sleeping, cats underchair fighting, bird eatiing
Your computer? is on

Strangest place you have ever...not telling

Gone line dancing? never

Run a Marathon? get real

Visited Paris? only in my dreams
Your car? in the driveway
Something you’re not wearing? Jewelry
Favorite shop? internet
Watched lightening at sea? yes
Love someone? Many
Been in Jail? nope

Favorite Magical Place? Maitland Art Center Chapel

Your favorite color? Purple

Your favorite Book? Mary Stewert's Merlin Trilogy

Favorite Movie? Lord of the Rings

Grown my own vegetables? yes
Broken a bone? my nose

Saved a favorite childhood toy? a stuffed animal

Been transported in an ambulance? Not that I can recall
Kissed in the rain? can't remember, so probably not
Started a blog? well duh.

Florida

2009-01-21T10:28:00.007-05:00

Why they call it Florida....

Why am I showing off Florida in January? That is the last I will see of these flowers, we will have a hard freeze two nights in a row. Once every 5-10 years we will lose all of our Tropical plants due to a hard freeze, so in memory of these beautiful flowers.....

I took these pictures on Tuesday, before I covered everything. The new mailperson stopped and asked me why plants had blankets on them everywhere. She was new here... Tropical plants may be spared if they are protected from the freeze, this is what the neighborhood looks like...

Dolphins and Silver Rings

2009-01-19T08:26:00.002-05:00

The attached video is of dolphins playing with

silver colored rings which they have the ability to make under water

to  play with. It isn't known how they learn this, or if it's an

inbred ability.As if by magic the dolphin does a quick flip of its head and a silver

ring appears in front of its pointed beak. The ring is a solid, donut shaped bubble about 2-ft across, yet it doesn't

rise to the surface of the water! It stands upright in the water like a

magic doorway to an unseen dimension. The dolphin then pulls a small

silver  donut from the larger one. Looking at the twisting ring for one

 last time abite is taken from it, causing the small ring to collapse into a

thousands of tiny bubbles which head upward towards the water's

surface. After a few moments the dolphin creates another ring to play

with. There also seems to be a separate mechanism for producing small

rings, which a dolphin can accomplish by a quick flip of its head.

An explanation of how dolphins make these silver rings is that they are 'air-core vortex rings'.

Invisible,spinning vortexes in the water are generated from the tip of a

dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When

dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed

ring. The higher velocity fluid  around the core

 of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid

circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles

released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex

is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a reasonably few seconds

of play time.

Help, Lost Dog!

2009-01-16T17:08:00.002-05:00

Artists surviving the economic slump

2009-01-16T08:58:00.002-05:00

Article From Art Advice.com,

a great place with loads of information on art,artists and the business of being an artist

5 Things You Can Do For Your Career to Survive the Economic Slump

Artists are more susceptible than most to the economic downturn as fine art has long been considered a luxury, primarily for an audience with extra discretionary income. In times like these, even the very wealthy feel uncomfortable spending on what may be perceived by others as an extravagance. Smart collectors know this is the best time to buy and fine art is one of the safest places to "park" their money. But, they are looking primarily at very established artists with a verifiable sales and exhibition history. Values of these blue chip artists rarely go down significantly and smart buyers are on the lookout. But, for most emerging and mid career artists, the forecast is grim. Galleries are struggling to make ends meet and primarily exhibiting the works of artists they feel most confident they can sell. So, if you are thinking about approaching commercial galleries anytime in the near future, let me give you a reality check and some alternatives.

Stay informed. Do your research and follow the news. Watch which galleries are advertising and who they are showing. This will be a strong indication of which galleries will survive and help you decide when you get ready to start approaching galleries again. Accept that the gallery world goes in ebbs and flows and you need to be able to recognize when it is your time to step in again.
Focus on technology. By now, every artist should have an updated, easy to navigate website, an organized electronic (email) database of collectors and fans, and an accurate inventory system. It's easy to let these things slide, make excuses about not having enough time, energy or resources...but, there will never be a better time than NOW to get this stuff done. The greatest advantage of taking care of all this now, is when you can start approaching galleries again, you will have the ammunition you need to be successful.
Network with other artists. Find other artists with whom you can communicate and/or meet on a regular basis. It's going to be important during this downturn to keep the creative juices flowing. Being an artist can be a solitary profession, you need to surround yourself with other artists and help each other maintain a positive attitude. Nothing does that better than talking to other artists about their work and inviting them to your studio to discuss yours. You are not alone in this.
Curate yourself. Use this time to submit your work (and any other curatorial ideas) to non profit exhibition spaces, such as small museums and college and university galleries. These places are not as concerned with long term relationships or sales. Since many may find their budgets cut, they may welcome a suggestion for an exhibition that is already pre-packaged and ready to go. Use whatever distance you are willing to drive as your geographical radius and submit proposals to everyone within striking distance.
Make time for you. We are all under a tremendous amount of stress in this uncertain economic climate. The world seems chaotic right now. Familial and financial responsibilities can appear overwhelming. Remember, it is your art that centers you and defines who you are as a person. We will all get through this, continue to make the best possible art you can make and you will survive.

One World, One Heart

2009-01-16T07:58:00.000-05:00

Comments are now closed!!! Winner announcement soon!

I am participating in the One World - One Heart Giveaway Event. One week in which people from around the world visit each others blogs for a chance to get to know each other and win a little something.

From Monday January 19th until February 12th

In order for you to sign up for a chance to win the figurine, please leave a comment on THIS post. I would love it if you took a moment and looked around and left comments on other posts but understand if you don't have time now...please stop by again!

If you would like to participate in the One World ~ One Heart event or to find out more visit Lisa's blog http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com/

Comments are now closed!!! Winner announcement soon!

True Friendship

2009-01-15T08:32:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I posted a quote on friendship, today, I saw this video, a must see for all who believe in friendship, no matter what, or who you are.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Elegance By Mode

2009-01-14T07:18:00.000-05:00

"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.": Dale Carnegie

My Plug today goes to a wonderful new artist I found on Pluggers United!
(A great group of Artists, to friends and help promote each other,
click on Pluggers link to join us!)

Elegance By Mode

A Stunning Cameo Pendant

"I am a mom of 2 beautiful girls. I have a wonderful, supportive husband. I love to design and make jewelry. Everything you see is made by me. Each bracelet and watch band is hand woven and takes about 3 hours to make. I started doing jewelry for myself and my daughter. I had other people request that I make them something so I started do it for family and friends.

I am a substitute teacher with at my daughters school. I love my job and the kids like to see my work.

I like to do custom work. Just convo me and let me know what colors you would like and the size needed and I will see about doing it.

Check out her blog. www.elegancebymode.blogspot.com.

Click here to view this item

Monday Ramblings...

2009-01-12T08:15:00.003-05:00

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."

Albert Camus (1913 - 1960)

I would like to thank everyone for their kind comments on my paintings, maybe someday I will be able to show and sell them, in the meantime, I will keep working on them. I have neglected my sculpting lately also. January is clean the studio time. ugh, hate doing it, but it needs to get done.

I hate January, the month is long, and it is so sad. The Christmas decorations have to come down, be packed up and put away until another year. The house gets a thorough cleaning and everything looks so empty without the trees and decorations. It is cloudy cool and dreary looking out today also. Which doesn't help. It looks like January, with palm trees.You can tell I have not lived in Florida my whole life. I remember those cold frozen in winters of childhood. The snow would be up to the window sills and sometimes above. The ice, the lack of sunlight for months. When it did come out, the ice would glitter and glisten like a winter fairyland, then it would suddenly turn into mush, all brown and messy.

I guess Florida is better than that! So it is cool, a mere 65, and not sunny, my powder puff plant is in bloom, so is the bougainvillea.The smell of Orange blossoms is in the air. The Brugmansia trees are open in a all of their glory, a stunning sight to see. The yard needs mowing, the live oak leaves are being pushed out, not quite swimming weather, (unless you are a Siberian Husky) all in all, January is not so bad.

Brugmansia

Too Funny Youtube show

2009-01-11T10:23:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiPq3_LbM9k

Critique Needed!

2009-01-08T08:29:00.006-05:00

Ok, I am putting myself out there. I have been sculpting for many years, over 15, but I am a closet painter. I do not show my paintings to anyone unless they have come in the house and see them hanging on a wall.
I want honest critiques, are these good enough to sell?
Prints, Aceo's, Notecards, would there be any interest in any of these styles of artwork?

I am leaving the comments open for this, you can comment anonymously, so no feelings hurt...
Please . please , please be honest here, I work alone and have no feedback from any other artists, just family.

Click on Picture for larger view!

Snowy Egret

Gouache 24"x48"

Camelot Macaw in the forest

Gouache 36" x48"

(My first attmept at fantasy art) Fairy Cat

unfinished acrylic 16" x 20"

Pretty Pictures

2009-01-08T07:32:00.000-05:00

Pretty Florida Birds .....

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Black Crowned Night Heron

Mana Moon Studios

2009-01-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

Be sure to visit a wonderful friend's blog for a chance to win an original Woven Wire Beaded Bracelet! Her jewelry work is beautiful! Also visit her Etsy store if you are looking for custom designed logos or business cards. She designed my graphic logo for my sites!

A story

2009-01-06T07:58:00.000-05:00

A Violinist in the Metro

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the

violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for

about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was

calculated that thousand of people went through the station, most of them

on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician

playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then

hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman

threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him,

but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was

late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy.

His mother

tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.

Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning

his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other

children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed

for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal

pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over,

no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best

musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever

written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a

theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station

was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment

about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a

commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected

context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best

musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many

other things are we missing?

Living the Florida Lifestyle

2009-01-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

On our last couple of days of vacation, we decided to go boating, we have a boat kind of like a small camper, it has a bed, a potty place, and a refrigerator, what more does one need? We belong to a boating club, so on the lovely day of January 1st, we enjoyed going out for a couple of nights with the dogs. It was a beautiful couple of days, highs in the low 80's, cool nights in the 50s. We stayed at an RV/ marina on Kissimmee River, there were a lot of cows around, saw a couple of gators, loads of wild birds including wood storks, herons, ibis and hawks.
We walked the doggies alot, all in all, a wonderful way to spend the new year, and living the warmer life! For more pictures, see my other blog Magical Tails.

Purple Pluggers United

2008-12-31T09:01:00.002-05:00

A few of my favorite purple things.....

Spirit of Christmas

2008-12-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

I'm absolutely thrilled that the lovely Manamoon of Manamoon-studios awarded me the Christmas Spirit Award. It's an honor I don't take lightly at all! I believe in the Christmas Spirit in all things I try to do and say.

I'm supposed to blog about five reasons I love Christmas and then pass the award onto others.

So here are my five...

1. The Christmas tree, the symbol of Christmas. I have 5 of them up right now,one I never put away. I know it is just a symbol, but it is my living reminder of how I want to live my life.

2. Christmas music- The joy, the wonder, I listen to Christmas music all year, especially whenever I am feeling low, or uncreative, or if my spirits just need a boost.

3.The decorations- Of course I had to add this one to my list, after all it is what I love to make most of all the things I create. Lights on trees, houses,stores, Christmas Ornaments....

4.The Presents- I love receiving all of the things I have denied myself this year, I really enjoy the artwork and jewelry I got from the many artists I know, I adore giving things from artists that are truly unique and shows much more thought than a mall gift certificate...

5- The most important- The Giving... This year I have donated my earnings not only to the IRS, but I was able to donate to Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary as well as 2 other pet rescue groups locally and I also was able to give my time this year all year, to help train puppies become great dogs and to help their people become better owners.

"If you want to arrange it
Thais world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last
By helping a neighbor
O even a Stranger to know who needs help,
You need only just ask"
-Paul O'Neill
Trans-Siberian Orchestra"

I pass this award on to
Freida -Deer Mountain Wood Art

Sculpting in Porcelain, lets make a Unicorn

2008-12-28T17:24:00.000-05:00

So, you want to sculpt?

I can’t always tell you what to do right, but I am very good at learning what not to do.I have had explosions, meltings, kiln malfunctions, and clay failure, and that is just in the past six months. Although I have been sculpting since 1992 in porcelain, the past few months have been a challenge on my ego as well as on my purse.

Why a Unicorn? ok, there are fun. You can make them anyway you want, as far as your imagination will take you. No one can tell you you made it wrong because other than resembling a horse, they have a horn. The rest is up to you to define and create.
Starting with a bag of porcelain clay…..

Ok, get out your notebooks here, Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 °C (2,192 °F) and 1,400 °C (2,552 °F). The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at these high temperatures . (wikipedia.com)

Got it? step one complete, -got clay.

Now, let’s sculpt.

First shape the body and add some legs, I make the legs by rolling out cylinders, then shaping the forms. Use water, as porcelain will start to crack as it dries out. When attaching legs and other parts, use a wet clay slip (really runny wet clay), it will act like a glue to keep your legs, arms etc attached.
After adding the front legs, add the back

Shape a head, attach it to the neck, obviously, unless you enjoy some sort of weird modern art.
With a reverse side of a small paint brush,, poke 2 small holes for eye sockets. I rolled two small balls of blue porcelain and inserted them in the holes.

At this point, I add a small piece of black porcelain for pupils then a white dot for a highlight.

I then swirled 2 small cylinders together to make a horn, and added ears. Remember at this point, the clay is kept soft, and changes can be made to the particular pose you may want.Is he looking at you? Behind you at the faerie, floating over your shoulder? What ever he may be looking at or thinking, think of this when adding the eye lids, too heavy, he may look sleepy, nap time. Too high, he is just surprised.

I use a small extruder for the next step, adding the mane and tail, this part is fun, you can make the hair as long, thick,this or curly as you want. There are different sizes of the dies inserted into the mini extruder, for the look you want. Squirt it out, have fun. Don’t forget to add water to the neck area where applying this, or it won’t stay attached as it dries out. A hairless horsie!

All of a sudden you have a creature looking at you, can he breathe? have you created nostrils, how about a mouth?

Here I decorated him, I guess he is now a she, with some pink flowers and green leaves, still needs a little something, so I add a bird for her to talk to.

Now the hard part, waiting she goes into the kiln after thoughly drying out, if she is wet, KAAABOOMMMMM!

Shrapnel everywhere in kiln. Pieces destroyed, a big mess to clean up, so we wait and let her dry out, usually about 2 weeks.

Here she is , sitting in kiln with the others.

Updates coming soon, watch for bisque firing, next, the glazing, then golding……..

Christmas Blessings

2008-12-26T16:37:00.003-05:00

While everyone in my family was not home for the holiday, we had a wonderful day enjoying each other, playing with the pets, and treating each other to a wonderful day. We took many pictures of each other, here is me and Kira. (this may be the only time you see a picture of me!) Life is a blessing, as we may not all be together, we are together in our heart and soul, and wait for the wonderful day which we all may be together once again.

"When the cold of winter comes
Starless night will cover day
In the veiling of the sun
We will walk in bitter rain

But in dreams
I can hear your name
And in dreams
We will meet again

When the seas and mountains fall
And we come, to end of days
In the dark I hear a call
Calling me there,
I will go there
And back again"
-Tolkien

Believe....

2008-12-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

"IN THE MOMENTS OF OUR LIVES
BOTH THE JOYOUS AND THE TRAGIC
IF THE TRUTH IS TO BE TOLD
WE ARE ALL PURSUING MAGIC

AND THE MAGIC THAT WE SEEK
AS WE'RE SURE YOU HAVE DISCOVERED
CAN BE FOUND IN CERTAIN PLACES
FAR MORE EASILY THAN OTHERS

IN THE SAND BENEATH THE SPHINX
IN THE DREAMS OF CANDLELIGHT
BUT THE SUREST PLACE OF ALL
IS IN THE FORGIVING WORLD OF NIGHT

AND OF ALL THE NIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
THAT COME AND GENTLY LEAVE
NONE HOLD THE DREAM OF MAGIC
LIKE THE EVENING, CHRISTMAS EVE"

-Paul O'Neill

Christmas Eve and other Stories

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Merry Christmas from The Magic Sleigh!

My Christmas Mural/Tree

2008-12-21T21:25:00.011-05:00

This is my wall of my studio. (4' wide x 6"high) I painted it for a couple of reasons, its hard to keep making Christmas Ornaments in July in Florida, and the second was for my beautiful kitty. This kitty is the reason for all of the ornaments I make throughout the year. He has passed to the rainbow bridge many years ago. he was my best friend, my heart kitty, his name was Merlin.
Merlin is what got me started in making Christmas Ornaments. I had a tree, and no money, so I wanted to make some ornaments. I thought, I have cats, I could make an ornament to match each kitty. So, how do I make them? I learned how to make bread dough ornaments. From there I sculpted in bread dough, making several hundred of these ornaments, selling them at craft shows, friends and family. Then I got frustrated. I couldn't do with the dough what I wanted to do, so I took a pottery class and learned how to work in fired clay, bought a kiln, now 16 years later, here I am still making kitties! (Yes, doggies too!)

I also make a White Angel Kitty Christmas tree every year. I love the way porcelain shines in the light of a tree, every ornament, with a couple of exceptions are white angels kitties. I decorated three full sized trees this year. (one of the benefits of being a Christmas Ornament designer!)

Hey! Who put the Husky Ornament on the Kitty tree!

Kira and Scampi wish you Happy Holidays!

2008-12-19T08:54:00.003-05:00