Sweet Dreams Designs

How lovely are these prints? They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! This UK artist has whimsical down to a "T". I'm in love with her work. Her guinea pig images brought me back to my teaching days, when my 1st grade class had a pair of cavies - Rosie and Bob - who were quite the amorous pair! It was a lot of fun for the kids (and me!) when Rosie gave birth to the cutest little piggies we'd ever seen! Just little golf ball sizes of fluff running around the cage! What fun!!

Check out her watercolors, originals, prints, and ACEOs.


For those of you who aren't sure what ACEOs are (like me until this post), here's a definition I found on Etsy: ACEOs (Art Cards Editions or Originals). Right now a lot of people are starting to collect ACEOs. They are collectible miniature artworks that can be created in any variety of media - originals or prints. The main rule is that they measure 3.5 x 2.5 inches. They are small, low cost examples of artists' work so this allows people to collect a variety of different types of art. You can put them in a photo album on your living room table , frame them or leave them in a basket for everyone to enjoy. The hope is that when someone sees a sample of an artist's work they'll be inspired to purchase a larger piece for their home or as a gift.

For more information on Sweet Dreams Design's website,Watercolors; Originals, Prints, and ACEOs check out her Etsy Shop. For greeting cards and key chains go to her ZoZo Etsy shop. And for 3D textiles, checkout this one. I almost forgot to mention that SweetDreamsDesigns is also a member of Handmade4Hounds,so she's an artist who gives back! And you've gotta love that!!!

Art of The Greyhound

One of my favorite greyhound artists is a fellow Etsian and also a member of handmade4hounds! Let me introduce you to you Sarah Regan Snaveley and Art of the Greyhound:


Sarah's website explains that in 1995, Sarah called the Greyhound Pets of America 800 number for the nearest Greyhound adoption group. She drove a ten hours drive to meet Sterling, a fawn-colored male who had flunked off the track before he turned two years old. Sterling graciously modeled for many of the art works created while Sarah earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It was this amazing breed with the sensitive and gentle nature that captured Sarah’s imagination.


Sarah’s work focuses on the rich, often subtle, body language of her subjects: the ear carriage, the tightening of facial muscles, the incline of the head. All are used as tools to invite the viewer into Snavely’s vision of the Greyhound soul. Whether the medium is two or three dimensional the connection between the Artist and the Greyhound is always evident.



My mother was a sculptor and ceramicist (she preferred to be called a potter) and I've spent years with my mother in her studio playing in the clay. Which makes my appreciation of Sarah's work all the more great - from the molding and rolling of wet clay to the firings and glazing, this is not only hard work, but takes an incredible amount of talent to do what Sarah does! Her work is truly unique and flawless.


Sarah’s work is displayed in public and private collections in fifteen countries as well as all fifty United States. She regularly exhibits in juried art shows nationwide and has received numerous honors including an award at the prestigious Art Show at the Dog Show. Sarah and her pack of Greyhounds live in a small town in southwestern North Dakota. You can find out more about Sarah by visiting her Website and Blog (which is fantastic! I've added her to my blogroll). I also suggest checking out her Etsy Store as well!

April Doggies

ToadBriar

Welcome to the whimsical world of ToadBriar! I get lost in the magic of these amazing paintings. Take this Cozy Fairy Tale Thank You Toad Firefly painting for instance. It is so lovely and immediately takes me back to the days I would sit on my mothers lap as a child and we would read together.


"Under the hedgerow, a little toad reads his Fairy Tale book about The Frog Prince. Night is falling, light is fading .... until a firefly casts his warm light for Toad to read by. This is a warm cozy painting that says "thank you".


The artist, Kim Parkhurst's love of greyhounds (and perhaps whippets too) is apparent in these gorgeous portraits. I feel like I could sit down to drink a cup of tea and engage in witty conversation with this guy:


Parkhurst, makes all sorts of art, from paintings and prints to dolls, vintage style teddy bears, and sculptures. She even spins wool on her very own spinning wheel! (Something I grew up doing as well with the wool shorn from our own sheep, small world)! You can find more of her work, including card sets, in her ToadBriar Etsy Shop.

BowWowBeds

BowWowBeds are incredible! An innovative design that has No Zipper! It's Durable! Unique! Practical! Completely Machine Washable & Dryer Safe! The creator and owner of BowWowBeds is also a member of Handmade4Hounds, so she gives back to the doggies she makes beds for!

BowWowBeds are dog bed covers custom made from durable Duck Canvas. Same TOUGH material used Sails, Humvee Tops & Backpacks! Makes a wonderful comfy bed for your pet! Beds come in four colors: Hunter Green, Jet Black, Drab Olive & Natural.

And the best part is that the designer will personalize your Bow Wow Bed by painting your Dog’s Name, Paw Print or Dog Bone for FREE! The letters measure 2 inches. The paw & bone measure about 1.5 to 2 inches. Once painted (non toxic, permanent) the fabric can then be washed 72 hours later.


Look how well they fit into the back of your car for easy traveling!


And look how comfortable and relaxed these hounds look on their new BowWowBeds!


You can find out more about these fabulously durable and chic beds by visiting BowWow's Etsy shop and website.

Isabell

Isabell, originally uploaded by ClassicHound.

How cute is this little Iggie? Not only is she looking absolutely fabulous in her new Chocolate Blossom martingale, she's also Classic Hound's April Photo Contest Winner! Congratulations to Isabell and her family! Isabell will enjoy a $20.00 Gift certificate that she can use towards any Classic Hound Purchase! Learn more about Classic Hound's photo contest by clicking here.

Dobé and Fiebe

One of my most FAVORITE blogs ever! The most amazing photographs of whippets anywhere, can be found in Belgium. Two whippets, Dobé and Fiebe, are two gorgeous, happy, and well-loved pups. This site is definitely worth checking out for the phenomenal pictures and amazingly video clips of the girls as well.

Whippets are such fun, agile, FAST little creatures - and Dobé and Fiebe really exhibit all these traits to the max! Get lost in this site and watch these two whippies (they are actually sisters) grow up from puppyhood (sooo cute!) and see what their up to today at dobe.com!

Oprah Exposes Puppy Mills

Bill Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue, pleaded with Oprah last month through a billboard just off the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago that read, "Oprah: Do a show on puppy mills. The dogs need you."

"Every year, Bill and several volunteers rescue hundreds of abused, unwanted or abandoned animals, rehabilitate them and adopt them out to families. Many of the animals Bill rescues come from puppy mills, which he describes as places where bad breeders care more about the profit they make from puppies than the health or welfare of the animals. He says the dogs in puppy mills face deplorable conditions including inbreeding, minimal or no vet care, limited shelter and overcrowded cages" (oprah.com).


Oprah along with Lisa Ling and Bill Smith exposed the horrifying world of puppy mills on her show yesterday. Why are we supporting a trade that pumps out little puppies, when there are SO MANY dogs in shelters just waiting for good homes? Not to mention the thousands that are euthanized every day? We do have a responsibility to protect these animals and it just makes me sick to know this is not only happening but LEGAL too.

Check out these beauties! Rescued from certain death and here they are thriving! These three doggies were saved by Bill, who says several of the dogs he and Lisa rescued were named in honor of their appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. "We have a 'Gayle' (pictured, on the right)and we have an 'Oprah' (left) and we have a 'Stedman (middle),'" he says.

Resources from Oprah's site to help us fight puppy mills:

Main Line Animal Rescue
The Humane Society of the United States
Lange Foundation
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Petfinder
Adoption service associated with the Animal Planet television series, including links to shelters across North America.
Dogs in Danger
Pets 911
Features searchable lost and found dogs and information about neutering, adoption and training.
World Animal Net
Search for local shelters and adoptable pets.
PetHarbor
Search for local shelters, rescues and adoptable pets.
Best Friends Animal Society
Largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country

Visit Oprah's website for more information.