Chai

 I have not posted in so long. It took Chai to drag me out of hiding. Today while looking through my old show book.. photos of past dogs that I used to take to the International Miniature Show so I could have examples on my table, I came across a couple pictures of a little dog I made many years ago. Often when I start to make someones pet I get to know the owner a bit over the process.  This owner and I connected strongly a friendship was born.  We got started on a project together. She is an incredibly talented lady herself. Suddenly she had to cancel a health issue got in the way. We lost track or I lost track of her. I searched and searched for word of her. Knowing she was possibly very ill I feared the worst.  I can't even actually remember how I found her name and wrote "is this you?" She replied YES ha ha.. I was so delighted to know she with me again. We continue our close friendship from afar. Like so many people I am  close to we have not met in person.  I am happy we were connected again so I could be there with her when the darling real Chai passed away. Dogs they bring us joy,sorrow,delight, and pain for me they also bring the most wonderful people into my life. I am forever grateful to Dogs.. It is after all All About the Dogs! Below are a few pictures of little Chai my friends own  cute setting.

Pepper

 Pepper! It started out so joyful.. Pepper's owner won a prize of a Custom Dog from me.  Making someones pet is never taken lightly. I know from my own love for dogs our pets are family members.. each one is unique, special and so very important to our happiness.  After being in touch with Pepper's owner so we could arrange for the photos and possibly fur this time.. the next message had a different tone! Pepper had just been diagnoses with a aggressive serious cancer that was certain to take her life.  Sadly something I am very familiar with losing two of my own wonderful dogs to this terrible killer. This paused the process because there was grief and planning now it's suddenly a memorial piece. Unexpected yes but we moved on.  Fur came in the mail.. sweet smelling soft wonderful Pepper fur. My heart is touched as I stroke and prepare her fur. This time I had to use all her fur it was just how it had to be. Often it is a real struggle using the real dog fur.. had to be for Pepper.I study the photos and study that expression.. oh that Cocker Spaniel expression!  Getting closer to feeling Pepper I connected with her it seems. The piece to me was her.. I am a crazy dog lady everyone knows.  I accept that moniker I fell a connection to them... it is as if a part reaches out because this little soul is not done comforting her human. Below are pictures of Pepper and Pepper with her mini..it is my blessing to be honored with bringing back a bit of our loved animal.. they always leave us too soon.

A Cat called Miou

       The title of my blog is All Dogs.. today it is all Miou
 A little kitty that lives in Germany. Not really a kitty anymore Miou is a old boy cat. He is simply the child the love the everything of one of my dearest of all friends. My friend is a incredibly talented lady in many forms of art.. a incredible musician, singer, piano teacher and incredible miniaturist. The Miniaturist part is where Miou comes in. The combination of love for this cat and the miniature house in need of a pet got me to thinking, it is time to make a Mini Miou.  I had no idea one of my friends other great talents is photography! So what follows are pictures I just find so enjoyable and incredibly realistic. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do..

The Trio

Called these three dog the Trio! Merlin, Magic, and Mystic. Three agility dogs with a request for action pieces. It did not take me long to learn just what action dogs these really are in life.. two getting old now but still doing their moves. Owners are just a plus to my artwork.  Usually becoming long time friends the dogs just bring us together... they love them I love them and that makes for a great connection. I was delighted to open my email to photos of the real dogs and the minis... I love to include them on my website and show them off for the owners. Always proud when the pieces are complete and the owners are thrilled. It really can't be any other way. Below you will see the wonderful pictures I was delighted to see this morning.. hope you enjoy them as much as I do


Mystic

Merlin

Magic

My Pieces

Clearly I love what I do.. today for instance I just took out this large Borzoi that has been with me for many years. One of my favorite breeds to make this one is special. Odd how my relationship with the Art reflects my real passion for dogs. Enjoying posing them and seeing the expression on their face makes me dream back to the day of playing.. My son once said "so really you just play all day with dogs and say its work" could it be true? Today it was true.. just took this big dog outside and enjoyed what I see as a really beautiful dog the line between reality can become thin...I hope you enjoy seeing this dog that I love again and again ...

Happy Birthday Angel

  I love dogs..everyone that knows me knows...each conversation I have with the dog lover is personal to me If it is a loved pet or a copy of a piece someone has seen me make before they are all important to me. This was the case with this special commission. A grandmother wrote me with a request for a copy of the Shepherd in my hand.. I learned it was to be a birthday gift for her granddaughter. After pointing out they are not toys we proceeded. She was clear it was not a toy and Angel knew that as well. She is about to be 10 same age as my own little granddaughter. Touches the little girl in me to imagine having a piece like this myself at that age. My dog obsession started I guess the day I was born. Grandma and I talked, my work is not cheap. Quite the gift for a grandchild! A German Shepherd Dog I had here already, even though Angel (granddaughter) said was quite nice it was not the one she had seen in my hand..it was not the one she was dreaming of having.  Enough said.. I had much time to get the dog made for her grandma was on top of this and knew it would take time to make.. I found myself so involved with this dog, I am always totally absorbed in my work however I kept imagining this little girl one of my people so in love with dogs that all she wants is this to make her so happy... to have the ability to give this to her just filled me with a certain joy. Knowing she had the spot for it to sit and thinking of her admiring her own little Shepherd in her own hand I just had to do this dog with the most sweet face to look at this child. So the dog is complete the grandma is happy and little Angel is awaiting this gift to be opened on her birthday! Of course I fell in love with him myself.. always a problem. Way to in love with the mini dogs myself. It does drive my work that love so I am not complaining however it is many little goodbyes as they leave for the post office.. below is pictures of Angels dog. Wonder what she will name him.

Roi

One of my absolute favorite dogs to make are the Sighthounds. This wonderful memorial piece had a special job. He was going to be the comfort for a elderly lady that was about to undergo hip surgery.. Roi was her constant companion in life and now more than ever he was missed! Other new Whippets in the household did their job to comfort but we all know about those heart dogs.  The request came from her daughter I began Roi right away so he could get to Australia in time for the surgery. Happy to say he made it in time and Mum is coming along well now. I like to think little Roi is helping her with the pain of surgery and loss of a four legged companion.  The hard part of my artwork at times is knowing the powerful love involved in our pets and bringing a memory back is a task I take very personal. I have had to say goodbye myself to more than one. More and more my artwork is doing just what I had hoped.. giving a physical reminder of a member of our family often times much closer than the humans we live with. Dogs are so very special to me there is no other way I can be closer to them.. I guess that is what I have always wanted to be close to them!