One World One Heart Blog Event

I am coming to this One World One Heart blog event a little late - but I am in time to take part, which is the important thing! Many kudos to Lisa over at a whimsical bohemian for organizing this incredibly huge blog event. If you want to read more about the event, go to the One World One Heart blog and read about it. It really is amazing! I am looking forward to meeting some new people and getting to know other artists and bloggers around the world.

And so,without further ado, here is the giveaway from mrs beadsley of maine - a handcrafted copper freeform heart pendant with Swarovski crystals, fresh water pearls, and some vintage crystals wrapped in square copper wire. *edited to add - this is the same pendant - just two different views*

So, if you are an active blogger, please leave a comment here for me. I will be closing this post to comments on midnight of Feb 11th, at which time I will randomly choose a winner and post the winner here on February 12th. Please make sure when you leave a comment, you also leave your email address so I can get in touch with you.

If I haven't said it already, good to meet you!!!

New Beads - new bracelet

LOVE these new beads I got from Magpie Gemstones - wine red fluorite, huge amazonite and some FABU copper spacers - and I love how they all look together. I used some square copper wire, the amazonite rounds, flanked them with the copper spacers and wine red fluorite (which I think looks so rich), handcrafted a spiral "S" clasp and Voila - it is a bracelet! My muse has been noticeably absent these past few weeks, but am hoping she is planning to return sometime soon. Until then, this is the fruit of my labors!

A Special Sale at mrs beadsley of maine

Today through February 6 mrs beadsley of maine will be donating 100% of sales to the Maine Poodle Rescue Organization, of which I am a member. We recently rescued 12 dogs (2 adults, one of which we are fostering, and 10 five month old puppies)that all need to be spayed/neutered and two of which need serious dental work. All that is expensive, and since we are a not for profit organization, we rely on the kindness of others to help us do this work. Since I am owned by 4 standard poodles, all of whom have been rescued, I have to do my part to help raise some of the money needed to get these guys back to being healthy.


The hardest part of this is that these things continue to happen..........these dogs are part of a (seemingly) never ending supply of abused and neglected dogs that have been chained up, penned in, and used up all for the sake of making puppies, puppies and more puppies. I know that it isn't possible to close down every single puppy mill, or to stop people from abusing animals, but I do know that I can be there for those dogs that need help - and with help and donations that is the goal of Maine Poodle Rescue. Consider making a purchase - buy some bling and help a poodle! You'll be glad you did!

Here's my four guys - look at those faces!!!!

Nina Simone, Simon Schuster, Theodore Poodopolis and Ranger Dangerfield.

Down a Road Less Traveled.......

on this blog, anyway. The newest member of our family arrived a little more than three weeks ago. He is a 7 year old standard poodle named Ranger (formerly Raven) who arrived in really sad shape. He was the stud for (what I would consider) a puppy mill - he lived in a barn in not so stellar conditions and he was just a really sad boy when he arrived. We cleaned him up, rough cut his hair (he was very shy and not comfortable with being touched) and then let the rest of the dogs take care of him. They did a really good job, coaxed him out of his shell, disabused him of any "alpha male" fantasies and actually accepted him - he now uses his own voice, initiates play, shows physical affection and let us run the clippers over his face, tail and feet.


The before picture was taken the day he got here









The after was taken three days ago. He's a happy boy now. There is something so uplifting about watching a dog transform the way Ranger has transformed - if you're thinking about getting a dog, check with a local shelter or look for rescue organizations in your area. Ranger came to us through a Standard Poodle Rescue group here in Maine, and as a matter of fact all 4 of our dogs are rescue dogs - and that makes a family!

**and as they say, now down off my soapbox..........stay tuned for regularly scheduled program of jewelry blogs!**