Oh, Happy Day!!!

by caverjules from Obama Craft Flickr pool


Happy Inauguration day everyone!!!! Here's to hope, change and a more perfect union! Peace.

One more dog post...

I promise this will be it for awhile, but here is what The Washington Post was suggesting for the new White House dog!

Given all factors considered, though, we're going for something else. We're going with something fitted to your size, physique and the temperament of your chief of staff. Yes, we're talking about what the AKC calls "the well-conditioned middleweight athlete of dogdom," the boxer!

Even better, the agency's Web site says, "The breed is known for standing up on its hind legs and batting at its opponent, appearing to box with its front paws." Perfect for dealing with Congress!

Not that we've forgotten about the kids. The AKC: "One of the breed's most notable characteristics is its desire for human affection, especially from children. They are patient and spirited with children, but also protective, making them a popular choice for families."

It's just a thought, sir. But given the nature of your new job, we think you might need a good friend who doesn't think much of newspapers, never reads popularity polls and always reminds you to keep your left up.

Now, let's just hope the Obama's consider adoption! Maybe people would give it a second thought if the "First Dog" was a rescue. Happy weekend everyone!

It's a dogs life

This isn't a post about jewelry, craft or dandelion blu, this is a post about me and my dogs. Last night I sobbed my way through "Marley & Me." I know, I know, I'm not a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston, and it was pretty sappy at parts, but it was also a thoughtful and funny dedication to a dogs life. Plenty of people have said "oh, another dog movie," but what made "Marley and Me," different for me from "Lassie," "Benji," and your other typical disney-fied dog hero movies, was that Marley was definitely not a hero.

He was your typical over excited, under exercised, undisciplined, rowdy, rude, replacement or "practice baby," averagely intelligent American dog. What most of us have. And to the Grogan's (the book and movie owners) he was family. I find myself offended when people make the remark "it's ONLY a dog," inferring that these sensitive creatures don't deserve much more thought and care then this years newest tech toy. And being involved with rescue, that is an all too familiar opinion I find myself faced with.
For some reason, people think that it's ok to get a puppy, love it, indulge it, never train it, treat it like their child, and then give it away when it gets too big for their apt, chews up their couch, they have a real baby, or the dog just doesn't suit their busy lives anymore. At one point in "Marley and Me," I thought that this tragic ending was going to come true for Marley. But it didn't, even at her most frustrated and exhausted with babies and an unruly dog, Jen Grogran recognized the commitment they had made to Marley and all his faults when they had brought him home, and that he was part of the family.
Yes, the movie was a bit drippy with saccharine, and it had a an inevitably sad ending, but it really got me thinking about the relationship people have with their dogs. Dogs enjoy a simple relationship with their humans- they love you no matter what. Even when I am so surly I am not really deserving of any one's or any thing's love, let alone respect, my dogs will always be happy to see me. They make me happy, laugh, get my butt off the couch for exercise, they are my alarm clock, have led me to meet new people, comfort me, protect me, and are happy to just be with me. How many people can you say that about?
The only downfall of sharing your life with dogs is that they live relatively short lives compared to ours, something every dog lover must face one day. I think they have amazing lessons to teach us in their short time here- about companionship, love, loyalty and forgiveness. So forgive me if I bristle when people say "it's only a dog" when I am rushing home to let them out, or a looking for dog friendly vacations. I want to give them the best life I can and enjoy our time together, because to us it may be just a walk in the park, but to them it's everything.

Wishful Thinking

My nifty indoor/outdoor thermometer says it's 64 degrees inside and 23 degrees outside here in Charm City, and it's only going to get colder. Nowhere near the extreme of 38 degrees BELOW 0 that Minneapolis is experiencing, but it's still pretty frigid. It's too cold for me to work in my basement studio today, too cold to take pictures outside- what's a girl to do? So I dug up this little gem that I photographed earlier in the year but never posted. I know, it's a peony, one of my favorite springtime flowers, but it's making me think of the warmer days to come, working in my garden and enjoying the outdoors without risk of frost bite. This is the first peony pendant in this size, the others are large on sterling. Enamel on copper, 1.5" in diameter, perfect for spring time- even though we are still months away... :) Posted in the shop today!

Graffiti Rounds

So I am trying to get all my stock photographed and uploaded to my shop, after a sort of slooooowwww holiday show season, I have a ton of stock. Why not indulge in some matching earrings for my Pick of the Week item, the Bird Nest Choker? These earrings are part of my Graffiti Rounds series. Enamel on copper with hand formed and hammered sterling silver ear wires. They are appx. the size of quarters and dangle nicely from the ear. They can be found in the shop today!

Pick of the Week is Back!!!

Sorry to be so slow with posting lately, I'm really trying to get back into the groove of things after my holiday hangover. So I figured I'd re-start my "Pick of the Week" sale in the shop to hopefully jump start my 2009 sales. So here she is, looking towards spring! A lovely little birds nest choker. Enamel on copper with sterling silver chain and findings. If the winter blahhs have got you down, what better way to cheer yourself up a bit?
This choker can be found here. Have a good day everybody!

New Year Resolutions

Now, I've given up on New Year resolutions- I find myself with the best intentions and then just not able to live up to them. So I call them New Year "Anticipated Improvements." So one of my "anticipated improvements" this year is to work on the branding, and business aspects of Dandelion Blu. The first of which is to create a professional looking line sheet or whole sale catalog. But if you are like me getting started is the biggest hurdle. So why not get some help?? And help is on the way! BEST is hosting a business meetup on Jan. 25th to get your new year and crafty business started off with a bang! Here are the details:

If one of your resolutions is to start up or refresh your craft business, we have a workshop for you! BEST will be hosting its first business meetup at the Creative Alliance on Sunday, January 25th. The meetup will feature roundtable discussions led by Cynthia Blake Sanders, MD Lawyers for the Arts; Rebecca Cason, former director of the Buyer's Market of American Craft; Jen Menkhaus, working crafter and one of the founders of the Baltimore Street Team; Nita Gale, web designer; Ariella Levin of Baltimore's Best Bookkeeper; and Thomas Wynn, professional photographer. Practical discussions will include legal and accounting basics; marketing, wholesale and pricing; and looking your best– on the web and in promo photos. Lunch will be provided, a great time to get connected with other local artists and crafters to make new friends, show off your work, and share ideas. Come join us!

Details:
Sun Jan 25. 10am-2:30pm.
Adv reg $25, $20 CA & BEST mbrs. Walk-in $30, $25 CA & BEST mbrs. Includes lunch.

Register here.

Hope to see you there!