This is Jack. His Mama won the drawing for a free mini portrait (5" by 7") last year, and now she has a sweet little keepsake for years to come. You could win a mini portrait of one of your pets if you stop by my open house next Saturday, Dec. 2nd: So, maybe you won't win the portrait, but maybe you'll win a personalized paw print pendant (available with a dog paw print, cat paw print, or horseshoe print). It would look like this: Still don't think you'd be a lucky winner? Well, not everyone can win all the time, but I still have a little something for you just for coming by (at least for about the first 30 people or so)...just to say "Thanks for coming by." I hope you'll consider stopping in...Saturday, Dec. 2nd....11 am to 4 pm...contact me for directions.
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Last Saturday evening, the Delaware County Humane Society (http://www.hsdcohio.org) held their annual fundraiser, the Fur Ball, at the Medallion Club in Westerville. I was honored to have a portrait commission offered at their live auction. It is my understanding that it made a healthy amount of $$$ for the humane society, which makes me very happy. Some very nice and thoughtful portrait customers of mine made the experience remarkably easy for me by doing all the legwork and setup and using their own portraits as samples. All I had to do was say, "Okay," and it was done, which was great because I am swept up in the chaos of details that happens when you are preparing to put your life on hold for a little while, as I am preparing for some major surgery soon. If that is what it feels like to delegate, I like it! They and the folks from the humane society did a great job with the display, and I appreciate their efforts! I also appreciate the bidding that took place, and many thanks to the winning bidder. I look forward to creating a really special portrait for you! Thanks for the photo Jason!
It's hard to feel gratitude when you're grieving. It's easier to feel angry,and cheated, and depressed. But feeling those things wouldn't honor Teddy, his memory, or the God that have him to me. And even though my heart is broken and I miss Teddy terribly, I have a lot to be thankful for. For one thing, take a look at the cards and flowers we received to mark his passing. And that doesn't include the email, blog comments, phone calls and in-person support from a number of other friends, and family. I am deeply thankful for each and every one of those cards and comments and calls, for the effort expended in selecting or making those cards and actually mailing them. I will keep them always as part of Teddy's scrapbook, and I'll print out those emails and comments, too. Thank you all for validating the loss of a very best friend. I am also thankful that I had a great dog for ten years, that I was able to spend a lot of time with him during those ten years, that, up until this final illness, those ten years were really healthy and happy. I am thankful for the ad in the paper and the phone call from my mother and the chain of events that led me to him. I am thankful for every walk I had with him almost every night for ten years, an activity which is probably one of my greatest joys in life...walking my dog, listening to my iPod, especially under the night sky in the brisk of fall and winter. This winter will not be the same. I am thankful that we had the funds to give him the best medical care available and that Teddy was treated so well by all the hands that helped him, even right up to the end. I am thankful for, in the words of my vet, a gentle death, and two kind and understanding people to help him make that transition. Teddy was the only being in that room that didn't struggle that evening. I am beyond thankful for a husband who understands "how I am" about my dogs and didn't bulk at extraordinary vet bills (buying time is very expensive) and stepped in when I couldn't do any more and who was willing to sleep on the couch downstairs so I wouldn't be alone with Teddy on his last night because Teddy could not climb the stairs one more time. [He's also really great about a lot of other stuff (see "four Christmas trees," below...).] Being thankful and feeling gratitude doesn't erase the pain, but it makes it worth it. Sometimes great joy brings great pain, but it's worth it. Teddy was worth every tear and every dollar. I think that's what gratitude does...it changes your perspective. In every thing give thanks...Thessalonians 5:18. Amen. I decided to go ahead with my Holiday Open House this year. I started planning it prior to losing Teddy, knowing that it may not happen depending on his health. After losing him, now two weeks ago, I thought it would be good to follow through with it. It would keep me moving forward. So, you might consider it a kind of therapy for me. If you've never been before and are thinking about coming, just know that I would be delighted to have you stop by. I offer my jewelry for sale, but it's really about the opportunity to get to know you or to visit with you a little, especially in an atmosphere that isn't rain-soaked or bug infested or miserably hot or humid, like it so often is at the arts festivals. So I hope you'll consider stopping in on Dec. 5th. I even have a few pieces that are not pet-related, so if you're bringing a friend that's not really into animals, why are you friends? No, no....even they will have something that might interest them. Here are a few photos from last year and some for this year: So, if you're on the fence, maybe becoming a little familiar with it will win you over. If you're looking at this and are not on my emailing list or didn't get a little printed invitation, you can still come...I'd love it if you did! Just send me a message in the "contact me" area of my website, and I'll send you all the info. So, I hope to see you there!
Have you ever been to Wag Fest? Neither have I, but I'm going this year, as a vendor that is. It's on August 22 (Saturday) at the Prairie Oaks Metro Park in Hilliard. It sounds like fun for people and their pups, as Prairie Oaks is a pretty dog-friendly park, with walking trails and a swimming area for dogs, and the festival is full of dog-purtunites for dogs and their people, with dozens of vendors (like me) and activities. For all the info, check out their website: www.wagfest.com.
So you're wondering how Teddy is doing? Well, he's happy, and that's the most important thing. He also appears to be healthy, which is also great. There have been a couple of blips on his journey toward wellness...One is that he has not been eating as joyfully as he used to. We could always count on Teddy to be our chow hound, relishing anything remotely edible and usually asking for more. But lately, he has been slow to finish his morning meal, and won't even consider it without a healthy dose of cheese on top. Same for his dinner. The post-dinner rawhide strip doesn't get much of his attention either. Now, he happily takes any piece of chicken offered to him and pretty much knocked out an Egg McMuffin (without the bacon) this morning (and yes, Maggie got her share of it, too), but his appetite is not the same. So, he was taken off his maintenance chemotherapy pills and put back on his pre-kidney disease food. He is also on an anti-nausea drug. He's going to OSU for an exam on Monday, and we're going to try to figure out what's keeping our little guy from enjoying his food. Maggie has finally lost the last of the residual skunk stink on her head. It was only noticeable when you'd pick her up and hold her, and then only if we gave her a kiss on the top of her head. So, now she's stink-free, and more kissable than ever. The German Village Art Crawl is happening this Saturday, July 18, from 5 pm to 9 pm along Macon Alley in the heart of German Village. It's a fun evening, with 30-some artists hanging out in garages along the alley, local restaurants offering nibbles, and live music. Your admission fee ($20) gets you tickets that you redeem for nibbles and sips at the food sites. And there are lots of restaurants in the area to go to before or after the Crawl if you need more than a nibble. The people who live in German Village love a party, and they are gracious hosts and very nice folks. I am lucky enough to have the same wonderful hosts as last year (yay!), which means I am in the same location as last year. I have to say, as an artist, this is probably my favorite event to do because it is so much fun...and I spend the whole evening in a garage! Just imagine the fun you can have out there, walking around...eating good stuff....sipping some libations...shopping for art, or just looking at it...hanging out with the good people of German Village. I almost wish I were you! Click here to read all the info from the source and to buy tickets. I hope to see you there!
I'm having a holiday open house, and you're invited!
A great opportunity to pick up something for the animal lovers on your holiday shopping list, and a nice break from shopping at the mall! There will be refreshments, an opportunity to meet Teddy and Maggie, and a chance to win some jewelry and a mini portrait. Everyone who makes a purchase can choose an envelope from the Christmas Tree for their very own discount. So, where is this place?? It's at my home, and I'll be happy to provide directions if you go to "contact me" and send me a message saying that you'd like to come. I hope you will!! This coming Friday and Saturday is the Studio Sale at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. I will be there both days, with jewelry only. Here's the official postcard for the event: Front BackThere is a Facebook promotion for this event (through Nov. 13th) whereby the Cultural Arts Center is giving away ART cash (a couple of certificates to be used like cash) for any purchase at the event. For information about that and a chance to win, visit https://www.facebook.com/columbusculturalartscenter. You can also find out more about the sale and the center on their Facehbook page. In case you can't read the address on the card above, it is 139 W. Main Street, Columubus, OH 43215. It is across the street (Main St.) from Bicentennial Park, at the corner of W. Main and Second Street. Parking is a bit of a hassle if you're not used to downtown. There are meters all over, and a couple of lots nearby...the one that comes to mind is at the northeast corner of W. Main and Second St., and there's one on of Mound Street just after crossing Front Street (Mound St. runs a block behind (south of) the arts center. Hopefully, parking won't be too bad in the lots because it will be after work hours and court hours (the arts center is not far from the Franklin County Courthouse.) I hope you'll give it a try! Here's a look at some pieces I'm working on....I hope at least some of them will be finished and ready for the studio sale! If you want a chance to shop some of my work for holiday gifts (or for yourself) and you can't make it to the sale at the Cultural Arts Center, I will be having an open house on Sat., Dec. 6th, but that information only goes out to my emailing list. So, if you're not on my emailing list, and you would like to come to the open house, or at least get notice about it, go to the "Contact Me" heading of my website and send me a message that you'd like to be added to my emailing list. I hope you will, as it would be great to see you at either event (or both!)
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All images and designs are copyrighted and the property of Dana Keating Marziale and may not be used or reproduced without express written permission. Copyright 2011