Rescue Dogs

Before                                                        After

Today I just realized that our "pup" is no longer the ball of pooch she was when we brought her home.

Cedar on her first day home December 2010


Thanks to the Central Washington Humane Society- we found this little sweetheart to be a companion to our sweet Tahoe after our first dog Timber tragically passed away.

Kevin and Our Dearly missed Timber


Tahoe and her beautiful dog smile

Rescue dogs are friends and companions for life. Unlike breeders, shelters and rescues take dogs that otherwise wouldn't have a chance at a loving home, and provides them with the medical care, and loving attention they need. Without the shelters and rescues we wouldn't have the sweet girls we have today.

Timber was rescued by UnderDawgz in 2008. Tahoe in 2010. They have limited operation these days ,but a new rescue run by some amazing people is Salty Dog Rescue in Seattle is also one that is changing lives worldwide. We were doing some volunteering for a while with Underdawgz and Salty Dog Rescue at Immortal Dog in Seattle. We then had our late friend Rich adopt Pie formerly known as Jaydyn. All amazing pets, loving, smart and beautiful.

Pie

I urge you to check out the local shelter and Petfinder (carefully acknowledging that not all "rescues" are rescues) to find your new family member. Kevin and I could not be happier.

ReStore, ReUse, ReDecorate

I have been wanting to get to our local ReStore to find a project for the house. I finally managed to do this and came across three old single paned windows begging to come home with me. 

First a bit about ReStore:

It is managed by Habitat for Humanity of South Puget Sound who works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

I met one of the families in my office the other day and ended up having a long conversation about the group and its success. The woman I spoke with had recently moved into her Habitat Home and was telling me that she was trying to raise her children, go to school for nursing and build the home. Each family is required to work on the house for several hours per week.What an amazing group of people. Thinking green, thinking both locally and globally for a greater good.
I have been looking for more ways to keep my purchasing power local.  I think this makes the cut.

You can visit at http://www.spshabitat.org/ for more details.
 Now for the transformation:

Three salvaged window panes, dirty and rusted (about 9.00 each)

Needing some love

Taped off and painted with black latex paint

Mounting Hardware and some Tough Mounting Wire (around 6.00)

A little elbow grease to add the hardware

Finished Product hanging in the living room

Personalized Valentine Gift

I always try to find something really meaningful to give to my Husband on Valentine's Day, not in the Hallmark sort of way, but something I think he will really find sentimental.

One thing that is so dear to his heart is the idea of family. He loves our family. Our dogs and cats are a big part of that family. He usually takes a little time with each pet everyday to give them some attention and love. I really adore that quality in him.

So I commissioned a coworker's daughter who does "character" portraits while being a stay at home mom. Let me tell you that her style is unique and silly. I love it. So after showing her a few photos of my family she created her take on a family portrait. I framed it in a simple poster frame to hang with the rest of our "family" photos. 

If you don't have your own local hook-up in the art department, check out Etsy, there are always artists eagerly awaiting your commissions. If you like Stacey's work, I can try to pass along her information, just leave a comment.

 

Introductions:

Kevin

Me

Our Sweet and Missed Timber

Tahoe

Sam

Hans

Cedar

Flower Pin Mania

So after a morning of relaxation, I wanted to get a little crafty today while the dogs napped and my husband did his usual little projects around the house.  I had some felt, so I decided to make a few flowers to put onto pins to jazz up the many sweaters  I wear to work. I realized that this is an adorable and inexpensive way to decorate. I have broken it down to show how inexpensive it is.

Things you will need:

Felt Sheets (about 29¢ each at Michaels)

Hot Glue Gun and a few glue sticks (1.00 at DollarTree) 

Mini Glue Sticks (1.00 for a bag of 20 at DollarTree)

Scissors

Pin Backs or old button pins (60 for 2.99 at Michaels)

First cut the felt into 2 inch strips

 Then fold in half lengthwise, secure each end with a dab of glue

Then cut small slits halfway through the fold

Next, start to wrap in a circular motion keeping the straight edge flush to itself, securing halfway with another dab of glue on the edge.

Add glue to the flat part of the pin back, and Viola!

Maxi-Dress Extrordinaire

I felt crafty today.
Let's just say it all started with the idea of felted flowers with the leftover roving from the slippers.  Then came the eureka moment of "I have a lot of old t-shirts and tanks that have either been worn to much, have small stains, or just have become too shoved in the bottom of the drawer."

So I took the idea, made a pin- it was cute...but not enough to cure my need for crafting today. 

I found my scrap material bag and managed to find some old curtains that a friend had given to me in hopes of them having a second life.  Well, lets just say- what a life they will lead.  I managed to find an old tank that matched, pined some box pleats with the curtains onto the tank, sewed and viola- Maxidress!

Thanks to my new dress form given to me by my sweet husband, I have a well fitted, strongly constructed garment.   Can't wait to wear it on a spring day!