The Pampered Pooch

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  Gilda Radner

Boo getting groomed

 This last weekend I was dog sitting at The Pampered Pooch Vacation Retreat and Grooming Studio, a 21 acre hobby farm, 5 minutes away from our house in our historic village of Williamstown, Ontario. The owners Laura and Bill Budd are good friends of ours and had a wedding to go to so, we took over for the weekend. My husband took care of the horses, Willow, Duster and Poncho while, I was on dog duty. Luckily, Laura did not book a lot of dogs as she knew she would be away that weekend, so I had their two dogs Rudy, a labdoddle and Ginger, a goldendoddle, both are 9 months and full of energy. And Maurie, a shepherd mix, who was missing her family while they were vacationing in Wales. And of course I had my dog Boo, who after being there for two hours was begging to go home. These dogs get more activity and attention than most kids do. The dogs wake up and have breakfast, then have 3 hours of play time, then a nap, then 5 more hours of play, all outside in a huge fenced run. Then, they have supper another nap and one more hour outside before bed. At The Pampered Pooch it is ALL about the dogs!

The Pampered Pooch Vacation Retreat and Grooming Studio is truly a “ retreat” not a “kennel”  Laura treats all the dogs like they her own and gives each dog tons of attention, exercise and most of all love! Laura and Bill have created a home away from home for all four legged guests to play and socialize with other friendly dogs. They are not  what you would think of as a typical dog boarding kennel. And I had no idea how much work went into creating this fun, safe environment for the dogs. While I had a great time, I don’t think I will be giving up my day job! which by the way was designing Laura, logo and brochure, poster and business cards. If your dog needs grooming or if you are going on vacation I highly recommend The Pampered Pooch, check them out at www.pamperedpoochretreat.ca

Rudy, Ginger and Maurie

Renovations and New Beginnings

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.  Vincent van Gogh

We recently renovated our bedroom and en suite bathroom. In the midden or the hottest summer ever to hit Ontario we decided to start renovations. Our bedroom was done on impulse over 12 years ago after we had a house fire. My husband was seriously injured in the fire and was not expected  to live and was transported miles from home. So while he was in the hospital (over 5 months) I would come home and work with contractors and try to rebuild our home. Most of the second floor had to be redone, walls have to be rebuilt, fixtures, sinks, showers, carpets, curtains, furniture, colors had to be chosen, and all done while under stress. Everything was rushed! While it all looked good, it always reminded me of that horrible time in my life. We started with pulling up the dark blue carpets, that I don’t even remember picking and then things just snowballed after that. One thing lead to another  and before you know it the bathroom was getting done. All the walls are white in the bedroom now with bright color accents and the bathroom is white and turquoise. The comfort set and curtains are from www.anthropologie.com most of the other furniture is from www.johnsonsantiques.com

The one thing I wanted was the room to be light and happy. Now every time I walk into our room my heart sings, I cannot believe what a change this has been for me. I was finally letting go of the past and ready for a new beginning. And the most wonderful thing was my husband did everything for me for our anniversary gift. Years ago he was not expected to live with 78% of his body burnt and now he is renovating our home, life is an amazing thing!!!!

Boo on his princess bed

September Giveaway - on Etsy Stalker

Crazy Fox Studio is back on http://etsystalker.com/ for September, in one of the gallery shadowboxes, with a wonderful giveaway! Etsy Stalker features artists who have been hand-selected to bring you variety, creativity and style. Check out this great blog that offers wonderful giveaways and highlight some wonderful Etsy sellers through interviews and profiles, and share with other lovers of handmade goods. Thanks for all your great comments last month. Leave your comments all month and on October 6th, I’ll be picking 3 random winners! 1st prize, YOUR CHOICE of any NECKLACE on my site with free shipping. Pick any necklace you love and I’ll send it to you absolutely FREE! 

2nd prize is the below AGATE NECKLACE “Autumn Equinox” which includes free shipping. This necklace is perfect to wear with jeans, it is super-cute “without even trying.” That’s what I love about this necklace. It’s so simple, without even trying. Just the beauty of the agate's intricate burnt sienna swirls (2 x 1 inches) off-set by beige suede.  “Autumn Equinox” is a choker style necklace that measures 16 inches and will arrive gift wrapped with a vintage ribbon.

And 3rd prize are the below FEATHER EARRINGS “Harvest Moon” which includes free shipping. I made these earrings with a beautiful selection of all natural feathers. These feathers are securely clamped and hang from decorative copper cone with a copper bead at the top. Earrings are 3 inches in length and hang from copper ear wires. The are lightweight and comfortable to wear. "Harvest Moon" will arrive gift wrapped with a vintage ribbon.

2nd & 3rd prize  - www.etsy.com/shop/crazyfoxstudio

How to Enter:
1) Leave a comment on Etsy Stalker about your favorite piece of jewelry at Crazy Fox. (1 entry per day, please).

2) Follow Crazy Fox on Facebook, and leave a comment on Etsy Stalker with your Facebook user name saying you’ve done so.

3) Follow Crazy Fox on Twitter, and leave a comment on Etsy Stalker with your Twitter user name saying you’ve done so.

4) Follow the Crazy Fox blog!

Good luck and enter often!

2nd prize - Agate Necklace "Autumn Equinox"

3rd prize - feather earrings "Harvest Moon"

Thanks!

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. Oscar Wilde

The August Giveaway's have all been shipped out and I would like to thank everyone who left comments. Your comments are all so kind and thoughtful and encouraging! And I'm always surprised with the jewelry that people comment on and pick as their prizes. This month "Secret Love" was chosen. This necklace uses a Victorian coin purse made from a sea shell. These purses were sold at the seashore resorts as souvenirs. Tourists could hold coins, thimbles and even love letters in them. Most of these purses did not withstand the age of time, however, some of them were lucky and did survive. This purse has been repurposed into a necklace and is especially pretty because of the lovely shades of burnt sienna. It has a nice brass frame, closure, and hinge and opens from the bottom. I found this little coin purse at an auction sale in Eastern Ontario, it is in mint condition! I also attached 5 semi precious stones (found at the same auction on a brooch) in earthy tones. Very light-weight and unusual and perfect for your love notes! "Secret Love" is being sent to Minnesota with a tiny present inside for this August Giveaway Winner. Thanks again!

Secret Love - Victorian Coin Purse

 

AUGUST GIVEAWAY - on Etsy Stalker

One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to share it. Maya Angelou

Crazy Fox Studio is back on http://etsystalker.com/ for August, in one of the gallery shadowboxes, with a wonderful giveaway! Etsy Stalker features artists who have been hand-selected to bring you variety, creativity and style. Check out this great blog that offers wonderful giveaways and highlight some wonderful Etsy sellers through interviews and profiles, and share with other lovers of handmade goods. Thanks for all your great comments last month, I received so many comments that I won a free shadowbox for September, so be prepared for another Giveaway next month, with totally new giveaways!

Leave your comments all month and on September 6th, I’ll be picking 3 random winners! 1st prize, YOUR CHOICE of any NECKLACE on my site with free shipping. Pick any necklace you love and I’ll send it to you absolutely FREE! 

2nd prize are the below FEATHER EARRINGS “Gypsy Breeze” includes free shipping. I made these earrings with a beautiful selection of laced hen saddle feathers and fuschia, pink and black coque saddle feathers. These feathers are securely clamped and hang from decorative copper cone with a copper bead at the top. Earrings are 4.5 inches in length and hang from copper ear wires. The are lightweight and comfortable to wear and are perfect for a conjuring magic into your life! "Gypsy Breeze" will arrive gift wrapped with a vintage ribbon, ready for gift-giving or simply a gift for yourself.

And 3rd prize are the below VINTAGE BOBBY PINS “Gypsy Blossom” includes free shipping. These beautiful repurposed vintage burgundy 50s floral rhinestone earrings are mounted on to floral copper bobby pins (2 inch). They can be worn with pretty much anything from jeans to dresses to gowns! Incorporate these fun, feminine pieces into your wardrobe. “Gypsy Blossom” will arrive gift wrapped with a vintage ribbon, ready for gift-giving or simply a gift for yourself.

2nd & 3rd prize  - www.etsy.com/shop/crazyfoxstudio

 























How to Enter:
1) Leave a comment on Etsy Stalker about your favorite piece of jewelry at Crazy Fox. (1 entry per day, please).

2) Follow Crazy Fox on Facebook, and leave a comment on Etsy Stalker with your Facebook user name saying you’ve done so.

3) Follow Crazy Fox on Twitter, and leave a comment on Etsy Stalker with your Twitter user name saying you’ve done so.

4) Follow the Crazy Fox blog!

Good luck and enter often!

2nd prize - feather earrings "Gypsy Breeze"

3rd prize - vintage bobby pins - "Gypsy Blossom"

D. Johnson’s Antiques - best antique store in Canada!

“You have to have a passion for what you do!” Doug Johnson

D. Johnson’s Antiques is one of the best stocked shops in all of eastern Ontario, Doug and his shop are one-of-a-kind. Located just 1/2 mile north of the city of Cornwall, Ontario, on Hwy 138, with over 6,000 sq ft and more than 10,000 items on display. Doug has been in the antique and reproduction furniture business for 30 years and I’m proud to say that Doug is a good friend. I met Doug over 15 years ago, while I was shopping for antique furniture and over the years our friendship has grown. Doug and his wife Ann always make you feel welcomed, they are kindest and most generous people you can meet. And Doug has tons of stories to tell and wants his cool stuff to be your cool stuff so other people can enjoy it the same way he has. Did I mention he’s willing to ship?  “It doesn’t feel like a job to me. I get to hang out and talk with people all day.” says Doug. His shop is always an adventure, you never know what you might find, china, jewelry, old gates, windows, quilts, garden ware, collectibles, any type of furniture even the kitchen sink! The reproduction furniture is newly-made but with an aged look and is made out of wood that has been salvaged from old homes, barns and buildings. You can check out his website http://www.johnsonsantiques.com/ and find him on Twitter or swing by the shop everyday from 9am-5pm, I’m sure you will leave with a new treasure and a smile on your face. I love you Dougie!

Doug and Patches

http://www.johnsonsantiques.com/

Books: the Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Summary: Every gift has a price . . .

Every piece of lace has a secret . . .

My name is Towner Whitney. No, that’s not exactly true. My real first name is Sophya. Never believe me. I lie all the time. . . 

Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator of The Lace Reader, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations, but the disappearance of two women brings Towner home to Salem and the truth about the death of her twin sister to light.

The Lace Reader is Brunonia Barry’s first novel, published in 2006, and is a New York Times Bestseller. There is just so much to say about The Lace Reader that I’m sure I won’t do it justice. The writing is spectacular, the storyline is incredible, and the characters are just so well-developed. The characters in this book are so memorable -- all of them, not just one or two. The the story and characters in The Lace Reader have stayed with me for days! Probably one of the most memorable characters that I have “met” in recent years is Towner, the story’s narrator. I loved that she begins the book by admitting that she lies all the time. It made me question so much of the story. I can’t tell you any more of the story, (although I can share a few key words:  lace that tells the future, secrets, witches, romance, an old house, tunnels, dogs, the sea...) so you will just have to read it for yourself. This book has definitely earned a spot on my heart, pick it up, read it this summer and enjoy the magic!

Pick up the Lace Reader this summer and enjoy the magic!

The descriptions of lace in this book are so beautiful, lace can be found in so many objects