Global Animal Blogging Event 2010

Welcome, animal lovers, to the Global Animal Blogging Event 2010!

As my regular followers know, I write often about my pets - our dog, Chunky, our cat, Buzz and our kittens, Ernie and Bert. When they all heard about the Global Animal Blogging Event 2010 and realized it would be a way to make friends with other pets in blogs, they looked at me with puppy-dog eyes and big-eyed kitty faces (you know, like Puss 'N' Boots in Shrek) and I knew I would participate. Also, my friend Holly and her pup Mabel Lou are in on the fun over at CreekHiker, and truth be told, they're really the ones who clued me in. Check out their blog, too, for a really cool glass giveaway!

If you haven't been here before, you probably have figured out that I'm a lampwork bead maker. I specialize in critter beads, ie. dogs, cats, turtles - pretty much anything with a face. So for my pet giveaway, I'm offering a handmade pet bead (made by me) of your pet. Now, there are a few breeds of dog I'm not as skilled at making, and if you happen to win and your pet falls into one of those trickier categories, then I'll just make you a fun dog bead (blue dogs are very fun) or something comparable. But if you have a Boston terrier, a pug, a wiener dog, a chihuahua . . . you're in luck! Either way, you'll get a pet bead from me.

All you have to do is leave a comment after this post, and be SURE to leave me a way to reach you if you win. Winners will be announced on April 18. Thanks for stopping by!

An example of my custom dog bead work. More dogs are in my Etsy shop.

I'm really excited to be involved in the first year of this global pet blogging event. And get this - it's organized by a teacup chihuahua named Twinkie. Check out Twinkie's blog and book (yes, this little pooch has a book!) HERE. Then click the icon in my sidebar to visit more animal blogs in this global event!

Wordless Wednesday

Pigs for Dylan

If you're a lampworker, then you probably have heard of Beads of Courage. It's a program designed to distribute beads to children in the hospital. They receive beads to string as they complete treatments, and they are symbols of their courage. I've sent two packages of beads to Beads of Courage, and I'm getting ready to send a third. The organization likes to get all kinds of beads so the children have some fun and beautiful choices to add to their bead strands.

But last week Beads of Courage put out the call for pig beads. There's a boy named Dylan who is very sick and in the hospital, and he's been lobbying his mother for a pet pig. He can't have traditional pets because of allergens. So sculptural lampworkers are making pig beads to send to Dylan. Even lampworkers who don't normally make sculptural beads are giving pigs a go. I've got three little pigs lined up and ready to hit the road.

You might recognize the pig on the left - he's been in my shop for a looooong time. And now I'm glad he's still there. I'll be sending Super Pig Dylan's way. The middle pig is a sweet little guy, he's pink with gray spots. And the last pig is - hey! Wait a minute. That's no pig. He's trying his best to blend in, but I'm on to him.

And so are the other pigs.

Nice try, little turtle. Clever disguise. Ok, you can go, too. Go pack your bags.

For more about Beads of Courage, please visit their website HERE.

Murrini Monday ~ Turtle Style

It's Turtlepalooza in my Etsy shop today. What does that mean? I'm cranking out the turtle beads! And lots of them are adorned with murrini to boot! Here's a little sample of what's to come . . .

This turtle's turquoise shell is decorated with murrini made by my friend Mallory, of rosebud101. Murrini is a fairly recent addition to Mallory's shop, and I give it two thumbs up! I had so much fun playing with this chalcedony blend, and I love how it spread out on the bead. Yes, that's a slice of murrini from the blend - so there you see it before and after.

A cheery turtle, this one with murrini from loriandkim.

Two turtles. Two different murrini blends. One love.

Big Hole Beads

I'm getting more and more comfortable making beads on the thick mandrel that makes the large hole and allows the beads to fit pandora, troll and biagi style bracelets. So the pandora section in my shop is filling up! Maybe I'll actually wear my prop bracelet sometime. In the meantime, here's a sampling of my pandora beads, and some of my fellow Fire Diva's big-hole beads.

Paco would add character to any rope bracelet.

Penelope and Gail are BFFs, but they're sold separately in my shop.

Bonita is sitting pretty alongside an intense blue bead.

This Dainty Flower Green set perfect for spring! Find it at DorsetHillBeads.

I spy murrini in this Fun and Bright funky purple big hole bead by Lutrick.

Smiling Snowman is a super cute two-bead set by glasstastictreasures.

Beads at Work

Naughty little sheep. Good thing there's a herding dog in the bead box.

Doggone Wonderful

This is our dog, Chunky. He loves his pillow bed, but not as much as he loves his tennis ball. And as much as he loves his tennis ball, which is a whole lot, he loves my husband even more. So I had this fantastic idea. I custom-ordered a keepsake of Chunky with his favorite things for my husband. I had been dying to purchase something from elukka on Etsy, and this was the perfect excuse. Szilvia, the sculptor/artist behind the endearing dogs at elukka, was absolutely wonderful. I sent her the above picture of Chunky, and she meticulously sculpted him out of clay.

There he is, cuddling his tennis ball and sleeping on his green pillow bed (he has a green one, too). My husband LOVED it!

If you like dogs, especially dogs with lots of personality, don't waste any time and go visit elukka. The shop is filled with doggie trinket dishes, vases, tiles, jewelry and sculptures. Szilvia also makes the most darling little houses.

A sampling of her other works of art:

Quality Time Doggie Dish in Stoneware

Ho(w)ly Marge ~ Doggie Vase in Stoneware

TURQUOISE Miniature House Pendant in Stoneware