Janina's Bouquet

 Hello Everyone! Before I go on Vacation, I wanted to give you a preview of another bouquet. This one belongs to someone local named Janina. Most of this bouquet is made up of her own brooches. We used Elephants throughout the bouquet, because its her sorority's mascot. I really had a good time designing this one, it was a little different from some of the one's I have done in the past.

Fostering, Finn, and Jake

Several questions has been asked of me over the past several days. When people started finding out I had 5 Bassets in my house right now, I am sure they were very curious to the reason why I was doing it!

Please excuse my ugly face, but i am sure you are looking at the hounds :)

I will start you off with a picture of all of the hounds on their couch in our game room. Can you tell they feel loved? Only two of them are mine, Poly Pockets, and Turbo is what we call them. Turbo is the one right next to me on my left hand side. Polly Pita Pockets is the one with the harness on.

The rest are foster hounds ;)

Jake

Why Do you Foster?

I foster because its needed, the group I work with doesn't have a facility to hold all of the dogs in.  They are very dependent on their fosters, they can only pull so many dogs out of the shelters, and its all based on how many foster homes they have in the system right now. Pure bred dogs do get put in shelters all of the time, dogs run away, people abandon them, and breeders don't care.Until we can get a control on the breeding habits of dogs and cats there will always be a problem. Every dog that I bring into my home is one more dog that is saved... not only are they saved but they are fixed, fed, taken care of. No more babies for them! I have had several fosters, and even my own Turbo came from a breeder... which is not a good situation for a dog. Would you want to live in a cage 3 inches bigger then you are?

Who Do you Foster for? 

 Currently I foster for the North Texas Basset Hound Rescue, Polly Pockets came from this group. If you are interested in a breed specific group, then Google it for your area, i can almost guarantee there is a rescue group designed for your favorite breed. There are also other groups that do more general breeds, like hounds etc. You can find them! There are also groups out there that cater just to cats, so even if a dog is not your thing you can foster your perfect feline!

Finn

Who pays ?

 Everyone always wonders who pays, costs are a very big thing that does and very well should affect your decision to have a dog. In my case my rescue group takes care of all of their medical expenses. The rescue has leashes, and collars, takes care of their medications, and even has food to offer to the fosters. So the only thing I am out is my time and my gas money to provide the transport to and from events and vets!

 

 Skinny Finn :(

How can you just give up the dog?

This is a tough subject for any foster mom, really the answer is I am a foster failure, we did keep one of our fosters, Polly Pita Pockets. With failing once we now understand how vital it is for us not to fail again, because every time we can pull a dog out of an area shelter we are saving a life. Every time we get a foster hound we get the chance to give someone one of the greatest companions they will ever have. So yes, its hard to give up a dog, BUT there is so much joy knowing the dog is going to their furever home. The picture above is another example of why I can give up a dog so easily... there are more out there just like Jake and Finn, and I can do my part to make them better, healthier, and fatter. 

Do you have any other questions? I would love to be helpful, and hopefully you will consider finding an organization to work with :)

I dont think I could Ever do "Enough"

At this point in my life I have come to terms that I will not be a superstar, and rise to fame, and I have also decided that I am ok with that in my life. I am a superstar in my own mind, and in my families and friends minds. 

Often times I wonder if i over extend myself... last night laying in bed my husband asked what normal people do! All of this was prompted because there is now 5 Basset Hounds at my household... 2 are my own dogs, and 3 are fosters.

Along with working, going to school, taking care of my family, having a side business I also find the time to take care of animals that will some day not be mine. I foster Basset Hounds for the North Texas Basset Hound Rescue.

If you are interested in adopting a Basset Hound you should check out the website, its a completely volunteer organization. We do not have a place where the dogs live, instead they depend on families to take in the dogs. Its like a foster situation, instead of fostering children I foster Basset Hounds! 

Available Dogs 

http://www.bassetrescuedfw.org/animals/list?Species=Dog 

My whole Family knows this, and they know I am a sucker, they also know I don't like to see them put down for no reason. Well the Ft Worth animal shelter was full and had two of the Bassets... meet Jake and Finn.

Jake and Finn

 They were meant for euthanization last night because the shelter received 500 animals last week :( My little sister tagged me in the post... and I couldn't just sit there and let them die for no reason, so off to the shelter I went, and the adoption coordinator authorized me to pick up both for the rescue organization!

They are doing VERY well with us, and go for neutering on Thursday as well as a full vet check up !

Here is our other foster Delilah, we have had her for about 2 months, and she went to her first event on Sunday. She did very well, and is ready for adoption at this point. 

So I go back to the question that my husband asked me... what do normal people do? I can tell you that a normal person probably hasn't pulled 3 dogs out of area shelters and fostered them, or adopted 2 more animals from area shelters, or has had the privilege of fostering 5 different beautiful Basset Babies. So I may not have fame, or be a rock star, but I have made a difference. 

Pure breed dogs DO get put in shelters all of the time, they are not immune from the system.  

Another thing, a shelter HATES putting down dogs for no reason, its not their fault they have to euthanize dogs because we humans can not control our breeding habits of them, and refuse a $40 spay or neuter visit. Next time you go out to dinner, and spend $40 on a meal, think you could have made a difference by just taking care of your own pet.

Another Pink and Silver Country Bouquet

Looks like I may have found a little niche in the market for me. Right now I have three bouquet orders pending, two of which are for 2013! I just completed this bouquet, for someone who had a great story! I threw in a little something extra for her to!

There are several things on this bouquet that are special to her. First of all there is a picture of her mother and brother in a framed brooch. Her mothers locket is also creatively tucked away in the beauty! Her husband has also bought her some "Tiffany's" and the "return to Tiffany's" locket is now in there. Finally the big beautiful pink flower which is the centerpiece was given to her by her best friend!

I really didn't want to package this one up and send it out.... seems like a shame to shut it in a box... ok ok I know it is going to look AMAZING in the hands of its beautiful bride!



Mothers Day!

Well Happy Mothers Day (I know I am early). 

I just wanted to share a sneak peak of my new hutch with you, it is my mothers day present. 

Check out how great my Biscayne china looks up there!

I have been screamed at not to paint it lol! 

Another one from the original owners house, i love her tiered milk glass! 

And a score, I paid $200 for this beauty! Its a tell city hutch from 1959! 

Tea Towel Pillows

I have a pillow obsession, in a sense if I see a pillow sitting at a yard sale or thrift store and pay like .25 cents for it I feel like I have score tremendously! It could be the ugliest pillow in the world, but I buy them simply for their fluff and stuffing!

So I was at Hobby Lobby the other day just wondering around the store aimlessly when I came to their "spring" section. They had tea towels that resembled grain sacks, so I picked up two packs for about $14 for both sets. 

So I took the sets and sewed the two with the stripes together, then I used the two blue towels and sewed them to the back of the "Dine Bone Appetit Enjoy" towels, and came up with a much better version of couch pillows! 

The family has already said how much better these are for taking a quick nap on our couch! 

What do you think?