Work, Poop, Feeling Tired and Jimmy

This week will be a crazy one.

Today was kinda horrible.

I came in to work to find many of the boarders had accidents and then jumped in and on it.

Yep. An old tiny Aussie was waddling around with poopy dreadlocks hanging off his butt. 

A crazy yellow lab who had jumped and spun in it and an elderly sick corgi mix that smeared it all over the walls of his run.

(I actually have a story about that old guy but I'll save it for another day.)

Yep, lots of fun.

So I had to give baths to them all.

That's my duty, not the groomers.

The groomer only "grooms" her own clients.

She will do my boarders but they must call her and book an appointment.

She has also decided that she's too old and tired to bathe large dogs, rowdy dogs or pitbulls. So if they need just a bath, they have to set it up with me.

I only get 25% so it's not a big money maker for me and I have it set up that the money is directly applied to my account.

I figure if I don't have it in my hand, I won't spend it.

Anyway, the funniest part of this whole thing is...

I'm 5 years older than the groomer!

Oh well!

So tomorrow should be an ok day but Wednesday, my half day at work, I have 22 more boarders coming in between 8 to 11 that morning.

Should be interesting.

So as always, Thanksgiving will be packed to the max as well as the weekend.

That's just the nature of the business.

I can feel my throat feeling sore and I'm kinda achy all over but I'll drink some Alka Seltzer cold medicine and get some sleep and I'll be fine.

I need to get to work on my Art.

I've been doing some sketches but to be honest, yesterday I just cleaned the house and then spent some time online and then sort of crashed.

I was on a roll for a while there, creating paintings, and then I got distracted.

I need to organize my time better and make sure  I squeeze creative time in there someplace or I'll be washing poopy butts forever!

I'll leave you with a couple of photos of Jimmy Chew that I took yesterday.

He actually got exhausted from being his rowdy self and he just crashed too.

Yep, Jimmy Chew and I were feeling the same.

 

I... 

Just...

Can't....

Stay.....

Awake.......

UNCOMMONGOODS

So I got an email the other day from Uncommongoods asking if I'd like to do a sponsored post.

I was at work at the clinic at the time and when I went to the website I instantly loved what I saw.

I went up front and showed my friend/co-worker and we laughed and commented how funny the cat things were.

We laughed when we saw the cat scratchers!

How cute!

What a cool idea.

Then we looked further. 

We both picked out different items that we loved.

Of course I wanted all the different things for my cats -

and then I wanted the cute donut toys for the dogs

or the pillows for my sofa! I LOVED the pillows!

They would look so cool in my house.
Check it out HERE.

Then I came across the ceramic bee feeder!

OMG! my sister would love that.

She's all about bees.

She even has a little bee tattoo! That's how much she loves them.

And...I want one too for my garden!

Then I found a mug with a lid that holds your tea bag!

My oldest niece only drinks herbal teas. What a great Christmas idea!

I found Owl hand warmers for Lily

and Alpaca socks for my brother-in-law,

the hardest to buy for person in the world!

My middle niece loves handmade items and she loves to bake.

She's a wonderful baker, She's been one since she was little and she even worked at a bakery while going to college.

Maybe she'd like the egg separator 

or the bundt baking dish

or the batter bowl!

OMG! so hard to choose, I could have my Christmas shopping done in one swoop!

and here's another really cool thing.

They are one AWESOME company.
Read about them HERE!

They care about the environment and about their employees.

They are all about handmade, recycled and organic.

They sell nothing that would harm animals.

No leather, feathers or fur.

They try to do most sales online in an effort to save paper and are very conscientious about using recycled paper or paper from FSC forests, when they do mail catalogs.

They "give back" and even include the option to donate at check-out to a selection of non-profits.

and they are a B corporation, the Certified B Corporation seal means that a company has undergone and passed a comprehensive screening questionnaire, which evaluates areas including company governance, environmental practices, and impacts on the local community.

I've been trying to stay away from the big box stores.

The stores with almost everything made in China.

I try to buy gifts at Art/Craft shows.

Or pick up cool items at estate sales and such, as a way to pass on a treasured item and recycle.

The more that I read about Uncommongoods, the more excited I got.

I love what they are doing.
You can read their blog HERE

They are the kind of company that some day, when I've got my Art business up and running and I feel like my work is ready, that I would happily summit my work to!
They have a great selection of Art - HERE
Here are two pieces that I think have some similarities to my work -

Hopefully they would feel that my Art would fit in well with the other work that is offered.

So please take a moment and look at all the amazing things they have to offer.
HERE

I'm thinking I might need to get the Sari Bag for myself!

It's handmade from recycled saris in India

or maybe the hand-crocheted shoulder bag handmade by a fair-trade collective in Guatemala.

or maybe the cat/ mouse garden statues,

or maybe.... LOL! 
Seriously, so many cool items!
Check them out!
What's your favorite?

SIX CAT PAINTINGS !!!

I finally finished some paintings!

Eventually I will get my "shop" set up to sell.

I want to get my business cards and postcards done too,

but in the meantime I'll just offer my Art here.

Mixed Media Paintings

on 4" x 4" by 1 1/2 inch acrylic painted wrapped canvases.

SOLD!

Collaged papers,  Inktense pencils

and archival ink

sealed in several coats of matte finish

Original art NOT prints

SOLD!

The sides are painted and ready to be hung on a wall

or thick enough to stand on a shelf unsupported.

$25.00 plus $5.00 shipping

Email me if you are interested!

 ruby053@aol.com

FIVE MORE PAINTINGS...I'm on a roll!

What I made last year for Christmas Gifts. (Dog Paintings)

I just realized that I never shared the gifts that I made this last year for Xmas!

I guess the new snowfall made me think of Christmas....

and that I kinda only like snow for Christmas.

Anyway, this is what I made for the two girls that work for me in boarding.

Taylor adores her little Elvis -

So I did a painting of him -

and Pam's furry family has suffered a couple of losses in the last couple of years 

and now she is just left with just her two dogs,

Rain and Princess - 

and finally Lily, my niece has a new puppy

a Dachshund/Shih-Tzu mix....or sometimes called a mutt.

I was very upset with Lily because she BOUGHT him from a Pet Store.

Most Pet Stores get puppies from Puppy Mills

and with so many dogs needing homes.....

OK, anyway. I can't hold it against her little guy.

His name is Lucius Fox

(after the Morgan Freeman character from the Batman movies. Lily is addicted to all things Batman)

So here's her pic of her puppy in the snow.

And the painting I did of him.

For some reason, I was unable to get a really good pic of it and I couldn't scan it

because it's covered in glitter, to look like sparkling snow.

So, that's what I MADE for Christmas.

The rest of my gifts I bought throughout the year.

I got my sister some really cool Smith and Hawkins garden things

when they were marked down after summer.

I try to remember to search all year so I can get good gifts at good prices.

But usually, I prefer to make my gifts, if possible.

One thing ✓'d off my List!

I took my paintings and framed prints to work.

To the Veterinarian clinic.

So far I have 18 paintings and 14 framed prints hanging for sale.

There is a big empty spot above the exam table in Room 4.

I need to finish one more painting for that spot

and I'm done.

Yep, except for 3 paintings that I have to yet to start, for a baby shower this coming Sunday.

and then 3 for Christmas gifts.

I had business cards made up

and everyone loved them.

When I showed them to my sister, she actually laughed out loud!

I asked her what was so funny and she said -

"It's YOU!"...."I mean, it's totally you!".

So, I guess it IS me.

I hate having my picture taken because I'm always startled by the middle-aged chubby woman in the photo, but yeah, this drawing is me.

I guess it happens to us all.

Sigh.

Ok, I'm getting away from my intended topic.

But, that's one thing checked off my list, the paintings for the clinic.

I have several other paintings, just partially finished

but those won't go to work.

Those I intend to try to get into a "Call for Entry".

What "Call for Entry"? 

I have no idea but I intend to be ready this time.

DEADLINES

Deadlines.

I need them.

Someone at work asked me to do a painting of their dog.

"No rush" she said "Whenever".

That's been months ago.

I had it almost finished and she brought her dog to work and I looked at him and said

"Why is his face so skinny!?"

and of course it's always been a narrow little face

and I had painted a round-faced dog.

So I started over and then... just stopped.

I met my best friend for breakfast the other day.

Every time we talk I always end up feeling pumped up, motivated and ready to create something!

She is my biggest cheerleader and the most positive person I know.

We were talking about my Art and I was saying how I needed to get painting and then get my work out there.

I said that the vet clinic really needed some art work and that I had put some paintings up before and sold several but then I never made more.

I told her how the girls at work were always asking for my paintings.

But I haven't painted anything except for the Halloween pumpkins.

My friend and I got to talking about how I was missing a big opportunity

because most everyone that walks into the clinic loves cats or/and dogs.

I seriously don't know what my problem is.

Fear of Success?

Fear of Failure?

Massive Procrastination.

I don't think that I'm lazy, so there must be something stopping me.

Sigh, anyway -

I talked with the girls at work, I said that I needed to get a "bunch" of paintings done and then bring them in all at once and hang them.

I wanted to do it in one big swoop.

But when?

The clinic is always very very busy.

But the girls were so excited and that helped with my insecurities.

Then we got to talking how Doc would be out of town in mid-November for several days and that always slows the work pace.

He has a HUGE following. Mostly for his animal chiropractic procedures.

So that is the goal.

Three weeks to create as many paintings as possible.

Oh, the pressure!

But I think it's just what I need to get it rolling.

It's like my vacation that I just took.

I knew I only had a week and I crammed in as much work as I could.

So, I won't disappear. I will still need coffee breaks and paint drying breaks.

and there's the fact that I'm addicted to the computer! Ha!

Wish me luck!

and after these 3 weeks, I still have some other topics to ramble on about.

Stuff that I haven't shared yet.

Oh, and one last thing.

Is it just me or does that monkey 

kinda look like my Jimmy Chew?

Finished the Paintings before the Crazy Weekend!

I thought I'd do a quick post before leaving to start my first shift at work today.
I'm doing the double shift thing, that's what happens when someone gets sick and you manage the place.
It's a VERY busy weekend and the kennel is at full capacity, actually overflowing because it's the start of Spring Break season. But I'm fortunate because my youngest niece Lily works with me and has volunteered to come help me on both shifts. Thank God for that kid! I adore her. She will be turning 18 next month and she's been helping me since she was 9 years old. When she was little she wanted to have a REAL job and Doc told her when she could drive, she could have one. So last year when she got her own car, she kept him to his word. She has been learning all my quirks and preferences all these years and she's dog/cat crazy just like me, So I am VERY lucky.

So...... I FINALLY finished the commissioned paintings of Tyke and Fritz for Anne!!!!
She wanted Bright and Folk Art, so I layered papers and paint in turquoise and bright green.
Then I layered up the dogs.
Below are the photos of the dogs and the paintings :
TYKE

 and FRITZ

 

 I'm off to work now! Have a Great Weekend!