Goin' to the Dogs ...

I am asked sometimes about Olive and if she really bites and what she is (a dog, silly).

I used to call my studio Dream Scenes Studio (and was getting tired of it and it wasn't exactly a household name), so when I got my little pup I wanted one of those cool dog names for my studio like Red Dog Studio or Blue Dog Studio, but all the dog colors seemed to be taken.

(I mean I could have called it Fuscia Dog Studio or Turquoise Dog Studio, but that just seemed wrong somehow ... and no one I know would ever be able to spell it)

At the time Olive spent most of her day gleefully jumping on us with her little puppy teeth grabbing into our clothes, our skin, the arteries in our wrists (which aren't as close to the surface as they seem I'm told, but still worried me).

And of course, naming her Olive was a given - I mean - just look at her ....

So since I spent so much time warning, "watch it- Olive bites" (my own lazy way of dog training- it seemed easier to train all our family and friends than little Olive)-

I ordered some moo cards with the name Olive Bites Studio, got a new sign for my studio door and registered the name (which shockingly was still available).

Of course, within days my hubby had discovered this amazing technique to stop Olive's biting which worked very fast (or she just outgrew it) and my mailman and several others asked me what I put in my olive bites (as in appetizers)....

*sigh*

In answer to the question of what Olive is- she is part Boston Terrier / part Beagle ...

(we don't use the M word around here- although it's probably the only four letter word we don't use- this is Jersey after all...)

Some Etsy faves for your own little pooch:1. Custom Pet Portrait by FuzzyMug
2. Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed by Vintage Renaissance
3. Olive's Favorite Collar by Lucky Fiona
4. Olive's Favorite Toy - TugOWar Braid by Woofpurr Creations
5. Eco Pet Bed by Annie's Sweatshop
6. Personalized Pet Tag by Cristina Ashley Design

Awesome Fosterweld Cuff GIVEAWAY Ended

AND THE WINNER IS (chosen by random number generator Random.Org) Min: 1 Max: 341 Result: 66 DENISE! Congrats Denise- enjoy your awesome FOSTERWELD cuff!

Chris and Melanie Foster are the amazing welders and artists behind Fosterweld.

They quit their day jobs to make their dream of Fosterweld happen. Their passion for working with their minds and hands keeps their work grounded and fresh (and their customers excited and happy). They say they are down to earth people who have been blessed with the ability to balance creativity and entrepreneurship. So, they're just normal people...

(....with 400 pounds of steel and liquid plasma cutter out back)

No two pieces are exactly the same. Each is handmade and individually crafted in their Indianapolis studio. While they offer a variety of unique products, everything fits into their distinct style that merges modern composition with classic welding technique. From buckles to cuffs to home decor, if it's metal, Fosterweld is down with it!


WHAT YOU GET:
One lucky winner will receive one awesome Turquoise on White FOSTERWELD CUFF size medium!

HOW TO WIN:
It's easy, peasy -just leave a comment below with your contact information

For additional entries:

(5) Follow my blog
(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Saturday, July 11th (well... maybe Sunday morning- yes I am so lame I will almost certainly be asleep on Saturday at midnight!)

A Little Chat with Papillon Jewelry


The sweet and talented Tho Dinh of Papillon Jewelry in the beautiful country of Vietnam just published a wonderful little write up on my Uncorked shop. Thanks Tho Dinh! Check out her beautiful and affordable Etsy goodies here. hndf2yqvtj

Happy 4th of July America!

I don't want to be a big party pooper and tell you just how un-green those amazing firework displays really are.

(but... in Beijing, China, the smoke from fireworks during the new year celebrations tripled pollution levels overnight AND the toxic metals used to get the bright colorful sparks fall back to Earth, contaminating soil and water)

Until we figure out the fireworks dilemma there are some things you can do to make this holiday and the rest of your summer celebrations a little greener.

Grill Green: What goes better on the 4th of July than a tasty bbq with friends? Well if you're going to grill it, why not grill it green? And if you're going to have a green bbq, don't miss The Daily Green's eco-friendly 4th of July menu.

Party Green: Inhabitat recommends you take one of my favorite simple steps and rock the biodegradable plastic wear (unless you're going to use real plates and silverware - which would be better). Check out more of their 5 cheap and easy 4th of July ideas.

Drink Green: Mother Nature Network (MNN) has some great green 4th of July ideas too. Some of their tips include everything from all-natural bug repellents to the best organic beer suggestions. Happy 4th!

Some Red, White and Blue Etsy Style:

1. ZJayne Amazing 4th of July T-Shirt Bag
2. Farouche - Awesome Drunken Tags
3. Amy Hatch - Beautiful Red Rose Necklace
4. Artwork by KD - Recycled Red, White and Blue Earrings
5. The Vintage Closet - Gorgeous Striped Vintage Shirt
6. TuTu Monkey - Cool You Design Tutu