2009 Two Dog Pond End of the Year Party

These are the fabulous Sweatshop Workers without whom I could not have made it through 2009. From left to right meet Jill (Sweatshop Babies Mom), Lynn, Kim, Crissy and myself. We had a Sweatshop End of the Year Dinner last night to celebrate a successful 2009. None of us are going to get rich working in the Sweatshop, but we do have fun. Kim has moved on to a full-time job and Crissy is about to give birth to her second child and also works full-time elsewhere. We'll miss you ladies.

Now - if I could just figure out how to have a customer appreciation event and celebrate with all of the wonderful people I've met and worked with on-line! It would be HUGE! Thank you to everyone who has ordered product from Two Dog Pond or stopped out at my little Shop in the Studio or shopped with us at a Craft Fair or Art Festival. I couldn't have done it without you!

Game On

This is the image for this week's necklace contest. It's completely different than any other image I have used for the contest, but I am intrigued with these hand shadows (yes, I have more) and believe they would make fabulous pendants. So - here's the contest in a nutshell: you leave a comment on what you think would be perfect for the back of this image....a word, a quote, a phrase, whatever you think, and on Friday (give or take a rotation of the earth) I will choose a winner and that winner will receive a necklace on a 24" chain with this image and their suggestion on the back. There are complete "rules" posted off on the side>

Enter as often as you would like.

Please do me a favor - if you think these hand shadows are a ridiculous choice for pendants and that no one will purchase them, let me know. If you think I'm spot on - tell me I'm brilliant.
Game On.

Shadow Shot Sunday

The high winds are making lovely creamy drifts out of the snow. Perfect for some soft shadows.

Christmas Blizzard of '09

This is the view from the house...it just keeps snowing and blowing...

Last night I finished this Prayer Shawl and today I am working on a piece of stained glass I started a while ago.... that and eating cookies.

"...and this is just the beginning"

That's what the weather forecasters are saying - "it's just the beginning" of this winter storm that's coming through our area. So - I waited for a break in the freezing rain to go do my "chicken chores" {today I made them some popcorn for a special treat} and to fill the bird feeders. The dogs are going bonkers in the house, so I took them for a quick walk too.

The weeping willow tree branches are 'clinking' together when the wind blows...
Hopefully the power stays on, but on or off we sure appreciate the staff of SCRPPD that keep it working or are willing to get out there and get it working. It's beautiful on these branches, but treacherous on just about everything else.

I have a few more orders to finish up for customers and then I'm going to light a fire and open a bottle of wine and watch to see what comes next!

Sassy!

This week's winner is "Need a Necklace"! Partly because I really like the "Sassy" suggestion and partly because of the name you chose!! So, Miss {or Mr.} Need a Necklace - please send me your mailing address and I will send you your necklace!

There won't be a contest Christmas week... we'll all be too busy with baking and cleaning and soldering and shopping and wrapping and soldering...

I had a fabulous show on Friday evening at the Liberty House! Thank you to everyone who came - you exceeded my wildest expectations! Saturday was a family Christmas event - I had to leave early to - yes, solder! This is me with my Godson/Great nephew Ryan. I love him!

It's an Open House and You're Invited!

Tomorrow - Friday, December 18th - you are all invited to come to my Open House - it's not at my house though...it's at the Liberty House Bed and Breakfast in Seward (corner of 5th and Moffitt - right behind Amigo's) from 3:30 - 7:00 pm. I'm not ready for Christmas, so I'm guessing some of you aren't either. Here's a great opportunity to buy yourself something....I mean buy some presents for others. Heck - bring your friends along and buy each other presents!

It's a Love / Hate Relationship

SNOW I Love the view from my studio this morning

I hate the view from the side of the house. Yes, once again my fabulous driving skills landed me in a small drift in the yard. I will not be going anywhere today....again. Tim is going to save me once again when he brings home a new tow rope after work.

Necklace Contest - Friends with Gloves

This weeks image is of some friends with their gloves off... when's the last time you took your fancy gloves off? Anyway.... the contest is simple - just submit a phrase/quote/word etc that you think would be perfect for the back of this image and on Friday (loosely translated to "on or about Friday") a winner will be chosen and then awarded with a soldered glass pendant!

Mentioning the gloves isn't necessary...and won't help you score a new necklace...

Angels Will Sing About This

This week's winning necklace goes to Randa! Congratulations - your suggestion of "When hearts listen, Angels sing" seems to be the perfect saying for the back side of this image. There were some really great suggestions again - thanks to everyone who played!
I'm playing "beat the clock" trying to get all the Christmas orders soldered and in the mail - it's a busy time in the Sweatshop! Thanks to everyone who ordered special gifts for their sisters, mothers, friends and themselves. They are being made with love.... actually, I need to go now so I can plug the soldering iron back in and carry on.
Have a great weekend! Randa - send me your address!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Yesterday at Sunrise. This is a picture of one of the bright rainbow-like spots on each side of the sun. I think it was due to ice crystals in the air because there was also a giant sun pillar.... it might just be magic.

Yesterday's Snow. It was just beautiful! This is as far out the Sweatshop door as I went.... Unfortunately, the mail carrier/UPS trucks/Fed Ex Guys and basically anything on wheels couldn't make it down our roads. The county road crew still hasn't been by here. Late yesterday afternoon Tim went "the long way" to town in his 4-wheel drive hemi pickup and made it to the post office for me. Orders are on their way! I'll be busy down in the Sweatshop again today (and until Christmas) working on orders and pretty much ignoring everything else....except the fact that Baby It's Cold Outside!

Necklace Contest - Glitter Will Be Added!

Welcome to the Two Dog Pond Necklace Contest.

Who wouldn't want to wear this cute image as a pendant? To make it yours, just submit a suggestion for what word(s), phrase, quote, etc should be on the back side of the image and check back on Friday and see if you won! Complete 'rules' are posted off to the side>> enter as many times as you would like!

WooHoo - Two Winners!

We have Two Winners this week! Miss Kitty is the winner of the first pendant with her entry of "I can always lean on my sisters". AMEN to that!! Anyone with a sister (or even a friend that seems like a sister) will appreciate this one! The second winner is Decorator to the Stars who entered lyrics from a Beatles song: "...these chains of love have a hold on me...." Love it! Honestly, I didn't think so many people would like this image as much as I do! But there were alot of really great suggestions for this one.

Thank you both - and all of you for playing. Miss Kitty and Miss Decorator, please oh please send me the address you would like to have your winning necklaces sent to.

I know. I know. I'm late with posting again...I'll make it a New Years Resolution to be better...