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Archive for January, 2018

Farewell Byron

Such a sad start to 2018 our beautiful Cocker Spaniel Byron passed away on Sunday.

Before I explain about Byron there is a little story to tell about another new addition to the family.  His name is Chip and we have had him about 6 months.

Whilst sitting in my craft room I looked out the window and saw this dog looking up at me.  Went outside to have a look at his collar and see if there was any info about him.  No collar and one very timid little pooch.  We fed him, let him stay in the utility room overnight and the next day we took him to the vets to see if he was chipped.  Nothing, so we took him to the dog rescue home where they would keep him for a week before rehoming.  When we were walking away I looked back at him and his little face looked so sad (it was like he knew that he was being abandoned again).  My heart melted and I told the girl that if he wasn’t claimed could they give us a ring first.

Andrew and I talked it over and if he wasn’t claimed we decided to keep the little … Heinz 57.  The name Chip came about because he wasn’t chipped (Andrew’s sense of humour).  We knew it was going to be a challenge but what the heck.

Now I truly believe that things happen in life for a reason and I think Chip was sent to us because Byron didn’t have long for this world.

Byron would have been 13 this year, he came to us when he was 6 years old (another rescue).  From the time he entered our home our dear little Penny Black (another cocker) bonded with him perfectly.  He was adorable, loveable, fearless but he could also be naughty.

Penny and Byron were complete opposites in every way.  She is very timid where he was fearless she will not let us out of her sight whereas Byron would go missing in the woods, she very rarely barks but Byron would bark at everything.

He taught Penny some very bad habits … like jumping into the river whilst walking, running into the woods and even leaving our garden on their own but despite all of this we loved him to bits.

Byron had been ill for some time but with lots of trips to the vets we were still able to give him a pain free life.  Bless his little heart whilst walking he would still try to keep up with Penny but couldn’t, she was a little gem and waited for him to catch up before she trotted off again.

Who would know by Sunday afternoon that our little sweetheart would be gone.  He took a turn for the worse and finally found peace even though he has left so many broken hearts behind.

Penny is very quiet and keeps looking for her soulmate but at least we have Chip plus I am hoping she will form a strong bond with him as she did with Byron.

Farewell Byron we are going to miss you to bits but you will never be forgotten.

Byron with Penny.

Shirl

New Header And New Challenge At FSC

Happy 2018 to all of blogland and I sure hope that this year will be a good one for each of you.

Over the years I have turned more and more to paints in my artwork so what better way to start my first blog post of the year but with a new look.

The header has been designed by me and I think it depicts the work I do a lot better than my last header, hope you like it?

Saturday saw the first class of the year with my lovely ladies, Phil, Maria, Theresa and New Phil (we call her this because of there being two Phil’s but she is by no means new anymore).

These four ladies have been attending my Saturday classes for years now and we have such fun (as well as some serious moments of artwork).

It’s my turn to kick off the theme this month at FSC and my choice is an ‘ANYTHING GOES’ challenge, so I combined my FSC piece with showing them how to make a wall hanging with lots of yummy stamping and colouring.

I have used lots of stamps on this piece and all are from PaperArtsy with some added doodles from me.

PaperArtsy are up there amongst the top of my go to stamps.

 

Would really love it if you hopped on over to see all the DT’s work as they are simply stunning.

Ink Art Designs Etsy Shop is sponsoring FSC and they will be offering a stamp for the winner of each new challenge.

Below are some of the stamps used.

 

Shirl