German Shepherd Signs

As some of you may know already, I am the president of Woody's Place ~ Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary. We are a small non profit incorporation aspiring to be a 501 c 3 by January 2012.

Our mission is to provide the best possible foster care for any senior* purebred German Shepherd dog who is in need of a home, while securing an approved forever home for that dog through a thorough screening process. Unfortunately, for some that day never comes that day never comes, so in that case we gladly keep the dogs here at our sanctuary and care for them for their remaining days.

One of the necessary evils of what we do is fund raising. These dogs have to eat, and have their medical needs tended to, and that's not cheap, so we are always looking for ways to raise funds. Hence the signs listed below.

For every sign purchased through my Etsy store I will donate 50% of the sale to Woody's Place. Please share this with all of your friends whom are animal lovers and want to help abandon senior German Shepherds, especially your German Shepherd friends.

You can find out more about what we do at www.SeniorGSSanctuary.com and on facebook.

If you like the signs, but want something other then German Shepherd on it, just convo me in my Etsy store, and I will create a custom order for you. www.pipberrytree.etsy.com

Thank you!!
Dawn

It's a Juggling Act

As I sit here in my tiny 8 x 10 office writing this blog I am surrounded by dogs, senior German Shepherds to be exact. It's hard to even push my desk chair back one foot without bumping into one of them. And the hair floating around the room....geez...don't even get me started on that.

My coffee is cold. Why? Well because we have only been up for an hour and have already been outside to go potty a total of three times. Maybe I can get them all on the same potty schedule, then I can actually sit down to drink my coffee in one shot. Does it really matter to me if my coffee is cold? Not at all. What matters to me is my family, The Pip Berry Tree, and saving the lives of abandon senior German Shepherds, but all of that can be quite a juggling act.

As I read through other blogs, I can tell who the people are who are diligent about blogging, and then I begin to feel guilty, because I don't have the opportunity to get on here that much. I already get up at 6AM and don't go to bed much before 12AM. Can we add more hours to a day please?

Would I like to have time to blog more frequently? Absolutely! I envy the folks who blog consistently, but at the end of the day there is just not enough time, because my time goes to all the that matter to me the most.

Aside from a blogger, like you, I wear many hats throughout the day, and it can be quite the juggling act. I am Dawn:

Owner/Operator of the Pip Berry Tree

Founder and President of Woody's Place ~ Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary.  www.SeniorGSSanctuary.com

 

Caretaker of the log house and five acres

Wife to the most wonderful man (21 years:)

And Mother, Mom Mom, Army Mom, and Home school teacher to my fantastic children, beautiful little grand baby, and  bunch of furkids.

Brittany. My beautiful daughter, and Owen's Mommy.

Keith. My wonderful, kindhearted oldest son, who is 7 years in the Army

Bryan. My smart, career oriented son who is stationed in Tacoma.

Mason. My son who is in college studying to me a math teacher

Tristan. My youngest son, who is home schooled and a dirt bike enthusiast

My grand baby Owen. Why can't he stay like this forever?!

Some of the fur kids who live at Woody's Place. We love them all.

It's all in a days work, it's a lot to say the least, but I wouldn't change any of it for the world! :)

Sunflowers

It won't be long now before my favorite flower of all time springs forth and stretches it's lovely face toward the sun. The sentries of the garden; The majestic and vibrant sunflower.

Today I made a treasury on Etsy to honor the gorgeous flower. You can view it by going to:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de785a8b1926d91722996a7/sensational-sunflowers
It was an easy treasury to create because so many wonderful crafters seem to be inspired by the Sunflower like me.

Below is my favorite photo of Sunflowers from my garden last year. Hope to have a garden full again this year.

Sensational Saltbox House Treasury on Etsy

This is so embarrassing, I don't even know when the last time was I did a treasury. I've been letting real life get in the way of what i love to do. Sometimes that happens right?

Here is my latest treasury. It is a combo of OFG Gals and non OFG gals.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4dc68dcb25c18eef88b67f5d/sensational-salbox-houses

Some highlighted artists are:

Vintage Wooden Tool by TheCraftCabin.etsy.com

Home Sweet Home Folk Art Saltbox House and Stars Wood Keepsake Gift table Box by LBPAINTINGS.etsy.com

Saltbox House Penny Rug by kmprimitives.etsy.com

Primitive Saltbox Sign On Old Barn Board - Come Grow Old With Me by PrimOuthouse.etsy.com

 

 

 

 

 

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If you do one thing today for your business, you need to read this article.

Gearing UP for the Season's First Craft Show

I am a little nervous to say the least. On April 30th I will be selling at a craft show I found on line. It's brand new, and so far seems to have quite a large vendor response. I just hope the same is true for customers...paying customers that is.

Last years craft shows were a drag! I saw many a vendor packing up and leaving early due to low or absolutely NO sales. I had one show with no sales, and boy did that sting.

So here we are. A new year, a new show season, and I am trying to be optimistic. 

I'd like to hear from anyone who has had a "no sale" craft show, and what you did differently, if anything, at your next craft show. Do you pack up and leave early, or stick it out until the end? And finally, is a "no sale" craft show your fault, the promoters, the economy, or a combination of each? Your thoughts please?

Dawn

New to the Shop

This week has been a crazy week. In addition to the everyday load, home schooling my son, fulfilling custom orders, fighting with the post office over why one of my items is stuck in a bulk rate mail center when it was shipped Priority Mail and is NOT bulk rate mail (jerks), I also have my "Woody's Place ~ Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary up and running and have our very first customer! (See pic below)

In my spare time (lol) I was able to kick out one new decorative slate  this week. It's my Welcome to My Pad slate. Frog lovers pay attention!!!  This slate measures 7 x 9 but of course can be done in other sizes as well. It is sealed for protection, so if it gets hung outside the paint won't fad, and can easily be turned into a lawn and garden slate holder (see my wrought iron lawn and garden slate holders, which are sold separately.

And here is the new girl, whom at 12 years old landed in a shelter for being "too much responsibility" :( She's an absolute sweetheart!!

Miss. Heidi

Good Morning Sunshine : Curated by LilyMarieCandleCo on Artfire

We could all use a little sunshine, and this wonderfully bright and sunny collection put together by LilyMarieCandleCo on Artfire  gives us just that. Take a peek.
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=16828&comment_posted=Your+comment+has+been+posted.#comments

Usually I do my shameful self plug last, but since my slate apparently set the theme for the collection I am doing it first. :)

PipBerryTree.artfire.com

NBDCosmetics.artfire.com

icehousecrafts.artfire.com

wickfulthings.artfire.com

kawarthabeads.artfire.com

iamwhatiam.artfire.com

Ewes Gotta See This Etsy Treasury

Just satisfying my sheep fetish here. LOL. Here is some of  the work displayed in my Ewes Gotta See This treasury on Etsy. Hope you like :)   
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d89edc295388eef792ffa5c/ewes-gotta-see-this?ref=pr_treasury

Baby Black Sheep by tjanes28.etsy.com

Hooked Rug Sheep Hand Hooked and Proddy Rug by cabincreek.etsy.com

Sheep Cereal Bowl by agatka.etsy.com

Primitive Easter Ornie by countryacres.etsy.com

Wristlet pouch - DANCING LUCKY SHEEPS by knitterbag.etsy.com

and last but not least my shameless plug.....

Ewes Not Fat. Ewes Fluffly Hand Painted Decorative Slate by pipberrytree.etsy.com

Signs With A Sense Of Humor

With so much doom and gloom splashed all across the front pages of the news papers they should be renamed, "The Blues Papers"   I realize it's good to be informed, but it's also good to laugh.
In fact, laughing can have a profound positive impact on your health. Did you know there's even "Laughing Yoga" now.  I didn't. But I do know there's lots of  humorous signs on Etsy that are sure to make a smile form on many a face and even produce a chuckle or two.
Today I created a treasury on Etsy called "Signs With A Sense Of Humor. Here's the link and a few highlights Please feel free to share.  
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d77bc34c7c26d91079481d6/signs-with-a-sense-of-humor

www.icehousecrafts.etsy.com

www.WoodcraftsandCandles.etsy.com

www.BedlamCountryCrafts.etsy.com

www.pipberrytree.etsy.com

www.sashayin.etsy.com

Four Fantastic Lawn and Garden Ornaments on Etsy

For some spring has arrived and for others it's right around the corner. That means it's time to put on our boots and work gloves and get out there to spruce up the lawn and garden. It's time to rake up any leftover leaves from the fall, turn the soil in the garden, plant some bulbs if we didn't get to it before the first frost, and dust off the lawn and garden ornies that have been in the garage all winter just waiting for their day in the sun again.

I have my old favorites that get planted in the ground, hung on a tree, or suspended from a wrought iron hook, but other ornies don't seem to last that long. With that said, I decided to comb the Etsy web site in order to find four fantastic must have lawn and garden ornies. Now, you might be wondering, "Why four? That's an odd number." True, but one is a shameful plug of my on fantastic lawn and garden ornie, so that's the fourth. lol! Anyway, I hope you like my collection.

The first item is crafted by Mulberry Lane Folk Art is a western rustic coat rack that is made on an old weathered board, and would look great over a gardeners potting bench.

www.mulberrylanefolkart.etsy.com

The second item is a Folk Art Primitive Saltbox House VinTage Rope Hanger Barn Red Seed Feeder Bird Feeder crafted by Harmons Country Crafts. 

www.harmonscountrycrafts.etsy.com

The third must have lawn and garden decoration is this absolutely splendidly prim Upcycled Redwood Cottage style garden bench crafted by Mill Creek Cottages.

www.millcreekcottages.etsy.com

And last but certainly not least is my own lawn and garden ornie. This is my  Personalized, Hand Painted  Lawn and Garden Saltbox House Slate complete with wrought iron slate holder.

www.pipberrytree.etsy.com

Well that's all for today folks! If you want more information on how to order any of these great items please visit their Etsy store, and be sure to tell them that I sent you.


Warm Wishes!
Dawn

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I've Been a Busy Bee Today

Slates. Slates. Slates, and more slates. Here are four new slates I just put in the store. Tell Me what you think.

Spring is right around the corner, so lets get hopping! www.pipberrytree.etsy.com *www.PipBerryTree.artfire.com

It's finished! This is the "God Bless America" Slate from the tutorial I posted.

Don't they look happy? This is my "Happy Flowers" slate...just in time for spring.

Hee! Hee! If you work or have worked in an office then you know a sense of humor is a MUST.