at-choo

rocky, friendly beagle needs a home

2010-11-30T17:26:00.000-08:00

this is mr. rocky, a beagle who never said no to a snack (it seems). he's around 9 and was owner surrendered at the baldwin park shelter. he's got good energy for his age (and size) and is good around other dogs. we love mr. rocky!!! i love a man who appreciates his vittles!!!

he's at baldwin park shelter 626 430-2378 and his id # 3415105.

who doesn't want some of that unconditional love stuff?! and talk about gratitude for saving his life! i mean, c'monnnnn!

mr waffles in action

2010-11-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

ta da! mr. waffles, my new foster as of 2 days ago. he was to go to heaven wednesday so i freaked and networked and the most amazing and beautiful people gathered and supported me and so i got him at 5pm tuesday night.

i was 'owner surrendered' and has demodex mange - not contagious. he'll look like a million bucks very soon! i can't wait! it's kind of like watching a cake bake, not knowing how it will turn out but just know it will be fabulous! LOVE it!!!

mr. waffles is 1-1/2 yrs old, 24 lbs, and possibly a corgi/doxie mix. not that it matters. all that matters is that he's 100% love. even though someone let him get in this condition, someone at one time gave him love - he's a very very good boy and knows 'sit'. he's so easy! I LOVE HIM!!!!

daffy in action with quizzie

2010-10-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

here's my foster, daffy - short for daffodil, playing with quizzie. daffy is a 1 yr old 14 pounds of loving life energy and is a doxie, beagle, pointer mix who is looking for her own home.

beautifully sweet old girl w/no teeth needs an angel.

2010-09-15T15:03:00.000-07:00

this matriarch needs an angel. i wrote more about her below in the other video below this one. she really is just soooooo sweet and special. i've learned dogs without teeth tend to be extra nice -i have a toothless wonder myself.

this special girl is at baldwin park shelter in los angeles 626 430-2378. id #A4187388.

truly to save a life is just the best feeling in the world - AND you get smothered in love just for doing it - such a deal!!!!

beautifully sweet old girl w/no teeth needs an angel.

2010-09-15T14:54:00.000-07:00

this older girl has no teeth and was a stray. she has a slight limp and obviously has a skin issue that needs help.

you talk about sweet? this is it - she's very gentle and of course, isn't feeling so good in her skin which i know can be treated and she'll be beautiful once again. right now, her heart and soul are beyond beautiful.

are you an angel? because she needs one. call baldwin park shelter (a high kill shelter sadly) 626 430 2378. id #4187388.

8 yr old lab, good 'ol boy at baldwin park

2010-09-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

lovable basset/beagle mix w/unique feet

2010-08-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

he's what's the word??? oh! perfect!!!!

be happy, happy for this lovable basset/beagle mix, he certainly is! he was rescued from a hoarder but then was brought to baldwin park shelter - a very high kill shelter in los angeles. he is so FULL of love, it's amazing - he'd make a great therapy dog, he's just so wanting to give love to everyone. dog or human, no matter what size, he loves all.

his tail was up and wagging wagging wagging when we were visiting him at baldwin park shelter. yes, he has rather unique legs/feet and we all were concerned and still are. the thing we all recognized is that it seemed to bother us more than him. he ran, jumped around, played and never stopped wagging his tail. he certainly wasn't letting them stop him!

we fell in love with him and the best news is that scooter has won the lottery - denise richards has adopted him and will get his legs/feet fixed!!! denise won the lottery, too!!!!

isn't he just so special????? love just oozes from this gentleman. i just had to share some of the amazing love that can be found at shelters across the country - in this case, in los angeles where we have a horrific problem with too many dogs which means that too many have to be euthanized.

please ALWAYS consider adopting from a rescue or shelter. to save a life is the best gift ever! ever! i wouldn't lie!

2010-08-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

daffy, who only a few days ago was full of fear has exploded into a nutty playful pup. i can barely remember her fear - i hope she can barely remember it too, although i know she does when it comes to things that are new for her - walks, car rides, being in stores. but with exposure, i know that will change. she's already been on 2 walks, but has to have ollie or quizzie with her to be confident.

life has been different for her since i pulled her from baldwin park shelter where she was covered, covered in mange. she wouldn't come inside, now she happily does so. once she got used to being inside, she then was horribly fearful of going outside in my yard at night - now she runs outside in the moonlight, full of glee. toys were unfamiliar to her - now she's a hoarder of them. she used to not eat much - well, that sure has changed since she steals food from ollie-pie. she used to only want to be in her metal cage - now she runs up into bed and cuddles close. she used to cling to me when i held her - now she is relaxed and loving, rolling over so her belly is up, all while in my lap. she used to not know how to give kisses - now after watching quizzie lavish them on me, she does the same.

she still cowers when i go to get her and that is sad to see. but she will come to me if i'm patient (and have a treat).

she's starting to enjoy life and that is beautiful. i can't wait for her fur to grow in from her horrible mange. right now, she's a work in progress, a mystery.

she will be needing a permanent home with someone who is patient and good with someone who is shy initially. the reward will be tons of love and affection from little daffodil. daffy is 10-12 months old and is a doxie/pointer mix.

it's daffodil! healing from baldwin park shelter, mange and emotional scares.

2010-08-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

i know i should be writing about at-choo, but really this affects at-choo in my spirit. and those of you who buy at-choo help this to happen - you help to save a life.

this is daffodil who was at baldwin park shelter/pound until monday, august 2, 2010.

when i saw her behind the bars in her kennel my jaw dropped open. i looked closer - surely this couldn't be what i thought i was seeing. i couldn't believe the severity of her mange. i opened the door and she retreated to the back corner, head down. i got as small as she is and took my time and gently touched her bumpy, hairless back and saw her relax - a bit.

i carefully picked her, afraid i would cause her skin to crack and bleed. instead she clung to me, holding my arm with both her bumpy swollen legs and pressed against me. clearly she was terrified and clearly she was in pain - she was swollen, crusty, bumpy and had hair on her tail, but most of the rest was gone.

i go to baldwin park shelter every 2 weeks to help robin harmon, angel extraordinaire who on the behalf of Best Friends (you know, the group that took in michael vick's dogs and rehabilitated them in utah) organizes 'pup my ride'- a transport where 30+ dogs are saved from euthanasia and go to utah where they lack small dogs. i was looking for 2 mange chihauhaus and came across daffodil. now, what to do.

get her out of there and to a vet. but the bills . . . money is money, but a soul is never replaceable.

surely this must be a cruelty case - owner surrender it said on her paper work. really? we learned that animal control had been contacted about daffy and went to her home and confiscated her. her 'owner' (a word i hate because animals are not disposable like shoes, whatever. we are their guardians in my opinion.) was cited and fined. i still think he should be charged with cruelty. i would love to testify on daffodil's behalf. love to.

once to the vet (severe mange, infection under the mange, infection in both ears) we then went home to quizzie and ollie-pie, my other baldwin park alum. daffy didn't want to come inside - stayed outside and would just sit at the threshold of the door. if she dared to step inside, the minute she saw me she stepped back outside and sat. i'd carry her inside with her heart pounding - she would then retreat back outside. but to even get to her was a challenge as she would back away, tail down. so i did all my tricks - became small, didn't look at her, went sideways to her side as i crouched down. my hand always out with a piece of tempting treats accompanied by a soft positive voice, hopefully soothing.

well, 2 days later it's as if a door has opened and she has let the worries start, just start to disappear. i was thrilled when i saw her wag her tail when she saw me - sooooo exciting to be acknowledged for what i've been trying to do - get her to trust and accept love.

i'm giving her medicated baths, plus her meds, sprays and lots of chicken to make it all wonderful, if that's possible. she has found her voice. toys and playing is way down the road - don't expect her to know what that's all about, but my nurses, ollie-pie and quizzie will show her.

life is all new to her outside of a back yard. scary and way too different for her. i took her to Maxwell Dog, since i thought it might be time for a collar, but decided to wait till she heals more. daffy was treated to a tag with her name and my phone number (she was too ill to be microchipped when she left the shelter/pound). tense and nervous we went back home and the video is what it was like when we got there.

stay tuned - i hope to do updates and create a blog just for her. wish us both luck - especially sweet daffodil!!!

glob necklace/bracelet

2010-06-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

it's a necklace, and another version of the same necklace and what's this? also a bracelet! holy cow!

brass chain and rhinestones

2010-06-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

sometimes things just click with contrasts highlighting each other. brass chain and rhinestones, ala rust and diamonds.

came up with these new bracelets. one uses torn linen with it's ragged edges wrapped and tied around the wrist, embellished chain and and a fancy rhinestone clasp that acts as the center of beauty. kind of like a beautiful fairy wearing shredded glittery organza. don't even know if that makes sense!

ollie wanna play?

2010-06-11T15:33:00.000-07:00

more action from mr. ollie-pie!

ollie wants to go for a walk

2010-06-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

ollie has found his voice and although he only uses it for special occasions, a walk is one of those.

and yes, he still is looking for a wonderful home where he'll be spoiled rotten.

ollie-pie play

2010-06-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

here's ollie-pie feeling like a martini after his surgery for removing some wire he ate (and still looking for a home) yet happy enough to show some personality, cone collar 'n all. someone will be very lucky who adopts this little whipper snapper! i'm only his foster mom, having sprung him from the pound when his time was up. he's just a wee 9 pounds of doxie fun.

ace tulle wrapped bracelet

2010-06-04T14:59:00.000-07:00

i'm in love with this bracelet! it was inspired by ace bandages - you know the beige ever so lovely ones that wrap around an injured joint? this one is made of tulle netting, velvet trim and rayon ribbon - all muted tones of barely pink, except for the tulle - that's white. it wraps and criss-crosses over the wrist and connects via snaps creating two poofs with bows. i took it to dinner to show my sweet friend and when she put it on i had to snap it's first photo - hence part of her dinner being in the photo. i did crop out the string beans as best i could!

this would be so great for bridesmaids or brides or even a regular gal wearing jeans! i'm just bonkers over this!

ollie-pie needs a home

2010-06-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

when i have some down time designing for at-choo i volunteer at one of los angeles pounds. while i watched all of the other doxies get adopted or rescued, this 10 year old with a snaggle tooth never did. so when his time was up and he was at risk, i sprung bail on him and brought him to my home.

his name is ollie-pie (ollie ollie oxen free!). he is a little 9 lb whipper-snapper. i had not even held him until when i picked him up to take him home so i had no idea as to what his personality would be like. now i know - he's a gem! he's typical doxie, stubborn, eating is cause for celebration, loves his walks, inquisitive, likes to burrow and loves to be cuddled. oh - and loves to give kisses.

he's been to the vet and checked out aok - although the vet wanted to adopt him herself if it weren't for the 3 dog law here in los angeles which she has met already.

ollie-pie loves all dogs, finds cats curious, is happy to play 2nd fiddle (thankfully, since quizzie plays 1st fiddle and won't have it any other way) and due to his many lacking teeth always has his tongue out a wee bit. character times 100!

last night he had a seizure and since quizzie also has them, once i realized he wasn't dying i figured out what was going on. i don't know if that was his first or if he has them often - time will tell.

so i'm posting him here just incase you or someone you might know is looking for someone to love and be loved tremendously in return. he's so little and so easy to carry around. because of my traveling and that quizzie won't be nice too much longer to ollie-pie i'm only fostering him and am looking for a home for the squirt. i'm only the first step in his travels to the perfect home.

oh - in the video ollie-pie is the little brown doxie. the black one is quizzie and zazu is the white dog. quizzie weighs 14 lbs just to give you a reference for ollie's size.

mouse ring

2010-05-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

a little mouse is peeking out from under the sterling blanket. it's something new for me to be adding little creatures to the rings, but i'm really liking them! the architectural nature of the ring is balanced by his whimsical-ness. is that even a word?

bird ring

2010-05-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

love nature and whimsy so i combined them both. this ring is a leafy twig spiral around your finger that the bronze bird sits on. he'll protect you and peck away at negative people!

2010-05-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

sometimes it's hard to see 'the forest for the trees'. i took a break and found this little critter to de-stress me and wanted to share him or her? with you. the monterey bay aquarium was the perfect medicine - incredibly soothing, calming, magical, amazing and wondrous. you can't help but feel like a kid with all the surprising creatures that just make your jaw drop open.

robin the penguin fell in love with my friend, the otters were just too adorable, the jellyfish were beautiful organza dresses floating like slow motion ballerinas, the sea horses were - oh i can't even think of enough words to describe how amazing they were - just too many wonderful treasures to mention. your heart will feel better and calmer if you get a chance to stop by there for the day. the details, the music, the learning experience was beyond everything! there's even sardines swimming in a circle in the ceiling! i was so happy a few little kids were lying on the floor looking up - i didn't want to be the first to do that and so i laid down next to them and was transported away to some dream land.

doxie bubble wands

2010-05-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

i'm nuts about these new bubble blower wands! nuts! they are so absurd and crazy and fun and whimsical and and and . . .

the "bliss" one has a weenie dog laying on her back holding a real pearl and the "happy" one has a fat weenie hanging on. inspired by my own weenie dog - although she isn't fat, thank you very much - just very funny.

space ship kittie from diane markin

2010-05-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

just had to share this image with you - it's from my crazy, nutty, lovable friend and fellow designer, diane markin. www.dianemarkin.com she makes wonderful frames that are so different and also does these nutty images using her kitties as the models. i was just in the 'dumps' as the saying goes and got this image amongst others that made me laugh and wala - life is good again! isn't it great when you see something so happy or something so creative that it makes you feel alive? i love that!

old fairy window with 'dog'

2010-05-07T14:42:00.001-07:00

just found this old fairy window that was wrapped in crimson velvet. it'd be great to have each one at a dinner plate for a feast honoring a favorite dog's birthday or a beautiful remembrance gift for one who has put on it's real wings for heaven.

how do you feel about it? yay? nay?

adopted

2010-05-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

just wanted to share some good news regarding a few of the animals who stole my heart last sunday at the baldwin park shelter/pound - the fluffy white shepard was ADOPTED yesterday!!! i called the shelter to ask about her and started to get soggy when i heard the news. so happy! i just hope the person who adopted her deserves her - she very special.

the pups and their mom got taken to utah to the humane society there in salt lake city where they need small dogs - and los angeles has tons that are desparate for homes. they went on a 'pup transport' that Best Friends organizes and katherine heigl's foundation, jason heigl foundation pays for. a total of 65 dogs were saved on this last trip!

it's the good news that keeps me going in regards to the animals, so hip hip hooray!!!!!!

ups dogs

2010-05-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

i'm so sorry that this is sideways, but hopefully you'll still enjoy crazy dogs wanting to run away with scott, our ups driver. it's things like this that make a work day full of laughter and insanity.

tail wagging

2010-05-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

quizzie, the comedian and therapist of at-choo had knee surgery, hence why she's a little asymmetrical in her fur design on her rear leg. i caught her in one of her favorite positions at work and am happy i caught HER being happy. i know it's not for too long, but it's still cute, right?