Autumn in Midsummer

I woke up to an overcast and blustery Sunday today. A brisk cold wind greeted me when I stepped outside to let Isis, my newest fur baby out. Hard to believe the first day of Summer just passed and even harder to believe that one week from now we're expecting 107 degree days. So I savored this autumn like day and found myself wanting to create, something I haven't really done in a while.

Isis was one of the pit bulls I worked with at the shelter through the pit bull rescue group I volunteer with. She was so much fun to train and had such a sweet, silly personality. It was so hard for me to try to get her adopted because I kept falling in love with her and after about 2 months I decided to foster her. A few days later we decided to adopt her.

 

 

She and my Luna are still in the very early stages of getting to know each other. Luna is definitely not happy about having this new intruder in her house so she's mostly hiding in the bedroom. I'm crossing my fingers that Isis will be good to her and that they'll eventually get along.

 

 

Much to my delight Isis doesn't mind being dressed up. We were in a parade last weekend and she happily wore a vest, scarf and a paper tutu! She'll patiently sit to have her scarf tied on and even let me put a glittery foam tiara on her head.

 

Since we're walking in our neighborhood 4th of July parade I decided to make her a fun tulle tutu this morning. She let me try it on her several times and finally posed for her picture when it was done.

 

For a great super easy tutorial on how to make your own doggie tutu

visit Pitlandia.

 

 

Although I haven't been doing a lot of art lately I still pick up my paint brushes now and then. This is a painting of Lola, another one of the wonderful pit bulls I was training. She recently found her forever home and is now named Athena. Though I'm always happy to see our pups get adopted it's always bittersweet for me because I really love all of them.

 

I hope you had a magical solstice.

 

Happy Summer and have a safe 4th!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Spring

It's beginning to feel like spring here in northern California. This week we're suppose to get our first day of nearly 80 degree weather. It's still cold in the morning but the sun and heat are definitely on their way and with the time change this weekend and extra daylight at the end of the day it truly means change is on it's way.

 

 

I've taken a break from blogging to take care of old troubles and to embrace new opportunities so between the two my art lies patiently waiting for me to come back again. I always do eventually.

 

For now I'm focused on the other thing that I love which is helping fur babies. Many of you know I'm a big supporter of animal rescue and adoption and I try to help spread the word through my Facebook page Peace Paws Petunias.

 

I decided to finally do volunteer work at my local shelter since I'm there nearly every week just to visit the doggies and kitties. I'm going through their training and fostering program right now but it takes a while to get through all their required classes before you can actually start.

 

However the opportunity to work with a local pit bull rescue came up two weeks ago and last week I officially started as a co-coordinator with a program that trains shelter pit bulls to help them get adopted. I'm sooo excited! I have really developed a love for these dogs.

 

Photo credit: Sacramento Front St Shelter/Anne Chadwick

 

Shelters are filled with pit bulls like pretty Penny here, who was probably used for breeding by a backyard breeder then dumped at the shelter, or worse, turned loose on the streets. They are always the last to get adopted because of the stereotype and negative press they receive in the media. Sadly they are also the first ones to be euthanized at high kill shelters.

 

I have never met a more loving, goofy, eager to please breed than the pit bull. It's the people who abuse and use them for criminal activities by exploiting this dog's strength and desire to please people that give them a bad reputation. Yes they are powerful and like all dogs need proper training and discipline and lots of love but they are also loyal and gentle and there is nothing like a pittie smile.

 

 

I'd love to adopt my own some day but sadly it's not the right time for me to bring a dog into our life. At least for now I get to work and play with them as much as I like and hopefully help a few of them find wonderful homes.

 

By the way, Penny, who was patiently waiting at the shelter since the beginning of January, finally got adopted last week. Yay!!

 

To learn more about pit bulls and the fight against Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) watch Beyond The Myth: A Film About Breed Discrimination.

 

I hope spring

brings you

sunny skies,

beautiful flowers,

a pinch of magic

and new reasons

to smile.

 

 

 



A Very Petunia Anniversary

Are you having a great year so far? January is a special month for me because it's the month I started blogging and this year I'm celebrating my 3 year blog anniversary.

Yes, Frosted Petunias is 3 years old!

Three years. I still can't believe I've been able to stick with it this long. I have a tendency to lose interest in things after a few short months but my little blog seems to have taken on a life of it's own.

I originally wanted to blog about cupcakes and cupcake crafts and art but I soon discovered an entire new world of mixed media art, swaps, giveaways, art challenges and blog parties. I never imagined I would be blogging more than a few months but here I am three years later. Obviously I still love talking about cupcakes :)

 

My Luna also grew up along side my blog. I adopted her a month before I started blogging when she was still a kitten. We have been on this adventure together along with our favorite visitor LaLou. Luna and I still miss her dearly.

I have learned so much and met many wonderful bloggers. I've shared my creative journey and even some of my personal ups and downs and I have been amazed by the amount of support given to me through both the triumphs and tears. Bloggers are awesome people.

My first everything pretty much happened during that first year in blogland -- the weekly Pink Saturday blog hop, a year long paper dress challenge, atc swaps, art challenges, blog parties and eventually hosting my Practical Magic and Witches Tea parties. I also found the courage to try painting and creating mixed media collage. There was so much to blog about my first year!

Years two and three were much slower. I took several months off and at times wondered if I was done with blogging all together. But I always found myself coming back and that has been the biggest surprise.

As I start my fourth year in blogland I look forward to discovering more inspiring treasures, learning more about myself and meeting even more of this growing community of bloggers willing to share their art, pictures and stories with the world. Thank you for keeping me inspired.

I created a little slide show to celebrate my anniversary. It has some of my favorite memories and images from year one. If you've been with me since those early days I hope you'll enjoy looking back with me again.

Click on the image to watch the show.

For optimum viewing turn on sound and view

in full screen mode.