Sleeping Dogs Studio

I know, I know – what the heck?!?  I tempt and tease you with promises to post photos of the home studio in progress – days pass, and nothing appears!

Suffice it to say that it has been more of an adventure than anticipated.  We did not have internet, phone, email or cable for almost 10 days, so that obviously set us back a little…and we have also had some unexpected home repairs to make that have re-concentrated our efforts in areas other than the studio at the moment.

My sincere apologies, I can at least tell you that the photos DID get taken as the work was being done, and we will post them along with descriptions and the latest as soon as we can dig out from under some of our responsibilities.

In the meanwhile, I can share these with you – one is a photo of the “Back 40″ (the back of the house and the mowed acreage to the right of it; as well as the wooded acreage providing the shade that is behind me; and Don’s new grass garden (something he has always wanted).  Note the metal sculptures – no grass garden is complete without rusty metal grasses too!  :)

I promised to keep you up-to-date on the move and renovation of the new studio – which is beginning this coming week.  And I will do my very best to give you before, during and after photos as our new studio unfolds.

In the meanwhile, here is a little before the “before”…

I remember now why I say I will never move again after every move…

Boxes, boxes, and more boxes to pack, then unpack…

And the satisfying, yet also vaguely depressing sight of all of your current space slowly emptying out…

I had a wonderful e-mail from a friend and store-owner that expressed extremely well how we hope this move goes…

She said, “May nothing break; and everything turn up in the box where you think you packed it!”

The next photos posted should be of the REAL before – the new studio before renovations begin…stay tuned!

Our local animal shelter is putting on the MOST wonderful of programs this week – I hope other cities copy the idea, or are already doing it!

“This handsome dude is one of many puppies that will be at Dunn Meadow on Thursday from 1-5PM for our “Rent a Puppy” fundraiser. Stop by to love on this guy for 30 minutes for just 5 dollars!”

I don’t know how many dogs will be there, but I’m expecting to empty my bank account…

We are happy to add another wonderful store to our family!  A Sleeping Dogs Studio partnership has been struck with The Sampler, which has two gorgeous showrooms -

One in Homer, Indiana:

And one in Metamora, Indiana:

The Sampler makes its own beautiful cherry furniture and woodenware, and were kind enough to stop by our booth and chat at the recent Indiana Artisan Marketplace.  Just as we appreciate the hard work and lovely lines of their products, they are expanding their stock to include additional handmade items in their own stores.

The variety of furniture they hand-turn is truly amazing – simply look at all these table leg styles:

And the finished products?  Truly stunning:

You can always see more at their website:

www.samplercherryfurniture.com

Soon, an assortment of boxes and cards from Sleeping Dogs Studio will be keeping these lovely pieces of furniture company.

If you stop by, be sure to send our good wishes!

An old gentleman lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son:

Dear Papa, Don’t dig up that garden. That’s where the bodies are buried. 
Love, Vinnie 

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.