Sleeping Dogs Studio

…last day to sign up for the Harlequin mini frame is before 5 p.m. ET tomorrow!

We do a lot of commission work, but it isn’t very often that you come across one that was as fun as the one we just completed.

An extremely special friend of the family is about to celebrate her 90th birthday, and her family members asked if we could complete the invitations to the party, as well as the cover of a Remembrance Album that they were preparing to give to her at the celebration.

I was pleased with the way they came out, as she is a colorful, dynamic character – in the very best of ways!

It obviously helped that we had this absolutely LOVELY photo of her as a young woman to incorporate…and that the theme of the celebration was a picnic, so we were provided with a great photo of a picnic scene taken by her daughter.

I think the finished product is very representative of HER – the most important part!  And it reminded me why I like to do commission work as a change of pace from working for stores.  It’s really the combination of not knowing what order is coming next that makes it magical!

Regardless, this was a special one – Happy birthday, Gussi!

I am absolutely addicted to the HGTV show “House Hunters International”.  I used to put my family through watching every episode of the U.S. version, but I’m now finding the “hunt” for houses in Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere abroad completely enthralling!

The Cotswolds, England

I think it’s partly because I lived in Switzerland for seven years as a child – but was so young that I have only the vaguest of memories of all of the wonderful places we visited while there.  Just imagine if London was as far a drive as the Grand Canyon (!) – and you have a sense of all of the places we could and did visit when I was young. 

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

I think we must have traveled down narrow, claustrophobic streets with houses hanging on to the side of mountains for dear life…because those scenes are the ones on this show that totally draw me in.

Tuscany, Italy

I’ve already warned my husband that someday, when our son is starting a family of his own, we may just have to pick up the studio and move for at least part of the year to a place where we can stroll down to the piazza; or to the local pub for a draft; or take a late afternoon siesta.  I’m not picky as to specifics – it’s ambience I’m after!  Although as long as I’m dreaming, being by the water would be nice too…

Santorini, Greece

I’m happy to announce that we’re going to give away another frame this week, this time the ever-popular “mini”. The inside dimensions of this frame are 4″ X 4″, while the width of the frame itself is approx. 1.5″.

This makes for a substantial, small frame that is perfect for a teacher’s gift, a gift for a classmate or friend, or something special to put a child’s photo in for Mother’s Day!

This particular frame, appropriate enough titled “Harlequin”, comes with a small peg in the back that holds it up – and allows you to shift it to sit in either direction.  Prefer the red jade at the top and bottom?  No problem!  Just move the peg to the other hole in the partially distressed back.

As usual, all of our give-aways go to random winners.  In order to participate, simply add the words “Give-away – 4/23″ to the comments below prior to 5 p.m. ET this coming Friday.  The Sleeping Dogs always enjoy picking the winner, so be sure to get your entries in now!

As we think about adding new product lines to our current offerings, it would be particularly helpful to know which Sleeping Dogs Studio items you are currently most taken with.  Thus, if you could fill out the poll below – quick and easy, I promise! – it will send me results that will help immensely in planning what type of items you might most be interested in for the future.  Yes, you can pick more than one item – in fact, we encourage it! Thanks in advance!

And the winner of the Spring Bouquet frame is:  Brenda (bredecka@indiana.edu)!  Brenda, just let me know your address by sending it to carolyn@sleepingdogsstudio.net, and I’ll be sure that the frame is sent out to you ASAP!  Congratulations, and I hope it puts you in that spring spirit!

Tune in tomorrow when I’ll need help from all of you in answering some important questions about Sleeping Dogs Studio’s direction – that’s right, it’s quick and easy POLL time!