A GRREAT Cause

It's sort of bitter sweet that this is my last year doing personalized ornaments, but at least this year I'm 

going out with a GRREAT fanfare.

GRREAT (Golden Retriever Rescue, Education and Training) is pretty, well, great when it comes to rehoming Golden Retrievers.

 I've been commissioned to help their cause by making up a few batches of ornaments for their seasonal

fundraisers.  It's nice to do something like this in my last year.

They provide so much more than just rescue services for dogs in need and sponsor several fundraisers and meet-ups for Golden enthusiasts.  They are truly a well organized group who love what they do.

30 pieces of handcut felt and 15 embroidered slogans later the GRREAT order is getting packed up.

Gives new meaning to getting the warm fuzzies.

Doggie

 

A couple of weeks back I received an email from a lovely lady looking for a custom ornament.  To be truthful I wasn't taking on any more custom orders since the shop had been so insanely busy already, but I read her request to see what it was she wanted.

It turns out Emily wanted an ornament made of her son's favorite stuffed toy, Doggie. Each year Emily and her family set out to find an ornament for Collin, their little boy who sadly had passed away in May 2010 from complications of the treatment of cancer, he was 2.  Immediately I changed my perspective on Emily's request.  It's not everyday these types of requests come thru.  It is after all, hard to say no to something with this much meaning, but it's also intimidating.  

Would I be able to live up to Emily's hopes of giving her an ornament to help her family remember her little boy?

 

I told her I would try.  And one night I cleared off my worktable and set out free forming Collin's Doggie.

I didn't make a paper pattern to help guide me along.  This had to be one-of-a-kind and something that I wouldn't make again because it would always belong to Collin and his family.

 

I didn't stop working on it.  I didn't want to over do it.

 

And then Doggie was done.

 

I haven't heard back from Emily yet to know what she thought of the ornament, but I don't think it's something that I'll need to wonder.  Some things you just know inside your heart and head already.

 

Happy Early Christmas

This video's gone a bit viral over the past few days and I can clearly see why.  If you're in need of some cheering, man-candy or just a reason to feel happy for the good fortune of others then this video is for you.  The HMS Ocean is returning home to the UK from deployment while aiding NATO forces in Libya.

Honestly who doesn't love a muscled seaman in a Christmas pudding hat?

A Smattering of Ornaments

There's a small comfort that this week is Thanksgiving here in the States.  While I'm looking forward to having an excuse to bake in the middle of my busiest November ever, I keep wondering how on earth I'm going to actually manage to even get the rolls started.  I'm guessing it'll be the last thing I do before I go to bed on T-Day Eve.  It wouldn't be the first time I went to bed covered in flour.

Still I half wonder if my Tumus dog ornament will make another unexpected appearance around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  If it does I'll probably be done for the season earlier than expected, but right now it's all a matter of chance.  It's got so busy that I had to reorder more business cards. 

Somewhere in all this mess I have to figure out when I will be able to get out and dig around in what is now mud in my flower beds.  My bulbs have arrived, with the exception of my Day Lilies, and are in need of planting.  I really don't think I'd ask for more "hours in the day" because I'm sure whatever it would be filled with would be more urgent than planting flowers.

Christmas In July Sale

Yes, I decided Tumus would have a tiny sale just to kind of push off the start of a hopefully wonderful Christmas season. As with all businesses, I'm looking ahead at trends and since my pet ornaments were pretty well received last Holiday I'm really excited to extend the line a bit more.

Despite the wedding crazies and all I hope that I will be able to settle back down once that part is said and done really get going on the ornaments.
I just had a shop contact me today about making her a Daschund ornament. Never made one so I gave it a whirl. I think it's going to turn out pretty swell!

Time To Catch My Breath

In the mean time, while the dog ornaments have been going over marvelously well I've been trying to catch my breath! Whew! Thankfully (never though I'd say that) it's slowed enough that I can take some pictures this weekend of my new magnet sets. You can see them here in my shop Tumus



I already have a few listed in my shop, but am going to add a "word series". I'm getting hits on them for sure so I hope the word series gets as much love too ^_^ These are incredibly light weight but have neodymium magnets on the back making each individual magnet have a 3 lb pull! They definitely will do the job!

Christmas Is In the Mail!

Over the past week I've been slowly acquiring my Christmas stash. I'm so excited to be giving these gifts out!! They are all from Etsy.
For Mom, a beautifully hand embroidered little lamb custom made just for me courtesy of AppleandEva all the way from Germany! There's a special message to my mom on the back too with darling little butterflies ^_^


For my two sisters, my mom and myself a collection of delicious soaps from Savor! Trust me I bought more than just this :lol:

And a wonderful custom listing from TeaMan with shiny tea tins to store it all in for my Aunt Cindy and Grandma!


I can't wait till it all comes in the mail. The post man must think I'm nuts! LOL!!!!!