UK Breed Show

I was looking at some pictures from the recent Deerhound breed show in the UK, and these two dogs caught my eye. The first, Ch. Gentom Peacemaker, I've been watching for some time now, as I love his graceful curves, and of course am delighted to see that his handler is a youngster. They've done very nicely together so far ( Best Dog at the UK breed show and Best of Breed at Crufts! among other great wins), so I have to say well done to his breeder, owner, and handler! The second dog is Greyfriar's Gillie of Beardswood. He also has a lovely outline and is nicely balanced, yet retains his masculine quality. It looks like he's got a wonderful coat too. Someday, I will definitely have to make it to that show!!
For now, though, I have to be content with our National, which is coming up in May in St. Louis. My own eleven year old daughter, Madolyn, will be showing her dog, Zoe, and we will also be bringing Valor and Nootka. Wish us luck! :)

Fun finds for your home

I've been shopping at Urban Outfitters since I discovered my first store in Harvard Square in the late eighties. They have fashion forward clothes at great prices, but what I love even more is their eclectic collection of items for the home. Here are a few of my most recent finds......a mini jewelry dresser for your bling
adorable cat and dog pillowcases to keep you companyThis precious piece by Trish Grantham, who also has a site on Etsy
an ornate desk clock that would mix very well with all your modern finds
and this cute little snail pillow to jazz up your chair or sofa.

Speaking of Pugs...........

Since we are talking about Pugs, here is one of my Pug inspired pieces at Quarry--the Pug Love pendant necklace. It features a cute, vintage looking Pug pendant and real vintage freshwater pearls. Great for the Pug lover!!!

Pugs and little girls

Pugs and kids seem to go hand in hand! I saw this great vintage picture the other day of a little girl and her Pug, and it reminded me of one that I have of my daughter, Madolyn, and her Pug, Ziggy all dressed up for the Pug tea party.

Boudoir Queen

Another cool dress I found on Etsy. This one is from Boudoir Queen. The dress was constructed using all 1920's textiles that have been hand dyed and distressed to make a truly unique garment. It reminds me a bit of Rodarte, but at a much easier price to swallow.......

Buy adorable shoes AND help animals!

My daughter, Madolyn, LOVES cats, so I found these adorable made to order shoes at Em & Sprout on Etsy. You can get them with your choice of eye color and bow color, though I think I'll get Maddy's made just like these. A portion of each sale goes to animal related causes (last month's went to adopt a panda), so not only are you getting cute shoes, but you are helping animals too! While I'm at it, I just might have to add one of their fawn barrettes :)

Obey the Purebreed!

As an avid dog lover, I am always on the lookout for new canine inspired items. This site is one of my favorites, as I love the tongue in cheek canine propaganda, and think the artwork is superb---the breeds are all drawn very true to standard, and I think the artist has captured the spirit of these spunky breeds! I'm sure we've all had days when we felt that our dog was the ultimate ruler of the household, and now you can prove it with Obey the Purebreed! Propaganda for Dog and Cat Rule!!

Tulip Dress

Sarah Seven has some of the most beautiful dresses I've seen on Etsy, and not only is she a designer with a vision, she is also one with a conscience and heart. She often uses recycled bustiers and fabrics, and 5% of her sales goes to charity ( 3% to Compassion, which feeds unsponored children and 2% to the International Justice Mission which works to free slaves and hold their keepers accountable for their actions). I am in love with many of her designs, but this new Tulip dress just caught my eye today. You can see her designs at her website by clicking the name, or on Etsy at www.sarahseven.etsy.com

In Celebration of Mothers

Because we think Mom is so special that she deserves more than just a one day celebration, we've decided to kick things off early with a Mother's Day special. Take $5.00 off everything in our store, QUARRY , from now until Mother's Day. You can stock up on Mother's Day presents and great items for birthdays and even Christmas too (I always love avoiding the Christmas shopping crowds in December). You can even buy yourself something special----like these Perfect Love earrings, because who says Mom can't buy herself a present every now and then too?

Yummiest burger!

Duncan and I always love to discover new places---especially the little local haunts with lots of character and history. When we heard about the burgers at the grocer in the small town of Greenwood, Tx, we decided we just had to check it out.

Greenwood is a small town (pop. 76), that was established by two cowboys in the late 1870s. Here, you can find the Greenwood Grocery and Grill which has been featured on the original Texas Hamburgers poster, and is a favorite stop among the biker crowd. It's a beautiful ride through the country, and a step back in time to when everyone knew their neighbors, and they all got together to visit at the local restaurant. It was a bit cool the morning we visited, so the wood burning stove was all fired up, and we sat next to it to keep warm and toasty. We ordered up two of their famous cheeseburgers and then chatted with the locals while we waited. You can't be in a hurry if you want one of these special burgers, as they take time to cook, but they are definitely worth the wait. Ours arrived hot and juicy with homemade fries----yummy!! There is no searching for the meat, as it is a giant, flavorful patty, and is all stacked up with fresh trimmings. The homemade fries were delicious as well, and we found ourselves becoming pleasingly full. Don't forget to save room for pie, as they are homemade. That day we had coconut cream. It was the perfect ending to an awesome---and very filling---lunch. So, if you are in the mood for a nice little drive through the country, a little small town Texas history, and one great burger, the Greenwood Grocery and Grill is a must!

Modern Farmhouse

I've always been a big fan of the modern farmhouse----I live in one myself :) -----so I fell head over heels when I saw this beauty. Built in Austin, Tx by Blake Dollahite (Rural Theory), it has beautiful, simple lines, and such attention to detail. I love the corrugated metal ceiling, the vintage blue porcelain sink, the stained glass windows, the farmhouse sink in the kitchen, the rusty steel planter boxes and fencing, and just the overall feeling of this little masterpiece.

LOVE this necklace!

Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores. I just love the way it feels like shopping in a European boutique or market, and can't get enough of their store displays, as they always seem to arrange the perfect little vignettes! Their candles have the most exquisite aromas, and always put me in such a great mood while I'm shopping too. They certainly have figured out how to make the perfect shopping experience, and I haven't even started on their incredible clothes, jewelry, and home furnishings!

Anyway, here is one of their new spring necklaces---the Gardenia Bib necklace. It's my new favorite, and already on my wish list.........

Discovery in Gainesville, TX

So......Duncan's relatives from Ohio came to visit us, and with four kids in tow, we needed a good place to go that had some nice, southern flavor, and was fun for the whole family. I decided to take them to Gainesville, TX, which is only about half an hour away from us. First, we visited the Frank Buck Zoo, which is situated in a lovely park. We had a great time feeding the giraffes, and then seeing all the animals. The zoo is a wonderful little collection of native and non-native animals, and we even got to see the week old baby Capybara. He was so cute!!

After the zoo, the kids played in the park, which has a huge, inviting play structure, and even a little train that you can ride. There, the kids were able to let out a little energy, and work up a nice appetite for lunch. Next, we went to the historic Gainesville town square, where we decided to have lunch at the famous Fried Pie Co., which not only has---you guessed it, fried pies!----but also a nice menu filled with southern delights such as chicken fried steak and biscuits and gravy----yummy! The pies were delicious (mine was apricot), and we left with very full stomachs.


As we left the Fried Pie Co., we discovered a cute little shop called Cahoots, which features handmade purses and clutches. These little gems were all made from vintage fabrics, and the owner said that she could even custom make a bag from anyone's old uniform too ---such as an old Girl Scout or military uniform (a great gift idea!). They also had incredible jewelry and artwork from local designers, and we decided that we will definitely be back!

Before heading home, we visited a few more of the stores in the square, and spotted a couple restaurants that we decided we'll have to check out next time. If you are ever in the area, and feel like experiencing some small town flavor, then you'll have to make a stop in Gainesville. We had a great time!

The Irish Luck bracelet

Here is one of our best sellers at Quarry----the Irish Luck bracelet. It is a fun, unique, leather bracelet that is made to wrap around your wrist multiple times, and features a real Irish coin, beautiful green stones, and Celtic knots. I have the supplies to make one last bracelet, so if you would like it, please email me. I will be doing a similar bracelet soon, so check back at our QUARRY site www.deerhoundjulie.etsy.com

Welcome to QUARRY!

It's a beautiful spring day here in Texas, so I figured it was the perfect time to begin our new blog! My family and I live on a bit of acreage, so the plants are all starting to bud and bloom, and the animals are feeling frisky. We have quite a menagerie of animals with our horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, bird, and donkey, so we'll be featuring them often.  We like to show our Scottish Deerhounds and Pug at the dog shows, so you can also keep up to date with all the news from the shows. We are gearing up for the Scottish Deerhound Club of America National Specialty in May, which will be held at Purina Farms in St. Louis, MO, and will post pictures and have all the latest news when we return. You can also visit our Scottish Deerhound website at www.bigskyscottishdeerhounds.com

I opened my new store on Etsy a couple months ago. It is called QUARRY, and we would love for you to stop by and visit at www.deerhoundjulie.etsy.com  It features my handmade jewelry, along with some quilted items, and some select vintage offerings. I can also do custom orders, so if there is something you would like, please send me a note. I am always happy to make that perfect something for you!!

I enjoy so many things in life----great food, animals, fashion, design, movies, architecture, music, and finding those perfect little hideaway gems, so please check back often so I can share them with you. I look forward to your visits.

 I hope you have a wonderful day, and welcome spring!!!