Quarry

Finally, we get to the shows!!

2010-04-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye, two months have passed, and spring has arrived at Big Sky. After having the coldest and snowiest winter I can ever remember in Texas, I am very glad to have the warm weather, green grass, and flowers finally appear! We have also begun to show our little Birdie and Bean (though neither are quite so little anymore!), and they have done well. Birdie took Best of Breed both days at the Wichita Falls show, and Bean took Best of Breed both days at the Ft. Worth show, so both now have three points towards their championships. We took a few pictures the other day, so here they are at 8 months. We also decided we needed an updated picture of their sire, Valor, so here he is as well at age 4 years. Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland....in Texas?????

2010-02-23T07:08:00.001-08:00

Well, this winter, we have had the most snow I EVER remember having in Texas!! First, it was the white Christmas that we have never had, and now it is over 12 inches of snow in one day..WOW!!!! While the white stuff is not really my cup of tea, the kids----both two legged and four legged----really had a blast playing in it. It took days for all of the snow to finally melt away, and now, they say we could get more today? That darn groundhog! Why did he have to see his shadow? I was ready for spring!

BLACK BELT!!!!

2010-02-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

It's been a lot of hard work, and many days at the gym, but Madolyn tested for her black belt in Taekwondo on Saturday. She did an awesome job, and was the only one who broke all three of her boards in the very first try. She now has a black belt with two Taekwondo associations, has been the #1 junior handler in the country with a Scottish Deerhound for the last four years, and has never had anything but straight A's in school! Madolyn also has played piano since she was four, and has just started learning guitar. Proud mom? You bet!! :)

I will walk myself---THANK YOU!!!

2010-02-10T13:06:00.001-08:00

Well, we had a few internet connection issues, so I'm a bit behind again on the blog, but we are finally back! I wanted to share a video of our little Birdie, who is now six months old. It's funny how kids are all the same----whether they are human or canine-----as to wanting to do things "all by myself." Here is little Miss Byrde demonstrating that she is quite capable of walking herself......thank you!

They grow like weeds!

2010-01-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Deerhound puppies grow like weeds, and in no time, they go from one pound blobs to small colts! Bean and Birdie are now six months old, and they are 75 lbs and 62 lbs respectively. They are also 28.5 and 27 inches tall! As you can see, they are getting to that all legs stage. I think they are adorable :)

The Animals of Rome

2010-01-15T11:42:00.001-08:00

By now I think you might be able to tell that I LOVE animals. Every where I go, I tend to always notice them, whether they are real or pieces of art. In Rome, we had plenty to see---both beautiful works of art as well as the real thing.

One of Maddy's favorite spots was the cat sanctuary that is located amongst some ancient ruins in the middle of the city. There were some 300 cats (all spayed, neutered, and vaccinated) living and playing in the spot where ancient temples once stood. They are fed through donations to the animal shelter, and are adoptable. It was fun to try and spot them as they wandered around.

This is the spot where the cats lived-----pretty cool, huh?

We also visited the Roman zoo, where we spotted some unusual lemurs along with some typical favorites.

A man and his four dogs on the bridge. I noticed how well behaved the dogs were, and also noticed how they all looked like purebreds-----a Bullmastiff, German Shepherd, Dachshund, and Vizla!!

We also visited the Vatican museum, where they had an incredible collection of sculpture, which included several sighthounds.

White Christmas in Texas

2010-01-09T11:45:00.001-08:00

For the first time I can ever remember, we had a white Christmas in Texas. It's funny because on Wed, Dec. 23rd, it was 77 degrees and sunny, but by noon on Christmas eve, it was a blizzard! We woke up Christmas morning to SNOW everywhere! Maddy and the dogs had a great time romping and playing in the snow. The puppies (Bean especially) found ploughing through the snow with their noses, and then flipping the snow up, to be major excitement!!

Happy New Year!!!! We are finally back!!!!

2010-01-02T07:58:00.001-08:00

After a very long hiatus, we are finally back! I never intended to go this long without posting, but as the puppies got older (and hungrier and more active), I found myself immersed in all things puppy. The last puppy left on October 30, and then suddenly, I found myself smack in the middle of holiday season and all of its activities. Needless to say, my time on the computer shrank to a bare minimum, and now here I am, three months later, finally posting again to my blog. I can't believe how time flies!!!! Anyway, I am finally back, and will be posting on a MUCH more regular basis now. I've also made several new items for the store, so those will be posted and added very soon! I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. Happy 2010!!!!!

During my little blog break, we also took two trips---one to Rome, Italy, and one to Las Vegas. Both were lots of fun, but I have to admit that Rome is definitely my favorite of the two!! This was Madolyn's first trip to Europe, and boy did she have fun. The weather was gorgeous, the food was incredible, and there was literally a picture perfect shot everywhere you looked. We found some great deals on a few choice Italian goods as well. We stayed at the Kolbe Hotel, which formerly was a convent, but has now been converted to a modern, boutique hotel. The location couldn't have been any better, and we found ourselves gazing at the Roman forum every morning when we left our room. The very generous complimentary breakfast buffet gave us all the energy we needed to start the day, as I think we must have

walked at least 10 miles every day. There was so much to see, though, that we really didn't think anything of the walking. Exploring Rome on foot was so much fun!! Here are a few shots:

I took about 700 shots, so these, of course, are just a mere few, but you can see many more on my Facebook page. Reflecting back on our Italian adventure already makes me ready to go back!!

Deerhound puppy conditioning

2009-09-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

Deerhound puppies need lots of exercise in order to grow to their best potential. Here is how we exercise ours :)

Hanging out with the puppies......

2009-09-23T07:37:00.003-07:00

Here's our daughter Madolyn hanging out with the puppies. They are getting cuter all the time!

Growing too fast......

2009-09-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

Our Deerhound puppies are now eight weeks old and growing fast. Soon they will be leaving for their new homes. It seems like only yesterday they were born. We are trying to savor every moment the little guys are here!

Pugs and Deerhound Puppies!

2009-09-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

Our Pug, Ziggy, loves to play chase, and what could be better than having twelve Deerhound puppies running after you? He has a blast playing with the puppies, and they think he is pretty cool too!

A Morning Romp

2009-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Our babies are now six weeks old, and really starting to grow like weeds! Here they are on a morning romp around the yard with their mom....

Last Summer Fling

2009-08-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last week, Madolyn got to have one last summer fling with Grandma and Grandpa before school started. The lucky kid got to go to the beach in Galveston, the aquarium, shopping, dim sum (twice), and to Inner Space Caverns!! She had a blast, and couldn't stop talking about it when she returned. Here are a few of the memories. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Some of my favorite puppy pictures

2009-08-21T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite puppy pictures so far. The pictures are at two and three weeks of age. Enjoy!

Puppies on the MOVE!!!!

2009-08-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't had the chance to do a lot of posting lately, as the little pups are keeping us busy, busy, busy!! They've started running around now, and aren't too crazy about staying in the box very much anymore. It's still summer and very hot here, so they can't go outside for a good portion of the day, but we have a screened porch which catches some nice breezes, so we let them run about out there. Here they are......

Hello World!

2009-08-02T09:40:00.001-07:00

The puppies are two weeks old now, and have their eyes open. Aren't they cute?

Pic of the Day

2009-07-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

Puppy love!!!!!

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies!

2009-07-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Our littlest Deerhound dozen are keeping us busy every day, but we are having lots of fun watching their every move. They have already started making little barking and growling sounds---so cute!---and are trying to walk about on wobbly legs. With Maddy around, I think they are going to be very kid friendly!

Our Puppies Have Arrived!

2009-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Our new, darling dozen arrived yesterday. Twelve fat little Deerhound puppies from our girl, Ch. Big Sky's Artemis (Audrey) decided to grace us with their presence. They started arriving at 5:30am, and finally finished around 5 pm---whew, what a long day!Valor (Fernhill's Valor of Big Sky) is the proud papa, and our daughter, Madolyn, is official puppy sitter :) Meet the crew!

Christmas in July Sale!!!

2009-07-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

We are having a Christmas in July sale at our store, Quarry. From now until July 31st, you will get free shipping with every purchase. We also have all of our earrings on sale. They are already marked, and can also be found under the SALE section. Please convo me from the Etsy site if you have any questions. I am also always happy to make custom orders (which will also be shipped free until July 31st). Here are just a few of our items:

Another Modern Farmhouse

2009-07-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

I just love this modern farmhouse in Georgia. It has so many elements that remind me of my house, but with just a touch more "old farmhouse" flavor. It was also built for $90 a square foot----Score!!

Our New L'il Cowpoke Quilt

2009-07-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here is our new L'il Cowpoke Quilt. It would be the perfect addition to your little one's bedroom. Use it as a crib quilt, play mat, tablecloth, throw, or even hang it on the wall. The vintage inspired scenes of little cowboys and cowgirls are precious, and you'll be impressed with the quality and attention to detail of this piece. You can even turn it over and use it as a white tablecloth, as the blue thread makes a nice pattern on the reverse side. The fabric is cotton, and the quilt is 40 inches square. It also makes the perfect one of a kind baby shower gift!!

Anxiously awaiting our summer pups!

2009-07-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

Our girl, Audrey (Ch. Big Sky's Artemis), is due to have puppies next week. She is getting so big! I'm sure she is just as anxious for them to arrive as we are. Here are a couple snaps of our big momma :)

In the meantime, Maddy and Ziggy have been passing the time playing some games on the computer. Can't wait for the puppies!!!!!

Free People Jewels

2009-07-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

I love these new pieces at Free People-----Beth Orduna (a favorite of mine) and Erickson Beamon, along with other great one of a kind necklaces with a modern vintage vibe. Wonderful additions to your jewelry collection!

Pup Pup Designs

2009-07-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for great new accessories for my dogs, and at Pup Pup Designs, you can create your own custom collars and leashes for your canine pals. You pick your collar, and then you can customize it with your pup's name, or a few of the many cool charms and accessories. They have a large assortment of vintage images (my favs), plus a lot of unique add ons (they call them cha-chas), which together, allow for endless possibilities. What's really great, is that both the collar and charms and pup art are reversible, so you end up with double the fun. Here are a few of my favorites:and here are a few more examples of Pup Art and Cha Chas:
They've also started a new line of matching accessories for us!

Fabulous Vintage Papers

2009-07-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

I found a great place to buy fabulous vintage paper ephemera---Style de Vie. These are original era pieces that have been preserved, and come with a certificate of authenticity. They have old maps, fashion illustrations, botanical prints, cheese labels, seed packets, kimono silk screens, children's educational plates and more! With the right frame, I think they would be wonderful for decorating a child's room, living room, or just about any room in the house. You could also use them for your craft projects. Decoupage them on a desk or dresser, make a cigar box purse, create a unique piece of art, or even use them as wallpaper for a small wall. So many possibilities! I love the artwork, color, and humor. Check these out.

Child's room This botanical piece comes from an original 1830s botanical encyclopedia. It has REAL plant leaves (not a print) carefully affixed to paper, as well as the original, hand written notes by the collector. These would be really great framed in a bathroom!For your study or library maybe?Just for fun :)

2008 Global Travel Photo Contest Winner

2009-07-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

GLOBAL. CREATIVE. PROGRESSIVE.

PLANET is an independent culture and lifestyle magazine focusing on art, fashion, music, film, travel, the environment, and design - all from a uniquely eclectic and international perspective.

I enjoy getting email updates from Planet magazine, and perusing their blog.
They recently had a global travel photography contest, and Bill Phelps was just announced the grand prize winner. You can see his submitted portfolio (along with some of the other prizewinners) on their blog site. Here are my two favorite photos from his winning entry. I love the mood he creates. Enjoy!

Smart Shoes and Jewelry at Colette

2009-06-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shops in Paris is Colette on Rue Saint-Honore. It is a very cool boutique, which features great pieces from women's wear and shoes, to items for your home and for your soul. Just walking around in the store is an experience! Recently, while browsing around on their website ( I haven't had the chance to get back to Paris for a few years now), I came across this interesting pair of shoes by Melissa---a Brazilian shoe label known for its unique shoes made from recyclable plastic. These shoes were designed as a special project for the company that makes SMART cars. The company selected five designer labels, and asked them to make a product exclusive to Smart, that had urban mobility, design, and sustainability as their inspiration. All products are recyclable, and limited in production to 150 pieces.

Now I'm not usually one who likes "jelly" shoes, but these are just really cool! The spidery webs all around the shoe are beautiful, and you could wear these in any kind of weather and not worry about messing them up. They come in silver, which is also wearable with almost everything, and these days, it's always a plus to find things that are earth friendly.
I also came across these necklaces by Paris based fashion collective Andrea Crews, which were also created for the Smart project. Each piece is hand made from vintage parts and are one of a kind. Cute, colorful, and lots of fun, you can wear them as necklaces, use them as keychains, or even hang them on the rear view mirror of your Smart car, so check them out at Colette, along with all the other great stuff Colette carries. They even have a great selection of tunes that play while you shop!!

Wee Scotsdogs

2009-06-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so he's not a Scottish Deerhound, but he is Scottish, and sooooo cute! Look at this little guy all dressed for his very own Scottish Festival. You can buy a wee scottish outfit for your little (or big) guy at Puppy Dog Plaids or T he Heelan Hound. Puppy Dog Plaids sells plaid collars, kilts, and even these little bagpipes, while The Heelan Hound specializes in authentic tartan coats, kilts, collars, and leashes. You can have a coat custom made for your dog in your own tartan. Great for those of you who are really into your Scottish or Irish ancestry!

Cutest dish!

2009-06-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

I found these really cute dishes at The Brick Kiln. They would make the perfect gift for a baby shower, housewarming, new dog, or birthday. Each dish is customized with your recipient's name and hair or fur color (when applies). The bowls are organic in form, and the pictures----so cute!!! Faux bois is so popular these days, and I really love their little wood grain dish too. I think anyone would be pleased as punch to receive their own, one of a kind, present! I'd like to order some just for our house too :)

Ryno Glass

2009-06-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad went to the C.A.C in Temple, TX (where they've lived since 1976), and an exhibit from one of my Temple High School classmates was on display. Knowing I'd be interested, they sent me a few pictures of his glasswork, and I was blown away. Robert Rynearson (he was Bobby when we were in school) has become a top notch glass artisan. His pieces--organic and simple in form---have stunning color, and have gained national recognition, and were even showcased at the 2002 Winter Olympics. His studio, Ryno Glass, is located in a revitalized, downtown building in Temple, TX. They incorporate both blown glass and fused glass to create significant architectural and decorative works. Here are just a few examples of his work. His studio also creates glass tile and lighting. Check out his website to view his portfolio---you won't be disappointed!

The Love Shack

2009-06-21T18:57:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it to the Love Shack, and had Dirty Love on Father's Day-----the Dirty Love burger that is! The Love Shack is the new burger joint by chef Tim Love in the Ft. Worth Stockyards. It was recently named one of the top new restaurants in Conde Nast's Traveler magazine, and reviews in the Ft. Worth Star and Dallas Morning Newspapers called their burgers "quite possibly the most perfect burger on the planet." The Love Shack is located in a cool, step down courtyard right in the middle of the Stockyards, and we enjoyed live music by a local solo artist while we chowed down on this incredibly yummy food. Our burger, the Dirty Love burger, had bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, love sauce, and a fried quail egg on top. The burgers are made fresh daily from a 50/50 combo of prime tenderloin and beef brisket and are thick and juicy. The love sauce and fried quail egg add an extra kick! We also had the love shack fries, which are homemade, sliced thin, and fried in trans-fat free oil. They are delicious! The Crazy Good onion rings are just that---crazy good, and the fresh squeezed lemonade and homemade rootbeer are perfect for washing it all down on a warm summer afternoon. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed, and we hung out for a while listening to the music and enjoying the cool courtyard. I can't wait to go back!!!

A Day at the Beach

2009-06-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

We have a puppy, Astrid, who now lives in Victoria, British Columbia with the Lamb family and her uncle Havoc. They recently took a trip to the beaches in Oregon, and sent us these pictures. It looks like Deerhound heaven! With the hot weather upon us, I'm ready for a trip to the beach myself.....wonder if I can bring my eight dogs too? :)

Modern Canine

2009-06-18T20:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's not really big enough to fit a Deerhound, but you gotta look at this fab modern dog house by Madshome that doubles as a bedside table. You can order it in your own custom color, but I rather like this bright orange. The "house" comes with a matching cushion, and the "terrace" has its own comfy sheepskin to keep your little guy cosy. I think it looks perfect for our Pug. Now I've just got to convince the husband.......

Feeling Goth?

2009-06-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

You have to visit AllSaints if you love goth inspired looks. Here, you can find the perfect pieces for women, men, kids, and your home. I'm in love with so many things from them, but here are some of my top picks: the Anata dress

the Bryony dressJolanta long waistcoatLimora cardiganDaria jacketthe Mimi mac, which converts into a cropped jacket
the Melanie sandalPorto bootand even a cool dog collar and lead! :)

Keeping cool

2009-06-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's summer down here in Texas, and the dogs always like to keep cool on our concrete floor. Here are a couple pictures of Ziggy, our Pug, chilling out.

I may be tired, but I've still got my eye on you!

Texas Scottish Festival

2009-06-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we went to the Texas Scottish Festival in Arlington, TX. It's been going on for 23 years now, and we go every year----with a husband named Duncan McPhail, how could you not? Anyway, this event is one of the largest Scottish gatherings in the U.S, and is hailed as the preeminent Scottish entertainment festival in North America. Maddy dressed for the occasion in her kilt and Scottish Deerhound t-shirt and earrings. I had my Scottish Deerhound shirt and earrings too. Duncan wore his formula one shirt, though it was not for McClaren or David Coulthard (sorry guys, but Ferrari all the way!).

It promised to be a warm day, so we decided to leave the Deerhounds at home in the A/C. We often bring the dogs, and it's surprising to see how many people at the Scottish Festival don't know what a Scottish Deerhound is. Our poor "Royal dogs of Scotland" often get called Irish Wolfhounds, Greyhounds, Borzoi, Afghans, and even Airedale Terriers! They do have an all Scottish Breed dog show, which we have entered before and won Best in Show, but it is always held on Saturday, and this year we were only able to make it on Sunday. We did see a number of Scotties, Westies, Border Collies, and Goldens (plus a handful of Scottish wannabes), but were glad we decided to leave the dogs at home, as it did get hot and muggy!

We started the day browsing through the numerous arts and crafts booths. Madolyn enjoyed looking for all the McPhail items, and even got to see the numerous versions of the McPhail tartan. Apparently, the McPhails, apart from having their own clan, were also part of the Donald, Cameron, McKay, and Mackintosh clans (depending on where they originated), so you could wear whichever tartan was your favorite from those choices-----and there were many!

For lunch, we had a nice sampling of fish and chips, shepherd's pie, and mince, tatties, and gravy (meatballs, mashed potatoes, and gravy). The meatballs were made from Highland cows, which are supposed to have leaner beef, and everything was delicious! Maddy couldn't believe how much she loved the shepherd's pie.

Next, we watched the Highland games for a while, which is always a favorite of Madolyn's. They have a professional and amateur division, so you get to see events all day long. We saw the professionals do the caber toss, and boy, can those guys hurl those huge logs! We also watched the hammer throw, and something we hadn't seen before---the beer keg toss. This was lots of fun, especially when one of the kegs would get a hole and start spewing beer!

At the children's tent, they always hold the children's games, and Maddy never misses them. She gets so excited about competing, and always makes sure that she wears her lucky rabbit's foot for good luck :) They have a foot race, sack race, three legged race, and tug of war. This year, she was in the oldest age group, so competition was stiff. Maddy came in 2nd in the foot race, 4th in the sack race, and you should have seen the three legged race! Maddy's partner, early on, had problems figuring out the timing of the legs and started complaining and wanting to stop. Maddy, though, would have no part in quitting, so she started hopping on her free leg and saying "we have to finish!" The other girl started hopping too, and they ended up still finishing second depite their rather unique technique :) Madolyn had lots of fun, and was happy to get her goody bag filled with cracker sandwiches, candy, gum, and a bottle of water, and of course all of her ribbons. She also got to try a childrens version of the caber toss, and after a few tries, managed to toss it just like the pros!
Next, we decided to listen to some of our favorite Celtic rock bands----The Rogues and The Killdares. I love the way they use the bagpipes and fiddle along with their electric guitars and drums. This kind of music has so much energy, and really gets you going. There were even some people in the audience doing Scottish dancing along to the music. We wanted to stay for a new group that we hadn't heard before----Brother--- but it started getting too late, so we took a chance and bought the CD to listen to on the way home. The program described the group as celtic tribal, and having a unique, edgy sound, so it sounded just like something I'd like anyway!

On the way out, we didn't forget to stop by my favorite bakery tent for their super delicious shortbread cookies. I never leave the festival without them! The last tent we went by had the best stuff in the fair. The owner hand makes all of her items, and she had all kinds of unique jewelry, dresses, skirts, camis, flower brooches, scarves, and hats. They were hand dyed and embellished. I got an adorable tartan cap adorned with a tartan flower and silver dagger pin ( the dagger looked just like the kind the men keep in their socks under their kilts). It was so cool, I couldn't pass it up!

Then we were on our way home after a great day at the Scottish Festival. Oh yes, and the Brother CD was great!

Cool Custom by Kay Lim

2009-06-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

I love the cool casual wear that Kay Lim custom designs. Her pieces are fun, pretty, and a little edgy all at the same time. Take a look at the Two Tone Tunic. It has a beautiful color combo of lilac and dusty pink, raw edge finishes that will roll naturally, an irregular hem, and a lovely arrangement of flowers around the neckline. A great melding of pretty and tough!I also love this cool Denim Hip Pouch. With its patches of denim in multiple finishes, grommets and black suede, zippers, and sequined embellishment in the back, it is a quirky, artsy, jean "apron", that I'd wear just as a cool accessory even if I didn't have anything to store in it :)

Tiny Texas Houses

2009-06-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

These days, with all the focus on reducing your carbon footprint and being green, it seems like smaller homes are becoming the new trend, and Tiny Texas Houses is a perfect example. Each home is constructed using almost entirely pure salvage. Brad Kittel describes his company philosophy best:Each Tiny House is lovingly built to be a one of a kind creation constructed to fit the customer's needs and desires. Vintage doors, windows, flooring, and other architectural details ensure that the homes have soul and a unique flavor. The homes are built at the company warehouse, and then shipped to your site when completed. Discover the joys of living small----a simpler lifestyle, where you live with what you love most, and let go of the pressure to own more "things." Quality of life, not quantity of stuff!

Origami Skirt

2009-06-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this Origami Skirt I found by Attila Design on Etsy. This designer is from Finland, and specializes in bold, sculptural, one of a kind, and custom work. Many pieces have a wonderful juxtaposition of styles, such as a hippie, Victorian, punk frock or a distressed, Edwardian, leather urban biker jacket. This skirt is very sculptural in form, and features detachable red leather straps with vintage stocking holder clasps, that you can use to convert the shape of the skirt to whatever mood pleases you. The Edwardian, urban, leather biker jacket

Shopaholics Unite!

2009-05-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

Do you love to shop? I know I do, so I made these earrings to celebrate it. Cute little brass purse charms and brass hearts dangle on unique antiqued brass ear wires, which are adorned with foiled glass hearts in a sea green color. Check them out here :)

Superdelicious Southern!

2009-05-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

Duncan and I took a day trip the other day, down to the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff ( a little area in south Dallas), as we were feeling the need for a bit of an escape from the humdrum. In recent years, this area has attracted several great eateries and unique shops. The streets are tree lined, and even have gardens in the alleys. The weather was beautiful, so everything felt even more wonderful. We snooped around in several of the shops---there was a pet shop, Green Pet, filled with nice goodies for the dogs, so I was pretty happy! I found some beautiful jewelry in the Artisan's Collective too. The pieces were so modern and unique, so I was really surprised when I heard that the person who makes them is an eighty year old man---how cool is that? For lunch, we stopped at Tillman's Roadhouse. This restaurant is an update on the classic Texas roadhouse, and has some of the most delicious food around! After we were seated, the waiter set down a large silver ladle filled with homemade potato chips, which we polished off, and then ordered the Trio of Fries appetizer. These amazing fries consist of parmesan black pepper kennebec fries, chili dusted purple peruvian fries, and smoked salt scented sweet potato fries served with house made catsup and horseradish pickle mayo. For lunch, we opted to have the One Killer Grilled Cheese DJ which is served with soup and varies in kind from day to day. On our visit, it was Manchego cheese and grilled onions with a broccoli and cheese soup that had smoky croutons and bacon dust----incredible!!!! They make probably the best grilled cheese sandwiches you'll ever have. You can also get Venison Frito Pie, Chicken Fried Hanger Steak with poblano gravy and bacon braised green beans, Smoked Beef Brisket Quesadillas with oaxacan and chihuhua cheeses and pepitas and lime creme fraiche, to name a few of the other offerings. Of course we couldn't leave without dessert, so we had an individual s'more, which was a coffee marshmallow toasted over chocolate bark and served on a cinnamon graham cracker. What a perfect way to end the meal. We were stuffed, and completely satisfied!

After lunch, we walked around and visited a few more stores. We found one, Make, where everything was handmade-----clothes, purses, jewelry, pillows, furniture---by local artists, and I ended up buying a pretty little headband with fabric flowers which had a bit of a modern, deconstructed look to it. Then we hopped in the car and headed back home to pick Madolyn up from school. What a fun day :)

Fun, Funky, and Eco Friendly

2009-05-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my Dwell magazine, when I spotted these Mary Janes in an ad for a shoe company named Keen. I was attracted by the colorful, woven tops, so decided to check out the website. I had never heard of Keen before, so was interested to find out what they were all about. I was happy to discover that not only do they make comfy, great looking shoes, but they are a company that is built on hybrid innovation, redefining the outdoors, and giving back to the community. This particular pair, the Harvest MJ, is crafted with colorful strips of woven reclaimed rice paper, while the sole is made from recycled polyurethane and cork. Now you can get some great new shoes, and reward your eco-friendly frame of mind!

Best of Breed

2009-05-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, the Scottish Deerhound Club of America recently had their national specialty in St.Louis,MO. I thought you might enjoy seeing this year's Best of Breed winner, the lovely, Ch. Foxcliffe Hickory Wind. This bitch took my breath away the first time she entered the ring. She had such presence and beautiful movement, that she could not be denied. Congratulations to her breeder and owner, Cecilia Dove! I should also mention that the sire of this gorgeous girl, Thistleglen Newell, is a brother to the sire of our dog Valor (Thistleglen Neville).

Best Junior Handler!!!

2009-05-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from St.Louis, MO where our 2009 Scottish Deerhound Club of America national specialty was held (which is why our blog was quiet this past week). Anyway, my daughter, Madolyn, was very happy to win Best Junior Handler for the third year in a row! Yay! We are very proud of her and her dog, Zoe, who is now ten years old and still looking beautiful.

Sweet Summer Shoes

2009-05-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

A girl can never have too many shoes, and I've got a yearning for these sweet summer sandals. The first two are by Miss Albright. These thong style sandals are both super cute with great details. The Calappa thongs are ivory with that aged, crackled leather. They have dusty rose colored tassels and pretty little pink flower buds.The Tattered Cosmos sandals are adorned with tiny, metallic blossoms with fringy petals in shades of pink and gold---so pretty!
For some shoes with a heel, I love the Niabell wedges. These embroidered black raffia wedges have little black bow ties and clusters of grapes near the toe and heel. Perfect for summer!Last, but not least, I love the Salt Water Taffy heels. These shoes feature a heel with a unique shape, and leather in several pretty shades of blue, yellow, orange, and lilac that is in varying finishes and decorated with interesting stitching patterns. They are sure to stand out in the crowd.All of these shoes can be found at Anthropologie :)

We are back, and with Wary Meyers!

2009-05-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

We were at a dog show over the weekend, which is why things were quiet on our blog, but we are back now, and ready to share one of our favorites----- Wary Meyers Decorative Arts. This duo of husband and wife, John Meyers and Linda Wary, do all kinds of work from commissioned art and dog portraits, to custom clothing design and custom interior work. Initially, what attracted me to them was their dog portraiture, but once I saw everything else they did, I was hooked! Wary Meyers design aesthetic is a quirky kind of vintage, flea market modern. Ditching the NYC rat race, John and Linda moved to coastal Maine in order to live a quieter, more artistic life (moving from downtown Dallas out to the country, I TOTALLY understand). Here are a few samples:I LOVED the quirky, vintage look of this Golden portrait, and had to have it even though I don't even own a Golden!You know how I feel about bunnies, so of course I fell for this bunny and carrots painting.Here's a fabulous coat designed by Linda.A reading loft from one of the interiors they designed.A jewelry store interior that they did.And one of the many articles in which they were featured. This one was from Domino magazine.

Bunny LOVE

2009-05-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

I LOVE rabbits. I used to show English Angora rabbits, but love just about any bunny in sight! These days, we have a hodge podge of rabbits at the house, and since the weather is so nice today, I decided to take a few pictures. Meet Hobbes the American Fuzzy Lop, Lily the Dutch, and Haru, our little Netherland Dwarf mix bunny----three of the eight rabbits currently at our house.

Hee haw--Here comes the sun!

2009-05-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

After several gray, drizzly days, the sun is finally coming out at our place (Yay!), and our miniature donkey, Biko, is letting everybody know about it! At least all this rain helped produce these lovely flowers in the garden :)

Beautiful One piece Swimsuits

2009-05-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to see that the one piece swimsuit is becoming beautiful again. For years, it seemed that the bikinis got all the great design and beautiful touches, and the one piece suits were for moms who needed something functional, and for some reason, not something beautiful. Designers are finally seeing that one pieces can be sexy and pretty too. I've got my eye on these babies for summer.........
The suit above is by Rosa Cha,and these two bejeweled beauties are Anika Brazil. You can find all three at Anthropologie.

Deerhound earrings

2009-05-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

I love the Such a Peach Deerhound earrings from Tiny Art Jewelry. The pretty peach adventurine stone, and the vintage print of a sandy colored Deerhound, pair perfectly! They are handmade by designer Karen Smith (herself a sighthound owner and admirer). A great find for the Deerhound lover. Karen also creates jewelry with vintage images of many other dog breeds as well as cats, llamas, birds, horses, and much more. Visit her at www.tinyartjewelry.com or at her Etsy site www.tinyartjewelry.etsy.com.

All things small and wonderful

2009-05-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've always been a big fan of little things----miniature animals, tiny furniture, little boxes, so when I saw these little guys, I was pretty excited. First, we have this tiny bunny wonderland by Mossywoodlane. This adorable little world in a dome, which contains tiny pastel bunnies, wooden spools of thread, colorful buttons, and a needle, would be perfect in a nursery or for the avid seamstress. Next, is this cuddly little mouse on a mushroom by Cotton Candy Cuties. Holding a little vintage bouquet of forget me nots, I think he would be so cute for Mother's Day.

Celebrate Spring

2009-05-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than to wear some flower and bird inspired jewelry! At Quarry, you can find the Bird Nest necklace, which features a pair of lovebirds watching over their egg in the nest, the Painted Flower necklace, which has a pretty pink flower painted on a wooden pendant with vintage brass chain, and the Rose and Bird earrings, which feature carved roses and cute brass birdies! Our Mother's day sale is still going on too, so everything is still an extra $5.00 off.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice!

2009-05-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

That's what these little girls are made of---and dressed in! When my daughter was little, it was so hard to find clothes that were fresh and young, yet not overly cutesy or cheesy. Look what there is now, though. These dresses are precious, whimsical, full of style, not mass produced so your daughter will not look like everyone else, and made with the greatest attention to detail, as they are handmade with love :) Check them out!The Ode and Sonnet dress by Pretty Me you can also find them at www.prettymeonline.com .

The Bird in Hand dress....Pretty Me
Fly Away Franny .......Pretty Me
The Sweet Cate.......Pretty Me
Forest Friends dress by Devon Rose..This is a favorite designer, as she is my sister, and the model is my little niece, Devon :)
Floral bouquet dress.....Devon Rose
Liberty Lawn dress....Devon Rose

Fab Folk Art

2009-05-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for folk art. It's all the stuff I don't need, yet can't get enough of! Earth Angels has a huge selection of incredible artists that do soft sculpture, mixed media, jewelry, and more. I, myself, adore the quirky little animals---especially all the little bunnies! Here are a few of my faves........ Miss Gardenia by Jody Battaglia
Sailor's Best Friends by Nicole Bowen Ernest by Nicole Bowen
Rabbit pincushion by Debbie Hartwick Gothic Batty by Nicole Bowen

and this precious Bunny Love necklace by Debbee Thibault

Sighthound artist and more....

2009-05-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Elle Wilson is a British artist who does amazing artwork. She specializes in sighthounds----Greyhounds, Deerhounds, Whippets, Salukis, etc---but does other breeds and other animals, as well. I especially love the way she captures the character of the breeds in her quirky style which is a bit exaggerated in form yet always right on as far as exuding breed essence. Here are a few examples.

Must Have T-Shirt!

2009-05-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Bored with the same ho-hum t-shirts? Well take a look at this piece from Art Lab , an independent fashion designer and artist in NYC. Her artisanal, one of a kind designs are very conceptual. This shirt is hand dyed and silk screened, then distressed and given a twist. With its unique shape and fab ruffle on the shoulder, you are certain to get lots of compliments on this one!

UK Breed Show

2009-04-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-30T05:08:00.000-07:00

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...........

2009-04-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-29T11:59:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

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!!!