For a Christmas gift for my husband I decided I’d get her to paint a portrait of our family pet, a 7 year old Labradoodle named Apollo.  All I had to do was send Vjera a jpeg file picture and within a week she had it ready.  Usually she’ll mail it, but she was doing a craft fair nearby so I drove over to pick it up and to see her again.  She’s a lovely person.

Here’s  Vjera at a street fair with some of her pet rock portraits.  She also paints on wood.  The rocks have a piece of felt glued on the back so it won’t scratch your furniture.  What a family keepsake!

Artist

Here’s the jpeg file of Apollo:

Adorable isn't he?

And here’s her work:

Apollo

My husband LOVED IT.  He took it to work with him and now Apollo sits on his desk and  I’m sure it’ll be a conversation piece.  People LOVE their animals.

Vjera’s work is very good and it was a great personalized gift that didn’t cost that much but meant a lot.  My husband says she really “captured Apollo’s spirit.”

She prefers not to do “people portraits” but does do homes and other animals in addition to some other work.  Check her out!

Vjera Thoma at valpovo@aol.com.

Pet Portrait of my dog, Apollo

Joshua Tree Products, so named because it was first founded in Joshua Tree, California,  has an organic healing salve for active rock climbers, cyclists, water skiers, carpenters or anyone else with dried, rough or calloused hands.  It’s being touted as “the best there is” by its loyal following.

If you’re like me  and have never been up the wall, then you probably didn’t know that scraping your hands against the rock day after day leaves rock climbers with chapped, sore and blistered hands. Makes sense though doesn’t it?  J-Tree products to the rescue!

I met the owner, David Lawrence, at the New York City Holiday Gift Guide Show where business owners were showing their products to the media in preparation for the 2009 holiday season.  He was passing out samples of the lip balms and some very hot  but delicious herbal tea.  David explained that the tea, which comes in four flavors, is a mash of herbs that are roasted for two weeks before extracting the healing oils to be blended into the tea.

David, himself an avid climber, bought the company in 2007 and relocated it to his Michigan barn where all the products are hand made.  He expanded the product line which now includes J-Tree lip balms and moisturizers, skin healing salves, an organic product for exposed faces and the teas.

David’s company targets anyone who plays hard and asks “What’s your Lifestyle?”  Based on what you do, you can pick your  J-Tree Salve for climbing, healing, water sports, musicians, sportsmans or cycling.   There’s even a Joshua Tree healing salve for Pets which won a 2008 Dog Health Product of the Year award.

Contact information for purchasing J-Tree Salve is on Kathy’s List.

Can you believe these cute puppy faces?  All painted on rocks by the artist below, Vjera Thoma.  I came across her working her craft at the Nyack Street Fair last month.  I’m telling you, you find some of the most creative and talented people where you least expect it.

If you need a Father’s Day gift and the man in your life has a “man’s best friend,” then what could be better than a portrait of Fido? (my dog’s  name is Apollo and yes, I’m ordering one)  The artist needs only a couple of clear pictures of the dog, sent by jpeg file and she will recreate the dog’s face on a smooth, flat rock. 

 This pet rock can be used  as a paper weight or just kept on the desk with the photos of the family.  It’s an unsual, but very sweet gift at a reasonable price.  The artist also creates other handpainted treasures.

Immortalize your dog in stone! 

Subscribe to Kathy’s list for more information. 

Just waiting for my bandana!

One of the cutest things I saw at the Hoboken Street Fair was for pets.  Even though I have a handsome labradoodle named Apollo at home, I wasn’t shopping for him that day and so the Steelers bandana that I scooped up is going to another dog.  (That’s my thing, always looking for the cutest and most unique items and then thinking of who I can “gift” it to.)

There’s an adorable little puppy living in Houston, Texas name Malu (yep, he’s named after that Steelers football player) who will be getting this pet bandana because his dad is a die hard Steelers fan and a relocated Pittsburger.  (I’m sending a little of the ‘Burg to Texas)

These triangle pieces of fabric come in different sizes and patterns and all you do is loop it onto the pet’s collar for the perfect “I’m a cool dog” look.

One thing for sure, I’ll be looking for this seller again because I have to get Apollo one.  He might need a couple so he can change up.

You can find this seller’s email and phone number on Kathy’s List.  Sign up here.