DebrasDivineDesigns: May 2011

One day I came across this photo on Etsy that showed a picture of puppy feet. I think it sold $35 for a 8x10 print. It was really cute and I thought to myself "what a great idea". Then I sat back and thought about how many of us "artists" get our creative inspiration from our pets.

A new scientific study shows that petting your dog or cat can have a great calming effect on your mood. Scientists were able to conclude that the hormone oxytocin is released, triggering feelings of happiness, stress and depression relief, as well as an increased feeling of trust. The chemical also plays an important role in social memory and helps facilitate pair bonding, which is crucial for humans.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful English Cream Golden Retriever named Lyric. She is just over 2 years old and my very first dog. I am also blessed with two siamese brother and sister cats who let me stay in their house and sleep in their bed, Lily and Milo (Mr. Milo).

I create my jewelry pieces all over the place, not just in my studio. I sometimes sit outside on my patio or at the kitchen table, or maybe on the floor while watching my favorite show or even at the beach down at the cottage, but always, I have one or all of my pets at my side, watching everything I am doing. What they don't know, is that I am also watching them as I am so inspired by their nature.

For example,

Here Lily sat outside on this log staring at me as I was working away at a ring I was making and she kept meowing, as siamese sometimes do when they want to tell you a story. I couldn't figure out what she wanted, and she kept staring at my beads and then I realized, she wanted me to make her a necklace. I whipped one up in about 20 minutes and she meowed and nattered away at me, and as soon as I was done and put it on her, she shut up and posed perfectly for this photo and let me carry on with my ring! Inspiration!

Another example is my own Lyric's puppy feet

I mean, the long swirly feathers she has made me think to make this pendant.

Like her white swirling feathers of fur against the dark pads of her feet inspired me with the pendants cool turquoise stone to the warm metal of copper and the swirling swooshes of metal across the stone. Inspiration!

I was getting really bored with the look of some of my photo editing and thought I needed to find some more fun in the pictures other than just all plain white backgrounds. I looked outside at Lyric laying on the cool patio beside a log we use to hold open the gate on windy days. It hit me, and this was the result.