My favorite card (for today) ...

Ooohh!!! I have SO many favorites! It changes depending on my mood and the occasion! OK, if I have to pick just one (grumble grumble grumble) I choose (insert drum roll here) ... this one --->
(of course, the actual card doesn't have the © info plastered across the front). Why am I posting a favorite card? Why did I choose THIS card? And who is Great Scott Designs (the card creator)? Read on and the mysteries will be solved (where that missing sock went to after you put it in the dryer? I don't have any answers for THAT mystery, sorry!) ...

Why am I posting a favorite card?
The peeps behind the scenes at Greeting Card Universe, the place where I host my greeting card designs, are holding a contest for the designers. We've been challenged to pick ONE favorite card that isn't one of our own. There will be a followup post on this card and this contest next week (and it will get even more fun at that time).

Why did I choose THIS card?
Like I said, my moods and the occasion all have something to do with what card is a favorite at any given time. But for THIS occasion at THIS time I chose THIS card. I like to think of myself as an upbeat, optimistic person in general. Life's Challenges hit all of us at one time or another and for me, a little humor is sometimes all I need to get perspective on the situation, so that's usually what I reach for when offering support to a friend in need. Great Scott Designs has no shortage of humorous cards and this one is a reflection of that fact. Of course an animal theme will catch my eye every time!

And who is Great Scott Designs (the card creator)?
I first "met" Colleen quite a few years ago when I was active on just one POD site. And when I stumbled upon her at GCU, it was a neat feeling almost like finding an old friend again. Here is an except from her "about me" (you can read more on the home page of her own greeting card store - Great Scott Designs at GCU):

" ... I'm really no "artist" but my goal is generally to make you (and me) smile in a real life sort of way ... The background story...single Mom set out to make one single band t-shirt for her son and kept going from there. Quite simply, I had to make a living in this everchanging world and it's been a blast!"

Click on thru to see Colleen's card for yourself. Did you know that GCU makes it super-duper-easy for you to change the inside text of any card during your order process? Go ahead, give it a try! You can even add your own text to blank cards if you'd like. Love it. And ... check back next week to see what the next phase of this little contest has in store for us all ...

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You didn't REALLY think I'd let you go without showing you a few more of my favorites, did you?!

DogBreedz Week in Review

Rain rain go away! The mobile studio in Santee can't set up in the rain, so this last week I've been busy following up on client inquiries and getting my creative juices flowing with two new card designs for St. Patrick's Day. The greeting cards will be active soon at the DogBreedz Greeting Card Universe shop, with many dog breeds represented. You can even request a card with your own pet (or request a different nationality on the "Kiss Me" series). Why should the Irish get all the lovin' on St. Patrick's Day? Go ahead ... Kiss ME! It seems everyone becomes Irish on St. Patrick's Day ... even our dogs! This week the Santee Studio will be open on Wednesday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Foster animals can sit for free - digital images will be provided to their Rescue to help promote them for adoption. Will you be around Del Mar this weekend? I'll be ringside at the Cocker Spaniel Specialty Show on Friday and the Silver Bay Dog Show on Saturday and Sunday. On the weekend, I'll be hanging with the Terriers - stop by and say hi! And a final note - check out my ChipIn page for a unique way to help out a great group of animal rescues.

Where's Peggy?

When is this blog going to be updated? What has DogBreedz been doing? Is she still taking pictures? Did you hear, Peggy's been abducted by aliens! And such was the word on the streets throughout San Diego and Orange Counties. Never fear - the camera has been hard at work! It's been an eventful summer, complete with computer issues galore (no, no photos were lost in the melee, thank Goodness!), a trip to the Cocker Spaniel Nationals (where I chaired the National Parade of Rescues), a changing of the guards at San Diego Spaniel Rescue (after 7 years as fearless leader, I've finally been able to realize my original vision and turn the operation over to a very capable Board of Directors) and so much more. My poor blog has languished! What's worse than going to a blog and reading someone thinking out loud "I thought this little table should go by the front door, but decided it was a better fit in the upstairs hall"? I'll tell you - going to visit a blog you are looking forward to reading and finding NO updates since May! I'm guilty of that last category, I must admit. But - back to the business at hand! DogBreedz.net has been busy with fundraisers all over California. Most recently a trip to Brentwood and Livermore and what a weekend it was! Over $700 raised for Camp Cocker Rescue and SO many good looking dogs striking a pose for the camera! To see all the dogs from the Camp Bow Wow Livermore shoot, click HERE. To see all the dogs from the Grooming Lounge and More shoot, click HERE. ABOVE: Geisha the chocolate Labrador Retriever - at Camp Bow Wow Livermore on October 9, 2009 BELOW: Henry the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and his human sister Hailey at The Grooming Lounge and More in Brentwood on October 10, 2009
Don of Scoundrel Photographics has been busy gathering new equipment for us to use at the shoots - he has a brand new Christmas backdrop coming in today that will be featured at two fundraising shoots later this month (Huntington Beach, benefiting Second Chance Cocker Rescue; and Su-Et's Kennel in Santee, benefiting the Scottish Terrier Club of America's Health Trust) as well as at FOUR days of fundraising at the PetSmart on 17th Street in Santa Ana in December (to benefit English Springer Rescue America). Wow! Speaking of ESRA, I just finished shooting for their annual Holiday card, my first year doing it as Don (Scoundrel Photographics) wasn't able to fit it into his shoot schedule this year. Thanks for the referral, Don! They liked it so much that they asked me to work up ANOTHER card for them, for their online storefront. They should be up soon at their website How could I ever say no to ESRA? They are my dear friends and Rescue mentors! As long as we are talking about Holiday cards - I have created a gorgeous one for Thanksgiving, featuring one of the top ASCOB Cockers in the US. Check it out at my DogBreedz Card Shop. INSIDE TEXT: May your day be filled with joy, grace and love. Happy Thanksgiving! The Holidays are almost here! From my main website you can access a new link called: Holiday Goodies. Order gift tags with one of your images from a DogBreedz photo shoot! Scroll down a little more and you can access a full online catalog of Christmas and Hanukkah cards that you have your photo added to for a one-of-a-kind printed Holiday greeting this year. Off to update the upcoming shoots - and remember, custom photo items make great Holiday gifts!