A Diaper for a Male Dachshund Dog

This entry is for anyone faced with the dilemma of needing a diaper for your male dachshund. Dachshunds have no legs or hips to hold the pet store diapers on...they slip out of them like a snake. I hope this idea helps someone out there, I know how desperate I was to figure something out that worked and that our dog would agree to wear. Luckily Ollie only needs to wear his at bedtime and for long car rides.

Since starting medication for his heart failure Ollie has occasional incontinence at night. I needed to try diapers, as Ollie refuses to sleep anywhere other than the bed. I spent weeks looking in the pet stores and online for diaper solutions... after trying several ideas/contraptions I figured out my own solution that both Ollie & I can live with.

Here's what worked best for a 16 pound, very long, male dachshund dog. I bought a package of Gerber Baby Onesies (size 12 months) and modified them into a diaper holder:

• I sewed the neck area to reinforce it and stop it from opening up on the sides and sliding down the dog
• I sewed elastic straps to the bottom back of the onsie, about 6-7 inches long
  
• I sewed a 2inch strip of velcro onto the ends of each elastic strap
• I sewed the other side of the velco to the bottom front of the onesie

Voila, you have a diaper holder...for the "diaper" I stick a feminine pad inside the back of the onesie and put it on him backwards, so the back of the onesie goes along his belly with the pad inside. I'm sure you can make adjustments to suit your pooch, luckily Ollie was a pretty easy fit. He doesn't mind wearing it and it keeps the bed dry. We've only had 2 small leaks in the last several months--not bad! You can see Ollie sporting his "pajamas" (we don't call it a diaper around him) in the picture above.

The pads I found work and fit best are Walmart Super Absorbent Overnight pads with Wings, a teal and melon orange package. I tried Always, Kotex, Serenity, and multiple other brands and for some reason the Walmart pads work the best--and they are very affordable (about $5.00 for 28). The other brands leaked out the sides or would come unglued and stick to his fur.

Hope this helps, if so please leave a comment for Ollie & I. Ollie is a proud, active, happy senior dog that is on diuretics and blood pressure medication to help his heart failure. These meds cause him to have to pee a lot... he is good during the day, but at night he has accidents/leakage. We can't fault him for that...I'll probably have the same problem when I'm his age...13 going on 14.

Goddess Pendants

I've been busy creating this week! Lots of new rings and pendants...and more on the way. My picks of the day are these goddess pendants. I found a few of the focal cabs in my stash today and had to wrap them. I had forgotten about them. I love working with these...I enjoy making each one different, like a little shrine.

The first picture is a goddess of creativity, wisdom, and strength... the paua shell goddess is holding a Himalayan Diamond Quartz crystal and has 2 sapphires at her feet. Paua shell promotes creativity, and when centered within this triad of gems she surrounded by strength, energy, and wisdom. I think we can all use a little of these energies in our life!!

The second goddess is a creative paua goddess with a Himalayan DQ crystal to he left and a set of 7 chakra gems to her right (sugilite, sapphire, amazonite, bloodstone, aragonite, Baltic amber, & carnelian). Aside from all of the amazing energy she is surrounded by, I think she is a reminder that we need balance in our lives.

Valentine Sweetie Cuff Bracelet by Barbara Ellis

Barbara Ellis has done it again! --Amazed me with another beautiful beaded cuff design. The perfect bracelet for Valentine's Day, this is her new "Sweet Tart Cuff."

Barbara's Sweet Tart Cuff features a SWJ face cab, adorned with beaded hair, a fringed necklace -complete with a little heart pendant, and set against a peyote stitched heart themed background. A fun and romantic design, I love it! Thank you for sharing her with us Barbara.

You can find the pattern for Barbara's Sweet Tart Bracelet at beadpatterns.com. The pattern comes complete with written instructions, graphs, photos, material, colors, and a list of the resources used. Barbara's designs have been featured in Beadwork Magazine and she offers over 60 original beaded jewelry patterns at beadpattern.com, all of them are gorgeous! You won't be able to resist trying one!

Karate Kristie? Who knew!

So, what have I been doing other than making new things? Taking Kenpo Karate classes! Ian and I decided we needed to get our buts off the couch before we turn into total potatoes. So three days a week we take kenpo karate classes with Mr. Eric at Black Dragon Kenpo Karate Studio in Manheim, PA.


Last week I earned my Yellow belt and now it's onto orange. I'm not a natural when it comes to Karate, it takes me LOTS of practice. It definitely beats sitting on the sofa and it never hurts to learn self defense. I think all of my years in healthcare took that killer/fighting instinct out of me. So, I'm working hard to get it back.

Perhaps I'll design something karate inspired. Hmmmmm.....

New Chakra Pendants

I have been dying to work on some new chakra pendants... finally had a little time to make them happen! These are petite pendants, designed for those of us that love handmade jewelry in a smaller size. Despite their size these pendants have all of the detail my larger creations have! Each of the pieces I listed in my store today is a true one-of-a-kind, making them as unique as the person they are meant to be worn by.

The piece pictured above features a natural Garnet crystal; a natural Madagascar Quartz point; orbs of jade, green agate, & chalcedony; and a little sodalite star. The gems are woven together with strands of oxidized sterling silver wire and beads.

The picture to the left features a natural Garnet crystal; a natural Madagascar Quartz point; and orbs of carnelian, mookaite, bloodstone, apatite, sapphire, and sugilite. This piece has larger orbs of gems than the above piece.

Romatic Clay Faces

Today's creations are all new designs... romantic scrolled face cameos and beads. I made a handful of these and fell in love with a few of them, so I'll be busy making myself a necklace. They have so much detail and are really a labor of love. It took me 2 full days to complete 12 of them... My arms were exhausted when I was done--from all of the difficult stamping. Each piece is 100% one of a kind, you'll never see another one like it. I tried to make matching pieces and it is impossible!

From start to finish each cameo takes 2 hours or more to create! Several steps are involved. A face cab is molded and set on a backplate of textured clay. Once this base is completed layers of stamped clay are shaved with razor blades and needles and applied to the surface of the wet clay. Once cured each one is antiqued, then sealed and fired 3 times to ensure the glaze is durable. The thin layers of textured clay have amazingly intricate detail... much like the ornate etchings on vintage postage stamps or currency. The antiquing really brings out the detail. Be sure to click on a picture to enlarge the image and see these up close!

Rhodochrosite Heart Pendants & Valentine's Inspired Clay Faces

I have been making Valentine's Day Jewelry and clay this past week. Hearts, romance, and chocolate on the brain! Tonight I wanted to share these rhodochrosite heart pendants... the stones are so amazing. They are natural pieces of pink rhodochrosite from Argentina and the color and patterning in them is exquisite. Mother Nature is an amazing artist! I stumbled upon these stones at Gallery 141 in Lancaster and had to have them.

They are crystaline watermelon pink rhodo with zig-zag bands of light pink and hints of cream and grey. The rhodo is so gemmy in these, especially for larger (30-32mm) pieces. They actually exhibit color change...under incandescent light they are watermelon in color and when outside, in sunlight, they are more of a standard medium pink. I thought I was going crazy at frist, but they really do shift in color in the gemmy pink areas. I haven't seen afordable pieces as nice as these in a long time so I had to share the view! I'll be sharing my new clay designs soon...hint, I fell in love with a couple of the pieces and can't part with them.

Meet Artist Donna Sakamoto Crispin

Today's feature artist is Donna Sakamoto Crispin. Donna shared a picture of a Shamaness she created with one of my face cabs and I was in love! When I visited her website (donnasakamotocrispin.com) I was amazed! Her creations are breathtaking and so inspiring! I had to share her with you.

Donna lives in Eugene, Oregon and has been weaving baskets sice 1986. She also weaves figures ~ some mythical, some serious, some playful. Look for rattles, jewelry, masks, woven
sculptures, and more.

Donna receives her inspiration and weaving materials from the natural world. She has lived in some of the most beautiful places in the Western U.S., where she has seen and experienced the lessons of the earth. Although she is now living in an urban area, her pieces reveal the spiritual and physical connection she has developed with nature.

Last year Donna's works were featured in Belle Armoire Jewelry, Log Home Living Magazine, and Natural Home Magazine. She is available to teach most types of basket-making techniques & can tailor workshops to meet your needs. Donna teaches adults and children. She has many years of experience with elementary school age children, as a teaching assistant...

Be sure to visit Donna's website to see her schedule of workshops and sales for this year. I wish I lived closer! Donna, thank you for sharing your creations with me (and for allowing me to share them here). Your work is so beautiful, passionate, and intricate. It is truly amazing!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a Happy 2009! Where in the world did 2008 go? Now that the dust is settling after the holidays I'll be back to blogging and new listings. I didn't realize it's been several weeks since I blogged...bad me!

Sallie decided to help recently...if she could, I know she would help. Sallie loves watching me at work. She knows she's not allowed on my desk but every now and then I catch her. While I ran out to the car to get my camera she snuck in my office and tried to take over. She stared at the computer as if she could actually read it! Perhaps the little devil can-- don't put anything past a wiener dog, believe me!

I have new designs and new artists to share with you in 2009. Be on the lookout. Wishing everyone many blessings in the new year!