Pet People Talk

Pet Lovers News and Animal Views

Your Photographs Wearing Magic Zoo Jewelry!

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customer wearing Magic Zoo elephant jewelryWe are remodeling our website, and would absolutely LOVE to have photographs of you, my customer, wearing your Magic Zoo jewelry!

Here is what I need:

  • I need casual photos of you at home or at work that clearly show you wearing your favorite Magic Zoo designs
  • Photos that show you wearing your jewelry and interacting with your pet would be great!
  • Send as many photos as you like…the more, the better!
  • I don’t need close ups of the jewelry, but it does need to be visible. More important is showing you wearing the piece
  • Photos should be largest pixel size you have. That way I can always crop and make them the size I need. (Usually I need 1000 pixels wide)
  • Send photographs as an attachment directly to my email (merry@themagiczoo.com)
  • In the email, please state that it is “OK” for us to use your image on sites where we sell my jewelry (this would include The Magic Zoo and a couple of other well-known websites)

Over the years, and from time to time, some of my customers have sent me their photos wearing Magic Zoo jewelry, but only lately have I realized how wonderful it would be to have these on my website. So I am asking your help to make this little dream of mine a reality.

What about Name Badges?

Ah, yes…my veterinary and dental professionals are more than welcome to send their photos wearing their Magic Zoo name badges!

If you can send a photograph with you “in action” at work, that would be great! Just so the badge is clearly visible. (Remember, I don’t want a close up of your Magic Zoo piece, I want to see YOU! But the Magic Zoo design does have to be visible.)

If I end up using your photograph on my site, I will send you a little certificate for a free gift, as a thank you present. So do your very best, and send some clear, nice photos and we just may use it on our site!

I Need those Photos as Soon as Possible!

I will always be happy to receive a photograph of you wearing some Magic Zoo jewelry, but I am anxious to receive as many photos as possible right away! That way I can see how many I have and which ones I can use on my site.

So get them to me as soon as you can!

I can’t wait to see you wearing your Magic Zoo design!!!

Your Pal, Merry

It’s Thundering and Snowing Corn at The Magic Zoo!

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We’re cozy in our mountain home, but outside it’s snowing “corn snow” which, according to dictionary.com, is “snow in the form of small pellets or grains produced by the alternate melting and freezing of a snow layer.” To me they look like tiny snow balls.

Oh yes… it’s also thundering! I never, ever heard thunder accompanying snow before today. According to Wikipedia, it is called “thundersnow” and is pretty rare.

There’s always something interesting going on in the mountains. It may just be the sky with clouds that are reminiscent of giant UFO type spaceships (to my creative mind, anyway) or wind blowing through the pinons and pines, coyotes howling at dusk and early morning, and that weird faraway animal call that we can never identify but always seem to hear just when it’s starting to get dark in the warmer months of summer.

Best part of living here…I get to experience real honest to goodness seasons! Really, after living in Florida for 18 years, changing seasons were what I missed the most. Now I am swamped with seasonal changes, from the flowering of the mysterious fruit tree in front of our house (what kind of fruit is it, anyway?) to the misty green shrouding the cottonwoods on our way to Albuquerque, to yes, this spring snowfall that most likely will be completely melted by 10:00 tomorrow morning under a hot New Mexico sun.

Throughout these weather changes, I’ve been happily and cozily designing new Magic Zoo pieces, including a labradoodle, a Nubian goat pin, a pair of zebra earrings, some new Yorkie puppy earrings, raven earrings and some roosters! I’m hoping to have them up on my site within a month or two (there are several things that have to happen to these little clay models before they are ready to wear) but it won’t be long! And undoubtedly there will be a few more surprise designs as well.

And oh yes, check out our New Design section on the website to see what’s now available in gold! (Hint: you have to scroll to the bottom to see the new gold designs.)

This is also the time of year we plan our calendar of shows for the coming year. Nestled in our cozy little studio, all sorts of surprises are being hatched for my customers by my husband and myself. Keep in touch, and let us know if there’s a design you especially want to see!

Living with the Black Bears

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Black Bear RestingI think black bears are pretty shy. At least I hope so.

To back up this viewpoint, shortly after we moved into our home in the Manzano Mountains last July a large cinnamon colored visitor appeared just a few yards from our kitchen window, right in front of the propane tank. The appearance of that bear was completely surreal, more like a waking dream. But when I yelled for my husband to “come quick,” this burly fellow trudged off into the pinon. Lucky for me, Ed managed to get there in time to watch him lumber out of view so he knew I wasn’t hallucinating.

The next day, close neighbor Anne (who lives about 2 miles up the dirt road) told me not to fret. That same bear (how many cinnamon colored black bears are there up here, anyway?) appeared on her deck, happily enjoying the sugar water from her hummingbird feeders. She informed me that bear were mostly harmless, and even the fact that I had grand kids coming soon was no reason for alarm. So I tried to relax in the face of this new reality, and I’ve done a pretty good job of it. Now we do see bear scat (poop) from time to time on the edges of our property, and certainly we see bear sign OFF our property. And I am conscious of being noisy enough on our walks that we don’t surprise a 300 pound bear (especially one with cubs in tow) by shuffling my feet, talking and whistling while hiking. And so far I’ve not personally seen another.

But spring is here now, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some mamas and cubs out and about. From what I hear, that is the situation where you need to pay special attention.

Here are a few things to be aware of if you also live in bear country:

  • Never approach a bear
  • If you do see one, do NOT run. A running person can make a bear instinctively give chase
  • Stand and face the bear (do not make eye contact) talk quietly and slowly back away
  • If cubs are nearby, try not to come between the bear and her cubs
  • On the unlikely chance that a bear gets into your house, open all the doors you can safely access, then leave.
  • If you do see a bear near your home, yell at it, bang pots and make a lot of noise. But do this near a doorway so you can easily escape inside if you need to. If a bear is in a nearby tree, take yourself and your dogs inside and give the bear time to leave

I see a lot of bear sign around my property, including large rocks turned over in order to search for succulent grubs and other delicacies. But I’ve only seen an actual bear that one time. However, with grand kids on the property and spring approaching fast, I’m planning a lesson in bear safety soon!

Homemade Ways to Polish your Sterling Silver Jewelry

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What is the best homemade way to polish your sterling silver jewelry?

There are several homemade ways to take car of your sterling silver, precious metal jewelry. Of course, you can always use a polishing cloth. Polishing cloths are effective, and they are what I use to polish all my pieces before I have a show.

But what if you don’t have one of these chemically soaked cloths to do the job? Or maybe you’d rather not be exposed to the chemical cleanser.

Believe it or not, you have what it takes right now in your cupboard!

It’s everyday baking soda. All you have to do is make a thick past with baking soda and a little water, rub it into your fine sterling jewelry and right before your eyes the black tarnish will turn the baking soda black. Rinse your jewelry with water, allow it to dry and polish with a soft cloth. Voila!

I have also heard, (but not personally experienced) using old fashioned toothpaste. But DO NOT use the kind with tooth whiteners in it. According to some of my customers, toothpaste can do the same job as baking soda!

I urge you not to use chemical dips. Why? I have heard that if your jewelry is antiqued to bring out the detail in the design (as most of my designs are) that the chemical dip can take out all of the detail. And that would be a darned shame!

Oh, there is one other method that works well. It involves rolling up aluminum foil into little balls, adding a tablespoon of baking soda to about 4 or 5 cups of boiling water. Add your sterling silver jewelry, let it sit for a little while and you’ll see the tarnish lift off. I’ve seen other versions of this online, so you can experiment a little with what works best for you.

Why does Sterling Silver Jewelry tarnish?

It has to do with sulfur in the air. It causes a chemical reaction with sterling silver, turning it dark over time. Interestingly enough, I have a few customers that prefer the patina that forms on their sterling silver jewelry. To each her own!

Grand kitties, Pack Rats and our New Mexico Winter

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I love my Grand kitties, Firework and Willow. (I’m holding the fluffy one, Firework) They not only decorate our 20 acres with their striped and furry prowling but I have noticed a substantial reduction in the rodent population most likely due to those very same prowls.

In fact, since winter brought with it occasional snow falls and dropping temperatures, we emptied a nearby shed full of stacked firewood to keep our house warm. How does that relate, you may ask? The answer…a pack rat family had set up housekeeping in that very wood pile!

We disturbed their cozy home by dismantling it, but happily the pack rats have either:

  • Picked up and relocated
  • Been consumed by either Firework or Willow or
  • Been chased far away from our house by those same kitties

If you read my post-Halloween offering about my pack rat adventure last November, it may be easier to track with me on my “relationship” with these annoying but really kind-of-cute rodents.

We had one other pack rat problem since that late autumn incident, but our walls have been silent ever since. (Have you ever heard a pack rat gnawing at who-knows-what inside your walls? It is not only sleep-depriving, but extremely concerning.) They have even been known to gnaw through electrical wires, creating fire hazards. Yikes!

Willow and Firework live with my son and daughter-in-law and the three grandkids, just a hop skip and a jump from our house. But those kitties have made our 20 acres (and beyond) their home. In fact, they have followed our family on 2 mile-plus walks up the dirt road and towards a nearby canyon. Even in the snow! (They sometimes have to be carried back)

Their mom was a feral cat from town, but the kittens have been loved and cuddled since birth. So, they were taught to hunt and hike from Mom, and their early contact with humans was one of love and gentleness from the very beginning.

This has resulted in the perfect kitties…gentle, sweet dispositions with humans and ferocious hunters of the small prey. So far, the wild birds have seemed safe, although I felt putting out birdseed would be akin to creating a deer blind for our little hunters so I had to forgo that pleasure this winter. Hunting cats can be a mixed blessing, but I wouldn’t trade these two for anything!

A Yorkie Puppy is Forever!

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14K solid gold yorkie pendantDo you have a Yorkie puppy? Yorkie jewelry has been with The Magic Zoo since my first Yorkshire Terrier clay design way back in 1989.

My early designs concentrated on their beautiful shiny coats of gold, brown and black. I loved forming the silky coat strands with my fingers, stretching the clay as thin as I could. I laid the pieces one by one on top of the Yorkie face with the button eyes and black nose I’d so carefully formed by hand.

Why Yorkies?

Yorkies have always appealed to me…a tiny dog with a huge personality. Kind of the “Rocky” of the canine world! I’ve heard that Yorkshire Terriers are kind of like kids. In other words, their personalities are largely based on how they are raised.

Here are a couple of varying opinions of this breed:

  1. He is a typical, tough little terrier or
  2. He is delicate and should be treated tenderly and pampered endlessly

But anyone of either one of these camps would most likely agree that Yorkies are often in motion, very curious and smart! Their intelligence can go in a couple different directions. For instance, they are easy to teach, but some of them seem to use their smarts primarily to cause mischief. Ever see a Yorkie in an “argument” with a dog 4 or 5 times his size? That’s a scary proposition!

I’d think that you’d want to socialize this little gal or guy early on, just to prevent any such frightening encounters. Also, I’ve heard tell that socialization can prevent their shrill yipping from making your home life unpleasant when the doorbell rings or someone knocks at the door.

Yorkie Puppy Jewelry

Like all of my wearable art, the Yorkie designs evolved over the years. My original Yorkie, even in the sterling silver and gold, had a sort of “show cut” look about him. They were carefully crafted and, to my eyes, a good representation of the breed.

However, I noticed these more “serious” Yorkie pendants and charms were pretty much ignored by customers who actually loved Yorkies and had them for companions.

It was confusing to me, until I noticed…

Those little Yorkie pets my customers had did NOT have anything like a show cut! They were a bit on the scruffy side, more like a little puppy.

Thus the Yorkie Puppy design was born. It was an instant hit, and my Yorkie puppy pendant, charm and pair of earrings became my best selling design. I was pleased and surprised.

Do you have a Yorkie who is a big part of your life? Wearing a 14K solid gold yorkie pendant, charm or pair of earrings is one delightful way to keep her with you all day long.

 

Petroglyphs Inspire Animal Jewelry Artist

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petroglyph inspired goatsI’ve been taking a class in my newly adopted hometown of Mountainair New Mexico. Although I’ve been an animal jewelry artist for over a quarter of a century, in all that time I’ve never learned to work in earth clay, which is somewhat amusing since everything I design is originally created in clay. (Polymer clay)

But getting my hands “muddy” in clay that comes from the ground is another thing entirely. Clay from the earth doesn’t respond the same, it dries and cracks if you take too long, and even if you are relatively fast, it has a tendency to dry out quickly. It is a humbling experience.

But I am learning from some of the best clay artists around. We meet every week for several hours, and I can create (really, it’s more like play) whatever pops into my consciousness! I’m not concerned with creating my next best seller, I’m not worried about how long it takes me, I don’t give a damn if it comes out so poorly that I just wad it up and start over again.

So for my siblings’ Christmas gifts I created these petroglyph-inspired goat magnets in raku clay. Personally, I adore them. In fact, I didn’t really want to give them away! So I did the next best thing…I took a photograph of them.

I live in an area saturated with ancient native American artwork. Just a mile or so away down the canyon near my home is a cliff with pictographs, artwork created with some kind of natural ink and depicting everything from a woman giving birth to what looks like a Spanish soldier sitting atop a horse. My effort in creating these primitively inspired goats is really in honor of those early artists who were so capable at capturing the essence of an animal or a person. Their creation of the mysterious symbols that decorate the world here in New Mexico with pictographs and petroglyphs add beauty to an already gorgeous landscape.

I feel so fortunate that creativity in my new environment is part of life for so many here. The artists who live in Mountainair (and beyond) are some of the best, most lively and interesting people I know. What I’m learning from each generous teaching spirit is helping me look at my own work in a new way, and inspiring me to be more creative with my art and in my life.

Holiday Jewelry that looks like Your Pet!

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Red dachshund earringsWhy not wear jewelry this holiday season that matches your pet? I would guess that 80% of the designs I’ve created are a direct result of customer requests. Well, maybe not the kiwi bird. That I decided to do all on my own. (I happen to have a very dear friend in New Zealand and have ALWAYS loved kiwi birds.) “Way back when” I even embroidered a kiwi bird on my husband’s T-shirt pocket. I would never, ever spend the time to embroider on a T-shirt pocket today. Can you imagine?

But no matter what animal you love, care for or admire, I have a design for you. I say that unequivocally. That’s because if you don’t see what you love on my site, I can make one especially for you. But chances are you will find something that will remind you of that certain special little critter with fur, scales or feathers already made and ready for me to send to you.

In fact, one of the things I love about this time of year is that I get to create and send out so many pieces of my jewelry for holiday gifts. Every Christmas morning I wish I had audio-superpowers to tune in and hear what people all over the world are saying when they open up their little Magic Zoo boxes. Yes, I pretty much have one of the best jobs on the planet. Maybe next to Santa Claus.

So the hectic-ness of shipping out all those packages in December really is paid back not just in terms of dollars, but in some real honest-to-goodness goodwill and good feeling that maybe little old me actually helped make someone’s holiday special. Can’t really put a price tag on something like that.

So tell me, what is your favorite Magic Zoo piece, and which one of them looks the most like your favorite pet or animal? And if you could wish for anything to appear in my jewelry line, what would it be? You know, I might just make that wish come true. My designing season is ahead, and I can’t wait to look out the window towards the Manzano mountains and with clay to hand, see what I come up with next. I suspect there will be a bit of southwestern influence from our new home in the New Mexico Mountains.

Holidays and Creativity

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The holidays are a time when your own creativity can shine forth! What is it you do well? Cooking? Crafting? Writing? Any talent you have can be translated into a special gift for someone you love. And really, what gift will they remember the most fondly in years to come? Something you put your heart and soul into, that’s what!

One of my most treasured Christmas gifts is a little book of poetry written in a notebook and given to me by my 16 year old son years ago. He is an accomplished artist to this day, writing and performing his original songs.

Which is another point…encourage your children to be “makers.” When you think of your child as an artist, it allows him or her to grow into their own unique ability. Not everyone will make art a career, but I can practically guarantee that the act of creating something with their own hands will be a source of joy as they grow into adulthood.

This holiday season would be a good time to supply your children with clay, paper, crayons, glitter…whatever it is they enjoy. Maybe they can start by making cards for your closest relatives. Or even gifts for family members.

I am a firm believer that all of us are artists, but it’s easiest to see this in children.

For example, my eight-year-old granddaughter loves to climb trees, hold bugs and pet strange dogs. But…she has a creative side that all her family encourages, being a whiz at entertaining her family with self-created gymnastic moves and an unbelievable ability to memorize poems about dragons and all the president’s names in order. I wouldn’t be surprised if this entertaining little imp is on the stage someday.

I digress! You know how grandmothers are…

Back to my point of creativity and the holidays. What could you make for your friends and family? Of course cookies are always appreciated. You could even decorate some little boxes to send them off in, and those beautiful containers could be used for other things once the goodies are gone.

Give the gift of creativity to yourself and your family this holiday season. Making is like any “muscle.” You have to use it to keep it strong.

Now, if you would like to support an artist who makes her living with her art, The Magic Zoo is here to help! But…just remember that you are an artist too!

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Visit!

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Recently Ed, I and The Magic Zoo were traveling through Utah on our way to a Veterinary Conference in Reno, Nevada. It was a glorious trip, with dramatic autumnal views all along the way. We were driving quietly through Kane County when I noticed an iconic sign. The peaceful silence was broken. “ED, WE JUST DROVE PAST BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY!”

We did a quick turn around. After all, no animal lover in her right mind would pass this spot without stopping. And to think… I had NO IDEA it was on our route!

Our Brief but Spectacular Visit

Unfortunately we were a bit crunched for time and couldn’t stay the couple hours it would take for an official tour, but we were encouraged to journey through several acres of gorgeous, peaceful red rock and autumn color, and along the way met a wonderful staff member walking her two rescue dogs and passed another staff member working with some of the equine guests. We drove all the way to the beautiful cemetery where former inhabitants of Best Friends found a final resting spot under a glorious Utah sky, where wind chimes tinkled and soft desert breezes whispered past.

What a place!

If you have never heard of this marvelous facility, here are a few facts:

  • The Sanctuary is home to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses, pigs, goats, mules, sheep, burros and wildlife.
  • Many of the animals who have found a home here were neglected or abused.
  • They are all given whatever they need to heal their bodies, minds and souls
  • Most of them thrive and eventually find good homes, but for some, Best Friends becomes their permanent safe haven

Even the Wild Ones get some Help

Not only domestic animals are helped by this wonderful facility and its caring staff. Orphaned and injured animals are also treated, including bobcats, eagles and bunnies. Best Friends’ Wild Friends refuge is actually a federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation center.

Volunteer Program at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

I love the fact that a place like this exists…and think every animal lover should visit and if possible, stay and help as well! Best Friends has a wonderful volunteer program, and anyone is encouraged to join. On their website they state, “From walking an enthusiastic dog, to cleaning a rabbit run, to just sitting and talking to a shy cat, there’s always plenty to do.”

I would love to come back someday and take the official tour. Any who knows…maybe someday I’ll have a few days to stay and volunteer my time!

If you can’t make it to beautiful Utah and this incomparable facility, I’ll bet there’s a wildlife or domestic animal rescue site near you with plenty of animals just waiting for a kind word, a pet or a walk around the block! Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a shining example of what a rescue facility can be, given animal lovers willing to donate their money, time and lives to making the world a safe place for the animals we love.

 

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