Give a Gift that Gives Back...

An unique stocking stuffer for the pet lover & art collector in your life, commissioned by you, created by Leslie Apple of Blue Zephyr Studios. A portion of the purchase price will be donated to Airedale Rescue, too.
Pay by PayPal and the e-Gift Certificate will be sent to you or to the pet lover of your choice. That's all you have to do to commission a portrait. Then they can consult with me and collect the photos needed for their pet's custom portrait at their convenience.

Shop the e-Gift Certificate by contacting us for a price list. Payment in full plus shipping is due at purchase. The e-Gift Certificate is valid for a year from the purchase date.
#leslieappleart

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Painting Miss Daisy

I was recently honored with this commission of Daisy the Chocolate Lab. That soulful look just melts your heart. I like to paint subjects that are looking directly at the viewer. Their gaze engages you and draws you in to their world. #leslieappleart

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Mako @ 15 Months - a Portrait

This portrait was my donation to the Airedale Terrier Club of America's 2013 Fine Arts Raffle. It was held to fund the club's 2014 banquet held during Montgomery week. The winners were chosen in the MCKC ring after the Airedale Best of Breed competition.

It is my Airedale, Mako, at 15 months, after his first Montgomery. The acrylic on canvas painting was won by Lori Taylor who was running the Airedale Rescue Quilt booth. I'm so glad to get to meet her. I know the painting has a good home!

 

Mako @ 15 Months - After His First Montgomery

New Retro Pups© Jewelry

I have been working on additional original, many one-of-a-kind, pieces for my Retro Pups© series. This necklace features one of the Retro Pups© photos - the Boston Mug - framed in copper and glass accented with violet Swarovski crystals. Findings are copper and the 11" ball chain is brass.


Boston Mug Necklace

This bracelet was my donation to an auction for a famous Airedale rescue lady. This was the auction description: "An original, one of a kind, Terrier-themed bracelet featuring 6 Terrier portraits from the artist's Retro Pups® collection. Photos are in antiqued metal copper frames with glass. All links, posts findings and spacers are copper. The bracelet is designed for an average sized woman's wrist of 7 1/2". Links can be removed or added. Frames are adorned with light and dark amethyst Swarovski crystals. One side of bracelet features portraits of a vintage ceramic Tangerine Scottie, a vintage wooden Boston Terrier and a celluloid Wire Fox Terrier. The reverse side shows 3 porcelain Sealyham Terrier portraits. The bracelet includes dog themed charms plus original handmade charms and pendents created by the artist of Czech crystal beads, Tiger eye beads, smoky abalone and copper spacers. Bracelet comes gift boxed and signed by the artist. By Leslie Apple - Blue Zephyr Studios, LLC." 

   I am working on a series of bracelet that are similar in style to this one:

Reverse side of the bracelet...

An Okra Blossom and a PBGV

I have also learned that okra has these lovely flowers. The catch is that they only bloom for a few hours - like 2 to 3 - and then they close forever! Here, Punch the PBGV takes a quick sniff of an elusive okra blossom. 

I Loves Me Some Okra! An Ode to Okra...

   Here they are... My first two okra pods! Yay! I bought two small okra plants at a local farmer's market this spring.  They were only a $1.50 and the last remaining ones. How could I turn that down? My uncle had previously warned me against planting okra because the root system will, "make a mess of your garden!" For a $1.50, I figured that I'd just plant them somewhere where it didn't matter what the roots did. Later, I couldn't make up my mind where I wanted to plant them - okra bushes grow six to eight feet tall - so I put them in two smallish pots until I decided.  I didn't expect them to start to to grow little "okrettes"! 

   The local farmers just don't grow enough okra to meet my okra appetite. Ha, ha! Actually, few farmers in the Delaware Valley grow okra. Those that do often pick them when they are too large and too mature. They are like lethal weapons when they get big! You need to pick them when they are small and tender - for okra. I love fried okra, okra and tomatoes, okra in gumbo, of course. I just love it. I can still see my grandmother frying up a mess of okra for me. Ah... I love the slime factor when you cook it, too. Some say you can minimize the goo by briefly cooking the pods whole. That's just not right. The slime is part of the process. Slice the okra and watch it rope when you cook it! Make the slime work for you as a thickening agent.

    For those of you who might not know about okra... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okra : "Okra (US /ˈoʊkrə/ or UK /ˈɒkrə/; Abelmoschus esculentus Moench), known in many English-speaking countries as lady's fingers, bhindi or gumbo, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.[1]

... Okra is a popular health food due to its high fiber, vitamin C, and folate content. Okra is also known for being high in antioxidants. Okra is also a good source of calcium and potassium.[8]

Greenish-yellow edible okra oil is pressed from okra seeds; it has a pleasant taste and odor, and is high in unsaturated fats such as oleic acid and linoleic acid.[9] The oil content of some varieties of the seed can be quite high, about 40%. Oil yields from okra crops are also high. At 794 kg/ha, the yield was exceeded only by that of sunflower oil in one trial.[10] A 1920 study found that a sample contained 15% oil.[11] A 2009 study found okra oil suitable for use as a biofuel.[12]"

   I laugh at the idea of okra as a biofuel.

   Now for a link to one of my favorite okra recipes from Danno @ Nola Cuisine:  http://www.nolacuisine.com/2006/09/04/okra-tomatoes-recipe/ 

You can make it vegetarian by leaving out the Tasso and using a chipotle pepper (in adobo) in its place and leave out the hot peppers. You get a nice spicy, smoked flavor this way. It's divine!

Mako Gets a Treat!

​A crunchy treats hovers over Mako's head...

Mako's ears go on alert when he sees the treat on the upper righthand corner.

Mako's ears go on alert when he sees the treat on the upper righthand corner.

 The smell of a treat makes him happy!

 The smell of a treat makes him happy!

 The treat gets closer...

 The treat gets closer...

 He wonders what he has to do to get this treat?

 He wonders what he has to do to get this treat?

 Mako strikes!

 Mako strikes!

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That treat was good!

That treat was good!

Doggerel Day in Centreville, DE with the delSPCA

   Saturday, May 18th, was Doggerel Day in Canby Park located in Centreville, DE. The event was sponsored by the Centreville Animal Hospital. The Delaware SPCA was joined by the Windcrest Animal Hospital, the Response-a-Bull Rescue and the Delaware Humane Society. It was a meet & greet for all the groups. We had the same dogs with us that had attended the Point-to-Point, CoCo and Abby. The rescued dogs got a chance to strut their stuff. There were also sled dog and herding dog demos that were informative. A state police officer was there with his K9, a Belgian Malinois. We didn't get to see them do a demo because the officer's assistant wasn't able to be there. Their SUV was pretty cool. It was set to drop the windows and sound an alarm if the internal temp rose above 92 degrees. The officer could also remotely open the door and let the dog out, if needed.

    I have posted a couple of pics here and the entire album can be seen @

my photobucket album.

This cool inflatible dog greeted visitors to Doggerel Day at Canby Park in Centreville, DE.

Brutus a Presa Canario that was adopted from the Response-a-Bull Rescue. He came back for a visit.

​

 Theo Huxtable the pit bull pup was tired at the end of the day. Theo is available for adoption from the Response-a-Bull Rescue.​

 Theo Huxtable the pit bull pup was tired at the end of the day. Theo is available for adoption from the Response-a-Bull Rescue.

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The 35th Annual Point-to-Point and the delSPCA

I attended my first Point-to-Point on May 5th this year. I was a volunteer with the delSPCA  and we all had a terrific time with this meet and greet opportunity. We brought two adoptable dogs with us - Abby and CoCo. We shared a tent with the Wilmington Kennel Club who ran an agility course behind the tent where the public could participate with their pets. It was a fun and festive time that featured steeplechase races, vintage cars, elegant tailgating and more.

The day had started off in a wild fashion before we even got there when one of the female pit bulls at the shelter escaped and dashed out the front gate with Walt in his truck following in hot pursuit. The dog ran across three lanes of traffic and cleared a four foot high concrete medial strip. She safely made it across three more lanes of traffic because the cars slowed down or pulled over. Bless 'em! She flew into the JP Morgan site across the road. The motorists could probably figure out the scenario - the SPCA sign, ​a loose pit bull and a truck zooming through the intersection right after her. A truck filled with young guys rushed to join the search. Walt had to return without her. We needed to get going to Winterthur.   Fortunately, as soon as we left the SPCA grounds, there they were! Triumphant with the pit bull inside their truck! They said as soon as she saw them, she jumped in a pond! Ha ha! She made sure she was soaked before she gave up!
Walter Fenstermacher - Volunteer Coordinator & Foster Care Coordinator with the Delaware SPCA
More images from the Point-to-Point:







The delSPCA's CoCo.
The entire album can be seen at my photobucket album.


Ramps Are Here!

This spring's sea of ramps .

      I first heard about ramps on Top Chef.  The chefs loved them. There are even ramp festivals. I Googled ramps and found out that they grow in this area - especially in PA. According to About.com - Southern Food - "The flavor and odor of ramps is usually compared to a combination of onions and garlic, and the garlic odor is particularly strong. Strong enough, in fact, that even ramp-lovers will advise caution." How true!

I have read that they were the first greens that the colonists saw in the spring. They were so starved for fresh veggies, after such a long winter, that they ate them. Look at the picture above and you can imagine what their woods looked like. Plenty smelly veggies for everyone.

 Last year, a friend brought brought me some to eat and plant in my yard. I have a few shady spots with leaf coverage for them to thrive. A certain PBGV named Punch dug up several ramps after I planted them, so there were a few casualties! She was strolling around the yard with those big green leaves dangling from her mouth! Later, after the Peeb attack, I saw one of the plants flower.

Their peak season is about three weeks in April. My ramps are growing strong but my friend brought me some more to eat and plant from the sea of ramps in the picture. I need to cultivate my ramps so they multiply, too - Peeb free. 

I am now on a ramp eating binge. I have added ramps to a Quiche Loraine, shrimp fried rice, roasted peppers, various Cajun and Creole dishes, sandwiches, etc. - just about anywhere you use green onions and or garlic. I slice the greens for garnishes on any meal. You can freeze them, too. For more information and some recipe ideas, read: http://southernfood.about.com/cs/ramps/a/ramps.htm

Delaware SPCA Vaccination Clinic

I worked the Delaware SPCA Vaccination Clinic yesterday at the Stanton location. I was one of those volunteers who filled out the forms. I had to fill out Rabies Vaccination forms for the state, so I had to get those just right!  It was my first time at one of the clinics so it was a bit daunting. I'd like to thank Diane the Cockatiel breeder for taking me under her wing. She made it so much easier! She introduced me to everyone and made me feel right at home during a pressure situation.

 For a list of future clinics, please see http://www.delspca.org/services/vaccine-clinics


After the clinic was over, she went into the kennel and visited with the dogs. Below is one of the sweet pit bulls that we met. This is China and she is listed as an American Pit Bull mix.  She a beautiful, young girl who is looking for a home. Read her story @ http://delspca.animalshelternet.com/adoption_animal_details.cfm?AnimalUID=966750


A Couture Sweater for a PBGV Princess

      I've been knitting since I was nine. It all started one day when my father brought me a small  knitting kit for kids with tiny balls of yarn and plastic, micro versions of knitting needles. I taught myself to knit by reading the little instruction book that came with it. I've become proficient enough  over the years that I usually create my own designs. I might use a pattern for the stitch gauge but I generally improvise from there. This is an especially useful approach when dealing with leftover yarn. It takes experience to know whether you with have enough yarn to complete an original design.



That's what was happening with this project - knitting a custom sweater for my PBGV, Punch. Punch's own coat was clipped down really short due to matting - just in time for winter in DE. I decided to design a sweater for her that would use the various luxury yarns that I have left from sweaters that I've knitted for myself. You can see (above) the basket of yarn that I selected for the sweater. I used the size/stitch gauge from a dog sweater pattern in a Paton yarns book in my collection. I don't care for the sweaters in the book but they serve as an inspiration and starting point for my project. PBGVs have basset proportions with long backs and short legs so I used, instead, the measurements from Punch's Ruffwear coat. I knew how well it fit her.







    Here is the back of the sweater as I was blocking it. The tan yarn is a wonderful lux cashmere/silk blend. It's a soft, bulky yarn. The thistle colored yarn is Lopi, an Iceland yarn. The gray and teal yarns were spun and dyed by local artisans from their own sheep. I love to use the best quality yarns. They make knitting such a pleasure and the final garment becomes a work of art!



That's Mako the Airedale in the background with one of my paintings. The sunbeam made him so drowsy.





 
Nothing is too good for my Punchie girl, so I added antique mother of pearl buttons (above) to her sweater. I collect vintage buttons to add to my own garments and I shared some real beauties with her. Their iridescent luster mimics the colors of the yarn. Below, a sleepy Punch is all warm and cozy in her couture sweater.







Breaking News! Announcing the Launch of the AireWear© Line of Jewelry



           For all you Airedale lovers, I'm happy to announce the launch of my AireWear© line of Airedale - themed multimedia jewelry. Each piece is an original piece of art - designed, created and signed by me. AireWear© jewelry combines my expertise as a fine artist and graphic designer with my background in jewelry making/metalworking plus my earliest work in polymer clay sculpture. There is a definite modernized retro feel to the work, as well, that reflects my love of the era of the Airedale's greatest public popularity - the Art Deco era of the 1920s and 1930s.

    Each item of AireWear© art jewelry is composed of a combination of polymer clay, semi-precious gemstones, embossed and hand-painted faux leather Airedales or original Airedale paintings. The findings are either silver or silver-plated (or gold-plated).  They may be embellished with various charms, mirrors or found objects. In keeping with the Airedale spirit, whimsy also rules my design choices, so a keen sense of fun is included with piece of AireWear© art jewelry! 

  All AireWear© art jewelry comes packaged in a spiffy AireWear© jewelry box. All prices include shipping. Please e-mail me @ leslieapple@me.com to purchase or for more information. I will be adding more examples of AireWear© in my next blog post.


"A is for Airedale" Airedale brooch with brass swirl, red jasper heart, chalkboard "a" and silver-plated clasp.
Size: approx. 2.5" x 2.5".  $45
"Airedales Love Bones" Airedale brooch with bone charm and red jasper heart and silver-plated clasp.
Size: approx. 2.5" x 2.5".  $45
"Reach & Drive" Airedale brooch with a paw charm, red jasper heart, mirror fragment and silver-plated clasp.
Size: approx. 3" x 2.5" $45.