For Love of a Gray Horse

Friday, August 20, 2010

New Photos and Art Work

I've been re-examining those photos taken just two short hours after Danny's birth on, May 1st. These shots were all taken around 8:00 a.m. on that morning. I think Mousie fell in love at first sight....and so did I:)
posted on redbubble.com and etsy.com:

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Whoa Team Sketchbook Project

These are a few drawings by my friend, Linda Woolford, which are included in a beautiful collection of equine art by world renowned artists which is being auctioned off on Ebay with proceeds going to a horse welfare charity. This is the link to the Etsy Whoa Team blog. This is the link to the sketch book where you can view all of the wonderful art. The auction began on August 10th and will end on August 20th. Whom ever wins this auction will be receiving an amazing prize.....and giving a wonderful gift as well to horses in need.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Artwork!!

I received my wonderful work of art from Linda Woolford today and she was right, it is even more incredibly beautiful in person. The detail work is just amazing!! I wasn't expecting the original. I thought she'd send a print and I would have been happy with that but there are no words to express the joy I felt when I first saw this incredible work of art. What a talented, kind and generous person Linda is. I wish there were someway for me to photograph this portrait of Danny so that you could see just how beautiful it is but a camera can never do it justice!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Gorgeous Portrait

Linda Woolford did the most wonderful portrait of Danny. She is such an amazing artists who possesses not only amazing technical skill but the ability to capture the spirit and personality of her subject. I certainly think she did that with this portrait. It is so beautiful that I started crying when I saw it.
You can find more of Linda's work in her etsy.com shop Art Wolf Etsy Shop and read more about all of the marvelous things that she does on her blog, The Briar Rose Gate.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

A little Mouse....

Since she is really the one that this blog is all about, I thought I'd share my latest photo of Mousie....all by herself (which doesn't happen very much these days:).

Thursday, June 10, 2010

3 new composite pieces:

ABOVE, Chasing Her Dream

LEFT(below), On the Wings of a Horse

RIGHT, My Angel

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Blog for Danny Boy

I've set up a new blog just for Danny to serve as a diary and save memories as he grows and also as a chronicle of our life and lessons learned together. This is all so new for both of us;)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Baby has Arrived!!

We're still iffy on the name. Started with Midnight Dandy Dancer, moved to Traveler's Sensational Dancer and are now toying with Fly By Danny Boy since Danny Boy is what we call him anyway:)

Mouse is obviously in love with him, so are the other horses who stare at him for hours, and Sadie, our dog, thinks she's his Auntie and sneaks a kiss whenever Mama Mouse lets her get by with it. And how do Steve and I feel about this handsome little guy....I don't think our lives will ever be the same:))

Sunday, April 18, 2010

SALE on Etsy

Gentle on My Mind (8.5x10 inch print for just $25)

I've redone my Etsy shop and will continue adding photos throughout the week at the new low price of $25 for a 8.5x11 inch print (with 1/4 inch border all around, actual image size is 8x10.5 inch) that is usually $30. It is the same high quality print created with archival ink on acid free, glossy, professional photography paper; only the price has been lowered. I did this because I've changed the shipping policy and also decided to only sell 8.5x11 inch or smaller prints on the site. I've had some problems with shipping being extremely high on larger prints especially when I have to ship outside the country. By shipping with USPS flat rate priority in their boxes, I have a certain price for both US shipments and international and I also have a very sturdy box that I can cushion well to ship the print without fear of damage. It seems like a win-win to me and you get $5 off as well.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Blue Point Stables First Show of the Season

Go to the Blue Point Stables/McDonnell Performance Horses website to find the entire schedule. I also think it is posted on this blog. They have an open show every month. All classes, all disciplines plus trail and jumping and classes for gaited horses.

Here is a shot of a young girl making her final adjustments before the judge looks them over during the gelding and stallions Halter class at yesterday's show.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

My friend, Tammy, with her horse, Ransom, which was recently diagnosed with advanced EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis).

Two shots from the NABA rodeo March 26th & 27th at Roane State Expo in Harriman, TN. I was there to photograph the drill team (top photo) but also handed out information on The Tennessee Equestrian. I will be at Blue Point Stables today for their first show of the season.

About Me & Gray Horse Designs

I've always had artistic leanings. I was drawing stick figures before I could talk. Friends recall that I was constantly drawing or painting as a child. I grew up and I did major in art in college but I never could find direction. I kept switching majors and trying so many different things trying to find the one that fit, the one that fulfilled me. I seemed destined for a while to be a lifetime student. Then one day, I found myself out of work, burned out on school, and very depressed because I'd also just suffered a miscarriage. I was alone at home and totally at loose ends when I picked up a piece of wood and began to see a horse in it. The irony of that will become more evident later in this story but the truth was, that as soon as I touched a knife to that block of wood, it was magic. I felt as if I'd come home. From that one piece of scrap wood and a small cheap craft knife, a business grew and took on a life of its own. I started creating whimsical, wood sculptures and I sold my work all over the world. Then one day, at a crafts exhibition in Chicago, I met the head of Enesco's new gift wares section and my career took off in yet another direction. I designed several very successful lines for them over the next five years but after fifteen years in this business, I started slowing down and losing my enthusiasm. I decided that I'd try another medium but like trying to find my direction in life those many years before, this wasn't an easy task.

I knew that I still wanted to be creative but I didn't know what medium I wanted to try next. So, I tried many but no magic, no flashes of inspiration. Then one day, my husband and I were sitting on a Mexican beach relaxing and enjoying the salty breezes and beautiful views. It was his 50th birthday. He told me how much he was enjoying himself and he asked me what I was going to want for my 50th birthday which would be coming around in two years. I didn't even hesitate before I answered him. "A horse!" I said simply and to the point. I'd wanted a horse for as long as I could remember and I knew that if I didn't get one soon, I'd never get one. So, from the moment we touched down on US soil, I began my quest. There were two things that I didn't realize at the time, that my horse would actually arrive soon after my 49th birthday and that she would totally change my life. Everyone told me that at my "advancing" age, I surely needed a gaited horse because their smooth gait was much easier on aging joints. I began my search knowing nothing about horses or even what I really wanted and certainly nothing about what I needed in a horse.

I was lucky because I met two great horse ladies who pointed me in the right direction. The first told me that the horse I wanted was a Missouri Fox Trotter and the second lady, Fran Forester, offered to help me find the perfect MFT for me. She told me about a man she knew who knew more about horses and specifically more about MFTs than anyone she'd ever met. The only problem was, he very seldom agreed to sell one of his horses. Then one day, she contacts me and she is very excited. The man, Huston Jenkins, was selling some of his horses and one of them was the dapple gray that I'd been dreaming of. I'd told everyone that I wanted a dapple gray horse and when I found her, I would call her Mouse. Huston's niece had promised to take some photos of the gray horse and email them to me. They arrived in the middle of the night but I had been waiting for them. I printed them and thumbtacked them to the bathroom wall beside the mirror so that they'd be the first thing my husband, Steve, saw when he got up the next morning. I wrote across the photos, "This is the ONE!!" I'd decided that as soon as I saw her but I was even more convinced that it was fate when I saw her papered name, Mouse's Funny Face. My fate was sealed.

That was over five years ago and that beautiful, dapple gray mare has since become my muse, my inspiration, my teacher and my life. I started doing equine photography and art because of her. I've met so many wonderful people and horses because of her. My herd has grown from one horse to five now. The latest was a gift from Mouse two years ago, our sweet, lovable and beautiful Danny (Traveler's Sensational Flyby.) I have a blog dedicated to Danny called Fly By Danny Boy that tells his story.

For several years, I tried to start a new business doing strictly equine photography but I soon discovered that this is the wrong economic climate for starting a new business of any type but especially one that's primary product is a luxury. I've been doing art my entire life so I'm not ready to give it up. In fact, my solution is to diversify. I plan on cleaning out my workshop and studio and starting to do wood sculpture again as well as painting and drawing and hopefully handcrafted jewelry. My old enthusiasm and creative drive have returned in force. All of the mediums that I'm delving into will be diverse in subject as well but I'd be willing to bet the farm on the fact that the majority of art work will be equine in theme.