Horse Camping Sept. 2010

Horse Camping Photos

Part of the reason I haven't had time to keep my blog updated is because my husband and I are starting a trail riding business with the owner of the ranch we live on. Check out our website: www.RiverOaksTrailRides.com! We plan to be opening to the public sometime this month, probably within the next two weeks, once we get the final business/insurance arrangements wrapped up.

We've got four horses and a pony available for guests, and they've all been just wonderful. We figured a little horse camping trip would be a good test to see what they were made of... plus a fun adventure for us and our friends Ingo the farrier and his wife Jenny. We went up to Rancho Oso, a little over half an hour from home, where they have horse camping facilities. The horses were without exception absolute champs -- handling trailering, tying, standing, river crossings, narrow trails, dogs, deer and campers in stride with no fuss at all.

We all had a great time, and I have to say, it was a dream come true for me, something I've always wanted to do. I'm so very grateful for the opportunity to be able to live these dreams... and to be able to work doing the things I love.

Waxing Poetic...

I feel so fortunate as a designer to be able to work with a company like Waxing Poetic -- an amazing team of brilliant talents who bring together elegance and whimsy and meaning and spirit to create truly unique and beautiful treasures of jewelry.

We recently finished their gorgeous 2010 catalog, almost a third larger than last year's catalog, and brimming with exciting new pieces and fabulous photos. Lucky talismans, whimsical bottle pendants containing "Essence of Dreams," "Stress Remedy," and "Wish Tonic," storybook page charms, camp bracelets, and bangles engraved with things like "shadow, sparrow, lilacs, twilight" and "be braver than you thought" are some of my favorites. They're nearly finished with a spectacular new and improved website, but visit http://www.waxingpoetic.com/ now to see what I'm talking about!

In addition to the catalog, Art Department handles ad layouts and other promotional print items such as sales sheets, easel signage, website updates, and more. I even create designs for charms here and there...

Now Waxing Poetic is opening a retail shop in lovely Los Olivos, right here in the Santa Ynez valley. Here's a great idea: spend an afternoon wine tasting, then swing by Waxing Poetic and discover a precious treasure to give for mother's day, or a birthday, or just because...