A Dream Comes True

Hello friends!
I know it's been a while since I blogged - and after this post it will be a while again yet, because life is a little topsy turvy here.
However, I wanted to write and tell you a heart warming story.

Due to the power of kindness, Lottie's dream has come true.
Not only have we raised enough funds for a scooter so she can walk her dogs again ( see HERE )
we have also raised enough money to buy her a lightweight wheelchair, so that - at the age of 27 - she can dance again! (see HERE)

I am so grateful to all who cheered on the fundraising efforts, so grateful to all those who commissioned a painting, so the money could go to fulfilling a young lady's dream; so grateful to all who bought one of my books, so that I could give the royalties to Lottie.
So grateful for my friends at Sparkling Jewellery HERE, who posted all the paintings gratis, so that every penny raised could go to Lottie.
So very grateful for my artist friend, Kim Lintern HERE who read Lottie's story and offered art for sale to help.
You are wonderful human beings, all. I'm proud to know you. 
Because of all of you and the kindness you've shown, Lottie will dance again - she's even entering into a Wheelchair Dance competition. You have given her that part of her life back.

Thank you so much.


For the painting lovers, these are the ones that were painted to benefit Lottie's fund.

Rock Star

Maybe 1

Maybe 2

Rio

Kami

 

 

There are three more paintings which I can't show you yet, because one hasn't reached the new owner - and two more I am waiting on photos, before I start painting. As soon as I can, I will share those too. 

Dog portraits - and Lottie's Wheelchair Fund.

I have a friend called Lottie Bennett, who is just 26 years old.

She suffers from Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome. 

Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome is a rare condition affecting 1 in every 20,000 to 40,000 people. It affects each sufferer differently. 

For Lottie, it causes chronic and acute pain, mobility difficulties, internal bleeding, thrombosis and chronic fatigue. 

Lottie has to use a wheelchair in everyday life, and she has recently discovered Wheelchair Dance. Being the positive person she is, she has taken part in her normal wheelchair, but will need a dance wheelchair to continue. 

It gives her such joy, that I wanted to help. 

I am offering anyone who wants a dog portrait, the chance to have one painted by me, for £100. 

This is a painting I made for Lottie a few years ago, but you can see more dog paintings on my gallery site.

There are other ways to help Lottie - and if you'd like to help, her wheelchair fund raising site is Lottie's Wheelchair Fund

To order a dog portrait, you need to do that through Lottie's site. 

Thank you for reading.

A TV Star came to visit

Its been very exciting here - Missy had a TV star come to visit.

The star in question? Bubble the dalmatian.

Bubble was on The One Show ( see HERE at 38 mins in) and she was joint winner in the Waggiest Tail  section.

Missy was completely unimpressed by the shows hosts, Chris Evans and Alex Jones - who obviously weren't the stars on this episode. Clever doggy! :)

We had the very great pleasure of Lottie and Bubble staying with us overnight on Friday / Sat morning.

Lottie is the owner of Pawsitively Pets - and she's the very kind lady who posts Missy's favourite treats to us - she provides all manner of pet supplies, all you need to do is request them and Lottie will do her best to supply them for you!
She posts to us in Essex, so distance is no problem :) 

See HERE for Lottie's  website and HERE for Lottie's blog

If you're in Sheffield and looking for a dog trainer, you couldn't do better than to go see Lottie. I had the pleasure of walking Bubble on my own whilst Lottie got ready, and she walked like a dream, no bouncing or pulling - and she watched me and obeyed all the commands I gave. When you think Bubble is a deaf dog, Lottie has done an amazing job!

I'd also like to tell you about Rain Rescue. Here, Lottie volunteers her time and helps with the training of the rescue dogs, improving their chances of being rehomed .  You can see Rain Rescue's site HERE.
I think you can also see why Lottie and Bubble are truly stars, not just celebrities! Three cheers for you girls :)

Missy was a good girl, she learned that if she looked at me straight after looking at Bubble, she got a treat. That was great fun and very easy to do!

Then when Bubble was upstairs asleep, she made friends with Auntie Lottie

and now, when Lottie and Bubble are on their way home to Sheffield, where's our darling Missy? Asleep, exhausted by entertaining the famous :)