Comments on: Custom Portrait Winner & Call for Entries : Week #15 (4/6-4/10)

By: Budgie Bird Portrait : Pippin - Custom Pet Portraits - Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature

Wed, 06 May 2009 22:28:17 +0000

[…] Stephanie’s story here. Next Project […]

By: Pug Dog Portrait : Brewski - Custom Dog Portraits - Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature

Wed, 06 May 2009 20:30:29 +0000

[…] Brandy’s story here. Next Project […]

By: Custom Portrait Winner & Call for Entries : Week #18 (4/27-5/1) - Graphite Portrait Giveaway - Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:18:10 +0000

[…] she was here, she made a huge difference in Stephanie’s life. You can read her first entry here, her most recent […]

By: Custom Portrait Winner & Call for Entries : Week #16 (4/13-4/17) - Graphite Portrait Giveaway - Leanne Wildermuth : Artist by Nature

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:57:55 +0000

[…] Last week’s winner was the one who best fit the Easter theme for the week – a Pug Bunny named Brewski! Brandy saved Brew from being euthanized, and he’s been a wonderful part of their family ever since. You can read Brandy’s entry here. […]

By: Leanne

Leanne — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:29:05 +0000

Thanks for your entries this week!! Stay tuned for the unveiling of the winning portrait! Facebook fans get a sneek peak on Sunday!

By: Brandy

Brandy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:49:15 +0000

This is My Baby... His name is Brew but we call him Brewski! He is a beautiful and well behave dog. But his orginal family did not agree so when we heard they were having him put down... we raced to the vet's office and pleaded with him in tears to spare Brew's life. We took him home wih us that day. Where we love and care for him for the last 5 years. He has grown to be part of our family and couldn't of come at a better time. Just a few weeks before Brew came into our lives the Dr. told us we would not be able to have babies of our own. We adopted him as our own... and I think it as that love that got us threw that hard time. Now Brew & His little sister Kaia (our miricle baby) are the best of friends. http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m255/thecaissiefamily/Brew/Brewski06050.jpg

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:20:05 +0000

I lost my little “chickie,” my precious Pippin, two weeks ago. Prior to starting graduate school, I decided that I wanted to get a bird. After doing some research, I decided I wanted a hand-raised budgie. I found someone who raised budgies, and she said that she would hand-raise the first budgie to hatch from the next clutch. And this was Pippin. (I frequently thanked Pippin for her efficient hatching!) I started handling Pippin when she was 2 weeks old, and I brought her home when she weaned at six weeks. Even from the beginning, Pippin was a sweet, friendly, lively bird….and those qualities only strengthened as she got older. Her avian vet said she was “a little bird who thinks she’s a big bird.”

I have a systemic autoimmune disease and often have times of feeling unwell or in pain. On one of these occasions, when Pippin was about two years old, I was laying on my bed, feeling yucky. She flew over to investigate. I explained that I wasn’t feeling well. Pippin said, “I love you!” This was the first time she ever said that. (She had only said “hello” before.) She understood that I was sick and wanted to comfort me. Later, when she would say this, I often said, “I love you more.” In some ways, I think that’s true. However, Pippin loved me with her whole being. I have had other pets (cats and dogs), and none of them were as attuned to me as Pippin. She always knew where I was in a room, would follow me from room to room, always paused whatever she was doing if I spoke to her, was concerned when I was ill or sad, etc. She was completely devoted to me, and she brought so much joy to my life.

When I moved cross-country, there was no question that I would be taking Pippin with me…though I worried about how she would handle the plane ride. I needn’t have worried. She was awesome! So long as I kept a finger in her cage, stroking her, she was fine. The other passengers kept saying, “Look at this sweet little bird that loves to be pet!” I moved to a new state, not knowing a single person. Pippin was my companion in this adventure.

Whenever I was home, Pippin was out of her cage, hanging out with me. I loved her little birdie noises. Without her, my apartment is so quiet and lonely. 🙁

Here’s a link to pictures of my little one:

See blog entry 4/4/09. I particularly like the last photo posted on that date (even though it’s a little blurry if enlarged) because it looks like she’s smiling. The WET BIRD pic is fun too though.

Thanks for letting me share about my little friend.

By: Pricilla

Pricilla — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:13:43 +0000

I am so sorry I did not stop by yesterday to thank you for my beautiful portrait but I was busy having my new kid, Kevin http://pricillaspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome-kevin-goat.html
I just love my new portrait and I thank you very much! I can’t wait to get it even though the publicist won’t let me hang it in my goat house!

By: Mellisa

Mellisa — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:35:07 +0000

My name is Nana, I’m a very mellow non-retrieving Golden Retriever. Apparently I’m beautiful, people stop us on the street all the time to pet me (even other Golden Retriever owners)! After my parents adopted me (I came from a broken home), I completed my Canine Good Citizenship test and have even gone to my mom’s Speech Therapy office to help out.

In my spare time I like to eat bananas (funny that my name is part of my favorite food!), bask in the sun (on mom and dad’s bed), and hunt for lizards. I’ve never actually caught one and I’m not sure what I’ll do with it when I catch it but someday…

If you’d like to see how photogenic I am there’s a picture of me thinking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40795107@N00/11701664/

I hope I’m lucky enough to win, mom would love a picture of me in her office so I can keep her in a good mood when she gets stressed!