Christmas Gifts Festival - Conclusion

I am truly amazed by the wonderful artists and crafters who paid me a visit during my first annual Christmas Gifts Festival.  A big loud, “RUFF”, of thanks to you for participating!!

I enjoyed meeting people from all over the country and sneaking my Dad’s credit card to buy a few things.  But, don’t tell because it’s a secret for Christmas.  

If you missed our celebration, the Christmas Gifts Festival was created so people who had friends or family members who are dog or cat lovers had a resource to do some Christmas shopping.

If you’d like another look, do some more shopping or just missed the posts, here’s a quick reference:

Nov. 17: Sue Kottwitz, from "For The Love of Dog."

Nov. 20:  Cori Solomon, from "Cori's Pawtraits."

Nov. 23:  JM, from "Drawing Mom."

Nov. 26:  Tracey Ahrens, from “Tracey Ahrens” Tracey Ahrens

Dec. 3: Audra Jones, from "AJ Studios."

Dec. 5: Kim J. Gifford, from "Pugs and Pics."

Dec. 8, my human, er, Allen Pearson, from "Allen Pearson's Photos."

Dec. 10, DeeJayStar, from "Miniature Watercolors."

Dec. 12, Ana Grob, from "Ana's World of Nature."

Thanks again to everyone for visiting and sharing about your artwork and talents.  I am planning another celebration in May, first for my human’s 50^th birthday, but don’t tell him as it’s a surprise, (if you have any ideas bark them my way at  my email) and somewhere along the way I plan to have a Mother’s Day Festival too.   

Merry Christmas 

and Happy New Year

from the crew at 

"From The Dog's Paw"

Noah, Pawthor

Dad, Pawditor and Photographer

Mom, Business Operations

Christmas Gifts Festival - Tracy Ahrens

"Ellie"

Today's artist for my Christmas Gift Festival uses graphite to create her art.
illustrator.  If I didn't know better, I'd say that's my Aunt Connie Barker in this picture.  Anyway, meet Tracy.

Tracy Ahrens of Momence, Ill. has been a journalist and editor for newspapers, magazines and Web sites for over 20 years. Currently, she's a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune and the American Red Cross Greater Chicago Chapter. Her monthly humorous column on raising her pets can be seen at Tails Pet Media Group’s web site -www.tailsinc.com.

"Pooper"

Tracy's won 51 writing awards statewide, locally and nationally. She is a member of the Illinois Woman’s Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

For years she's volunteered for animal rescue groups including the Kankakee County Animal Foundation, which she co-founded in 1994. Further, Tracy is  an artist, creating graphite pet portraits. Her illustrations have been showcased on note cards for the Kankakee County Animal Foundation in Kankakee, Ill. She's donated portraits for fund-raising events at Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, the University of Illinois Wildlife Veterinary Clinic in Champaign-Urbana, Ill.; Critter Corral guinea pig rescue in Steger, Ill. and Crossroads Shih Tzu rescue based in Joliet, Ill. In the past she offered pet portraits through the University of Illinois Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital to help raise funds for their Humane Connection Fund. Several of her pet portraits are currently on display in the Small Animal Clinic at the UofI.

Her portrait of a cat titled “Jackson Brown” is on permanent display at the Cat Fanciers’ Association Foundation cat museum that opened in June 2011 in Alliance, Ohio.

She is also a recommended illustrator through Infinity Publishing.

Tracy has written two children’s books, “Cloud Jumpers” and “What if the Moon” through Guardian Angel Publishing, and two non-fiction books titled “Giant Hero” (Infinity Publishing) and “Raising My Furry Children” (Weaving Dreams Publishing, 2011). “Raising My Furry Children” features a guest story by Steve Dale and proceeds are going to the American Humane Association and American Brittany Rescue. Her most recent published work is a book of poetry titled “Nature will heal” by Finishing Line Press (2012).

See www.tracyahrens.weebly.com and www.raisingmyfurrychildren.weebly.com for more information.

"Louie"