Friday, February 28, 2025

Win Your Favorite Print

Hey, Guys, post Mastiff, for a chance to win a 12X12 print of Mastiff Life or Main Coon for a chance to win an 11x18 print of Aristocat Breakfast in the comments. Links are down below. If this post hits 100 comments within 10 days from today, I will draw 2 winners from the comments. Please allow up to 2 weeks to receive your print. I will reply to the winners comments with my contact info so you can send me your mailing address. Good Luck and lets get my blog over the 100,000 mark. This is original artwork created by me, Renee Rutherford.

Well yesterday, I did manage to create some new artwork. I have decided to use another platform called RedBubble. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, here are 2 pieces that are live in my shop right now with more to come soon. tell me what you think!

Mastiff Life featuring my very own 150 lb. English Mastiff, Bodhi.

And Aristocat Breakfast, featuring Shadow my 24 lb. black smoke Maine Coon Cat.

Most of my work is inspired by my animals and my family—they’re my biggest sources of creativity and joy. Every piece you see is created entirely by me, with lots of love and care. I’m always working on something new (seriously, even I don’t know what I’ll come up with next!), so if you’d like to stay updated on my latest creations, feel free to subscribe to my blog. I’d love to share my journey with you!

Thank you so much for reading, and best of luck in the contest!.

Thursday, February 27, 2025

It never fails, when you are on a deadline!

Well, today was supposed to be a productive day with my trusty WeCreat Vision Laser Cutter. Supposed to be. But instead, it decided to throw a tantrum like a toddler who missed nap time. I mean, I just used it a few days ago, and now it’s acting like I asked it to cut through diamonds! So frustrating!!

First, it started making this grindy noise— Then, to really spice things up, it started smoking. Smoking! My laser cutter is apparently auditioning for a role in an action movie. Naturally, I called tech support, hoping for some magical fix. Their suggestion? “Clean it.” Oh, fantastic. Why didn’t I think of that? So, I cleaned it. And guess what? It’s still throwing its little laser fit. Thanks, tech support, you’ve been so helpful.

Desperate for answers, I turned to Reddit and some WeCreat user forums. You’d think with all the collective wisdom of the internet, someone would have a solution, so far nothing is working. People are reaching out with some good options to try but Nada. It’s like my laser cutter’s issue is so unique, it’s now the diva of malfunctioning machines.

Now, I do have a backup: my 40-watt laser cutter. But here’s the thing—I was saving that one until I converted yet another Bedroom into more art space.. You know, the one I’ve been “converting” for way longer than I care to say here. Looks like I might have to break it out early and work around the chaos for now.

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on the saga of the rebellious laser cutter

.Who knows? Maybe it’ll miraculously fix itself, or maybe I’ll discover a secret life hack from some obscure corner of the internet. Either way, stay tuned for more adventures in laser cutting drama!

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Bodhi, The English Mastiff Patriot

So excited about these images, I just had to share them with y'all. I am having so much fun creating designs from pics and images of my fur beasties!! The creative possibilities are endless when you've got a models as photogenic and charismatic as my guys. Whether it's t-shirts, mugs, or whatever, these images of Bodhi will be some of the first designs I create.. He is so handsome and Majestic!

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Gentle Giants & Late Night Art: My Maine Coon & Mastiff Tales Continue

Day 2 after restarting my blog

Hey there! Im on a streak with 2 days in a row writing updates to my blog. 🎉

I'll be honest - consistency isn't usually my strong suit (I'm definitely more of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl!). But here I am, showing up for day two, and I've actually been pretty productive! I've been up all night creating some new designs, mostly inspired by my amazing fur babies.

Let me introduce you to my not-so-little family:

The Majestic Maine Coons

Shadow and Blu: My beautiful Maine Coon cats, each weighing between 20-25 pounds! If you're not familiar with Maine Coons, yes, that's a normal size for these gentle giants of the cat world. They're basically the dogs of the cat universe, but with extra fluff!

The Massive Mastiffs

Bodhi: My English Mastiff boy, currently weighing in at a impressive 150 pounds

Bella: My American Mastiff girl, not far behind at 140 pounds

And here's the kicker - both mastiffs are still puppies! They've got plenty more growing to do. Can you tell I have a thing for super-sized animals? 😄

I've been spending my late-night creative sessions working on some designs inspired by these magnificent creatures. There's something special about having such large, loving companions around. They're not just pets - they're family members who happen to take up a lot more space than the average fur baby!

This is design number 1, taken from photos I have taken and then I digitally enhance them for artistic purposes. I create posters and t shirts from them.

Shadow: The Cat Who Makes Repairmen Think Twice

Allow me to introduce Shadow, my magnificent Maine Coon who apparently moonlights as a security system! 😂 When I say he's a big cat, I'm not exaggerating - we're talking 20-25 pounds of pure feline majesty. And yes, that's his normal, healthy size!

The Great Repairman Standoff

Picture this scene: The doorbell rings, and there's a repairman ready to do his job. But instead of walking in, he stops dead in his tracks at the doorway. His eyes go wide, and with genuine concern in his voice, he asks:

"Is it safe?"

At first, I'm confused - what could possibly be unsafe? Then I follow his gaze to Shadow, who's probably just lounging there being his majestic self, completely unaware that he's causing someone to question their career choices!

"Those are the biggest cats I've ever seen!" the repairman exclaims, still hovering uncertainly at the threshold.

I couldn't help but laugh as I waved him in. Poor guy looked like he was mentally reviewing his insurance coverage! 😄 Even after my reassurance, he wasn't entirely convinced he wanted to share space with my "house panther."

The Not-So-Secret Life of Shadow

What the repairman didn't know is that despite his impressive size and intimidating appearance, Shadow is basically a giant teddy bear. Like most Maine Coons, he's got that gentle giant personality - though I have to admit, his size does make for excellent home security!

Between Shadow and his brother Blu, plus my two massive Mastiffs, I guess you could say I run a "Big and Tall" department of pets! 🐱🐕

Spotlight on Bodhi: My Gentle (Not-So-Little) Giant

Meet Bodhi, my English Mastiff sweetheart! At 150 pounds, he's already massive, but hold onto your hats - this boy might grow to over 200 pounds! 🐾
Now, I lovingly call him my "Special Needs Baby" because, bless his heart, he's not exactly winning any canine quiz shows! But what he lacks in brain power, he makes up for in heart. He's the sweetest, most docile giant you'll ever meet - so much so that his sister Bella totally takes advantage of him!
Picture this: Bodhi finally gets a toy he loves, and here comes Bella, strutting over like she owns the place. Does our big boy stand up for himself? Nope! He just lets her take it, looking at me with those sweet eyes like, "Mom, she did it again!" 😅

The Great Destroyer

But don't let that gentle demeanor fool you - Bodhi has a... special talent. He's basically a destruction artist, with a particular taste for electronics. Let me share his greatest hits:

Headphones destroyed: 3 pairs (and counting!)

Amazon remotes annihilated: 6 (yes, SIX!)

You might ask, "Why don't you just put things up high?" Oh, sweet summer child... When you have a dog this size, NOTHING is out of reach! I swear, sometimes I think he's part giraffe! 🦒

The latest casualty? The headphones in the photo. I'm starting to think he's trying to tell me something - maybe he's not a fan of my music choices? 🎧

This is Blu and Shadow in real life.

This is Bella and Bodhi in real life

I'm blessed with a wonderful family - twelve amazing grandkids, most of them grown now except for my youngest two (ages 3 and 6) from my firstborn. While I have plenty of love and support around me, I understand that everyone has their own lives to navigate. So, I try to keep a low profile (though with pets this size, that's not always easy! 😉).
These furry friends of mine have a special way of filling the silence with their presence. Whether it's the soft purring of Shadow and Blu, or the not-so-graceful galumphing of Bodhi and Bella through the house, they keep me company during both the long nights and bright days.
I've been channeling my love for them into my creative work, staying up through the night working on designs inspired by their personalities and presence in my life. There's something therapeutic about capturing their essence in my art, turning grief into something beautiful.

My Creative Journey

Speaking of art - I should mention I'm a proud student of YouTube University! 😄 Yes, I'm entirely self-taught, learning everything I know about art through online tutorials and lots of practice. It's been quite the journey, and I'm excited to share it with y'all.

I'm in the process of setting up storefronts on various platforms to share my creations with the world. Once I have more designs available, I'll make sure to link to them here. It's all a work in progress, but isn't that what life is about?

Thanks for joining me on this artistic adventure. Stay tuned for more designs, more pet stories, and probably more late-night creative sessions!

Until tomorrow (hopefully - remember, consistency isn't my strong suit! 😉),

Wear Your Art and Live Life Creatively!

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Really! I wish that did not Happen!

A Journey through Grief and Creativity

Hi, everyone!

It’s been a while since my last post, and so much has happened. The title of this entry couldn’t be more fitting. Last year, on February 28, 2024, I lost my husband—my soulmate, my partner, my best friend. The pain is immense, and adjusting to life without him has been incredibly challenging.

Navigating Grief

I’m still navigating this difficult journey, trying to find my footing again. After caring for him for so long, I neglected many aspects of my life. Everyday tasks like house cleaning have piled up, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. He battled illness for several years, gradually deteriorating, which made our time together all the more precious.

And then, this one night, I was getting him everything he needed for the night, he was on oxygen by this time and we were joking around about something or other, I was sitting on the side of his bed laughing about one of his crazy tall tales, He was the most quick witted person I have ever known, funny as all get out. right before I went upstairs, he was sleeping downstairs because it was just too much for him to make it up the stairs any more, so we turned the living room into his bedroom the last year or so.

I gave him his medicine, we kissed each other good night and as I got up he took my hand and asked,"Hey, do you want to do some art tomorrow?" His enthusiasm was infectious. He was a talented artist who loved working with oils and hadtaken up airbrushing, also. Our shared passion for art brought us countless joyful hours together in our art studio pulling all nighters like crazy people listening to Pink Floyd and the Indigo Girls and so many others that we loved.

We have been married for 34 years and that's just what we loved to do.It was always just Robert and myself since the kids had all grown up and now have families of their own. We didn't socialize much, I mean we had a few friends, but we mostly just hung out together.

He was very disciplined in his art, he stuck to painting and sculpting. right before he got sick though, we bought some new rock equipment to grind and polish them into jewelry which is one of my fav things to make. he would tease me saying that I had Creative ADD, and he was right! I have done a little of everything and have it all right here in our house. I would laugh and just say well, baby, you know me better than anyone and how I cycle through all my mediums so I am never bored. he would laugh when Id say I'm just a Jill of all trades and a master of none!

Then we went to bed. We were laughing, joking about something. And the next morning I got up.

. . . and then he was gone!

After he passed, I found myself in a big house with just my two dogs and two cats. The silence was deafening, but I’m determined to keep his spirit alive through creativity. I’m diving back into my projects—3D printing, laser engraving, clothing design, and more. I’ve always had what he called "Creative ADD," dabbling in various crafts to keep boredom at bay.

The list of things I want to accomplish is endless, and it can feel overwhelming at times. But I’m finally starting to feel a little better. I’m working on my blog again, eager to share my creative ventures and updates with you all.

But anyway, just wanted to give you guys a little update. I'm go going to start trying to keep my blog updated and let you guys know what's going on, what I'm going to be making, my new ventures and things that are happening. I'm looking forward to it. I hope you'll follow along and keep up with me.

I want to thank you for your support and understanding during this time. Your comments and kind words motivate me to keep going. I’m excited to share my journey with you, as well as my new projects and ideas.

I apologize for disappearing so suddenly, but I’m back and ready to engage with you all again. Thank you for reading my blog and for being part of my creative journey.

Live Life Creatively!

With love,

Renee

Out On A Whim . . .

Oh, No!! That did NOT happen!!

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