Designs by Debi: eskie

Thanks to being contacted by Black Diamond Celebrity Gifting, I have the opportunity to participate in a design challenge from Lady Gaga!! How exciting is that?!?

She issued a creative call for oddities as a Halloween event and that was a challenge I just could not pass up! The requirement.. "Think outside the box...outside the hemisphere. Things that make me go WOW!" Even though admittedly I hate Halloween, this is an opportunity to do something quite artistic and unusual and really indulge my creative side :)

I'm finishing up the project and mailing it off this week, but I thought I'd share a sneak peek with you. These are some of the parts I purchased for the challenge laid out on my workbench...

I'll share photos once the set is finished. And, if you DO like Halloween, here's a special opportunity for you....
I'm making a second jewelry set similar to the one for the design challenge. It will be the October 2012 Jewelry for Charity Set on the Designs by Debi website (going up late obviously) and the donation will be going to Lady Gaga's Charity, Born This Way Foundation!

They won't be exactly the same. Each set will be a one-of-a-kind, but they'll be the only 2 sets like this I'll ever make so, if you're interested, keep an eye on the website.

And, speaking of the website, I'm still working on the upgrades. That's why there hasn't been anything going on there for awhile.

My fur baby, Niko, had major surgery and I almost lost him this summer. They removed his spleen and a mass from his belly. He's sick again and it looks like he may need another surgery. Here he is at work in the dining room with me (see the legs of my office chair) the day after his surgery. This was the first time he gave a smiley face to Mommy after surgery... oh how wonderful it felt to see that! He's my baby and it's been a heart-wrenching, rough 5 months here.

Anyway, most of my business is custom designs and my customers take priority always, even over website programming so the upgrades are still a work in progress.

I do expect to have the site finished within the next 4 weeks though in time for Holiday shopping and I'll be adding quite a lot of jewelry to the site and my ArtFire Studio.

You still have time to give me input, too, if you have some. Don't be shy. Take a second and tell me because I do this for YOU. The website and jewelry are for you.

Is there anything I can do to make the site, blog and/or newsletter better for YOU?

There's still a giveaway attached to this request. It doesn't matter how or where you choose to give me your input... responding by email, on the blog, on my Facebook wall... I'll be jotting it down and someone will win a set of jewelry.

Thank you once again for your purchases; for trusting me to design precious keepsakes for you; and for your repeat business and referrals.

And thank you for understanding how important it is for me to take care of Niko and to all of you who send well wishes to us. That's precious and truly appreciated.

I'll have photos of the finished jewelry for the Lady Gaga design challenge by next week so don't forget to check back. It's going to be really unique!

It's Take Your Dog to Work Day! Did you get to take your dog to work? Are you one of the lucky ones who gets to take their dog to work every day? I'd love you to share your photos and stories with me!

As most of you know, I'm an Eskie Mom. And, since I run my company from home, I'm very blessed because I get to have my dog at work with me every day! I must admit it is wonderful :)

Niko is my little assistant. He's by my side or behind my chair whether I'm working on the computer or making jewelry. Here he is in the dining room overseeing a jewelry-making session...

And he's hysterical... if I get up for any reason, he moves under the table like it's his duty to guard everything. Here he is with his best "don't-even-think-about-touching-my-Mommy's-stuff" face on...

He's so adorable and he's the light of my life. I love the fact that I can have him with me while I'm working. Right now though, I'm devastated because Niko is sick and we could really use your help.

Letting You Know Why I'm Scarce Lately

Forgive me for going off-topic today, but I need to share something so you know that I haven't just disappeared. You may notice I'm not online as much right now and I want you to know why. This is my Eskie... Niko... and this very special little boy is the reason for my absence.

On Wednesday, June 13th I had to rush my precious Niko to the vet; unsure if he possibly had stepped on something or hurt himself; thinking maybe a splinter in his paw, a leg cramp or a dislocated knee or hip.

I carried him in and Dr Jeff examined his leg. Definite injury... he blew the cruciate ligament in his left hind knee. That was terrible news, but it got a whole lot worse.

As Dr Jeff was checking him out further, he said he felt something in his belly and that, before we deal with the knee, he needed to get x-rays to look at his belly and get some labwork.

When he brought me to look at the x-rays, my jaw dropped. He said "He has a mass in his belly." I was devastated. It felt like someone had shot me in the heart. He said it appears to be in his spleen, but we would need to get an ultrasound to be sure what we're dealing with so we scheduled one.

We need to deal with the mass before he can have the surgery he needs on his knee. So all he could do for his knee right now is give him pain meds and told me to try to keep him off it.

He needs to be monitored 24/7 for signs of a rupture and brought in immediately if I see any of them.

He also found a bladder stone that is too large for him to pass. That will also have to be dealt with. It's 3rd on the priority list... unless it moves and obstructs his urethra.

He had his ultrasound and orthopedic work-up on Wednesday. We can't make any decisions until we get the pathology results of the fine needle aspiration they did during the ultrasound. And when they did his knee x-rays, they found cruciate ligament tears in BOTH knees. That makes things a whole lot more complicated.

Any way we look at it Niko needs surgery... at least 2, more likely 3 or 4. Right now he's home with me on 24/7 observation and pain meds while we wait.

Niko and I Would Appreciate Your Help

I decided, at friends' urging, to do fundraising for Niko. However, I cannot just take money or ask people to donate for auctions like we see all the time on Facebook. I wanted something better... a way that I could reward people and make their lives easier for helping me save Niko's life.

I'm quite likely looking at well over $10,000 of vet bills before we're done and Niko's already had surgery twice in the last year. But he has been there for me through some really bad stuff so I have to try everything I can to save him.

I started a page for Niko on Facebook so family, friends and supporters can follow our journey and get updates on his progress. I share photos and post updates as I get them. I also entered a note on his page telling our story if you want to read more than the bits I've written in this post. I hope you'll come over, 'like' his page and join Team Niko.

I also set up a fundraiser for him on GiveForward.com called Team Niko. You can find it here... http://www.giveforward.com/teamniko. I posted our story, some photos and updates there as well. And there's a GiveForward widget on the right side of my blog.

Giving Back

As I said, I cannot just take and it was very hard for me to ask for help. So, I need to give thanks by giving back. And I'm doing that two ways...

1) Everyone who donates will receive a code for 20% off any purchase made through my ArtFire Studio at http://www.DesignsByDebi.artfire.com, even clearance items.

2) Everyone who donates $10 or more will get a "Dinner and a Movie Discount Card" which is actually good for a whole lot more than dinner and a movie... It's an all access discount card good for thousands of deals on dining, shopping, travel, recreation and services all over the USA (including online) for an entire year to use as many times as you want.

Ways to Help

I appreciate any and all help I can get for my sweet Niko. Prayers and well wishes are wonderful... and seem to be helping :)

If you can donate, I'm eternally grateful and you will receive the items mentioned above.

And, if you could share this post, Niko's Facebook page and/or his Team Niko GiveForward page that would be FABULOUS. I know that time are tough, but I believe that those who are able to help will find us by the generous sharing of these pages. So, I thank you very much in advance for sharing ♥

Here are some short links to help:

The Team Niko facebook page... on.fb.me/MCuW19

Niko's Team Niko GiveForward page... bit.ly/MPgbpL

And I AM Working

I may not be posting as often as usual, but please know that I AM here and I AM working. I'm just spending my work time making sure to take care of my customers. I'm still accepting orders, including custom orders, and that's what I'm focusing on.

But, I'm not taking any time off.. I need to pay those vet bills! I just change my work hours around Niko's needs ...so if you need something, by all means please contact me Debi (at) designs-by-debi (dot) com. I'm still doing my best to answer all emails within 24 hours :)

Thank you!!