A Girl and Her Dog (cross-posted on facebook)

So, I've got this really, really talented friend (and I realize I could describe most of you that way, but this is about Laura!). She's a metalsmith. Seriously--a metalsmith--in 2009! She makes insanely cool jewelry, which you already know if you see me in person very often, because I almost always have something of hers on. Or perhaps I've given you one of her pieces as a gift. If so, you already know that Laura, known professionally as Metalsgirl, is amazing.

But there's another side to Laura. And that's the dog side. Laura is one of the co-founders of the dog rescue group Blue Dog Rescue. Over the years, Laura and her husband Tom have personally rescued, fostered, and found homes for countless dogs, including our very own Mr. Pink. But what happens when a dog they have rescued from certain death at the animal shelter *doesn't* find a perfect forever family? Well. . . if you were to visit Laura and Tom's home you'd know the answer. These lucky dogs end up living there. This wonderful couple shares their home with no fewer than 12 dogs (and 2 cats!) that, for some reason, could not be placed in another home. And, amazingly, it's not the chaos you might expect. In fact, the dogs are all very well-behaved, and the house is charming, cozy, clean, and (really, this boggles my mind) does not smell like dogs.

So, here's the thing. One of their pack, a completely deaf great Dane named Preacher that they adopted some 10 years ago has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. Laura has loaded up her website with all sorts of one-of-a-kind clearance items, and she's hoping that selling many of them will help them pay the costs of Preacher's chemo. . .

Take a look. Really, it's worth your time. Laura makes beautiful things, and you're bound to find something cool for yourself and a gift for someone special. Laura does really cool custom work, too.

Check it out!

www.metalsgirl.com