Duncan the Retired Donkey

Duncan the retired Donkey, lives life to the full. With so many hobbies he never has time to be bored!

Well, I thought he was good LOL, Duncan is my very first character. Having been lucky enough to received a ton of art books, pens, pencils and paints.. I have been in my element all day, studying and drawing. So, Duncan is who I came up with. Unfortunatly when I showed the OH he said he looks nothing like a Donkey.. so yet again I am back to the drawing board on whether to adapt Duncan to be more donkey like, or to change Duncan into another creature... though if he is not a donkey I am not quite sure what he could be?? any ideas?

I should really be working too, I also received a huge amount of embroidery silks, ribbon and trimmings to create new brooches for my Etsy shop... but hey its still bank holiday. I hope everyone in blogland got some super pressies and are having lots of fun like I am.

Meanwhile, here is Duncan again....



..and Duncan goes bowling.



Enjoy the holidays!!

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Fun in the Sun

The dogs keep telling me its far too nice to be indoors working. So warm for them out we dash down to the pond and spend more time there for them to keep cool. In today's pictures from earlier in the day, we have my Alfie (the Black Labrador), his best friend Zac (Golden Retriever) and my old girl Tess (yellow labrador), having far too much fun.
By the time the dog walking was done, not much time to squash in the rest of the days chores, and no time left at all to get any work done. I did however manage to list one of the Summer Bags I created yesterday.



Also on the warm summer theme, is the last one listed for the bicycle enthusiast.



Hope you are all enjoying the spell of good weather, I am not really a big fan of it, seen today under a large hat. Not sure when I will get to blog next as its our fund raiser over the weekend for Woof Beginnings, setting up our new marquee on Friday then the show is Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with family tea to enjoy on Sunday evening too, but I guess most people will be out and about enjoying Easter and the forcast good weather. Hopefully in my area they will be at the Town and Country Fair in Southport buying from our stall to help the needy dogs.

Enjoy your weekend!

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Just too nice for work today

It seems such a long time since we enjoyed a morning like this, so Alfie our rescue Labrador, along with his housemates Tess and Jaja, and his pals Baily, Zac and new friend Woody 'forced' us to take them for a great walk to the cooling pond for some fun.

Alfie's best friend in the world is the light coloured retriever Zac, when these two get together their shared brain cell is lost forever and as you see, fun is the name of the game.

The dogs at play together are my Tess,Alfie, Bailey, Zac and their new pal Woody the Lurcher who until very recently spent 7 months in a kennel at the RSPCA awaiting a new home, at last his has found his own special home along with Trevor and his partner who love him very much and have taught him what being a 'special' boy is all about.

Not much work done so far today, infact not ANY work done so far today - so I must also use this opportunity to show off the dog products available in my shop.

First we have a tote bag in Lavender with a photo of Bailey the Retriever, this bag is also to show the possibility of your very own photograph which can also be used in a tote bag design.



Here is one for the Chocolate Labrador fan



This bag is the same as the one I use, with all the colours of Labrador on



Lastly, most recent listing from me in my Folksy shop (the photo's all take you there) is this holder for your glasses, mobile or other gadget




Hope you are all out enjoying the wonderful weather whilst you can, this is just perfect for me as I am not a fan of the heat, but love the sun with a nice cooling breeze.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Farewell 2010 from SimJaTa

So, that was 2010 - now its almost over. What a year! It began for me with looming redundancy and the choice of either doing nothing or trying to sort myself out into a 'little business' whilst looking for work. Ended with my 'little business' doing better than I thought, and forget looking for other work. Ok, its tough at times more hours than I thought a day actually had, but no boss to answer too and the rest of the problems that came with it.
These days I start my day with a clean slate of "what shall I create today" and I am loving it.
Take today for instance... first time out in my car for weeks, so a lovely dog walk (see photo of OH with dogs) back home and did some new fabric ordering that was fun, then visit to parents, afternoon doing little else but watching Dr Zhivago and searching for a new washing machine on-line. Yes, I know must do some actual work tomorrow.
Not being able to wait for the new year I have launched my new line of Messenger Bags by "Bags of Swank by SimJaTa", which are a sturdy black canvas with fun fabrics - and more on their way.
As the years go 2010 has certainly been one of the better ones, and I am looking forward to 2011 being better still.

So, that just leaves me to wish everyone a very happy and successful New year and see you in 2011.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa ~