A special little project

My best friend lost her dog a year ago. Charity and Buckley had an extra special connection that was obvious to anyone that met them.  Buckley was a gorgeous greyhound. he was gigantic, even by greyhound standards; he was white with a brindle patch over one eye, and soft ticking throughout his coat.  And eyes that would melt even any non-dog lover's heart. It's hard for anyone to lose a pet, but I think it's somehow a little harder after spending time nursing an ill pet; that forms a different sort of bond that adds another layer of love and protectiveness and intensity.  Buckley had kidney disease, and a seizure disorder. His mom took amazing care of him, and amassed a knowledge of the kidney disease and blood values and relationships that would make most vets a little green with envy. Buckley went to fly with the angels August 1, 2011, and Charity's life will never be the same. She will always miss him, but she will also always carry her love for him in her heart.  I wanted to make a a little Buckley for her, on this first anniversary, so she can have a reminder of that love that went both ways.

The bed is made from fabric I had leftover from the 2" martingale collars I made Buckley each year for Christmas.  The figurine is made from a mix of Sculpey and Fimo clays. I baked it after I was as satisfied as I was going to get with it; the heat turns the clay into a hard polymer plastic. I have to be very honest and admit that I cannot believe this turned out and actually looks like a dog; I have only worked with polymer clays a handful of times, and I have no sculpting experience whatsoever. Nor can I draw, or do anything artistic. I made a tiny Sidney Sue a few years ago, and so I thought I could at least approximate a greyhound, but I wanted this one to not only look like a greyhound, but to capture the specialness that was Buckley.  So, I went through Charity's facebook albums, which luckily had a million pictures of Buckley in a thousand different poses.  (Ironically, I couldn't find any pics of his tail, and I really think there is a brindle spot on his tail, I will find out in a few hours when I give her this!) It was a very neat experience to shape the clay, and watch it miraculously turn into a greyhound, and then watch the added details turn it from a greyhound into a little Buckley.  I am inordinately proud of this project, which is a first for me; and I can't wait to give it to Charity. I hope she likes it!