Shepherds Grove
Unique items featuring original dog and nature designs.
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Welcome to the Shepherds Grove website. My studio is located in Eureka, a charming place along the majestic northern coast of California. I enjoy painting ceramics and making silver clay jewelry and other items that feature my original designs of dogs and nature. I began with German Shepherd designs, inspired by my last dog (Boomer) and current dog Dante, as well as the many other German Shepherds that I have known and loved. However, there are many breeds that I enjoy (like the Shelties that I was raised with) so I have added a few other breeds and intend to add more in good time. If you have a favorite breed, email it to me. I am a mother of three wonderful young children and the owner of a delightful German Shepherd, Dante. A few years ago I became interested in painting ceramics featuring German Shepherds after the death of our fabulous first German Shepherd, Boomer. I searched for something to put in my house that was unique and beautiful to remind me of him. As it turned out, this was a difficult thing to come by, especially up in Eureka, CA, where I live. There were many German Shepherd items and dog related items but none with the charm that I was looking for. It seemed like there was a need for unique and aesthetically pleasing items featuring dogs that would enrich the environment that they’re in. So I set out on my own to create something and through self-teaching came up with designs that I am happy to have in my own home. Most are small items that bring the breed into the house in an unobtrusive and charming way. Obviously I began painting German Shepherds because this is the breed that I know well and that provided the initial inspiration to learn ceramics decoration. However, I love dogs in general and so have added a few other breeds and will continue to add more as time goes by.
Pictured below are my dogs (past and present) Boomer (left) and Dante (right). We received Boomer from my brother, who at the time was running a German Shepherd rescue in San Diego where my family is. At the time I lived in Tampa, FL where my husband was in training. A friend of my brothers who lived in Tampa introduced me to the sport of Schutzhund when Boomer was a little puppy. Boomer and I trained and competed at our local Schutzhund club for 5 years and, though we only attained a Schutzhund 1 (a baby and a second pregnancy, graduate school and work hindered our speed a little), I learned a lot about the sport, met wonderful people and increased my admiration for the breed and my own sweet dog Boomer. We moved to Eureka two months after earning our Schutzhund 1. Unfortunately there are not any clubs around Eureka so I had to say goodbye to Schutzhund. Boomer retired and took to family life with ease. He had a lot of work to do helping my husband and me take care of our three children. Sadly we had to say goodbye to him in 2004 when degenerative mylopathy took its toll on him. It was a big loss (that still makes me sad to think about) and the house was so empty even with 3 kids running around. We needed once again to have hairy carpet and new dings and scratches in the floors and the companionship of a wonderful dog. We searched for reputable breeders and found HausTyson German Shepherd Dogs through the Schutzhund USA breeders cup list. A few months later we got our current German Shepherd, Dante. He is a great family dog and loves to work. Life is complete again.
Shepherds Grove
christine@shepherds-grove.com
Phone and Fax: (707) 445-1937
Thanks to all of you that visited my booth at the
Fieldbrook Art & Wine Festival on October 4th.
Fieldbrook Art & Wine Festival on October 4th.
