I’ll bet hundreds of my jewelry customers have guinea pigs as pets. At least I seem to hear all sorts of flattering stories about the little guys. At one of my Magic Zoo shows recently, a vet tech who had guinea pigs as pets told me that the little rodents purred when they were content. So I googled this up and found a site that actually had the recorded sound of a guinea pig “purring.” Unbelievable. And while I was up there I had to listen to their other wonderful noises. Like chutting, chubbling and wheeking.
When I was a little girl, we didn’t have guinea pigs as pets, but we did have a much loved hamster named Hannibal. And I don’t remember a single sound he ever made! And not surprising, because a lot of their vocalizations may be too high in pitch for the human ear to detect. If I ever have another rodent pet (not terribly likely, with my schedule) it would have to be a guinea pig.
One of the things that entertains me, as an artist, about these little pocket pets is the different guinea pig breeds. Some of these could surely never survive in the wild, like the long-haired Peruvian. Genetics is a funny thing. How in the world did this guinea pig breed come about? And then there are the silkies. They are pretty cute, lots of long locks as well. But that cute little face doesn’t get coverd up by hair. I think I prefer the silkie over the Peruvian. I wonder if any guinea pig owners out there would like to see me create some of these show guinea pig breeds? I think it would be fun, but I don’t know how popular they really are. A silkie guinea pig pendant, anyone?
I think a Texel would be a blast to make! All those curly little ringlets. How many people actually keep this guinea pig breed? If I thought they were popular, I’d put the time and energy into making one. It is tempting…As far as I’m concerned, I think the Teddy guinea pig is awfully irresistible. I’d love to hold one of those soft little guys in my arms!
If you do decide to bring a guinea pig into your life, from everything I’ve read, you should have at least two of them. They are herd animals, and don’t enjoy living in solitary confinement. These social little guys need someone to play and be with while you are off doing your human things. And another point, make sure you are putting two males or two females together, for obvious reasons. If you need advice on how to introduce a couple of guinea pigs, do your research! There are proper ways to bring a new guinea pig into the picture, and you don’t want to commit any human faux pas.
So tell me about your guinea pig experiences. And tell me about the personality of your particular guinea pigs as pets. Oh, and be sure and tell me if you’d like to see some new Magic Zoo breed guinea pig designs!
My butterfly jewelry is easily inspired! Looking out my window this very minute is one gorgeous black swallowtail searching for a blossom. Unfortunately, most of my flowering bushes have finished for the season. I’m just grateful these beauties still make a pass through my backyard.
Making animal jewelry (even insect jewelry) is easy when you are as fascinated with animals as I am. And the butterfly cycle of life has to be one of the most fascinating of all. When I was a little girl, I loved collecting pupas and waiting for that spectacular metamorphosis into the winged adult. I remember watching (with some impatience ) as the adult emerged, damp and tired. It seemed to take forever for it to finally dry enough to make that first surge skyward.
But worth every minute! My colorful butterfly necklaces, pins and earrings are rather fanciful, but then again, as an artist I have the privilege of creating the vision that I see. And that is an every-changing vision, as you will discover if you get curious about my butterfly jewelry!
I love black cats; I’ve decided they bring me good luck. If one crosses my path, I look forward to a fantastic day.
Last night, at our friend Bob’s birthday party, Captain Rufus
the cat made an appearance with a large rodent dangling from his mouth. “Oh
look,” his wife Nancy exclaimed, “Rufus has brought you a gift!” This is a
family that loves their cats.
My backyard has always been an inspiration to the neighborhood cats, inclduing dapper-looking specimens like this tuxedo cat.
I love it when cats and dogs make friends. To me it’s a real-life analogy of how people, no matter their political, racial or religious differences should be able to communicate and even become friends. I can’t get behind the idea of “All Republicans are evil money-grubbers,” or “All democrats are communists,” and so forth.
On our walk today, I noticed a pair of mallard ducks winging
their way in a semi-circle around the bay. I think we probably startled them
when we appeared above their hiding place. (Our walk always ends on top of a
wall, looking towards
and whatever happens to be lurking in the water that day.)
I’ve been dreaming about backyard chickens. I met some new friends recently who raise chickens on their rural North Carolina property.
If your best friend has a bearded dragon or a pet tarantula- quite possibly it’s a little difficult to find jewelry she might like. She doesn’t sound like the type to go for a department store type pendant or pair of earrings. A little hard to picture her wearing a pair of heart earrings but maybe that’s just me.
