Introduction
I've mentioned a few times in the last couple of months that I would hopefully be doing a mid-year update on "The Shelter Project". It is especially in regard to one aspect in particular that has been suggested by two of our dA Affiliates, which I believe is completely appropriate! Along with it, I think about two other additional items would be suitable for this update at this time.
However, before going further, for those completely new to "The Shelter Project", then a HUGE WELCOME! 
And for those who need a refresher, or know the project but missed the official comprehensive update, you can find it here:
It's long because it needed to be. The previous update had not been made for several years, and not only did much need to be reviewed, but there were many new things to add.
So, to make it easier, one should simply scroll to the section or sections that they are most interested in.
The project is eight years old this August 2010! It was actually born right HERE on deviantART! After a couple of years, it gradually moved into the local communities. However, I am happy and very proud to say, it has never lost its footing here on dA, its original home, thanks to its many caring supporters over the years.
We will forever be grateful for each and every single person who has ever supported "The Shelter Project" here on dA (and anywhere else) however they have done so. After all, there's a variety of ways to help this small but valuable valient project of ours that serves the medical needs of domestic animals.
Mid-Year Financials
First, I'd like to give you some perspective. By the END of 2017, "The Shelter Project" made about $250 USD, in total. Let's take a close look at the three previous years.
In 2016, "The Shelter Project" made $455. In 2015, the project earned $535. And in 2014, it earned $500. Between, 2014 - 2017, the project earned an about an average of $500.00 USD. They were the top three years, of the seven complete years ever.
Why did 2017, take such a downward turn? Simply put, it was a year riddled with many personal challenges. My focus was on learning new ways on how to survive my own medical issues.
I had some trouble reminding others that the project really did still exist, and a bit of trouble with ability to create as many works, or mainly as fast, along with the fact that I was not able to be online to promote the project its products, here on dA.
Additionally, for the first time since I know, the shelter did not have their annual "Mutt Strutt" event, where I have my ONE booth a year, & earn just over 1/3 in total sales for the year. (I have no clue yet, if they will hold the event this year.)
However, rather than see 2017 as some kind of loss, earning half of what the three previous years had earned, I try to see it as a type of gain for those who did participate with me and in spite of my conditions, and especially for the animals who got whatever we could give them!
Please remember, it is NOT my project. It never has been. I only conceptualized it, and then it took on a life of it's own. It is the dA Affiliates' and dA Super Affiliates' and the local supporters' project. Because without ANY of them, there is no project, and the existing project, ceases to exist.
Okay, so we are right about mid-year 2018, and "The Shelter Project" has earned $237 USD. Verbalizing strictly numbers again, at this point, it would be awesome and ideal, if we could actually double that number by the time December 31st, 2018 arrived. It would be pretty cool for us to get close to the $500 mark again.
Between 25% and 30% of this current $237 USD, earned thus far this year, is from dA Super Affiliates right here, and the rest from the local supporters.
I realize that much of such a goal rests on me, where dA is concerned, my ability to upload enough jewelry works that anyone might find interesting enough to purchase for themselves or as gifts. But let's not forget the slew of photo products that are also available, and the photos that can be used for them already exist in my gallery.
Take a look 
at the list of photo products available right near the bottom of the official 2018 update here:
On the other hand, we all know I am no entrepreneur, and that this is "The Shelter Project" - a small but helpful project for animals with medical needs, & spays and neuters. So whatever we can earn by the end of 2018, I know that I will be exceptionally grateful on behalf of the animals. 
From Your Donation of Points
This is the section, where I've had interest expressed to see how a certain "sub-project" was unfolding on behalf of "The Shelter Project" with points donated since about December of 2017. When you donate points, as the points pool states, please leave a message if you want it to go to "The Shelter Project".
If you don't I will choose, if I need it to go to the project, or if I want it to other things on dA. Often times when there is something in particular going on for the project, I will use the undetermined points, for "The Shelter Project".
Since around October 2017, I was approached by certain employees and employers of the shelter, (South Coast Humane Society) expressing their wish to have the walls in the lobby, and partway down at least one hall, (and now the restroom), brightened with photo art.
This was happily accomplished a few years back, with the help of donated points from dA, and we did just three walls. I took photos & created a journal to show it on dA then too!
In present day, a couple of the same photos exist, plus I replicated just a few of the popular ones, for they had been purchased, plus one of the directors amid a big turn over of them in the last 4 years or so, had taken down what had been left without telling anyone, and broke the frames. I was not able to fix them at the time, nor did I put them back up. But, I've been repairing them as I've been working on the new prints and framing, since 2018.
Back in October, when I was asked if I could do this, I said that I would, but that it would take some time to get such a (larger-than-last-time) project going. But I did, by immediately setting aside points for "The Shelter Project" specifically for this, which I was able to do beginning in December of 2017.
They are are 11x14 prints ordered via YOUR donated points, and framed with my own money with dollar store frames. I am nearly done at the shelter- approximately 3-4 more to round out the map we made, and 1-2 more for the restroom. So between 4-6 11x14's are needed for the shelter.
We'll talk about the other location shortly, but I wanted to give you an idea of what the points, that OUR generous point donors, have been able to physically make happen, while I have hung them, little at a time, since February, 2018.
Facing the front entrance doors this wall is on the right. This has always been the original wall where we've tried to keep photos.
This is along the same wall but beginning to go down the hallway, past the main cattery room and toward the dog kennels.
This is on the opposite wall close to and also adjacent to the front entrances of the shelter. A mixture of photos, even to include one that demonstrates some of our amazing sunsets!
This is on the same wall but farther back and above the kitten intake area. It was their idea to put a few of my kitten photos above the door to the kitten room. I thought it was a great idea!
These three show the photos that are hanging above the front entrance doors to the shelter. You can see bits of the parking lots through the windows. These reflect the location of the shelter, a bit of who and where we are, including some of the wildlife in our area.
These are behind the front desk, which faces the entrances. Just some brightly coloured photos representing other beautiful creatures in our area.
(Please 
All photos of the framed prints above are simple, super quick snap shots, completely unedited, taken fast during opening hours at the shelter.)
The other 4-6 11x14 framed prints they are hoping for, would be half dogs/cats, and half flowers, which we've never had at the shelter before.
Now about Redwood Wellness Center, (for humans) who made a connection with "The Shelter Project" in a sincere effort to join forces to establish the concept to support both human wellness with animal wellness- the totality of a concept right up my alley, considering the completeness of my overall experiences.
I actually already have MOST of the 11x14 photos ready for that location, thanks one again to the point donors behind "The Shelter Project" - but again would need about 6-8 more for this location to complete the map.
However I would begin with whatever points might be available, and finish purchasing for the shelter, in order to complete that project first.
I have not actually begun to hang any of the photos that I do have ready, at Redwood Wellness Center, mostly because I've been busy at the shelter itself, among other things, plus the owner of the business, had needed to finish getting her own clearance to paint from the owner of the building. That's been done. The place has been painted.
I have permission to begin hanging the first six photos. We are looking at the best times that won't interfere with healing treatments.
Nothing like the banging of a hammer to ruin a good healing session! 
Most of the photos are various trees from my gallery, given the name of the center, and there will be some flowers, too.
This is new territory for me, and the politics are different. I don't have as much free reign as I'm used to at the shelter, but it is working out so far, and I am very pleased.
Anyway, it will probably be a while, but of course I'd hope to get some photos of this place, too in order to give an idea of how it also looks, like I've done here of the shelter itself, so you can continue to know what your points in 2018 are mostly going toward.
One other small item. I've purchased some 4x6 postcards with your donated points, which will be set out very soon this summer in these same locations. I have purchased sleeves for each. This is a new product. I am curious to see how it goes. If anyone on dA is curious about them, feel free to ask, or contact me by email, for details.
Thank you all so very much for your help and TRUST in donating your points to an eight year old established very worthy cause that aims to help animals. It is always nice to be able to SEE what your points, or other means of support, are doing to be of service! If you ever want to know more, please email me with your questions or concerns!
And I am completely and utterly ever so grateful, and forever will be.
dA Affiliates & dA Super Affiliates
I get questions about these terms a lot. So definitions...
What is a dA Affiliate of "The Shelter Project"?:
A dA Affiliate, is a supporter of "The Shelter Project" from right here on dA, as opposed to a local supporter, who has done any one of a number of things to be of service to the domestic animals in need through the project.
One most often way has been placing a Custom Box advertisement with a couple feature photos on one's Profile page, or advertising via a journal, or a portion of one's journal. Some people have kept up their Profile advertisements for several years!! Though sometimes, they do update them.
Another very common way is through donating points. Certainly there are other possible ways... one is some people have opened their OWN points pools strictly for "The Shelter Project" and then turn them over to me periodically. Really generous!
To know who are our the dA Affiliates of "The Shelter Project" are, you can find them listed on my front profile page, on the left-hand side, the 2nd and larger section down. There are too many to list them here. 
What is a dA Group Affiliate of "The Shelter Project"?:
A dA Group Affiliate, is any dA Group who sees fit to support "The Shelter Project" by placing a brief advertisement somewhere on the Group's profile page, who creates a journal about the project, who requests any official news article to their group, and who donates points- which has happened from several groups. So far, to the best of my knowledge these groups are:
If I have missed your group please let me know!
What is a dA SUPER Affiliate of "The Shelter Project"?:
A dA SUPER Affiliate, is a supporter of "The Shelter Project" from right here on dA, who, about 90% of the time, makes direct purchases of the many photo products and the many jewelry products available, thus creating donations directly for "The Shelter Project". A dA SUPER Affiliate is automatically also an Affiliate.
(I need to take out their names from the Affiliate list, clean up repetition on my profile page, since they are already listed as SUPER Affiliates.)
Approximately the other 10% of the time, people either make direct donations to me via PayPal, which go directly toward promotional productions, like pens and rack cards, and definitely toward things like printer ink, (SO expensive), and jewelry supplies- such as the new side cutters I had to purchase, to name just a few things. Extremely useful!
Within that 10% are also a couple/few people who have generated enough support which will gain direct donations in at least quite soon. Our extremely generous dA SUPER Affiliates are:
Quite a few of these SUPER Affiliates are repeat customers, which continues to melt my heart over and over that they would stick with the project in this way, as long as they have. Yet even a one time purchaser, always amazes me, because they've found something of interest and it delights me beyond measure because it's a win, win for everyone. And once a SUPER Affiliate, always a Super Affiliate.
The other thing I have found interesting over the years, is how many people have said, "Oh, my daughter, (or whoever) would love this!" and so about 1/3 of the time, people are purchasing as gifts for others. This warms my heart, too, because I like to imagine the story they tell to their giftee about where the proceeds their gift went to, making it that much more special.
Once again, if you've not seen the most recent comprehensive official news article on "The Shelter Project" it is right here:
Due to the length, scroll to the section/s that most interest you. It is near the bottom where you will find the lists of products.
One of the newest photo products is the photo journal:
This is the first one I had made, for a customer who agreed to be a guinea pig! I had a second guinea pig, who chose a photo of Sha-Sha, my cat, and it's already been sent.
But, I took photos of it, and hope to make a similar collage for you to see!
The next new photo product I hope to get into by the end of 2018, would be bookmarks!
I've also been experimenting more with designing some simple but cute and pretty hair clips, within the jewelry line. I wear them often, but I haven't take new photos ... yet. 
In Closing...
In closing, I sincerely hope this mid-year update on "The Shelter Project" was helpful to you. If all of this was new to you, and you made it through *this* article, then congratulations... it's a lot to take in. For everyone else, I can never thank you enough for being such a huge part of a project that does deliver, at the end of every calendar year. If you think your part has been, or is small, please do not think such a think.
You are not alone in this. You are part of a whole, a team. And when each part does anything, that is what contributes to the larger picture. So thank you for your own part, and for anyone's continuing part... for I will continue this, as long as I am able, and for as long as I have people here at home base on dA, still willing to help out.
Remember "The Shelter Project" was born on dA. It's our project for as long as we keep it. I am ever grateful for you all, on behalf of the animals that we are able to help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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