Both humans and dogs contributed to the success of my recordings and this web site. If you'd like to identify, locate or learn about them, you're on the right page!
Mastering: Clark Ferguson; Bearswamp Studios; Macungie, Pa;
Phone: 610-398-1312; E-mail: bearswamp@enter.net
Album cover photography: Dennis Gillette; Gillette Photography;
Emmaus, Pa; Phone: 610-967-2300; E-mail: gillette@fast.net
Graphics: Liz Stehman; Rittenhouse Graphics; Macungie, PA; Phone:
610-845-3083; E-mail: rittenhouse@dejazzd.com
Liz Stehman; Rittenhouse Graphics; Macungie, PA; Phone: 610-845-3083; E-mail: rittenhouse@dejazzd.com
Banner design: Peter Elsea: Santa Cruz, CA
Converting, organizing and uploading files: Peter Elsea; Santa
Cruz, CA
Order form on secure page: Len Burns; Santa Cruz, CA; Phone: 831-420-1828; E-mail: len@gatamundo.com
"Guide Dogs, First Hand"
Cover and tray card Photos: L'Orange, my current guide dog, a
black Labrador Retriever
Dog vocals: Ellie (my retired guide, GSD), Reina (my twin sister's
deceased guide, GSD) and L'Orange (my current guide, lab)
"The Guide Dog Glee Club"
Front cover photo: This photo features 7 working guides and one
retired guide.
German shepherds: Ellie (retired) and Gunther
Golden Retriever: Ren
Chocolate lab: Zipper
Black labs: L'Orange, Frisky, Herman and Isaac
Tray card photo: features four of the guides.
German Shepherds: Ellie and Gunther
Black labs: L'Orange and Frisky
Dog vocals: Ellie (my retired GSD) and Reina (my sister's deceased GSD)
Laurel Creek Music Designs logo:
On the left, one above the other are the words, Laurel Creek Music Designs. To the right is a music staff turned sideways. The five lines point up and down, but twist and curve to resemble a creek. In the middle of the staff is a blue eighth note, whose stem and flag appear to point upwards, rather than along the staff. It looks as if the staff is sometimes in front of the flag and sometimes behind it. The note has a transparency that gives it a watery look. Visually, I've been told it defies perspective and is very Escher-like.
Home: L'Orange, my eighth guide (black lab) and me; from the back cover of "Guide Dogs, First Hand"
About the Studio: Okay, this is not a dog! It's Jimmy, a Vermont Teddy Bear, holding a ukulele.
About Veronica Elsea: This is not a dog either. It is a picture of me, Veronica, playing Max, my viola.
About Laurel Creek Music Designs: Here is Jasmine, a friend's guide dog (GSD). She was caught curled up in my rocking chair.
Contact page: This is a very relaxed Ellie, my sixth guide dog. (GSD)
Credits: This is Maya, my third guide dog. (GSD) She is curled up, looking very pleased with herself.
Downloading and Saving audio files: This shows Maya, my third guide (GSD) turning around in circles as if she's playing or chasing Laurel Creek.
Music of the Month: This shows Ellie, listening.
For Thee I Sing!: This shows Annie, my eighth guide. (GSD) She is sitting, looking pensive, almost sniffing at the words, Laurel Creek.
Guide Dogs, First Hand: This is a beautiful picture of Ellie's head.
The Guide Dog Glee Club: Reina, my twin sister's seventh guide dog (GSD) is sniffing at one of the letters in the words Laurel Creek.
We Woof You A Merry Christmas: This picture features Hardy, my tenth guide. (German Shepherd) He is looking out, while sitting to the left of a Christmas tree, which is decorated with toys and a teddy bear angel on the top.
Purchasing a download card: This banner features Omalai, my eleventh guide (German Shepherd) lying down with a tennis ball by her feet, looking up as if to say, "Come play ball with me, please?"
Where else can you buy "We Woof You A Merry Christmas": This picture features Omalai, my eleventh guide (German Shepherd) surrounded by her toys. She is just about to bat at the Cuz toy which is between her paws. Lying near her you see a tennis ball and a nylabone.
Descriptions and text: This features Liz, my sister's third guide. (GSD) She is catching a snowball, standing on her back feet, just on the tips of her toes, in a very unusual pose.
Extra crumbs and tidbits: This picture features the elderly retired L'Orange, my seventh guide, (black lab). He is lying down with a large bone between his paws. His mouth is opened as if he's singing.
How Digipaks are made: This features a picture of an opened digipak.
How I created The Guide Dog Glee Club: Dogs are not featured here, as I was creating the glee club! This picture shows me in my studio, singing and playing one of the keyboards. It also shows other keyboards, wires and racks full of equipment.
The toys that brought the dogs to you: There are no dogs here either. This shows me in my studio working. You see two computers and several keyboards. I'm looking in the general direction of the words, Laurel Creek Music Designs.
More about what's in the songs: The words, Laurel Creek Music Designs appear across this picture of the dog biscuit wreath which is found in the Digipak art work.
Stories behind the pictures: This features Nannet, my ninth guide, (German Shepherd). It shows the front of my house; with Nannet and me, walking by, in the distance.
Who done it? ("We Woof You A Merry Christmas" credits): This features my twin sister and me with German Shepherd guides Robyn and Annie. Vicki is petting Robyn as we stand on either side of a Christmas tree, which is decorated with animals. The words, Laurel Creek Music Designs are in front of the picture.
From The Song Banks Of Laurel Creek: On the left, you see the Laurel Creek logo, minus its text. In the center is where you find the words, Laurel Creek Music Designs and the German Shepherd paw print.
Check the progress of future releases: This shows Robin, my fifth guide, (German Shepherd) running towards you.
Links to other sites: This shows Sheena, my fourth guide dog (GSD) looking very curious.
Main order page: This shows Maya, my third guide (GSD) turning around in circles as if she's playing or chasing Laurel Creek.
The Screen-reader ordering notes: This page features the listening Ellie again.
The Online and Offline ordering pages: They feature L'Orange, my seventh guide (black lab), showing you his big brown "oh please" labrador eyes.
Thank you page: When you complete an online order, you see a very happy Ellie.
Decline: If your credit card is declined, you see a very sad L'Orange, again looking at you with those big brown eyes.
Compositions available for performance: This picture features Cherokee, my first guide dog (GSD) looking a little sad.
Return Policy: This shows me playing tug with a German Shepherd named Chiwa. We are at opposite ends of a large rope toy. Chiwa is looking very intense and I am backing into the words "Laurel Creek Music Designs".
Music For August: This is a picture of me, Veronica, playing Max, my viola.
Music For September: This shows my friend, Pat Mitchell and me as we're riding "The Giant Dipper", which is an old wooden roller coaster. We're both scrunch down, obviously sounding off, and my hair is blowing around like crazy. The words, "Laurel Creek Music Designs" appear across the center.
Music For February: Reina, my twin sister's seventh guide dog (GSD) is sniffing at one of the letters in the words Laurel Creek.
Hardy Birthday: Hardy, my tenth guide (German Shepherd), is jumping over the words Laurel Creek, just about to catch a kong.
Reina: Reina, my twin sister's seventh guide dog, played a very important roll in both recordings. She was responsible for some very clear steady pitches. Unfortunately, she lost her battle with kidney disease in March of 1998 before she could enjoy her newfound stardom. But it is her voice that will always make you laugh when listening to The Guide Dog Glee Club and her lively picture on the banner on the Glee Club's page on this web site. Thanks for your words of wisdom, Miss Reina.
Zipper: He was a gorgeous chocolate lab, who guided Joanne Rath around Allentown, Pennsylvania and beyond. Zipper appears in the front cover photo on The Guide Dog Glee Club CD and cassette. Just a few months after this picture was taken, he lost his battle with skin cancer. His calm gentlemanly demeanor will catch the eye of many people for years to come in this photo. Thanks for adding your grace and style to our lives, Zipper.
Ellie: Ellie, my sixth guide dog, played a major roll in both recordings. My grief surrounding her retirement was the inspiration for the creation of "Guide Dogs, First Hand". She was responsible for most of the whiny and expressive pitches. She gave many hours of her life being recorded and listening to me as I edited. Her serious, worried nature gave my recordings their sweet sound and gave me a great guide. Thanks for your patience and your compassion, Miss Ellie.
Web site contents copyright © 1999-2009 by Veronica Elsea
