taking some time off...

I wanted to give you all a bit of an update so that no one is left wondering "What is going on with ONE?" I've had a lot going on outside of my business and need to take some time off to take care of other matters. Everyone is fine and everything is ok, I've just been very busy. For the time being, I've put my Etsy and 1000 Markets shops on hold and will re-open them shortly. In the meantime, feel free to write with any questions or comments to designsbyone@yahoo.com. Thank you all for your patience - YOU ROCK!!

Do you like 1 or 2 better?

Hey everyone! I need some help and I would really appreciate some input:

I am currently designing a custom fabric-print for dog collars that I will be offering in my Etsy shop. I am just about finished with the print but I can't decide which dog I would like on it. They are identical, the only difference is the ears. What do you think - option 1 or 2? Thanks in advance!

As Seen on the "For the Love of Cute" Blog

Our "Rock and Ruff" tee has been featured on the "For the Love of Cute" blog. Make sure to check it out here and see all the other fabulous doggie picks.

City Dog Magazine: Summer 2009

I am super excited to announce that our Summer Garden Tank has been featured in the summer issue of City Dog Magazine. They put together a collection called "Cool Products: What's Hot for Cool Dogs " and we were one of the lucky ones to be included! (That's our tank in the upper left corner). These are some pictures of the issue but you can get your copy here. Enjoy :)

Velma's new collar

Have you heard of Dublin Dog? It's definitely worth checking out! Since I'm always looking for cool new collars to add to Velma's collection, I stumbled upon their website and fell in love with their products. Of course I immediately whipped out my credit card and ordered her the "Terra Cotta Daisy Daze" collar, along with one of their "Lucky Me" pewter tags. These collars are hand-crafted, made to last, and best of all: low maintenance. They rinse clean and are made from a non-porous material that doesn't harbor odors. Pretty cool, right?

My contest winner: Sadey

Here is precious Miss Sadey showing off the collar that her mom won for her (in my blog contest)from my shop. Isn't she sweet? The dress is also one of my creations :) So cute!!

And the winner is...

Roni :) Ok, so she was the only one who participated but it's still exciting to get to announce a winner. Here are the correct answers in case any of you were curious (the correct answer will appear in orange, bold italics):

1. On what date did I adopt Velma?
a. May 26, 2002
b. April 30, 2005
c. May 18, 2006
d. June 16, 2007

2. What is Velma's middle name?
a. Kelly
b. Daphne
c. Lee
d. Belle

3. What breed/breed mix is Velma?
a. Jack Russel Terrier/ Chihuahua mix
b. Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix
c. Purebred Chihuahua
d. Dachshund/Chihuahua mix

4. How much does Velma weigh?
a. 6.5 pounds
b. 8 pounds
c. 9.25 pounds
d. 4 pounds

5. Who is Velma's best doggie pal?
a. our neighbor "Scottie"
b. her daycare friend "Rocky"
c. her "cousin" "C.J."
d. her dog park friend "Buddy"

6. What is Velma's favorite place to be?
a. at doggie daycare with her friends
b. watching T.V. in "grandpa's" room
c. in the car on a long road trip
d. wherever mommy is!

7. How many collars does Velma currently have in her collection (many more to come soon!)
a. 34
b. 16
c. 22
d. 41

8. Which TWO places has Velma visited?
a. The Aztec pyramids in Mexico and the Space Needle in Seattle
b. The Grand Canyon and the Roman Coliseum
c. Niagara Falls and Big Ben in London
d. The Eiffel tower in Paris and Half Dome in Yosemite

9. What sorts of places does Velma MOST enjoy visiting?
a. off-leash beaches
b. long running trails
c. loud, busy cities
d. all of the above and more

10. What are the TWO most common "nicknames" I use for Velma?
a. "Baby" and "Love of my life"
b. "Munchkin" and "Little one"
c. "Hot Stuff" and "Miss Attitude"
d. "Sassy" and "Princess"

11. Any good answer would have done for this one :)

So there you have it. Congratulations Roni!

I promised and the contest is HERE!!

....the contest I told you about in honor of Velma's and my "anniversary"....remember...

Ok, so the grand prize for the person who answers the most questions correctly will be your choice of a custom collar for your pooch from my shop. Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can play

2. The questions are multiple choice and one "fill-in". To answer the questions, leave a comment on this post with just the letters that correspond to your answers. Example: a, c, d, b.... and so on

3. The contest will run until Tuesday, May 26th. That day I will announce the winner (please make sure that I have some way of contacting you: through your blog, email, whatever...)

Here are the questions:

1. On what date did I adopt Velma?

a. May 26, 2002

b. April 30, 2005

c. May 18, 2006

d. June 16, 2007

2. What is Velma's middle name?

a. Kelly

b. Daphne

c. Lee

d. Belle

3. What breed/breed mix is Velma?

a. Jack Russel Terrier/ Chihuahua mix

b. Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix

c. Purebred Chihuahua

d. Dachshund/Chihuahua mix

4. How much does Velma weigh?

a. 6.5 pounds

b. 8 pounds

c. 9.25 pounds

d. 4 pounds

5. Who is Velma's best doggie pal?

a. our neighbor "Scottie"

b. her daycare friend "Rocky"

c. her "cousin" "C.J."

d. her dog park friend "Buddy"

6. What is Velma's favorite place to be?

a. at doggie daycare with her friends

b. watching T.V. in "grandpa's" room

c. in the car on a long road trip

d. wherever mommy is!

7. How many collars does Velma currently have in her collection (many more to come soon!)

a. 34

b. 16

c. 22

d. 41

8. Which TWO places has Velma visited?

a. The Aztec pyramids in Mexico and the Space Needle in Seattle

b. The Grand Canyon and the Roman Coliseum

c. Niagara Falls and Big Ben in London

d. The Eiffel tower in Paris and Half Dome in Yosemite

9. What sorts of places does Velma MOST enjoy visiting?

a. off-leash beaches

b. long running trails

c. loud, busy cities

d. all of the above and more

10. What are the TWO most common "nicknames" I use for Velma?

a. "Baby" and "Love of my life"

b. "Munchkin" and "Little one"

c. "Hot Stuff" and "Miss Attitude"

d. "Sassy" and "Princess"

11. In three sentences or less, describe what you most like about Velma (If I like your answer, it will be correct, otherwise I'll count this as a wrong answer. If I have a tie, my favorite answer will be the winner)

Thanks for playing :)

A big thanks!

It sure has been busy around here lately and our line has been getting some fabulous exposure. Here are some of the things going on:

Our Summer Garden Tank has been featured in LuvHandmade:

Our Water Resistant Trench has been featured in FoundHandmade:

AND.... I'm excited about this one!... This summer we've been asked to be featured in City Dog Magazine!!THANK YOU to all of you for all your amazing support!! Hugs and licks from Velma :)

P.S. I haven't forgotten about the contest I mentioned in my last post. I promise it will be up soon.

How does a contest sound right about now..?

In honor of Velma's (my dog) and my upcoming third anniversary (I rescued her on May 18, 2006) I was thinking it might be fun to do some sort of "Collar Giveaway" to a lucky winner of a contest. Since the world revolves around Velma (or at least mine does!) the contest would be a series of questions related to her and the person who answered the most questions correctly would win a free collar from my Esty shop. Sounds like it could be fun, right? I'll keep you posted on when the "official" contest will take place. Meanwhile, I have to come up with some questions...

Check this out!

I've already told you about Pets Jubilee, but now I want to tell you about the new pet photo contest. That's right, you can submit a picture of your precious furbabies to the photo contest blog and if the picture wins, you'll get a free Pets Jubilee sampler box! Pretty cool, right? Details can be found on the blog. Unfortunately, contributors to the box aren't allowed to participate for the first contest (which means I can't), but at least I have more time to pick the cutest picture of Velma. I have so many, this is going to be tough....

Have you heard about "Pets Jubilee" yet?

Yikes! Has it really been more than two weeks since my last post?! Sorry folks, it's been crazy busy around here but I promise to start posting more often again.

Anyhow, I wanted to share a WONDERFUL Etsy shop with you: Pets Jubilee. Pets Jubilee is a team shop that sells "sampler boxes" which contain all kinds of pet-related goodies donated by Etsy sellers (including myself). When you purchase one of these fabulous boxes (for an incredible price) you never know what you might get: collars, collar charms, dog cookies, cards, you name it.... Basically, it's like a great Christmas present any time of year! You can even specify if you would prefer a cat-themed, dog-themed, or other kind of pet-themed box. I haven't gotten to the best part yet-- what makes me very proud to contribute to this great team is that not only are you supporting "handmade", but you are also supporting the SPCA International. That's right, a portion of every purchase is donated to help prevent cruelty to animals. Can't say it gets any better than that... Make sure to check it out!

Earth Hour 2009

Tonight, Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm your time, please vote "Earth" by switching off your lights for one hour. Your vote will help goals of reaching one billion votes to be presented to world leaders in the upcoming Global Climate Change Conference. Let's work together for a more energy-efficient green, clean, and healthy future for all of us. Earth Hour is not just about 60 minutes of darkness, it is a lifelong commitment to help preserve the world we all share, our home--planet Earth.

How CUTE is Lucky?!

SOOO cute :) This is a picture I just received from one of my fabulous customers of her, dog Lucky, modeling our bandanna. Absolutely precious! Just look at that smile...

It seems like it might be warming up a bit....

Flowers are blooming, the sun is out, and allergies are acting up :( Or at least mine are! Anyhow, staying cute and hip is still important in the warmer months and I've got your pooch covered. I've been working on some new collars so check our shop often for the latest and greatest. In the meantime, here is one of the newest:

This fun and sassy collar is sure to draw tons of positive attention wherever your pooch wears it! It is a beautiful shade of aqua marine color that subtly transitions into a vibrant royal blue. The floral design is delicately outlined in white, adding a dainty and feminine touch. The black contour, no-choke, side-release buckle and adjustable slider will ensure safety and comfort for your best pal. The nickel D-ring is also sturdy enough to attach a leash to and perfect for tags. This collar is inner lined with high-quality webbing, making it not only chic but very durable as well. The exterior fabric is 100% cotton, meaning it will last, stay looking fabulous, and will be easy to care for! Best of all, it is soft and very comfortable for dogs to wear. Stress points have been stitched several times through to ensure security and for prolonged durability

The Sassy Tee

Sass, attitude, charm and a funky edge-- this shirt has it all! This super comfortable black tee shirt has a vintage-inspired look with a beautiful organic swirl and heart silk screen design in white. It has been accented with pretty pink rhinestone flowers and felt applique hearts. One of the hearts is pink to show off your pup's innocent side while the other heart has a zebra print inspired by the wild, spunky side of her! If you have a pup with a big personality, and even bigger attitude, this shirt is the one for her!

I had to share

I love these pictures and I just had to share them with you because I thought they were too cute to keep to myself. It genuinely looks like they are smiling :) These two lovely ladies are Kimo and Blackie (I think you can figure out which one is which!) I was "pet-sitting" them last week while their owners were away on vacation and we had a great time together. They are such great dogs! Of course, when their "parents" came back home, they found a surprise waiting for them-- I couldn't resist making collars for their girls while they were away. Who wouldn't want these two cuties sporting their merchandise, right?

Our newest jacket...

The perfect coat for strolling city streets in style is here. Chic, smart, sophisticated, warm but light, durable, and convenient; everything you want in a coat for your pooch. This classy trench has a yoke and belt loops in a beautiful plaid that is complimented beautifully by a cotton khaki fabric that is found on the lower half of the coat. This coat features an easy, over-the-head design that is very easy to slip your pooch into. The bottom (chest) section has straps that come up and over the upper portion, fastening securely on the back in a double-breasted manner with rustic silver snaps. The chest straps are also held securely in place during walks by the D-ring located on the center back, allowing easy leash attachment, and making the coat double as a comfy walking harness. It is slightly long in design to protect most of your pooch from the cold but significantly shorter in the front for ease (and no messes)during potty time. The pocket on the back adds an extra touch of detail and can be used to carry clean-up bags on a walk. This coat is also completely lined and beautifully finished inside and out. A matching collar can be found here.

Super Sweet Sadey

If Sadey had a superpower, I think it would be melting people with her unbearably cute face!

Sadey is one of my favorite customers (along with her sister, Molly). Roni, their "mom" and owner of Daisy Wares, is always lovely enough to send me pictures of them when they purchase something new from us. This time, it was Sadey's new necklace. It looks divine on her, right?!

It's a proud day in a mother's life...

When her daughter fetches her first ball! For some reason, Velma likes fetching stuffed animals and other soft toys but not balls. Not until the other day that is :) Soon she'll be a ball-fetching pro! Luckily my brother, who always has his camera handy, caught it on video :)

(Please excuse the mess in my room and the weird noise my brother makes at the end of the video...)

The Precious Myrna :)

I was so happy to receive this picture :)Just look at that sweet face! This is Myrna, a young Newfoundland and one of my fabulous customers. At only eight months of age, she currently holds the record for the largest dog collar I've ever made at 27 inches--yikes!! That is one big puppy and I am told by Al and Caroline (her super-nice owners and owners of Beyond the Rockz) that she still has quite a bit to grow! Her massive size just adds to her massive cuteness, don't you think?

Thanks for my award :)

The lovely Tara from Youniquely Chic has nominated me for the Lemonade Award, meant for positive-attitude blogs :) Here are 10 more blogs that I love and have decided to pass the award on to. Enjoy:

1. Art Life Newsblog

2. Emma's K9 Kitchen

3. CiaoHound

4. Daisy Wares

5. For The Love of Wiener Dogs

6. Poppy's "Its a Dog's Life"

7. The Briar Rose Gate

8. leaning into the sharp points

9. Once Upon a Dog Blog

10. PetsJubilee

If you're on the list above and wish to pass on the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Nominate 10 blogs that show great attitude.

3. Link your nominees with your post & let them know via comment that they're lemonaded.

4. Link the post to the person who gave you the award.

A New Addition to Our Family

Meet Ruby, our new kitten :) On Monday night (the 26th) on our way home from running some errands, my brother and I noticed this little baby on the street (she actually crossed right in front of me as I was driving and I managed to stop just in time to avoid hitting her!) I screeched to a very sudden, abrupt stop sending all our purchased goods that were in the back seat flying forward. I pulled over and asked my brother to get out of the car to look and listen for any signs of a mom and/or littermates. Nothing :( It seemed she was all alone and very scared. He scooped her up and got back into the car with her. We brought her home and set up a comfy place where she could hang out until we got her checked out by the vet. We gave her some food from our other kitty (Midnight, a beautiful, 18-year-old domestic shorthair) and she quickly devoured it. Yesterday, we took her to the vet to have her cleaned up and on the road to recovery. She has some pretty nasty wounds on her legs and chest as if she was attacked by another animal while she was out on her own. We purchased the appropriate medications for her (apparently her wounds were infected and she had a slight fever) and already she is doing SO MUCH better!! She is starting to act like a normal, happy, playful, and snuggly kitten, not the poor frightened little baby we picked up just two nights ago.

Ruby has now officially been introduced to my baby, Velma and my brother's other cat, Midnight. I think it will take some time for Midnight to get used to her; right now she only sniffs her and walks away. However, Ruby LOVES Velma (smart kitty, hehe)!! She follows her around and purrs loudly as she rubs her tiny little body all over Velma. Velma tolerates her for the most part, she just gets a little annoyed with her following her around so much :) I'm sure soon they'll get along just fine, as do Midnight and her.

We looked at the pros and cons of keeping her and debated whether we should or not. I decided to let my brother keep her. After all, I think she might have been a gift to him from our mom who passed away exactly one year before we found this kitty (January 26, 2008). My mom knew how much my brother loves cats and how much he wanted a kitten, I guess she decided to send her little boy a gift on this very sad and hard date. Of course, picking out a name was easy: Ruby, our mom's name :)

Super chic and fashionable

This chic and sophisticated collar is sure to draw tons of positive attention wherever your pooch wears it! Its beautifully coordinated shades of tan, ochre yellow, brown and black in a super hip plaid make it stylish and fashion forward. The black contour, no-choke, side-release buckle and adjustable slider will ensure safety and comfort for your best pal. The nickel D-ring is also sturdy enough to attach a leash to and perfect for tags. This collar is inner lined with high-quality webbing, making it not only chic but very durable as well. The exterior fabric is 100% cotton, meaning it will last, stay looking fabulous, and will be easy to care for! Best of all, it is soft and very comfortable for dogs to wear. Stress points have been stitched several times through to ensure security and for prolonged durability.

Visit our shop to see tons of other fashion accessories for your pooch. See you there :)

Have you seen our newest trench coat?

Have no fear, the rain trench coat is here! No more wet dog smell after your morning walk in the rain! This durable blue coat is made of water-resistant 100% cotton-faced plain weave denim which has been rubber-backed for waterproofing. This coat is completely lined with warm yellow fleece, meaning this coat will not only keep your pooch dry but super warm as well. It is slightly long in design to protect most of your pooch’s body from severe weather but significantly shorter in the front for ease (and no messes)during potty time. A turn-down collar protects your furry pal’s neck from the rain while also keeping them warm. It has an easy slip-over-the-head design with top and bottom panels that come together at the sides and are secured by an adjustable belt ensuring a perfect and comfortable fit. The smart, sleeveless design means no more tracking mud into the house. A convenient d-ring is located on top of the back to allow a leash to be attached without the need of holes for collars, harnesses, etc. Just get your pooch dressed and out the door you go!

Find this trench and many other fun fashions for your pooches here.

Check out Ollie :)

A couple months ago I blogged about a custom coat that I was making for Meg's (owner of Olliegraphic) puppy, a Vizsla named Ollie. When I made the coat, all we had to work with were estimates and approximate sizes that male Vizslas reach when fully grown since Ollie was still pretty small. You may recall my original sketch for the coat:Some time has passed since then and I woke up to a very pleasant surprise this morning: pictures in my inbox from Meg! Ollie's finally grown into his custom coat and look at the handsome young gentleman he grew up to be :) Isn't he darling?! I think he looks rather dashing in his coat, wouldn't you agree?

We've Expanded :)

I am so excited to say that we now have one more place where you can find us and where you can stock up on goodies for your pampered pooch. We have opened a new shop on 1000 Markets! Be sure to check it out :) Of course we still have our Etsy shop (we love it there, as well as all the cool people we've met on that site!) but now you have two options for your shopping convenience.

Please be a responsible pet owner!

I came across this online the other night and it broke my heart because I know it is so true, so I decided to share with all of you. People need to understand that pets are NOT disposable and that along with the cuteness comes responsibility and a great deal of commitment. If they are not ready to take that on, they are not ready to have a pet:

Letters to a Dog

-- By, Carolyn MacMullin
January 6
Dear Dog, I saw you today for the first time, just a couple houses from my own the school bus stopped to let out your kids, and your mom opened the front door to let you run out and greet them. You are a wiggly, bouncy, and happy little puppy with a full belly and a shiny coat. Your kids grabbed you up, hugged you, held you and toted you inside. Your tail was wagging the entire time. I thought to my self, how sweet, what a way to end a long hard day. I spoke to your mom this evening and she said that they got you from the Animal Shelter, and the kids named you Lucky.
March 10
Dear Lucky, I saw you today as I always do on my way home from work. You were already outside to greet the kids today, which seemed a little odd. The little girl got off the bus and shooed you away, she appeared to not want you jumping on her. The boy got off the bus and gave you a quick playful pat on the head, then smelled his hand and brushed you aside. You looked confused and sad, as you went to lie by the porch. You curled up in a tight ball on the cold ground and let out a huge sigh. My heart felt heavy that day.
March 21
Dear Lucky, I saw you today, I was headed home and the kids got off the bus, walked to the house, and you ran out as far as you could on your heavy chain to let them know you were there. The little girl ignored you, the little boy told you to be quiet, when you barked for his attention. My neighbor commented that they needed to do something with your barking because you keep them up at night. You had a bucket of water and a bowl of food, a relatively nice dog-house, but your eyes were sad and empty. I shook my head and let out a huge sigh.
April 30
Dear Lucky, I worried for you today. You look thin, your chain heavy on your neck, your coat is dirty and falling out, you don't get up to do much anymore. Your bucket is turned over, and I have not seen your food bowl for a few days now. I spoke to the neighbor and asked about you. He said you still bark at night and he saw the man of the house throw something at you the other day as he scolded you. I shook my head in despair as I went back into my house.
June 4
Dear Lucky, My heart sank today, I was headed home and you weren't in your yard. A large part of me hoped you got away, another large part of me was frightened at all the other possibilities. I asked my neighbor about you, and he said your family went on vacation and sent you back to the Animal Shelter. I shook my head and cried for you as I went into my house.
June 5
Dear Dog, I went to the shelter today, I found you huddled in the back of a cage that had a bucket, a bowl of food, and a blanket for you to lie on. You looked up at me as if you knew me, and my heart broke as I read your card, they did not even care enough to give them your name and the card simply said, male, neutered retriever mix. Owners did not want. I cried when a gentleman from the kennel said, "That's a sad one there. He came from here you know, last Christmas. Guess they just got tired of him. He's too frightened, no one will adopt him." I went to the counter and told them I would be back tomorrow and please don't do anything just yet. They all kind of nodded like they heard that one before.
June 6
Dear Dog, I brought you home today. You were scared and untrusting, but a small part of you somewhere allowed you to wag the tip of your tail when I told you that you were a good boy and that I loved you. I gave you a new name, " Happy", because you aren't and I hope that someday you will be. You had an accident on the floor, and when I came back to clean it up with paper towel you slunk down and whimpered as if the hand was coming for you. I tried to choke back the tears when I thought of what you must have gone through in the past six months. I reached out and patted you and your eyes closed and your body went limp at such a gentle gesture. "We're going to be alright," I told you. I showed you your food and you ate voraciously, and you marveled at the treats and toys I got for you.
December 25
Dear Happy, Good morning my best friend! You woke me, as always, popping out from under the covers on your side of the bed, licking my face to tell me it was time for our walk. We went through the living room and you sniffed what Santa left for us. I hugged you and said, " Last year you were a Christmas gift, now this year, these are all yours!" Your coat is shiny, your belly always full, and even though we found out at your first vet visit you had heartworms, you are healthy now. As we went out for our walk, we saw your old family in the front yard, they look at you each time as if they recognize you in a way, but you don't give them a second glance. --- Then I believe both our hearts stopped as we saw the children emerge from the yard holding a small playful puppy. "Isn't she just precious? We got her from the animal shelter. Hope this one works out, the other dog we got from there was so much trouble." I sighed and refrained from pointing out that you were not the trouble. You looked up at me as if to say, " Thank you mom." I kneeled down and whispered in your sweet ear, " No, it is I who thank you."

I am sorry if this is a sad story, but unfortunately not all Christmas Puppies and Kitties have such happy endings, and thankfully some don't have such sad stories. The moral of this tale? Whether you get a pet from a shelter, a pet store, a breeder, or a private litter, this animal, is a living and feeling being, who will depend on you for everything. He will need love, patience, and kindness, as he is taught manners and housebreaking. There are no bad pets, just those who need a good foundation to start off life. A pet is for life, and a pet is family.

That's my baby, Velma, with my little brother, Sandro, by the way :)

I am SO excited!

I recently purchased some new fabulous fabrics to make new collars for our shop! I am so in love with the new fabrics--not only are they super cute but very soft as well. Looks like Velma will be getting quite a few new collars soon and I'll be listing them in our shop as well. Check back often to see the latest and greatest in doggie fashion :)

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2009 already!...How time flies.... Well, either way, I wanted to take the time to wish you all a VERY happy New Year. May it be filled with joy, fun, excitement, success, smiles and laughter, family and friends, and the everlasting cuteness our furry friends offer us :) Just like my baby Velma, this year I've decided to take it easy, take time to enjoy the simple things in life and bask in the sun every now and then. Only by doing this can we truly be happy. Have a good one!