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?

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 :)

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!

A dog's (and dog-lover's) paradise

If you live in the San Francisco bay area, you have to check this place out. I had been hearing a lot about Point Isabel Park and what a great place it is to take your dogs, so I decided to take Velma there on our day off. I expected it to be the typical dog park: moderately-sized, some well-behaved and some out of control dogs running around, poop laying around creating a "watch your every step" situation, but still a pretty cool place to hang out. I was very pleasantly surprised by what we found when we arrived! First of all, this place is huge! Over 23 acres for your pooch's off-leash pleasure. It's also amazingly clean for a dog park; the owners (in my experience) were all super responsible in keeping the place clean as well as very nice. Mutt Mitts does a great job of providing clean up bags and they are readily available throughout. The energy of the dogs is a very good one (again, simply speaking from my experience). All the dogs were calm, polite, and under their owner's control--that was Velma's favorite part as she is not very tolerant of pushy dogs ;) This place offers everything for your pups to have a great time: plenty of space to run around, bay water to swim in, Mudpuppy's (self-wash, store, and cafe) and beautiful views. I'm not saying it's the prettiest place we've ever been to but it definitely has its charm. If you're looking for a place to hang out with your best pal, relax, grab a casual bite to eat and have a simple but pleasant day, I highly recommend Point Isabel. I know my baby and I will definitely be back!

One day late...

Yesterday was a busy day and I didn't get a chance to get to a computer. However, "better late than never" I always say, so.... Happy Thanksgiving! I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has ever supported me and my business and those who allow me to do what I love. Every compliment, every smile, every kind gesture helps and I just wanted to say how sincerely thankful I am. You are all great! Hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving too :)

All eyes on Poppy...

Meet Poppy, our lovely friend and customer... isn't she stunning?! Her very sweet mom, Linda (owner of Artwolf) contacted us asking for some custom bandanas for this beautiful black lab girl. Of course, we were happy to whip some up for her :) The first bandana is the reversible red bandana seen in our shop. The other was a completely custom design: pink polka dots on one side and a lovely pink floral and butterfly print on the other. She looks beautiful in both bandanas! If you would like someting custom for your pooch, feel free to visit our shop or e-mail us at designsbyone@yahoo.com

Just for the record...

I love my baby more than anything else in the world; I take her EVERYWHERE with me, I always have her looking perfectly groomed and stylish (even smelling nice!) and she is often seen popping her sweet little face out of a stylish purse slung on my shoulder. However, it really bothers me when people think that she is simply a fashion accessory to me when it's not like that at all!

Believe me, she LOVES living the life of a pampered diva: she LOVES the attention and affection, gets SOOO excited whenever I open up her wardrobe because she knows it's time to dress up and "get pretty", and she happily jumps right into her purse carriers (she even tries jumping into my regular, non-doggie purses!) because she knows it means that she gets to do her favorite thing in the world: be with mommy :) It's true, most people only get to see her at work: whether its cheesing it up for the camera during a product photo shoot, accompanying me to a boutique meeting, or any other one of the many things that she helps me with. I understand how this comes off as a little "Paris Hilton-ish" but I would never make her do it if she didn't enjoy it just as much as I do. After all, her happiness and well-being is what inspired me to create my company. As much as she may love her job, though, the other 99% of her time is spent just being mommy's little angel and princess. At any given moment she can be found curled up and napping on my lap, playing a good game of chase at our local dog park, catching a flight to accompany me on my next trip, or strolling busy city streets for a day out on the town. I have been told several times that she lives the life that many children wish they had. All I can do is smile and accept the fact that yes, she is more spoiled than most people's children but what can I say, she's the love of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Like our newest collar?

This fun and funky collar is sure to draw tons of positive attention wherever your pooch wears it! It has a whimsical white, navy, and blue "mod"-like/ bubble print mkiing it bright and playful. 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. Check out our shop for more.

Stay tuned for the winter line :)

Two of my favorite customers

I know I've talked about them before, I know I've said how cute I think they are, I know I've talked about their lovely mom and her FABULOUS company, Daisywares, but I have to bring it up again. Aren't Molly and Sadey PRECIOUS?! Here they are seen modeling two of my creations. Molly is ready for the holidays in her santa suit while Sadey takes a more subtle approach to flashing her holiday spirit in a girly red dress. Their mom, Roni, is always so kind and generous in sharing the cuteness with me so that I can share with all of you :) Just look at those faces... so irresistibly cute!!!