I just came in from retrieving my mail, and as usual there were only a handful of generic flyers and an invoice or two in my mailbox. What ever happened to the art of writing letters? It is rare for me to pop open my mailbox to find a handwritten card or note, but when I do, I truly savor every word. Getting snail mail from loved ones absolutely brightens my entire day, and it makes me wonder why we don’t share these sweet correspondences more often than we do.

I became engaged last summer and I am now in full wedding planning mode. My current mission is to find a gown by the end of the month. I haven’t had any luck yet, but it has been fun to browse and try on these stunning dresses. The reason that I bring up my dress hunt is because yesterday I opened my mailbox, and lo and behold! There was a handwritten note addressed to me. When I opened it I found a beautiful thank you card from the owner of one of the bridal shops that I recently visited. She kindly thanked me for browsing her shop and extended the invitation for me to contact her if I wanted to see any additional gowns. I was struck by the fact that she took the time to write this lovely note, and even though the gowns in her shop weren’t for me, it made me happy to have had a pleasant experience with such a kind, conscientious business owner.

I believe that one of the things that drew me toward designing dog greeting cards and other stationery was that I truly enjoy sending cards and notes, which is sadly something that is becoming a bit of a lost art. Why do so many of us now send invitations over Facebook instead of charming, decorated invitations in the mail? Why do birthday text messages pour in on this special occasion when a sweet card is so much more memorable? Perhaps I’m an old soul, but there’s something about seeing a loved one’s handwriting that just makes the message feel so much more personal and meaningful than when that message comes to me digitally over a screen.

Last week I had a very large greeting card order from a client, and all I could do was smile as I printed and prepped her order for shipment. I imagined her penning a special note inside of each card, and then I thought of her loved ones’ faces lighting up as they opened their cards and saw the cute dog illustrations alongside her well wishes. Perhaps it is time that we all revive the art of letter writing, even if it is only to make someone’s day just a little more beautiful.

If you like the cards that you see in this post, visit our Etsy shop for all of these designs and dozens more!

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Jeremy and I spent hours taking photos for the feature, and I spent days trying to perfect every last word in the short article before sending it off to Etsy’s staff (who are all quite wonderful, supportive, and kind, by the way).  And now here it is, the editorial that I have waited years to be featured in is finally in print for the world to see. To get a behind-the-scenes peek into my work space, my process, and the wild and whimsical world of All You Need is Pug, visit our Featured Shop editorial on the official Etsy Blog.

Yes, this is indeed a lovely way to end 2015. This has been a successful year for All You Need is Pug, and I feel that it all began when I quit my day job back in May. I was so nervous to take the leap, and I would never have done it if my fiancé hadn’t encouraged and supported me. It also helped that I have exceptional customers and followers who make my job worthwhile and so much fun to do. I look forward to waking up each day to see what adventures wait for me as I work on custom orders and brainstorm new ideas. I am overwhelmed by the kind words and wishes that I have received from customers and fellow artists just in the past 24 hours since the editorial has gone live. People can be so extraordinary and surprising, and I can’t thank you enough for making me smile and pushing me to be a better person, artist, and small businesswoman. 2015 is ending on a high note, and I hope that 2016 will prove to be even better. Here’s to you, here’s to 2016, and here’s to the future of All You Need is Pug!

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We live in New England, so it’s no surprise that fall is our favorite season. How could we resist the beautiful changing leaves, the light chill in the air, or the corn mazes that pop up at local farms? It’s truly a stunning time of year! The dogs are particularly fond of this weather because we walk further and for longer periods of time when it’s this beautiful outside.

Looking for something fun to do with your pups this fall? Try some of our favorite autumn activities for dogs!

• Visit a local park for a long walk. Your dogs will love greeting people, meeting other dogs, and getting complements & snuggles from fellow dog lovers. Our dogs are particularly fond of walking at local college campuses that are open to the public. The students adore seeing the boys as they walk between classes and encounter us along the way!
• Attend a dog meet-up! Next Saturday, October 3 Hamilton Pug is throwing a Boston Pug Party at Boston Common & The Revere Hotel. It’s going to be a blast! Visit Hamilton’s Twitter for details.
• Attend a dog rescue social. Pug Rescue of New England’s Pug Social is coming up on October 11 at Spencer Fairgrounds in Spencer, MA! PRONE’s website has the low down on this event.
• Stop by an outdoor fall fair. Most towns have some sort of autumn event, and many outdoor events welcome the attendance of furry family members.
• Head to a farm and go for a hay ride! Check with your local farms to see if they are pet-friendly.
• Go flea-marketing and yard-saleing. You will get to snag some cool vintage swag while your dog enjoys helping you on your hunt.
• Simply sit outside & bask in the beauty of the season! Fall is fleeting, so enjoy every moment while it lasts!

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As a greeting card designer, I not only love creating cards, I love receiving them, too! Over years of celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, seasonal holidays, and special events, it is amazing how many cards a single person can collect! I store a great deal of the cards that I receive in photo boxes, because I am a hopeless nostalgic who loves to go back and peek at the cards that my loved ones have shared with me. When I receive a particularly breathtaking card, it feels like a shame to shove it in a box and hide it away, which is why I’ve opted to display cards as artwork in my home.  Whether you want to invest in some simple frames and mattes at your local craft store or tack up a bit of twine and make use of those old clothespins, displaying cards in your home is simple and can create an atmosphere that feels pretty and personal. Take a peek at these photos from displays in our office to get a bit of inspiration for creating your own greeting card gallery wall!

Love the cards that you see? Browse our greeting card collection in our Etsy shop!

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