Happy 14th birthday to my “little brother” and favorite curmudgeon, Ringo! My mother adopted Ringo from a local shelter in July of 2010. He had been brought up from the south and surrendered to a shelter in Springfield, MA. At the time, Ringo weighed just 12 lbs. We could practically count his ribs. He was anxious and barking in the crate at the shelter, and to this day crates give him extreme anxiety. Half of his teeth were missing due to poor health and malnutrition, but that didn’t stop him from trying to jump up on the counter to grab a snack! Yes, from the beginning, Ringo kept us on our toes! People often ask us about Ringo, so here’s his Gotcha Story in honor of his special birthday.

That summer we were thinking of adopting a pug to keep JD company, but hadn’t heard any news from the rescues that we sent applications to. That’s when we discovered Ringo on an online pet finder website. When I saw that his name was Ringo, I had to click on the photo (after all, I loved the Beatles)! Ringo looked too thin to be a pug and was already quite grey in the muzzle. I saved his profile and waited. I kept thinking about Ringo after seeing his photo, but I was already busy finishing college and running All You Need is Pug in its early days. I wasn’t sure if I had enough time to take care of a second dog. Nonetheless, Ringo stayed on my mind. I worried that a dog who was just about to turn 8 years old may not necessarily quickly find a home. I told my mother about Ringo. After seeing him, she also believed that he seemed to belong with our family. Since I wasn’t certain about adopting a second dog, my mum decided to give Ringo his forever home. We drove out to Springfield, MA on June 10 (just 3 days after Ringo’s 8th birthday) and adopted him on the spot!

During Ringo’s time with us he has had many joys and, unfortunately, many struggles as well. We managed to get him to a healthy weight, but then he went blind a few years later and began to overeat as a comfort and compensation for his lost sight, causing him to go from underweight to overweight. He endured a leg injury slipping on ice one winter that left him stroller-bound for a year. He has chronic bronchitis and lung disease that continue to grow worse as he ages. But don’t feel badly for the little guy! None of this stops him! He has his good days and his bad, like anyone, but at 14 he is still one of the most sprightly, spunky dogs I know. He remains full of mischief, trying to steal cat food or sneak into the litter box if given the opportunity. He enjoys running around the house (yes, despite his blindness) now that his leg has healed. He is at a healthy weight again, so he makes running look effortless, even with arthritis. His favorite thing to do is bark his head off as an alarm to remind us that it is time for dinner or a snack. And above all, he loves to snuggle with his mama. Occasionally he will snuggle with yours truly, but that’s only if our mum has gone out and I am the sole warm body left to curl up against!

Ringo truly is a gift, as is every senior dog. Yes, seniors take extra time and care. Yes, they rack up astronomical veterinary care bills for the health problems that arise with aging. But would we trade Ringo for anything? No, not for the world!

Happy 14th birthday, sweet boy! We hope that with us you have found the beautiful life that you deserve.

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Don’t forget to celebrate all of the special moms in your life this Mother’s Day!

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In the past I had made a panda dog hat, but it wasn’t a design that I loved, so I eventually retired it. I recently decided to revise the old hat pattern and create a new cozy creation with bigger, bolder ears. The result is a Playful Panda Dog Hat that animal lovers will not be able to resist!

The panda-love didn’t stop there! I also wanted to play with making mini knitted and crocheted animal faces. I worked up a cute bear face that I have since used to create ornaments and dog neck warmers. The panda ornaments are the perfect whimsical decor options for holiday trees, or even for hanging around the home year-round, and the panda dog neck warmers are so comfy and adorable that I just know out customers are going to be paw-sitively thrilled about them! It has been a lot of fun playing with the panda image for recent projects, and I am excited to share the other new ideas I have in the works. From foxes to sugar skulls, there are a lot of exciting new designs that will be making their way into our Etsy shop over the next few weeks. By fall, I hope to have at least a dozen new knitwear options available for our dog-loving clients, so stay tuned for the cuteness overload that lies ahead!

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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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And don’t think that I’ve forgotten about our pets! For many of us, our pets are our sweethearts. They are our best friends, secret keepers, and snuggle buddies. They are forever there to console us on tough days and kick our confidence up even higher on good days. Perhaps what makes our pets most worthy of our love is that they are some of the few individuals in this world who will love us unconditionally and wholeheartedly, without expecting anything in return. So if you think that you are spending this Valentine’s Day alone, think again! It’s perfectly acceptable to make your pet your valentine. Whether you’re single and plan to snuggle up alone with your favorite dog, or you’re in a happy relationship and want to include your dog in this year’s romantic festivities, here are some fun ideas for pet-friendly ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day:

1 . Snuggle up and have a cuddle-fest or Netflix bingeathon.

2. Bundle up and plan a scenic walk in your local park.3. Grab something sweet with your sweethearts at a local ice cream stand. Many ice cream venues are still open in the winter off-season, and several offer doggie sundaes that consist of vanilla ice cream and a small dog cookie. Remember to stick to vanilla, as many other flavors have ingredients that could be toxic to pets.

4. Hop in your car and drive aimlessly while listening to your favorite music. See something scenic? Stop for an impromptu photo shoot!

5. Visit a photo booth and make some memories.

6. Spoil your furry valentine with something cozy! Visit our Etsy shop for plenty of cute, custom-made pet clothes that will keep your sweetheart warm all winter long. We also have a selection of romantic dog-themed greeting cards and gifts for the humans that you love!

No matter how you decide to spend your Valentine’s Day, know that we have a special place in our hearts for you, our customers and friends, and we’ll be sending some love out into the universe for you on Valentine’s Day & everyday!

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Here at All You Need is Pug, we are known for all of our pugly accessories. From pug totes to our line of pug greeting cards, there is a whole lot of pug to be found in our Etsy shop! While my focus as an artist and crafter has been largely influenced by this one dog breed, I love dogs of all shapes and sizes, and in 2016 it is my goal to begin reflecting that in All You Need is Pug’s product lines.

When I began brainstorming ideas for new illustrations to print, I knew that the French Bulldog was the first new breed that I wanted to add to the collection. As many of our customers and followers know, we welcomed a French Bulldog mix named Murph into our family last summer. I have long loved those wonderful bat ears that Frenchies are known for, and Murph’s ears are particularly large and glorious! While some of Murph’s features differ from a traditional Frenchie, as he is a wonderful muttly little mix, he inspired me to bring Frenchies on board.

One of my personal favorite pieces is our Floral Pug design, which we currently offer on cards, totes, mugs, and t-shirts, so when I started the Frenchie illustration I knew that I wanted to bring the floral aspect into this piece as well. I sat down to draw, and after a few hours of toying with watercolor pencils, blendable pencils, and markers, I arrived at a bright little design that I adore (and I hope that you will love it, too)!

The Floral Frenchie design is now available on customizable greeting cards. Each card features one of our sample quotes, or can be printed with custom text of your choice. I hope to feature this Frenchie print on tote bags and mugs in the near future as well, so if you are a Frenchie fan, keep your eyes peeled for the arrival of those items in the coming weeks.

Now that I’ve completed this French Bulldog piece, I am already brainstorming the next illustrations that I would like to work on. I have a few more Frenchie pieces in mind, but I am also hoping to bring Boston Terriers, Pit Bulls, English Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, and Jack Russell Terriers to the shop’s greeting card line within the next few months. I hope that you are all as excited as I am to see All You Need is Pug expanding to offer sweet products of other dog breeds!

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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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It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here! I have been knitting around the clock to get holiday orders out to cozy, happy customers, and I am happy to say that I completed my final custom knit Christmas order this morning. While typing is still keeping my hands busy, it is nice to pry my fingers away from the knitting needles for a few hours, though I will be picking them up again soon to get started on the dozens of 2016 orders that have already been placed. That being said, I would like to thank everyone who supported All You Need is Pug this year, whether by shopping in our Etsy shop, stopping at our booth at local events, or sharing our adventures with us on social media, your involvement means so much! This was an incredible year for the business. I quit my day job to pursue this unique, fulfilling dream full-time, and thanks to family, friends, loyal customers, and social media followers, All You Need is Pug is thriving and I hope to see it continue to grow in 2016. You are all so wonderful, and this small business would not exist without you!

Before I head off to get some of my own shopping and wrapping done, I do want to note that there is still time to do some of your holiday shopping with us! While you may have missed out on ordering custom knits for the dog lovers in your life this holiday season, never fear! We have you covered with several Ready to Ship gifts still available. Visit our Etsy shop to place orders for pug mugs, totes, t-shirts, and greeting cards. Place US orders with Priority Shipping by midnight on December 18 to receive them in time for Christmas Eve. Be sure to select the shipping upgrade at checkout, because standard shipping likely won’t arrive in time now that we are so close to the holiday.

And with that, I leave you to enjoy all of the holiday traditions and festivities that await you! From the All You Need is Pug family to yours, happy holidays and a beautiful, blissful new year!

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Gratitude for all of the wonderful things in our lives is something that we try to practice everyday, but it’s nice to have one day each year where we are able to get together with our loved ones and share this appreciation on Thanksgiving. This year, the All You Need is Pug team and I have a great deal to be thankful for. I am thankful that I was able to quit my day job in May to take a chance on my small business and see it thrive. I am thankful for every success, small or large, and every opportunity that has come my way. I am thankful to be engaged to a man who supports me and my creative drive, and for family and friends who are equally encouraging and inspiring. And let’s not forget you, dear customers and friends! Without you, All You Need is Pug would not exist. It is thanks to all of you who support shopping small that we are able to wake up each day to do what we love.  Even on the shop’s busiest days when I am scrambling to complete deadlines and get orders out for holidays and special occasions, I feel happy and fulfilled in my work, and you all play such a large role in giving me that gift.

While I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving (pass the vegan tofurky pie, please!), I am not so fond of Thanksgiving day shopping. As someone who used to work at a large retail chain, I can tell you that working on Thanksgiving and Black Friday is not only exhausting, but can sap the holiday spirit right out of you when you see how people are treated in these packed stores. For those who have to work on the holiday and the hectic day that follows, just know that you are appreciated, even if it won’t seem so in the hours spent stocking shelves and dealing with cranky customers. And if you are heading out to shop, be kind, both to workers and fellow shoppers. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, after all.

Even though Black Friday shopping in stores is not something that I enjoy, I certainly can’t resist snagging a good deal online, and I know that you feel the same way. This year, we are offering 15% off of purchases made on Thanksgiving and Black Friday as our “thank you” to all of our customers, both returning and new. Visit our Etsy shop and use the coupon code BLACKPUG15 for an automatic 15% off of your orders.

Before we send you off to start cooking, just remember that it’s okay to sneak a bit of turkey and some carrots or sweet potatoes to your dogs tomorrow, but keep them away from things like bones, gravy, onions, raisins, chocolate desserts and other potentially harmful goodies.

The All You Need is Pug team wishes you a lovely Thanksgiving!

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