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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If you want a gift that will impress your co-workers year-round, we’ve got two adorable options for you! For the coffee loving co-worker who simply can’t start the day without a cup of joe, our pug mugs will bring a bit of extra delight to every sip. If your co-workers enjoy decorating their office space, add a bit of fun and whimsy to their decor with our A Very Pugly 2016 wall calendar.

Teenagers and children can be tough to buy for, especially as they develop their own sense of style. Our knit hat line is sure to offer something that will impress people of all ages, and our Fox Hat is a particular favorite among fashionable teens and little ones.

Need a gift for that awesome dog dad? Add a sense of adventure to his holiday gift with a cozy handmade Aviator Helmet Set. Each set comes with a matching pair of hats, one for your cool dude, and the other for his dog. The dog hat can be custom made to fit dogs of most breeds. Need a gift just for your special guy? Order a solo Aviator Helmet for him to enjoy all winter long!

Every girl would love a personal assistant as a holiday gift, but since those can be rather pricey, try a pug tote bag instead! Each tote is printed with one of our beautiful pug designs and is the perfect size for helping your loved one to carry everything from library books and groceries to kids’ toys and little daily necessities. While these adorable totes may not be quite as helpful as a personal assistant, they are wonderful for helping busy gals to stay organized on the go.

As most of our customers know, our shop is all about pampering your pup with clothing that is both cozy and fashionable. Our large line of custom, handmade dog hats and dog neck warmers make gorgeous gifts not only for your own pets, but for the ardent dog lovers in your life. We custom create dog clothing for dogs of almost any shape or size, so every four-legged-friend on your holiday list can receive something special that has been made to fit his or her unique measurements.

Looking to grab gifts that will suit absolutely anyone on your holiday list? We offer pug holiday greeting cards and handmade pug ornaments that will make people of all ages smile! Each greeting card is customizable so that you can add an extra personal touch by having your own message written inside, and our ornaments come as singles or in sets, giving you options to accommodate everyone you love.

We hope that our suggestions have helped you check a few people off of your holiday list, and that you enjoy the wonderful season that lies ahead.

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• We love costumes (I mean, just look at the business we’re in!), but it’s important to remember that some pets simply do not like to dress up. If your pets appear at all upset or anxious when you put on their creepy new costumes, you should not force them to join the fun. Like humans, all dogs have different comfort levels, and it is important to respect your pet’s response to wearing clothing.
• One of the biggest threats to pets on Halloween is candy! Chocolate is toxic to dogs and many artificial colors and sweeteners are also harmful. Keep candy and other Halloween treats away from pets at all times. If your pet is mischievous and will find a way to snatch food from counter tops and tables, then be sure to store it out of reach in high cabinets. Still want to give your furry friend a treat? Consider making some homemade dog-safe snacks using one of our recipes.

• Trick-or-Treating is the most exciting part of this ghoulish holiday for humans, but it can be nerve racking for pets. Even dogs who tend to enjoy meeting new people can get anxious or even aggressive with large crowds of strangely dressed people swarming them. It’s fine to let your pets come out to say a quick  “hello” to familiar neighbors, but you may want to consider leaving furry family members safe at home while you go out on your quest for candy. Also, be sure to keep pets in a separate room when greeting trick-or-treaters to avoid your beloved family member accidentally bolting out the door.
• Jack-o-lanterns are a beautiful part of the day’s devilish decor, but be sure to keep them at a safe distance from pets, who may risk accidentally burning themselves while investigating their illuminated pumpkin pals.
• Lastly, HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME! Planning your holiday with your dog’s safety in mind will help you to feel a bit more relaxed when the day arrives so that you can enjoy all of the fabulously freaky fun that will ensue.

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Along with our Santa Pug cards, we are also introducing a 2016 New Year’s card to our pug greeting card collection. This vibrant card features a photo of James Dean in a 2016 party hat and, like our Christmas cards, has options available for the text featured inside of each card. This is one of my personal favorite photos of JD, which is why it also graces the cover of this year’s A Very Pugly 2016 calendar.

If you simply can’t decide which card to buy, we have also created a sampler set of our holiday cards so that you may share a variety of sweet greetings with your pug-loving pals. This set includes 3 of our Christmas pug cards and a Happy New Year Card. I can guarantee that no matter which card your loved ones receive, they will not be able to stop smiling! I still have some ideas brewing for other new paper goods that will soon be in the works, and I can’t wait to share them with all of you once my ideas come to life!

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Any orders for dog hats and custom knits must be placed by November 15 for United States customers and November 1 for customers located in any other country.

Orders for All You Need is Pug tote bags, paper goods, t-shirts, and mugs must be placed by December 15 for United States customers and November 21 for customers located in any other country.

Any orders placed after these dates cannot be guaranteed to arrive in time for Christmas! Orders for dog hats & custom knits take 5-6 weeks to be handmade before being shipped. I will also note that it is our shop policy that there are no cancellations, returns, or refunds, so be sure to keep these dates in mind when placing your order, as you will not be able to cancel your order for any reason once it has been placed.  All orders placed after the indicated cut-off dates will ship in January 2016.

November is sneaking up on us quickly, and our cut-off dates are not far from sight, especially for our international customers. Visit our Etsy shop to save our items to your “favorites” list and place your orders!

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We are currently working around the clock to finish Halloween orders for custom knits! We are accepting orders for the holiday season, and recommend placing your dog hat orders early, as our cut-off date for Christmas orders will likely be in mid-November this year. We will soon be introducing two new greeting cards to our collection, including a new Santa Pugs card and our first ever Happy New Year card, so stay tuned for those. In the meantime, grab your fall paper goods from our Etsy shop and start saving our items to your “favorites” list to prepare for holiday shopping!

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Hello, October! The leaves are changing, the pumpkin-flavored goodies are popping up at every local food joint, and the dogs are getting ready to don their jackets and costumes. We are knitting up a storm and working around the clock to create the Halloween costumes that our wonderful customers have ordered for the upcoming holiday. We are thrilled to announce that this has been our busiest fall season to date. We even had to close acceptance of Halloween orders before the date that we originally selected as our cut-off point! We are honored that so many of you have chosen All You Need is Pug to help you celebrate this wonderfully witchy and ghoulish holiday!

While we cannot squeeze in any more orders for custom Halloween knits, you can still add a bit of pugly cuteness to your October with our selection of fall greeting cards. Our collection includes The Great Pugkin Card and the Curious Pug & Pumpkin Card. Both items can be customized with your choice of text to add a personal touch and make the cards uniquely your own. Visit our Etsy shop to grab your pug stationery and send us an Etsy message if you would like custom paper goods designed just for you!

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Our busy season runs from August-February, reaching its peak in the fall as our Halloween and Christmas orders flood in. If you’ve been eyeing our items and considering purchasing some dapper duds for your pup this holiday season, now is the perfect time to place your order!

Our Halloween order cut-off dates for knit and crochet items are October 1 for U.S. orders and September 15 for all International orders.

Our Christmas order cut-off dates for knit and crochet items are November 28 for U.S. orders and November 1 for all International orders.

These dates are subject to change, and the time frames may be adjusted to accommodate this year’s order volume.

With these 2015 holiday order dates in mind, mosey on over to our Etsy shop & find the perfect costume or gift for that four-legged fur-ball that you love!

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I am excited to share our newest creation with you! All You Need is Pug’s brand new Pug Ornament is a pretty little piece of decor that is sure to make your holidays merry & bright. Whether adorning a holiday tree or acting as a home accent year-round, this precious pug will bring warmth and whimsy to your home. I hand-make and design every ornament with a combination of crocheted and knit pieces, so you know that a bit of pug-love is put into every stitch. These ornaments are now available in our Etsy shop!

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