I’ve written before about my love for Etsy – the online marketplace for all things handmade. I was contacted by this Etsy seller who has the cutest prints for sale!! Check them out here!

Buy One, Get One Free sale for Ottawa Dog Blog Readers!!

Mention “Ottawa Dog Blog” and their choice of a free print (equal or lesser value than the one they buy) in the “Message to Seller” at checkout.

I just realized that today is the last day of July and I have yet to do my monthly Etsy Post! In keeping with the baby theme from last month, this month I wanted to feature super-cute baby onesies!

Mooshy Gooshies has a cute line of onesies with stitched dogs – I love the way they look!

Oliver LANE has a cute boy themed onesie with some blue pants with a paw on them.

Bella Blu Designs has a very cute onesie and pant set featuring a weiner dog.

Bubbles and Mimi have this cute onesie and burp cloth gift set.

Pearblossom Boutique has this super cute dog with a button eye onesie.

So once again I have been slacking on my monthly Etsy duties and now June is almost over and I haven’t done a post yet! Better late than never (again!).

A friend of mine is due to have her baby in September so I thought I would do a post about dog things for babies and little kiddies. Etsy is a great place to shop for baby showers and birthdays. Since I found so many items, I am going to spread the Baby Etsy post over a few months.

Decorating the nursery would be a snap for either a girl or a boy with this 8×10 Puppy Alphabet Print by emrick123.

These bright and fun prints by Anne Leuck Feldhaus Studio, Ltd. would liven up any nursery or child’s room.

I love these Dog Wall Decals by decorette. They would look good in any room.

Your baby will be spelling out words in no time with this adorable D is for Dog Print by weesf. The only thing is that all the words will start with D!

I love the idea of a soft cloth ball for babies and little kiddies. This Spotty Dogs Large Cloth Play Ball by Polka Dot Tot Spot is perfect for your little bundle of joy. Soft Blocks also available.

For those who love to crochet, some amazing crochet patterns are available through Design-Shop.

Next month: A whole lot of onsies!

Well it’s almost the end of May and I realized that I haven’t done the Etsy post for this month yet! So here it is, better late than never!

Every dog needs to have the perfect collar or harness. Classic Hound has some very stylish and retro looking collars that will make any dog proud to wear.

I love these funky and fun picture frames by 2PawPrints. I may consider getting a few to frame some of my many many pictures!

When you have a large dog, sometimes finding a bed that is not only big enough, but affordable and looks good can be a problem. Bow Wow Beds caters to large breeds and the best part is that you can have the bed personalized with your dog’s name!

I love blankets – I am often cold and love to have at least two in my living room to keep me warm while I am reading or watching TV – and with the cold weather we had in Ottawa last winter, I am sure everyone here knows what I am talking about. This Hand Knit and Crocheted Doggie Blanket with Bone by onceuponahook’s colour is customizable and even though it says doggie blanket, I would totally use it myself!

I love this Sterling dog bone ring by sleepingbear. It’s so simple and elegant.

And for the most spoiled of dogs…Starbarks by yappyhappy! I tell you that if I had the money, I would totally buy this!

Ottawa Dog Blog had the chance to interview Ottawa dog artist, Kellie from DoodleDogPaintings. Her retro styled art is fun and exciting and would add to any room in your home.

Leeroy Out Loud!

Name: DoodleDogPaintings
Location: Ottawa
Website: doodledogpaintings.com
Store: doodledogpaintings.etsy.com
Blog: thedoodledog.blogspot.com

What kind of Dog Art do you do?

I specialize in custom, hand-painted commissions of clients pets. I paint in a modern style that is a result of my training as a silkscreener. Every commissioned piece is inspired by a client’s favorite photographs, the description they give me of their pets and their home decor. I am able to tailor each piece to a client’s wishes without sacrificing my artistic integrity, which is wonderful!

How did you get into doing dog-related artwork?

Four years ago, a little dog named Rupert came along and settled right into my heart. I did a painting of him and a friend of mine asked me to paint her dog….then, honestly, it all quickly snowballed from there. I registered “Doodle Dog Paintings” in 2005 as a business and haven’t looked back since! It is the ultimate culmination of my lifelong passions for art and pets!

Candid Chloe

When did you first realize you are an artist?

I was so fortunate when I was little to grow up with very artistic parents. I had art supplies before I could walk and talk, so for me drawing and painting was just a natural thing, a part of each day. I guess I never questioned the direction my life took, as long as it involved art. All through elementary and high school, art classes were my refuge. Classmates knew me as an artist before I really realized it. It was at Queen’s University in the Fine Art program that I felt like I was finally learning how to properly use the tools and talents that were in me – it was during this time that I really dove in and was comfortable thinking of myself as an artist.

Could you tell us some more about your work?

I can only paint a limited number of originals per year. As a result of the demand for some of my pieces, I now offer high quality giclee reproductions. I have also put together my first coffee table book “The First Bark“, dedicated to some of the dogs I have painted over the last couple of years. And I am working on a couple of other projects right now that you’ll have to watch for…….hee hee hee!

Oh Boy, Ozzy!

What is it that inspires you to create your pieces of art?

Wow, the list is endless! First and foremost, of course the pets!!! Their personalities and quirks and happy, smiling eyes! For my backgrounds I find inspiration everywhere I look: fabrics, home interiors, clothing, shoes, jewelery, paint chips, vintage ads, retro ads, the sky, a street scene, pretty much anything visual gets absorbed into my “mind bank” and is at some point worked into a piece in my own interpretation.

What famous artists have influenced you, and how?

I have always been fond of primitive painters: the use of bright, bold colours and the “basicness” of their styles, the fresh, “naive” eye. Henri Rousseau is a favorite of mine – his jungle paintings are some of my favorites! Then of course a lot of the Pop artists like Warhol I find SO interesting. I also like Alex Colville, Wanda Koop, Georgia O’Keefe, Salvador Dali just to name a couple: I admire each artists’ technicality and use of colour as well as making the ordinary, extraordinary.

Lord Lucius

What do you do for fun (besides painting)?

Hmmmm…..my life is my art, my dogs and of course my husband! When I am not painting (I paint at least 50 – 60 hours a week) I like walking the dogs, designing, photography, sewing, blogging and there’s the never ending list of things to do in the house we built last year. I was so fortunate to be able to draw up the house plans for our home myself and to include a studio!

What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

Things never get tough when it comes to staying inspired and enjoying what I do. For me the hardest thing is to work on memorial pieces for dogs that have passed on. I am super emotional when it comes to that relationship between humans and their pets. When I hear the stories, the heartache, the love and special bond that was shared, it’s so easy to relate and feel the pain. I always need to take a lot of breaks from working on those pieces because I find myself so into it that I do tear up. That’s when I go for a walk, or work on something else for a bit. It is amazing how much these little furry creatures wedge themselves into our souls!

Friendly Finn

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

I would have to say that you need to stay true to yourself, find out what is in you that wants to come out. Stay driven, if art is really your passion then let yourself be consumed with the fact that you art an artist and you will succeed. Be proud of your creations and never feel like you need to justify or defend your work. Surround yourself with knowledge – whether it’s an art history book, an art class, art school, an artist association – these things will push you to places you would not have discovered. When you are doing your artwork make sure it is always fun: crank your favorite music, turn the phones off, lock the doors and dance a bit!

Do you have a dog(s)? if yes, what kind, please brag about your pooch(es) here:

We have two fur babies, they are both Italian Greyhounds. Rupert is our chocolate bunny, he’s almost 4 now and Leeroy is our chicken little, he just turned 1 in April. As well as inspiring me artistically, they inspire me to be the person that they think I am….do you know what I mean?

I enjoyed doing my last Etsy post, so I have decided to do a different one every month. This month’s theme is Dog Artwork.

John W. Golden has an old world style recreated in a very modern way – I love it. Prints are for sale through the Etsy shop. He also has a blog.

Throw me a bone has a unique pop art style. I also love this artist’s work. They have a full store as well as their Etsy shop.

Brian Rubenacker does paintings mostly of boston terriers, but I really love the way he draws them – very caricature like. He also has a blog.

Doodle Dog Paintings is an artist from Ottawa. She does retro style custom paintings of animals. Stay tuned to the blog because Ottawa Dog Blog is going to be interviewing her soon! She also has a blog and a website.

A while back I posted about Etsy and mentioned that I may purchase some items. Well I did and I must say that I am super thrilled with everything I bought! Every seller I talked to was very nice and extremely accommodating. Each item I ordered for the dogs, I had some bit of custom work put into. It was really nice to know I was getting something that was truly unique and the first of its design.

First up are these amazing pendents.

I contacted the artist and inquired about having two custom pendants done, Must Love Morkies and Must Love Malshies. She was great about it and sent me the designs before she made the pendants so I could approve them. I got to choose what colours and how many I wanted. I got 2 of each in case one gets lost. The seller was great and even sent me some buttons as a consolation for taking a bit longer to send them.

Dog Sweaters!

The second two things I ordered were these awesome sweaters. I love the bone shaped button on the pocket. I chose the colours and the artist sent me pictures of the yarn before she began knitting. The sweaters are beautifully made and the only bad thing is that they arrived when we are finally starting to get some warmer weather! So now I am secretly hoping it will get cold for a day so they can wear them and show them off!

The only thing that I didn’t love about Etsy was the time everything took to be sent through the mail – but that was just me being impatient! I did not have to pay any customs fees and every item I ordered was great. I also love the fact that I get to support artists.

Ottawa Dog Blog had the chance to interview dog sculptor KaysK9s. Her miniature creations are exquisite and while from outside of Ottawa, Ottawa Dog Blog still considers her a local artist. Kay also donates a portion of each sale to local rescue groups.

Name: KaysK9s
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Website: KaysK9s.com | Store: kaysk9s.etsy.com | Blog: KaysK9s.blogspot.com

What kind of Dog Art do you do?

I specialize in creating miniature needle felted dogs. I love to create miniature versions of customers’ pets! In addition to sculptures, I also needle felt custom keychains, purse clips/fobs, brooches, bookmarks and cell phone charms. Needle felting is the process of taking raw wool roving and using a barbed felting needle to sculpt it into shape. The sculpting is done by poking the wool thousands of times until the fibers interlock and felt together. This process is extremely time-consuming, and each dog sculpture normally takes 10 – 25 hours to create.

How did you get into doing dog-related artwork?

I come from a highly artistic family. So, I could say my artistic talent has been bred into me and passed down through genes! I also have a strong love for all animals, but especially for dogs (I currently live with 3 of them). This love of animals is shared by my mother, so I suppose that has been passed down to me too. Creating dog-related artwork is a way to combine two of the things that bring me the most happiness – dogs and art.

When did you first realize you are an artist?

I suppose the first time I truly thought of myself as an artist was when people started requesting that I create miniature versions of their pets, and were eager to pay me to do so. Before that, art had always been a hobby for me. It wasn’t until I saw how happy people were with my custom pet sculptures that I truly realized that my work is art and something I can have as my full time occupation.

Could you tell us some more about your work?

I start by studying photographs of the dog I am about to create. I can create my work in 1:12 dollhouse scale, or also any size up to 4” depending on the customers’ preference. I make a wire armature for the dog if it is to be created in a standing pose to ensure it will be stable enough. I then use a “core wool material” (basically, a cheaper wool material to cut costs) and sculpt the basic shape of the dog. I felt my dyed wool over top of this, and add specific markings. If it is a long haired dog, I then implant the “fur coat” and trim it to the style desired. I blend various types of wool to achieve a realistic colour and texture.

What is it that inspires you to create your pieces of art?

I love dogs. I couldn’t imagine my life without them. My inspiration comes from my own dogs. We have 3 of them currently. They bring such joy to our lives. I know how much pets become a part of our lives, and how much they are missed when they pass.
We recently had to put our 10 year old Yorkshire Terrier down because he developed glaucoma and was in a terrible amount of pain. I know that it’s important for me to have things to remember him by. I love being able to create miniature versions of customer’s pets so that their animals will always be with them.

What famous artists have influenced you, and how?

Needle felting is a relatively new art form, so there really aren’t many established artists to look up to. I do admire all my fellow needle felting artists in the various groups I belong to – each one has their own unique style.

Although they aren’t created by needle felting, Kerri Pajutee’s realistic animal sculptures have always taken my breath away. It’s a goal of mine to find new ways to make my needle felted dogs more and more realistic. I would love to achieve similar realism with wool as she achieves with clay.

What do you do for fun?

I love spending time with my dogs and with nature. Going for long walks with my husband and dogs through the woods is something I thoroughly enjoy. I’m also an amateur astronomer, so spending time outdoors with my telescope is also something I love to do. I also read a lot of dog training/dog psychology books.

There’s also the couch potato side of me that loves watching movies and my favourite television shows. National Geographic and Discovery Channel are two of my favourite stations to watch. I also love history, so I see almost every historical drama that comes out!

What inspires you to create art and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

Dogs are my main inspiration. A while back I decided to donate a portion of the profit from my needle felted dogs to help shelter animals through the Ontario SPCA and other local animal shelters. I also sponsor a shelter dog every month, and post the picture and bio of this animal on my blog. When I don’t quite feel like creating, all I have to do is think of those wonderful dogs that I can help through my work and it gives me the motivation to continue. Even though my contributions at this point are small, they will add up over time! To make a difference in just one dog’s life is ample motivation.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

Learning the business side of art has been a challenge! I’ve spent a lot of time reading and researching. I’ve had to learn a lot about advertising and bookkeeping. I don’t think many people appreciate all the time that is required to run a business as an artist. I only spend about half of my working hours creating – the rest is spent doing administrative stuff such as photographing my work, listing it online, maintaining a website and blog, answering emails, doing interviews, packaging parcels, bookkeeping etc. Technically I don’t get paid for any of those things, despite how necessary they are.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

I think one of the most important things is to run your own race. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to other artists out there – focus on being creative and making a product that stands out from the rest. I know of many artists who get discouraged due to lack of sales and spend most of their time comparing themselves to others. If you decide to make a business of your art, then focus on your art! Do the necessary work to advertise and promote your work, but to be successful you have to truly believe in yourself.

Do you have a dog? if yes, what kind, please brag about your pooch(es) here

I currently share my home with three dogs. Abbie is a 3 year old Long hair Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix and can be described with one word, “princess”. Toby is a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier who loves the sound of his own voice. Patches is a 12 year old Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix and is an absolute sweetheart. They all have such unique personalities – they certainly keep life entertaining! I can’t imagine not having dogs in my life.

Toby is the only dog to have taken a real interest in my work. I created a miniature needle felted sculpture of him many months ago, and also a purse clip. He will stare at them and bark for hours and hours if I let him! One day I happened to leave my purse on the floor, and when I glanced at him he had the purse clip of Patches’ likeness completely inside of his mouth! Thankfully it was not damaged. He also enjoys rolling on my raw wool (he likes it best before it has been washed – smellier than way!).

Ottawa Dog Blog had the chance to interview Ottawa dog apparel company 4Paws.

Name: 4Paws
Location: Ottawa
Website: 4paws.etsy.com

What kind of dog apparel do you create?
I create custom-made fall/winter coats for dogs. I currently have 2 styles available: the quilted coat and the denim jacket. The quilted coat has been my most popular style so far as it’s very warm, water resistant and fashionable. Since I create the patterns myself, I can custom make the coat to fit any size dog whether it is a Chihuahua or a Great Dane.

How did you get into doing dog-related apparel?
I made my first dog coat about 4 years ago. My roommate’s Boston Terrier, Tetley, would shiver every time she went outside for her walk. So I decided to make her a denim jacket with a polar fleece lining for Christmas. When my roommate would be at work, I would measure Tetley and make her try on samples until I got the perfect fit. The coat was a hit at Christmas but I didn’t make any more until last fall when I discovered Etsy. Since Etsy is a place to buy and sell all things handmade, I knew my product would fit right in. So I opened my online shop within Etsy called 4Paws. The response I got was really positive. I’ve even had some customers send me pictures of their dogs wearing their jackets – it’s so cute.

When did you first realize you are a designer?
I initially started sewing 7 years ago to create my own line of clothing. I really never took the whole thing seriously until I started receiving orders from local boutiques. It’s only since last fall that I’ve branched into the canine community. Since my coats are more geared for fall/winter, I keep busy with designing women’s clothing in the spring and summer in my 2nd Etsy shop tangente.

Could you tell us some more about your work?
I design the quilted coat for our harsh Canadian winters. It has 3 layers and they all play a vital role in keeping our four legged friends warm. The outer shell is made of water resistant nylon and the lining is made of a cozy fleece. The middle layer is a lightweight insulation to add extra warmth.

My second design, the denim jacket, only has 2 layers so it’s geared for fall or for dogs that live in areas with a milder winter. The outer shell is made of cotton denim and the lining is made in a fun patterned fleece.

What is it that inspires you to create your pieces?
I get my inspiration from the fashion world. I read a lot of fashion magazines to get an idea of the new trends and how they can be interpreted in canine fashion.

What do you do for fun (besides sewing)?
Well, I do a lot of sewing but in my free time I like to cook, garden, read and just take it easy.

I also take pleasure in showing beginners the joys of sewing and creating their own wardrobe. So I recently began to offer private sewing lessons in my home.

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?
Textiles and patterns easily inspire me. When I see a new fabric, I can envision the final product. The motivation part is a bit more difficult. Since Etsy is an online community and not just a market, I often find myself chatting in the forums with people from around the world when I should be in my studio sewing. You really have to be dedicated and focused to be able to juggle a part-time business along with a full-time job. I usually find the right balance but I still manage to get sidetracked once in a while.

What advice would you give to an artist/fashionista just starting out?
My advice would be have realistic goals and not to give up. You may never become a famous fashion designer but success and happiness come in many forms.

Do you have a dog?
Unfortunately, I don’t have a dog. If I brought a dog home, I’m sure my 3 cats would not be impressed. I’ve very grateful to have worked with 3 great dog models: Tetley, Niko and Casey.

Photo Credits: All photographs by 4Paws.

I searched the word “Dog” and found a couple of great items that I thought I would share – some of which I may even order myself!

The first thing I found that I definitely am getting for my pups is this Backpacker Sweater, a hand knit dog sweater with a cargo pocket by Knitopia. I love that you can stick your keys or a poop bag in there and not have to carry them. Great idea! I just ordered one for each of my dogs!

The second thing that caught my eye was this Pet Bed with Eco Friendly Fleece by anniessweatshop is good for the environment which is always a bonus and looks very comfy.

I love these Must Love Dogs necklace pendants by BarrelOfMonkeys. A flickr friend of mine had the artist make the “Must Love Lahsas” tag. I think they are adorable and I have asked the artist if they would do one with Morkies and one with Malshies for my little ones.

These Metal Dog Tags by bynicola also caught my eye. They are quite classic and are a nice change from the regular bone shaped ones you can get in the pet stores. Also available in a smaller size.

Everyone who owns a dog knows that they quite often pass gas, and when they do it is the most foul smelling thing in the world. I thought these were quite funny in explaining that phenomenon.

This Powered by Natural Gas Dog Tee by blackenedangel is amusing and will make fellow dog owners chuckle.

If you wanted to be a little more subtle, you could go for this Queen of Farts Dog Tag by sudlow. It’s funny but not as obvious.