Aroo Studio

Driftwood Jones Studios

2011-05-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

How Terra Johnson creator of Driftwood Jones Studios describes herself:

I am Sagittarius.

I live with six dogs and two in spirit.

I love to take pictures, craft and play guitar.

I drink too much coffee.

I love to make pretty things and some ugly things.

I am a bohemian girl living in whimsy or maybe a hippie hillbilly.

Loving the earth is loving ourselves.

I love my tribe. They are my love and light.

I love my critters more than I can breathe.

What's NOT to love? Terrah's passion and a bit of whimsy are evident in her creations.

We love this pit bull jersey scarf $20 at DriftwoodJones on Etsy

This lovely little mutt silhouette heart pouch is delightful!

She's also is a photographer and you can see her ethereal images and catch a glimpse of her gypsy spirit here:

Terrah Johnson Photography

Driftwood Jones

Piper's first photo shoot!

2011-04-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

Introducing, Miss Piper! She was adopted by myself (Elaine) from the Pinole Animal Shelter on April 13th. She is only 9 weeks old and is the cutest lil' thing we have seen in awhile!

Today she had her first photo shoot, a requirement around here! The photo at the top is now featured on our front page, the others are some fun outtakes.

I look forward to sharing more of Piper's adventures with all of you!

Radley London

2011-02-24T12:50:00.001-08:00

Radley was founded in 1998 by Lowell Harder. Based in London, Radley is dedicated to creating handbags, shoes and accessories. Radley designs are inspired not only by crafts and cultures around the world, but also inspiration available in the heart of London. Radley creates designs that may be slightly eccentric, but are always beautiful, colorful, well made and truly British.

Although I'm smitten with this adorable wallet. Radley is best known for the lovely leather handbags they manufacture and sell, most of which have a Radley dog hang tag. Shown below is the lovely Chiswick tote.

Each year Radley releases two signature bags. One Spring/Summer bag and another for Autumn/Winter.Expressing a playful confidence and quirky British sense of humor, these designs are full of color and originality.

Radley just launched their new signature bag for Spring/Summer 2011. Called "Port of Call" it features Radley the dog on a boat sailing the ocean waves. The sails on the boat are brightly patterned and there's a nice detail of a seagull on a buoy.

Baby it's cold out!

2011-02-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Here in the SF bay area we are experiencing record low temperatures. We're talking threats of snow at sea level! So, I was inspired to seek out some cozy wear for the beagles (and other assorted canines) here in the studio. If any one knows cold it's the Canadians, check out The Fisherman's Knot Cowl for dogs by Emily Priestley

For the next 2 weeks, Emily will be donating $1 from each cowl to Camp Cocker, a dog rescue that specializes in adopting out wonderful rescue cocker spaniels.If you would like to donate to Camp Cocker, or to find out more about their program, please visit campcocker.com

Visit Emily's Etsy shop EarhWalkers

Emily also has a blog: Five Dog House

Here's a couple things to keep us fur-less creatures warm:

This adorable "Patch" jumper, find it at joules.com

Man's best friend keeps you warm with this knitted scotty dog hot water bottle cover. Find it at lovehotwaterbottles.com

Light up Your Life

2011-02-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

How can you not love this lamp from EveryLampShade.com? Dachshund silhouettes are delightful against the striped canvas fabric on this drool worthy giclee shade by Kathy Ireland. It retails for $64.99.

Sugarboo Designs

2011-02-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

If you love dogs and rustic design, you're going to fall head over heels for Sugarboo Designs! Sugarboo produces lovely items for your home, many of which feature our four legged friends.

Rebecca Puig & her husband Rick started Sugarboo Designs together a few years ago. Their mission is to make handmade products that add soul to the home. Shown above are some of their art prints that we adore!

How about a little something for your pooch? We found this handmade 32" round feed-sack dog bed with a Velveteen Rabbit Quote on it delightful.

Pictured above is a piece of original art by Rebecca Puig. It is printed on wood and then framed in a 4" deep frame made of naturally aged wood.

For more information on Sugarboo Designs, and to see many more products visit their website.

DIY Project: Doggie Collarettes

2011-01-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

Yet another creative use for old clothing to spiff up your pooch. Make a festive collar for a holiday, event or your favorite sports team out of a collared shirt. Full instructions here!

Shrinky Dink Necklace

2011-01-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

I came across this project for shrinky dink necklaces, I thought these would make great key chains as an alternative to a necklace, or perhaps an embellishment for card making or scrap booking too. Visit the Just Something I Made blog for full instructions with photos!

Small Dog Suitcase Bed

2011-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Janel at Run with Scissors made this absolutely charming dog bed for her pup, Catalina, from a vintage suitcase she picked up for just$2. Using vintage fabric & lace, contact paper, yarn, vintage buttons & a glue gun, she transformed a flea market find into the sweetest little bed.

Check out the before & after! I especially love the finishing touches of the pennant banner & little hearts made from wood grain contact paper. More photos on Janel's blog, Run with Scissors.

DogieCraft

2011-01-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

Love these little treasures from DogieCraft! Above is a French Bulldog "piggy" or maybe more appropriate "bully" bank! Saving pennies was never so adorable! Available here! $39.95

DogieCraft also makes a variety of dog breed salt and pepper shakers. From beagles (above)

to Frenchies

and even Chinese Crested, each set sells for 39.90 in the DogieCraft shop!

Pillow Pal

2010-12-31T06:47:00.000-08:00

Now this little guy just wants to be your new friend! He's squeezable and sustainable, and the perfect addition to your sofa, chair or kids room. This pillow comes from k studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is made with hemp and cotton, with a sweet dog applique that resembles our little rescue mutt, Hopi. $110, available from Design Public.

Simple DIY Cat Toy

2010-12-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

Did you know Aroo Studio is making products for cats? It's true! Find our tasteful cat collars here, they are breakaway for safety and the most stylish cat collars you've ever seen!

I love this fish toy made out of a sock-what a great Eco-friendly option for socks that have lost their mates. Use your single socks to make a toy for your kitty in just a few minutes with this tutorial from Martha Stewart!

For the Home

2010-12-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love this dish towel from Anthropologie! In fact, I would totally buy it for my kitchen since it matches so well. The only thing that's stopping me is the $18 price tag for something I know is bound to get stained within the first few days I own it. But, there are other possibilities. Maybe I can make it into a pillow instead.

Also from Anthropologie are these heavy duty brass swiss mountain dog drawer pulls. Add some character to a dresser or desk with a pair, $78.

300 Facebook Fans Giveaway!

2010-12-28T14:31:00.001-08:00

In case you missed our giveaway announcement on facebook, time is running out to enter! Visit our facebook page, become a fan, and leave a comment on the giveaway post letting us know which collar in what size you'd like to win. Another bonus-we have special discount codes we only tell our facebook fans about, so go ahead and "like" us! Ends 12/31!

Our Renegade Craft Fair Booth

2010-12-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love the Renegade Craft Fair! It gives me a thrill to see so many other artists and crafters together for such an awesome shopping event. I love seeing the unique products everyone has to offer, and being so inspired by the work of others.

Here are some photos of our booth from this fair in case you weren't able to come out and see us!

Dog Collars, Kitty Collars, and Catnip toys. The whale catnip toys were a huge hit, selling out on Saturday (I made more for Sunday, and we sold them too!). I think they may be a new addition to the website soon.

Elaine hand cut the paper pennant banner from cardstock, and we used our vintage stools and toolbox for displaying our wares. We also purchased a vintage quilt rack, you can see it at the end of the table. We had someone sew the fabric bunting for us using our Aroo Studio collar fabrics for the lettering, and purchased the stuffed dog models (on top of stool). They are eco-friendly, made from re-purposed sweaters with eco friendly stuffing inside.

We almost sold out of key fobs as well, I think they are heading for some very lucky people's stockings this Christmas!

Here's a close up of the quilt rack, (sorry about the not so hot photo) showcasing many of our hemp collars & leashes. We sold a lot and had a great time at Renegade, I think it's safe to say we will be there again!

Renegade Holiday Sale

2010-12-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

That's right, its that time again! This year we will be sharing our booth with Kira Stackhouse owner and creator of Scutte! Join us for the 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale in San Francisco on December 18 + 19, from 11am – 7pm in the Concourse Exhibition Center’s East Hall (620 7th St.)! With over 200 of the nation’s finest indie-craft talents setting up shop that weekend, all of your last minute holiday-shopping needs are sure to be found at this FREE TO ATTEND craft, art, design + DIY spectacular!

Your one stop holiday shopping bonanza! You will find all sorts of incredible handmade goods at the Fair – everything from jewelry and clothing, ceramics and stationery, bath products and posters, housewares and comics, plush objects and more! Check out the artist line-up to see who’ll be bringing the goods!

Please make sure to measure your pups neck if you plan on stopping by our booth as dogs are not allowed at this venue :(

Don't Miss our sale!

2010-11-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already heard via our facebook fan page and/or newsletter, we're having a HUGE Black Friday Sale!

Don't miss out on your chance to save up to 50% off select items! We're clearing out our stock of fabric & ribbons to make room for some spanking new designs in the new year, so it's the perfect time to buy a holiday gift for your pup.

The sale ends Friday night, so pop on by the shop before your turkey coma hits for the best selection, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Venice Trunk Show!

2010-11-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

Southern California fans, mark your calendars! We are heading to The Modern Dog in Venice next month for a trunk show. Bring your pooch on by to check out our latest products, and shop for holiday gifts for your pet at The Modern Dog. Here are the Details:

Friday December 3 & Saturday December 4

We'll be there Friday evening & During the Day on Saturday

If you can't make it, the Modern Dog carries Aroo Studio products, so you can drop in and check them out any time!

The Modern Dog
1611 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291

2010-11-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Aroo Studio Pre-Holiday Sale is on now!To save 15% off your order of $20 or more enter the code "reindeer" at checkout! Our pre-holiday sale ends on Thanksgiving.

Unwritten

2010-10-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

Simple yet sophisticated, I fell in love with the light blue dog themed notebook when I was browsing at West Elm the other day. West Elm appears to have been inspired by the likes of Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters this season. Find the notebooks($16) here.

Modern Art Prints

2010-10-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Modern, hip art prints from Indira Albert will spice up any boring wall! My favorites are the dog inspired art pieces of course! These babies won't break the bank either, with 11.75"x8.25" prints priced at $25 each or your selection of your 5 favorite 5X7" Giclee fine art prints for $65. Check out all the options here.

Barkology

2010-10-22T15:56:00.001-07:00

I've always been a huge fan of Barkology; I especially adore their T-shirts and hats. I love the color and style of this cute "Mutt" T-shirt, as well as it's celebration of the mixed breed dog. The shirt features a small mutt lifting his let on the "T" and reads "Born by chance, loved by choice".

100% cotton and comes in sizes small through XL. From my experience, the sizes run a little small. $38.00 Available online at Providence.

Life Goes On

2010-10-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

My blogging has fallen behind a bit due to some health problems my little black lab, Renna, has been having for the past month and a half. It started as what we thought was an eye allergy or eye infection, but after normal treatments didn't work we found out Renna has a type of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) affecting her skull. We've been in and out of the vet's office quite a bit, had x-rays done and a Cat scan too. Luckily my little happy girl is such a trooper and is so brave! We're going to do our best to keep her happy and healthy for as long as possible, but it's been a tough month for us.

On a happier note, Splash is in a show this weekend! She won her class today in her first show ever. Yay Splash, her very first ribbon is a blue one! She is the third beagle in the line up in the photo above.

Giveaway Time!

2010-10-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

We're having a giveaway to celebrate reaching 200 facebook fans! The winner will receive the collar of their choice.

Want to enter? Head on over to our facebook fan page and "like" Aroo Studio. Then leave a comment on the contest post on our facebook page. Winner will be announced on Tuesday. Good Luck!

Insparation Wednesday {Plaid}

2010-10-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

A few reasons why we think plaid is...rad.

images from weheartit.com

New Retro Mushroom Collar

2010-10-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

Just listed on the website, super groovy mushroom collars!

New Ad for The Bark Magazine

2010-09-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

I tried designing our ad myself this time! My skills are somewhat limited since I'm self taught, however I think it came out pretty well. Look for it in the winter issue!

Inspiration Wednesday {Run!}

2010-09-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

Wanna go for a run?

images from weheartit.com

Inspiration Wednesday {Cabin in the Woods}

2010-09-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Our inspiration this week is drawn from our upcoming vacation! We'll be heading to a cabin in the woods with the pups. There is something superbly fantastic about driving away from the hustle and bustle and traffic of the Bay Area, and reaching our little cabin in the woods. Here's to a weekend of lazy days on the porch, watching the dogs play in the creek! Our cabin looks very much like the one in the first photo, we'll share photos via facebook while we are there if we have service, if not when we return!

Images from weheartit.com

Hoot Says the Owl

2010-09-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Hoot owl collar and leash are up on the site! We've had a great response to this design already, and I think it's a must have for fall. Miss Ocean, my yellow lab will be sporting this one!

We did a sample sale on Saturday for the Marin Store, this is what our little table looked like for the event. It was very small compared to the Renegade Craft fair, but we sold some collars and met lots of cute doggies and love hearing feedback on our products too!

Our most requested item are harnesses, and we are working on those, I promise! It just takes time, after all, we have to figure out how we are going to make them and then test them rigorously to make sure they meet our high standards.

Inspiration Wednesday {Autumn}

2010-09-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

Crisp air, crunchy leaves and wearing scarves? I love fall and it's just around the corner!

Images from weheartit.com

Balancing Act

2010-09-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

Phew! A 3 day weekend was just what I needed to catch up on some things, have some fun, and get back to blogging for Aroo Studio!

Our dog walking company grew rapidly in August with the addition of 5 new doggies to walk. Here are a few of the new faces:

This little lady is Agnes. So cute!

And this dapper border collie is Max. Nicest border collie you'll ever meet!

And this is miss Gracie! She's a little mutt and I love her so!

5 clients is a huge change for us as our total client roster varies from 15-20 or so doggies. We've been below our client goal for the past year (darn economy!) so this spurt is very welcome.

It has created a need to manage my time more efficiently, and I think I'm getting a handle on the new routine. Elaine is walking extra dog groups so I have time to fill orders for Aroo Studio and focus on marketing our collars and leashes in addition to my dog walking responsibilities. More to come soon!

Inspiration Wednesday {Cloudy Skies}

2010-08-18T08:31:00.001-07:00

Images from weheartit.com

Inspiration Wednesday {Back to School}

2010-08-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

images from weheartit.com

Rengade is Here

2010-07-30T22:04:00.000-07:00

We'd love you to come by and visit us at the Renegade craft fair tomorrow! If you are in the Bay Area come on by to Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The fair is in the Festival Pavillion and runs from 11 am to 7 pm both Saturday and Sunday. Parking in the lot is inexpensive, and dogs are welcome. Miss Splash will be helping with the booth and would love to meet you! We're in booth 167!

New!

2010-07-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Tennis anyone? We've added some new collar patterns from our fall collection to the website. I think any ball loving dog would appreciate this one.

Splash is rockin' the little houses in sky blue, she looks great in it, while Justy has the one in bark.

These beauties are the first in our vintage shop, where you'll find collars made with ribbon we've discovered at antique fairs and estate sales. Quantities available will vary on these, we only have enough ribbon to make about 4 of these little guys. And I must say, the copper id tag looks smashing with these!

Come See Us Next Weekend in SF!

2010-07-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Next weekend we'll be at the Renegade Craft Fair! We are working feverishly on inventory for the show, you won't want to miss it. It is a dog friendly event, so bring your pups on by, we'd love to meet them! Check out all the other artists that will be there right here.

Here are some of the details provided by Renegade:

Join us for the The 3rd Annual Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco on July 31 + August 1, from 11am – 7pm each day at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion!

Always FREE-TO-ATTEND – the Bay’s favorite craft, art, design and DIY spectacular will feature over 225 of today’s finest indie-craft talents from all over the nation, craft workshops, entertainment + other features.

You can expect to find all sorts of incredible handmade goods at the Fair! Get a sneak-peek of who will be setting up shop at this year’s San Francisco summertime event on our Artist Page!

We encourage attendees to ride public transportation or bicycle to the Fair! If you are driving, the Fort Mason Center offers low-cost parking on site, or there is street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

Please see our FAQ for all the details, directions + lots more info!

Inspiration Wednesday {Enjoy Cupcakes}

2010-07-21T09:40:00.001-07:00

Today's Inspiration comes from Enjoy Cupcakes, the most adorable bakery on wheels I've ever seen! Enjoy Cupcakes calls a 1964 restored vintage Shasta airflyte trailer it's home, combining 2 of my very favorite things, cupcakes and vintage trailers. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley with 2 locations (Los Olivos and Solvang), I'll have to stop by next time I'm off to Santa Barbara. Yum!

Babies are Cute

2010-07-19T09:27:00.001-07:00

And my new little nephew can serve as evidence! He's about 1 week old in these photos. I had a great trip down to Santa Barbara where I got to see my sister and brother-in-law and their new little one. Getting the time to visit was a blessing I won't soon forget. Elaine was awesome and walked about a million dogs so I could take the time off, she's a rock-star!

Here I am!

2010-07-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

Apologies for my blogging absence, I'm back today but will be heading off to Southern California tomorrow to visit my brand new nephew, my sister and brother-in-law! Baby Deus was born July 6th, and I'm so excited to see him for the first time. I leave tomorrow afternoon! I promise to post some baby photos on the blog when I return.

I've also been working on my new venture, Silver Splash Pet Photography. I decided to offer pet photography after getting many compliments on my work from friends, family and clients. I adore photography, I love the freedom and creativity it allows, and photographing animals is my favorite. I know I'll meet some fantastic people and pets through Silver Splash, and can't wait to get going on photo shoots. I've started a blog for Silver Splash, you can check it out here.

On another note, today is Splash's 1st birthday! I can't believe she's already one. We had a little party at Annabee's in Pacifica. I love this shot of Splash having fun at her party in the doggie cafe! The folks at Annabee's were super nice and so wonderful helping us with the party. We highly recommend having a doggie event there!

Inspiration Wednesday {Chasing Rainbows}

2010-06-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

images from weheartit.com

Something for the Kitties!

2010-06-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

After numerous requests for cat collars, I finally had the time to sew some this weekend to list on the website! Now your kitty can look as dashing as your dog.

Cat collars feature a breakaway buckle for safety, a jingle bell and Aroo Studio's bright and soft cotton fabrics. I picked patterns that look great on a small scale collar, including the ones shown above, plus a few more. See them all here!

Inspiration Wednesday {Camping}

2010-06-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

images from weheartit.com

Upcycle an old Tie for your Pup

2010-06-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Father's day was yesterday, so Dad may have a few old ties to donate for this project! Pop on over to The Bark Magazine for a tutorial on how to make your pup look dashing for a special occasion. No time to work on this project? Check out Scutte, where you can buy one!

Doggie Corner

2010-06-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

It's a dream of mine to own a home. When I do, I fully plan on having a dog area as cute as these ones I found from Better Homes and Gardens. I love the re-purposing of an old drawer into a bed for a small dog above. An old suitcase would be a cute substitute too. Enjoy the sophisticated styling of the dog areas pictured below, I especially like the bath area.

Creativity

2010-06-08T18:23:00.001-07:00

I'm taking part in Creativity Boot Camp, a free course to explore the art medium of your choice and ramp up your creativity! I chose photography, and am trying to squeeze in my inspiration assignments as best as I can. I tried using some filters for Photoshop that my sister recommended. I used the sunshine filter on the photo above, I love this filter!

Speaking of my sister, she has an awesome blog called Potato Broke. I'm totally impressed by the work my little sis has been up to. Take a look at her blog and become a follower!

Inspiration Wednesday {Sew Crafty}

2010-06-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Images from weheartit.com

Flower Power!

2010-05-31T18:56:00.000-07:00

New in the shop, the Flower Power collar! This is Cora's current collar, it looks so dang cute on her, we had to make it an official Aroo Studio collar. Hope you like it too!

Whew!

2010-05-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

This week has been super busy! Elaine has been pet sitting in Marin all week and doing lots of dog walking, I've had a mix of walking dogs and sewing and marketing for Aroo Studio this week. I feel like this month has been a blur!

Amid all this we've been having the worst May weather in the Bay Area that I can remember. It's been raining at least a few times each week, and I was coming down with a serious case of the gloomies. Today the sun is shining and I'm feeling a lot happier! I'm glad we are getting the rain, and don't mind walking for our dog walking in the rain sometimes, but it's about time for it to stop!

I hope the sun holds out for the holiday weekend, have a good one!

Oh, Baby!

2010-05-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

I hosted a baby shower for my big sister last weekend! It was a bit chaotic putting it all together with an event going on that day for Aroo Studio, but it turned out great. It was a nautical themed tea party!

Favor boxes waiting to be given out (with an assortment of teas inside)

Lemon poppyseed scones-yummy! There were cherry scones and chocolate chip scones as well.

Tea sandwiches! I LOVE the cucumber ones, so good!

This is a mousse cake, looks great but I ended up not getting any, so it must have been tasty!

Tragic Fire at Shelter

2010-05-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Berkeley East Bay Humane Society, local to us, suffered a fire last night. 15 adoptable kitties died and an estimated $500,000 in damages were sustained. We are so sad.

We are on the hunt to help raise donations to help rebuild the shelter. We are having an online benefit for Berkeley East Bay Humane Society. Enter the code "BEBHS" at checkout and 20% of your order will go directly to BEBHS. For more information on the fire, check out this article.

Thanks all!

Softie Scottie Dog

2010-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

Head on over to Allsorts for the pattern and directions to make one of these softies. Leave off the extras (eyes, collars and buttons) and your pup can play with it, or it's a great gift for a child! Pattern for personal use only!

Butters the Foster Dog

2010-05-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Meet our foster dog, Butters! He's handsome, and I love that he has one blue eye and one brown eye. Butters is staying with us temporarily to get some training to prepare him to find a new permanent home. He is pretty shy and needs a big confidence boost. He's already improved in the short time we've had him. He's come to the right place, living with 2 dog trainers is bound to help him out.

Butters is earning his keep working as an Aroo Studio model. I think someone will want this cutie once he's ready to move on to a new home. Dapper boy!

New Hemp Patterns are Here!

2010-05-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

And I promise they'll be in the shop very soon! Which one is your favorite?

Inspiration Wednesday {Dachshund}

2010-05-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

Images from weheartit.com

Check out our New Logo!

2010-05-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

Our new logo is done! What do you think? Splash was the inspiration for the new look, done by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings. She made the cute cartoon of Splash, then I added our text! I'm quite pleased and can't wait until the blog header and website match too.

I wish I could show you...

2010-04-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

The new hemp patterns that are coming our way! I am soooooo excited about them, I know they will be a big hit! Our new ribbons are in transit and should start arriving as early as next week. We will be working very quickly to get a new collection together for you so your pup will be in style for the summer.

This week has been crazy! On Sunday I had to rush Splash to the emergency vet when she inhaled a fox tail into her nose while we were out for a walk. She was sneezing violently and blood was coming out of her nose. Poor baby! Luckily we got her right into the vet and she's all better after being put under for removal of the nasty fox tail. Then this morning, Ocean had a pinched nerve and couldn't walk on her back left leg. It was pretty scary at the time, not to mention upsetting. After rushing her to the vet she is doing much better, and we are hoping it's a one time thing and she just tweaked something.

On the work front, we are working on a big wholesale order and I love seeing a big box full of pretty collars and leashes. We are also preparing for the DogParty Event in Sonoma on May 15th where we will have a booth, and got a new dog walking client this week, a handsome Basset Hound named Murphy. I really can't believe it's Friday!

This weekend we have big plans to sew, sew, sew, and really make a dent in that wholesale order. I also really need to get going on making some kitty collars. My mom's cat, Sophie, has product tested our prototype and gave it two kitty paws up. She even left it on, a good sign since she normally shuns any attempt my mom makes to get her to wear a collar.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Inspiration Wednesday {On the Farm}

2010-04-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

Images from weheartit.com

Tag Your Dog!

2010-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

Copper ID Bar, $32.

Last weekend I went up to Glen Ellen to visit my Mom, and to attend a baby shower. I of course took my girls with me, Ocean & Renna the labs, and Splash, my 9 month old beagle puppy. I left them at my mom's to go to the baby shower. After arriving at the shower I got a voice-mail from a woman at the Jack London lodge, a hotel near my mom's place. They had Splash! I immediately called my mom, and she said she had just realized Splash was missing and was on a panicked search for her. She had climbed through a hole in the fence and headed the direction I drove when I left.

Splash was thankfully wearing one of the new tags we are now carrying in our online store, and that led to a swift return. Losing your pet is stressful enough without thinking, I should have had an ID tag on him/her! Boy was I glad Splash had hers on. We love these new tags!

Copper Bird ID tag, $32

Sparrow ID tag, $32.

Visit Aroo Studio to see more. prices range from $20-$32.

Pet Projects

2010-04-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

A few awesome pet projects courtesy of Martha Stewart! I think you're going to love these.

I love the added touch of the collar & leash on this classy silhouette tote bag. Learn how to create a silhouette of your own dog for this project.

A clever pet mat made from towels, great for travel and super easy to make.

This one is for the kitties! I love these little mice made from suiting material, a great re-purposed treat for your cat.

Head on over to the pet projects section on Martha Stewart's website for instructions on making all these cute pet projects!

Platform Dog Bed

2010-04-21T11:57:00.001-07:00

A genius remake of an old table into a beautiful, modern dog bed. Purchase the ebook featuring this and many more wonderful projects from Make It! Secondhand Chic .

Inspiration Wednesday {Toad Stools}

2010-04-21T08:04:00.000-07:00

Images from weheartit.com

Inspiration Wednesday {Feeling French}

2010-04-14T16:05:00.001-07:00

I think one of these is going to be at the top of my wish list. Well, when I don't have so many dogs that is! In the meantime one of my dog walking clients just got a blue fawn frenchie, playing with her will tide me over!

images from weheartit.com

Rockstar

2010-04-12T13:16:00.001-07:00

Yep, a new collar! Meet the Rockstar! Dark chocolate brown with blue and white accents. Watch out for paparazzi! $32.50. Available here!

Animal Art

2010-04-02T09:37:00.001-07:00

I've loved Sharon Montrose's work for a long time now! I discovered her when did a small dog photography book called Lightweights. She's done many more books (do a search for her on Amazon.com and you'll find them). She sells gorgeous prints of all sorts of animals in her esty shop. She was just featured in a wonderful video via etsy-take a look and find out more!

Inspiration Wednesday {Rainy Days}

2010-03-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

Rain is falling outside my window, but I don't mind. I'm in my PJ's with my dog at my feet, settling in for a quiet evening at home.

images from weheartit.com

Graphics Giveaway!

2010-03-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

I've been busy working on the Design Lab Shop-yet another hobby of mine. I've been making etsy shop banners, avatars, and business cards! I'm hosting a giveaway of a personalized etsy shop set (excludes OOAK sets). Enter here. Winner will be announced Friday!

Giveaway Winner

2010-03-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

Congtatulations to Sonia who was the first to correctly identify all 3 breeds! Here are the correct answers.

American Staffordshire Terrier

Swedish Vallhund

Briard

Photo credits:

Briard

Swedish Vallhund

Staffordshire bull terrier

Collar Giveaway!

2010-03-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

The contest is now closed!

Inspiration Wednesday {Sunrise}

2010-03-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Good Morning :-)

Splash Update & Giveaway Coming!

2010-03-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Little miss Splash is quite the young lady! She is now 8 months old-I can't believe it. She went to a beagle meet up on Sunday where she played with Dolly. That's Splash on the left. Last time Splash played with Dolly Splash was just 4 month old. They still picked each other out in a group of 15 beagles or so, and spent most of the time running and playing together.

Now, the big news! It's almost giveaway time! We'll be giving away an Aroo Studio collar to the lucky winner of our next giveaway, if you want to be the winner you might want to watch a dog show to get a step ahead in the contest. Full details to be revealed soon!

Inspiration Wednesday {Green}

2010-03-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Green is the color of the day! We are celebrating our yellow lab, Ocean's, 12th birthday today. Get your Irish on!

Images from weheartit.com

Meow

2010-03-15T17:52:00.001-07:00

Kitty collars! Coming soon to Aroo Studio. I thought the birdies made a cute pattern for our feline friends. Don't you think so?

Inspiration Wednesday {Carnivals}

2010-03-10T11:33:00.001-08:00

I adore carnival photos! I can almost taste the cotton candy looking at these pics. I can't wait for summer.

Images from weheartit.com

Nearly Midnight Necklaces!

2010-03-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

I just realized I never posted about the necklaces I made for my new etsy shop, Nearly Midnight! These are 1 inch square glass tile pendants, featuring a few vintage dogs as well as a sweet vintage fawn. Now available in the shop for just $8.95 each! There are 2 large magnets up in the shop too, with some small ones on the way. I just need to steal away some time to make some.

Love Bug

2010-03-05T08:20:00.001-08:00

Ta-da! Introducing our newest addition to Aroo Studio, the Love Bug collar (and leash)! You asked for more cute collars to please your hubbies and boyfriends and this one fits the bill. It's peppered with little love bugs, perfect for the love bug in your life. Now available in the shop!

Inspiration Wednesday {Vintage}

2010-03-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

images from weheartit.com

Sunset

2010-02-28T12:03:00.000-08:00

Sunset product photography!

A little bit of privacy

2010-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

I love how incredibly easy making curtains is. It's a perfect project for a new sewer, not only because the sewing is simple, but because you'll feel very accomplished once you hang them up.

I used a very sheer cotton fabric; my apartment doesn't get a lot of light so I wanted something for privacy that would still let the light in. As you can see I have a lovely view of the side of the neighbors house. I have seen things I didn't care to see due to a lack of curtains, including a bare bottomed elderly woman climbing into the top bunk of a bunk bed. I'm sure the neighbors have seen me dash by in my skivvies as well, these curtains are way past due!

If you want to try this project yourself, head on over to an awesome tutorial on Design Sponge.

Inspiration Wednesday {Spring}

2010-02-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

Spring is right around the corner. I can't wait. Though I'm soggy from rain now, I have to keep in mind the flowers and amazing green hills we will have as a result! These photos are helping!

Photos from weheartit.com

Pretty Little Things

2010-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Pen covers! I may just have to get one or two of these pretties!

Owl plushies! So cute!

I love Lori Marie's adorable handmade items. You may have seen her on the Martha Stewart show. She has a couple dog related tutorials on her blog, too! You can also visit her etsy shop here.

Dog Jacket
Dog Bed
No Sew Dog Portrait (from Martha Stewart Show)

Happy Crafting!

Hopi

2010-02-19T08:55:00.000-08:00

I did a photo shoot this past weekend, and this was one of my favorite shots. Hopi was trying his best to be a patient model, but he was actually very impatient. We took him to our favorite beach in Pescadero (I call it Saddle Rock beach, but it doesn't have a name that I'm aware of). His mission was to run around on the sand and take a dip in the water, and being on leash wasn't his favorite notion at the time. I really like the photo, though the sky is white since it was overcast. He is wearing the diagonal stripe collar and leash set, I think he looks very dapper!

He got his wish when we were done, and ran like a mad man on the beach!

Help us Pay Ocean's Vet Bill Sale!

2010-02-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

Ocean is feeling better this morning after a stay at the vet hospital. We are so glad to have her back and that she is on the mend! I love this photo of her last summer taken by Grace Chon of Shine Pet Photos! Now that our pockets are more than empty we are having a sale! Get 20% off your order with the code OCEAN at checkout, now through 2/28. All proceeds go towards dear Oatie's vet bill. Our new diagonal stripes collar is listed and ready to go for the sale too, so head on over to the website!

Inspiration Wednesday {Man's Best Friend}

2010-02-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

This is my dear Ocean, posing in front of a church, happy girl! She's been very ill the past 2 days, and in her honor today's inspiration comes from man's best friend.

Sources: Dog on Pier, Sheep Herding, howling. boy and dog, Bride & Dogs

Inspiration Wednesday {on Saturday}

2010-02-13T12:40:00.000-08:00

I'm posting inspiration Wednesday today since my computer was having surgery on Wednesday! Enjoy these Valentine's Day inspired images, and have a great weekend!

I'm Back!

2010-02-13T12:22:00.001-08:00

My computer got a nasty virus on Tuesday, hence my absence from the blog. I found a great computer place called Computer Courage in Berkeley. They got our computer up and running really quickly. Wednesday, the day we dropped our computer off, turned out to be a terrible day.

I called Computer Courage, then went to drop off the computer with Elaine. When we arrived the guy asked if we had spoken to anyone and I said I just called. He seemed a bit confused but I chalked that up to someone else answering the phone. He took our info, our computer, and we left. After the 25 minute drive home Elaine realized she forgot her purse. She called Computer Courage to let them know, and it turns out she had not left her purse there, because we hadn't dropped our computer off at Computer Courage! Turns out there are 2 computer repair places in the same building. No wonder that guy was shady when we said we had called!

Off we drove to the computer place to retrieve the purse and get the computer over to the right place. The same day, one of the dogs got into this horrible smelling glue, and it's now permanently affixed to the carpet in the office (installed just last year). This weekend project: carpet removal. The fumes are terrible!

To top it all off our prized sewing machine had to go in for repairs and with 5 wholesale orders in the works we had to scramble to find a appropriate second machine that was in stock so we could use it right away. We did find one, but it sure didn't come cheaply!

We also were tolerating an incessant beeping noise coming from somewhere in the neighborhood that had be going on 24hrs a day for 3 whole days. After coming home from dog walking, dealing with the computer, carpet, and sewing machine, having a client dog vomit all over my car interior, I was welcomed by the pleasant sound of beeping. I swear I wanted to murder someone right then and there!

We made it through though, and now have 2 awesome sewing machines and our computer is like new and runs faster than ever! I haven't gotten to the carpet removal, but with a 3 day weekend I can tackle that. Happy weekend!

Cora Bead

2010-02-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

Here is miss Cora (affectionately nicknamed Cora Bead) on Saturday at the Beagle meet up. Since we adopted her this past July she's been making lots of progress. She has lost so much weight (and is now a healthy weight), stopped constantly scavenging for food, and stopped having potty accidents in the house. She is still very vocal and the barking can drive me up the wall a bit-she is a demand barker, so will bark when she wants something. She is really cute when she wants the water bowl to be refilled though, and surprisingly quiet-she'll go over to the bowl and put her paw on it and look at me with her big brown eyes. She'll paw at the bowl gently until its refilled-too cute!

I thinks she likes her new life-she can't complain much when she sometimes gets to sleep under the covers in the bed, gets to go out for walks and beagle meet ups regularly, and gets plenty of love and attention!

So New it's not even Available

2010-02-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

But it will be, very, very soon. I promise! I'd been eyeing this fabric for quite a while now, thinking it would make a great collar for boys. With so many requests for more masculine collars I had the perfect excuse to buy some! It turned out great! It will be up on the website very soon, I still need to make a matching leash and photograph it to get it listed. I can't wait to show you the other boyish prints we've added, stay tuned!

Inspiration Wednesdays: Get Organized

2010-02-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to a new Aroo Studio blog feature, inspiration Wednesdays! I hope you will enjoy and be inspired by the photos each week, I know I am! Today's theme-organization.

Each year in January I do a full cleaning of the house, go through everything and get rid of items I don't need in the quest for organization. This year I've bumped that back to February. I needed some inspiration to get me going on this one! All images from weheartit.com.

I adore the wall paper in this entry way!

Some of my favorite things-pyrex, globes, and books & magazines!

This one matches Aroo Studio colors!

Simple & modern.

Now that is a sophisticated, organized craft room.

Time Flies By

2010-02-01T23:05:00.000-08:00

We've been busy! In a good way-hooray! We have never had so many wholesale orders at once, but this multiple order thing is pretty cool. It's been a challenge balancing everything. In case you don't know, my "day" job is running a dog walking company, so I head out and take care of that, then am back to focus on Aroo Studio and Nearly Midnight from the afternoon to well, nearly midnight! I'm also currently taking a photography class which has been a lot of fun. Luckily I'm great at managing my time (and a big list lover), and we've been going along smoothly, however not without a few bumps in the road.

Our beloved sewing machine had to go in for repairs (which will take one whole week-yikes!). We couldn't be without it for a week with all these orders to fill, so had to invest in another machine, but we are glad to have a back up machine for the future. On the flip side we did have to spend all the money we made from the orders on the machine, but at least it's a solid investment!

Last night the bed was covered in brown paw prints, on closer inspection I realized that the prints were not mud, they were poop. Ocean stepped in some in the backyard and jumped on the bed as usual. Somehow she managed to get it on the duvet cover, quilt, sheets, and even both pillow cases. She was not happy about having poo on her foot or getting all her feet washed off in the tub, and I was not happy that I didn't have any clean sheets that fit the mattress left. Needless to say today was laundry day, and Ocean got to have a nice walk while we waited for the bedding to dry at the laundromat. That's life with dogs sometimes!

We also have been hunting for some new fabrics to add to our collection and found some we really love. I'm sure you'll love them too! I'll give you a sneak peek soon. We tried very hard to find some prints that are boyish, and I think they will make people with boy dogs very happy!

Valentine's & More!

2010-01-25T10:03:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling very inspired by Valentine's day and did a quick hunt on Etsy for cute doggie valentine's. Here are some of my favorites, along with a couple adorable valentine items that aren't cards but would make a great valentine gifts. Enjoy!

Pug Valentine from Cuore

Henry Valentine Postcards from Nearly Midnight

Flour Sack kitchen towel from Vintage Lucy's

Pick a breed and an outfit for your Valentine from Lydia & Pugs

Pillow from Persnickety Pelican

Valentine from Sycamore Street Press

Nearly Midnight

2010-01-22T23:42:00.000-08:00

It's nearly midnight! the perfect time to introduce you to my new etsy shop, Nearly Midnight. Thanks to all who suggested names for the shop! I have listed some Henry cards as well as some cards featuring a vintage toy fawn. I'll be making some super cute necklaces and other goodies for the site as well, and maybe even a few dog collars with my leftover supplies, so check it out!

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

2010-01-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

I don't mind the rain so much, but my mom's house is in danger! She just moved in a few months ago and is planning on raising the house to prevent flooding in the future, but this big storm that has hit the Bay Area is threatening to cause flooding before she's able to do that.

These are the photos she sent me yesterday, things are worse today. Normally this is just a small creek, the dogs like to play in it and have a great time. It's more like a river now.

This is the view of the creek behind her house-too close for comfort!

There is a cement barrier to help when the creek water rises, you can see it in the photo above. Today the water is completely covering it, you can't see it at all anymore.

Rain is still in the forecast for the North Bay Area where she lives, so keep your fingers crossed for us that the house doesn't flood. In the meantime she's preparing for the worst, and trying to get some more sandbags delivered. I'm on call for helping out but feel so far away being in the East Bay, it's a good hour and a half to her house in Valley of the Moon.

Crafty Fox

2010-01-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

I love terrariums and have always wanted one in the house. Unfortunately they need light to live and I live in a very dark house. Plants struggle to survive in here, and we have to put them outside during the day to keep them alive. Not to mention my inability to take the time to water them (though Elaine is great at that). I barely keep succulents alive, and that is only because it rains every so often.

Elaine made a great solution to this problem by creating a terrarium for us out of artificial plant life! I love how it turned out and am amazed how she turned some moss and plastic plants into this sweet scene. There is even a little bird on the branch in the background!

Pom Pom Garland

2010-01-10T14:24:00.000-08:00

Lately I've really been wanting to make pom poms! I bought some yarn and away I went! I wanted a red & turquoise garland for Aroo Studio. I love how it came out! Want to make one yourself? Here is how to do it!

You'll need:

Yarn in desired color(s) & Sharp Scissors

The first step is to wrap the yarn around your fingers to start your pom pom. The more fingers you use the bigger the pom pom. I used 2 fingers for my small pom poms and 4 fingers for the large ones. Wrap the yarn in a circle around your fingers, 65 times for a small pom pom, and 115 times for a large one. It will look like this when you are done (this is a small pom pom):

Next, carefully slide the yarn off your fingers and take a piece of yarn and tie it around the middle as tightly as you can. I double knotted mine. It needs to tied very tightly.

Then take your scissors and cut all the loops you've created on the top and bottom of the pom pom. You'll get a really rough looking pom pom, like the one on the left below.

Next you'll need to cut your pom pom down to a more uniform circle shape with your scissors. Be careful not to cut the yarn you used to tie your pom pom together, you need it to tie on to your garland.

Once you've made all the pom poms you'd like, cut a length of yard to hold all your pom poms. Tie them on snugly and snip the excess yarn from your ties. You'll be able to move the pom poms back and forth after they are attached.

Play around with your spacing until you are happy with it, then you are ready to hang your garland. Have fun, I know I did!

Sigh!

2010-01-08T21:30:00.000-08:00

{photo of Ocean wearing the Cocoa Eco Chic Collar by Grace Chon of Shine Pet Photography}

I mostly stay positive here on the blog, but the truth is, sometimes having your own business can be very stressful! It's a lot of work normally, but when things go wrong it can be really upsetting. This week we realized that both the contact for and wholesale application forms on our website were not working properly. People could fill them out with no problem at all, however instead of coming to our email inbox they were sitting in another file we didn't even know existed. This had been going on since September. No changes had been made to our account so it's really a mystery as to why this happened (we can't even get it fixed as of now, but at least we know how to retrieve the messages).

We were finally able to access all those comments/wholesale submissions yesterday. We had 20 wholesale applications that we had not responded to, several emails from customers who had filled out the contact form instead of emailing us directly, and an email from a magazine wanting to feature our collars in an editorial. In addition, back in October a friend of ours lost her camera at a beagle meetup, it was quite tragic as it was a new, expensive camera. Lo and behold we had gotten an email a couple days after that meet up from someone who had found the camera, but we didn't know about it until yesterday!

It looks like we may be featured in the magazine despite our late response (luckily their request had come in December). Although we sent out an email to the 20 wholesale applicants we've had just one place an order. I suppose if I signed up to place an order 4 months ago I wouldn't be too keen on dealing with the company that took that long to respond. *Sigh*. We are really struggling to make ends meet and it's awful thinking about all those orders we missed out on, many of which would have been returning customers.

I feel pretty horrible about the whole thing, shocked that it happened, horrified that these people had to wait so long to respond, and so disappointed.

Meet Henry! Win Some Postcards!

2010-01-06T21:19:00.001-08:00

Henry is a well loved terrier that Elaine found at the flea market. He is missing a bit of fur here and there and his nose is turning pink. I think he is pretty adorable. I love photography (just signed up for a photography class to better my skills-so excited!) and he is a willing subject, his eyes are to die for!

I liked the results so much that I'm going to be making Henry cards & prints to sell via etsy. He does have some friends I'm planning on photographing as well. I still need to come up with a shop name-suggestions anyone? I keep coming up with great names and they are already taken. Boo! If you can think of a great name and I end up using it, you'll get some Henry postcards as a reward. Comment please! You can make as many suggestions as you like. Here are some I like to help you out, but they are already taken!

Henry & Co/Henry & Company

Scallywag (my fav!)

Henry B. (for Henry Barker, I don't want to use the whole name though as there is a dog store called Harry Barker)

I don't necessarily want a dog focused name as some of Henry's "friends" are not dogs. But they will all be animals of some sort.

Thanks!

DIY Gift Tags

2010-01-05T09:19:00.000-08:00

Add some fun and whimsy to gifts with these dog themed printable tags courtesy of Modern Dog Magazine. Bright, festive colors make these fit for any occasion, not just for the holidays. Just Download here, print (I recommend using card stock for a more professional and sturdy look) and cut. Punch a hole and attach with ribbon or string.

More Renegade Finds

2009-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

I promised to show you some more from the Renegade craft fair-today is the day! We had the nicest booth neighbors at the show, and couldn't help but make a couple purchases from them. Behind us was Chocolate and Steel, a dangerous booth for my wallet! We found the cutest jewelry at the Chocolate and Steel booth, and their pieces made from reclaimed silver (from x-rays & film negatives).

I bought the snowy owls necklace for myself, and one as a gift for Elaine who was so delighted she's been wearing it every day since.

Here are a couple more items from Chocolate & Steel, see more at the etsy shop here.

We also bought a heart garland from our other neighbors, Banansaurus Rex. It will look great in Aroo Studio's future booths, and looks really cute on the headboard of the bed.

Bananasaurs Rex has a great selection of items, especially if you need a gift for someone. These are lavender sachets-cute right? I have one in my underwear drawer. Mmmm... lavender!

Last but not least, she had the prettiest wine bags made from vintage fabrics to spruce up the gift of an ordinary bag of wine into something a bit more special.

Itty Bitty Collar!

2009-12-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

One of the most frequent requests we get from customers is for collars for very small dogs. We aren't able to get the correct size webbing for them so haven't been able to make them. But, I've been working on how to make one that is sturdy and small without webbing. Ta-da! Give a girl a few days off for the Christmas holiday and a new collar is born!

This itty bitty prototype is just 1/2" wide and fits necks from 6-10". Now that is small! I am so excited about these. They aren't available just yet, but will be in the next 1-2 months. Next stop, cat collars! I can make them the exact same way but with a safety breakaway buckle, so your kitties can look as good as your pups!