Handmade4Hounds

Hooray! Handmade4Hounds has been featured on Etsy's front page in the Storque. Our street team is still young and wet behind the ears, but we are gaining momentum! You can read the article for yourself here.

May's Photo Contest Winner!

May's Photo Contest Winner!, originally uploaded by ClassicHound.

Congratulations to our May winner, Ramona the Greythound! She is one hip hound in her red hip star design! Ramona is definitely a head turner - with or without the collar! She's also Classic Hound's May Photo Contest Winner! Ramona will enjoy a $20.00 Gift certificate that she can use towards any Classic Hound Purchase! Learn more about Classic Hound's photo contest by clicking here.

For pet photography tips, go to this post to learn helpful techniques to help you get that perfect shot!

Sweet Dreams Designs

How lovely are these prints? They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! This UK artist has whimsical down to a "T". I'm in love with her work. Her guinea pig images brought me back to my teaching days, when my 1st grade class had a pair of cavies - Rosie and Bob - who were quite the amorous pair! It was a lot of fun for the kids (and me!) when Rosie gave birth to the cutest little piggies we'd ever seen! Just little golf ball sizes of fluff running around the cage! What fun!!

Check out her watercolors, originals, prints, and ACEOs.


For those of you who aren't sure what ACEOs are (like me until this post), here's a definition I found on Etsy: ACEOs (Art Cards Editions or Originals). Right now a lot of people are starting to collect ACEOs. They are collectible miniature artworks that can be created in any variety of media - originals or prints. The main rule is that they measure 3.5 x 2.5 inches. They are small, low cost examples of artists' work so this allows people to collect a variety of different types of art. You can put them in a photo album on your living room table , frame them or leave them in a basket for everyone to enjoy. The hope is that when someone sees a sample of an artist's work they'll be inspired to purchase a larger piece for their home or as a gift.

For more information on Sweet Dreams Design's website,Watercolors; Originals, Prints, and ACEOs check out her Etsy Shop. For greeting cards and key chains go to her ZoZo Etsy shop. And for 3D textiles, checkout this one. I almost forgot to mention that SweetDreamsDesigns is also a member of Handmade4Hounds,so she's an artist who gives back! And you've gotta love that!!!

Art of The Greyhound

One of my favorite greyhound artists is a fellow Etsian and also a member of handmade4hounds! Let me introduce you to you Sarah Regan Snaveley and Art of the Greyhound:


Sarah's website explains that in 1995, Sarah called the Greyhound Pets of America 800 number for the nearest Greyhound adoption group. She drove a ten hours drive to meet Sterling, a fawn-colored male who had flunked off the track before he turned two years old. Sterling graciously modeled for many of the art works created while Sarah earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It was this amazing breed with the sensitive and gentle nature that captured Sarah’s imagination.


Sarah’s work focuses on the rich, often subtle, body language of her subjects: the ear carriage, the tightening of facial muscles, the incline of the head. All are used as tools to invite the viewer into Snavely’s vision of the Greyhound soul. Whether the medium is two or three dimensional the connection between the Artist and the Greyhound is always evident.



My mother was a sculptor and ceramicist (she preferred to be called a potter) and I've spent years with my mother in her studio playing in the clay. Which makes my appreciation of Sarah's work all the more great - from the molding and rolling of wet clay to the firings and glazing, this is not only hard work, but takes an incredible amount of talent to do what Sarah does! Her work is truly unique and flawless.


Sarah’s work is displayed in public and private collections in fifteen countries as well as all fifty United States. She regularly exhibits in juried art shows nationwide and has received numerous honors including an award at the prestigious Art Show at the Dog Show. Sarah and her pack of Greyhounds live in a small town in southwestern North Dakota. You can find out more about Sarah by visiting her Website and Blog (which is fantastic! I've added her to my blogroll). I also suggest checking out her Etsy Store as well!

April Doggies

ToadBriar

Welcome to the whimsical world of ToadBriar! I get lost in the magic of these amazing paintings. Take this Cozy Fairy Tale Thank You Toad Firefly painting for instance. It is so lovely and immediately takes me back to the days I would sit on my mothers lap as a child and we would read together.


"Under the hedgerow, a little toad reads his Fairy Tale book about The Frog Prince. Night is falling, light is fading .... until a firefly casts his warm light for Toad to read by. This is a warm cozy painting that says "thank you".


The artist, Kim Parkhurst's love of greyhounds (and perhaps whippets too) is apparent in these gorgeous portraits. I feel like I could sit down to drink a cup of tea and engage in witty conversation with this guy:


Parkhurst, makes all sorts of art, from paintings and prints to dolls, vintage style teddy bears, and sculptures. She even spins wool on her very own spinning wheel! (Something I grew up doing as well with the wool shorn from our own sheep, small world)! You can find more of her work, including card sets, in her ToadBriar Etsy Shop.

BowWowBeds

BowWowBeds are incredible! An innovative design that has No Zipper! It's Durable! Unique! Practical! Completely Machine Washable & Dryer Safe! The creator and owner of BowWowBeds is also a member of Handmade4Hounds, so she gives back to the doggies she makes beds for!

BowWowBeds are dog bed covers custom made from durable Duck Canvas. Same TOUGH material used Sails, Humvee Tops & Backpacks! Makes a wonderful comfy bed for your pet! Beds come in four colors: Hunter Green, Jet Black, Drab Olive & Natural.

And the best part is that the designer will personalize your Bow Wow Bed by painting your Dog’s Name, Paw Print or Dog Bone for FREE! The letters measure 2 inches. The paw & bone measure about 1.5 to 2 inches. Once painted (non toxic, permanent) the fabric can then be washed 72 hours later.


Look how well they fit into the back of your car for easy traveling!


And look how comfortable and relaxed these hounds look on their new BowWowBeds!


You can find out more about these fabulously durable and chic beds by visiting BowWow's Etsy shop and website.