In case you missed it, here is the fabulous Dara Foster from PupStyle on the Today Show with more gift ideas for dogs and dog lovers this holiday season…
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Don’t you think she should have her own TV show?!
For the next 12 days I will be featuring creative, crafty, pragmatic or luxurious gifts for the dog lover in your life. I know there is a massive credit crunch squeezing the global economy. But, thoughtful, original gifts don’t need to be expensive. Finding them just takes a little time. Hopefully, that’s where I can help this season. I have been scouting interesting finds this whole year to share with you to make your shopping, shipping and enjoyment of the holidays a little easier.
Feel free to email me and let me know what you are looking for or what you would like to see more of.
BTW, did you know the Twelve Days of Christmas might not just be a rousing Christmas carol but rather, “a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th
century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic
teachings of the Faith…a mnemonic device
to teach the catechism to youngsters.” For example, “Two turtle doves” represents the Old and New Testament. ( Read more here.)
Photo credit: Ripley by CastingShadows from his flickr photostream. This wonderful photo is also part of the book Merry Christmas from . . .150 Christmas Cards You Wish You’d Received. It looks cool, perhaps a great gift for someone on your list.
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Golden Retriever pillow
Mary Ann Varanelli of Best Friends Studios creates beautiful handmade appliqué pillows of your best friend. Working from a photo of your dog and a discussion about your decorating tastes, each pillow is cut and dyed by hand from 100% wool felted for softness.
The results are simply wonderful. Each pillow is a true work of art and tribute to the dog in your life. Mary Ann also makes handbags, coin purses, and Christmas stockings, now on sale at her Etsy store.
Bulldog photo
Bulldog pillow
Welsh Pembroke Corgi pillow
Maltese pillow
Golden Retriever pillow
Jack Russell pillow
Contact Mary Ann at Best Friends Studios and get your order in today. These fabulous pillows would make great holiday gifts!
My latest design inspired by my Longhaired Dachshund Darby. Comes as Christmas cards and lots of other fun gifts.
Like an ornament:
Or a pillow:
I also did a white background version that looks super cute on a toddler’s t-shirt:
and a baby’s onesie:
Oh, and I also like how it came out in red:
I’ll stop…you get the idea : )
My niece Layla has eclectic style as exhibited here by her dinosaur t-shirt that she’s paired with her ruby slippers.
I love to watch her taste develop and encourage her interest in the things I love too – namely dogs. I have given her several dog books and she has found some of her favorites on her own.
Here are Layla’s picks for the best dog books for kids this holiday season.
The Costume Party
Flawed Dogs: The Year End Leftovers at the Piddleton “Last Chance” Dog Pound
That’s Not My Puppy: Its Coat Is Too Hairy
Happy at the Bel-Air
I gave Open Me…I’m a Dog
I know all dog owners are ga-ga for their breeds. But, Pug owners, like the dogs themselves, are unique. They seem especially devoted to their breed, maybe because their dogs ARE so unique – I mean that in a good way. Pugs are adorable!
If you or someone you know is Pug-obsessed, you’re in luck. At Melissa Langer’s Pug Notes website you can do all your Christmas shopping in one place – well maybe two if you go to her Etsy shop – but you need look no further than Melissa for perfect Pug presents. Follow these step-by-step instructions and cross the Pug lover in your life off your list today.
First choose a Pug gift item. I love her new Pug collages
or Pug soap
or a print of one of her Pug paintings
Or a Pug puzzle, key chain, magnet, cutting board, pillow, mousepad, swtichplate, mug, book, dog bowl or other Pug gift that strikes your fancy.
Then pick up her wonderful hand printed Pug gift cards
And finally, wrap it all up with her one-of-a-kind Pug gift wrap.
There you go! Now, on to the next breed. Pugs will be hard to top. Thanks Melissa! And best to your darling muse, Emmitt : )
Ta daaaa! Coming in at number 1 on the most popular dog breed list is the Labrador Retriever. This seems exactly right as Chocolate, White, Yellow and Black Labs pop up everywhere in our lives and our culture these days. In LA they would be the Ford Explorer of dogs; sporty, nice looking, a little large for city-life, and ubiquitous. Also, super sweet. Here are some gift ideas for all the Lab lovers you know.
Yellow Lab greeting cards. I made this collage for my friend Katie. Her dog Wegman is happiest when she’s frolicking with Katie’s 4 children in their backyard. So I put Wegman in a “Magical Garden” of flowers that represent the month each child was born. Katie and her husband Matt’s flowers are included too. And Wegman is overjoyed! Framed prints and other great products with this collage are available at my DreamDogsArt Store.
Does your mom need something new to wear to dog shows this spring? A Labrador Retriever Mom t-shirt would be the perfect gift. Available in lots of colors and styles.
I couldn’t decide which Ken Bailey Labrador Retriever poster to feature so I’ll include them both: Three Lab Bakery and Black Dog Licorice.
Regular Dog Art Today readers know Ken is one of my all-time favorties!
A Sleeping June Yellow Lab mug from Georgia-based artist Will Eskridge would be a great Christmas gift, hostess gift, secret Santa or stocking stuffer. It would be nice to fill with doggie treats for your friend’s pet too!
Amy Reges’s Black Lab Christmas card. Amy has hundreds of lovely designs of Black Labs, Chocolate Labs and Yellow Labs for all occasions. She also offers original Lab-inspired sculptures, jewelry, silk scarves and custom paintings at her OtterTail Art website. Oh, Amy also breeds magnificent Labs on her NY farm — perfect one stop shopping for your dog and your artwork!
Lucky Yellow Lab porcelain ornament. It comes with a red ribbon for tree hanging and it would be perfect for the Irish Lab lover in your life. This image is also available on t-shirts if you’re shopping ahead for St. Patrick’s Day.
Framed Black Lab print by me, Moira McLaughlin. Also available on other products. Or you can get it as a signed unframed limited edition print at my Etsy store. It’s one of my most popular images.
A comfy Property of my Black Lab hooded sweatshirt would be great to wake up to on Christmas morning.
Premier dog artist Stephen Huneck’s limited edition giglee print, Sticks. A stunning Black Lab image with a timeless — and quintessentially holiday — message of peace.
Yorkshire Terriers are the 2nd most popular dog breed in the U.S. But if you know a Yorkie you’d believe they’re number 1. They are surprisingly vocal for such little dogs. No other breed can get a word in edgewise. Here are some perfect gifts for the Yorkie lover in your life.
Ken Bailey is one of my favorite contemporary dog artists. He combines everything I love in his work: dogs, food, bold color and simple design. His Peanut Butter Yorkie poster is absolutely adorable!
Show your allegiance to team Yorkie with a Property of My Yorkie baseball cap in khaki or white.
Gorgeous Yorkie ornament from an original painting by my sister Sheila Cameron. I love the sweet, soulful eyes! It’s made of porcelain and comes with a red ribbon for tree hanging.
Sheila also designed this Yorkie Christmas card. If you ever met her Yorkie, Danny, you would understand the irony.
Feel free to challenge me on this, but Yorkie owners might be the most obsessed dog owners I know. I’ve heard of several with entire rooms devoted to Yorkie decor. If you know a Yorkie interior designer, this Yorkie pillow might be the perfect addition to his or her home.
Super cool screen print long sleeved Yorkie t-shirt from Alfie & Rex. Yorkie owners don’t just wear pink!
Yorkshire Terrier print from digital artist John W. Golden. Cute but not cute-sy.
Another Sheila design. “If think I’m a diva, you should meet my Yorkie” apron. Get cooking in Yorkie diva style.
German Shepherds are the 3rd most popular dog breed in the U.S. This surprises me since I don’t know anyone who owns a German Shepherd (like how it’s all about me). But I trust the American Kennel Club’s statistics. And I trust that the German Shepherd owners are out there looking for Christmas gifts. So here are my picks:
Anne & Florent oil painting by Dog Art Today favorite Rachelle Oatman. Available through Dog Art Dealer Jaynie Milligan Spector. Obviously a mixed marriage.
Stunning White German Shepherd ornament. Made of porcelain, it comes with a red ribbon for tree hanging. From the White German Shepherd Store.
German Shepherd wired sculpture from Green Piece Wire Art. Also available as a topiary, in case you want a German Shepherd to simply stay in your yard and look pretty.
A German Shepherd herds his flock of sheep on this darling long sleeved t-shirt. Available in lots of great sizes and styles from Karen Hocker Studios.
Experts say not to give a puppy as a Christmas gift. But it’s soooo fun! If you do it this year, be sure to include the “Bible” of dog training, The Art of Raising a Puppy
Another great gift for a new puppy owner, a German Shepherd Men’s Fleece
Hand carved German Shepherd portrait by Michael John dePierro. Visit his Parts of a Larger World to custom order one of his sculptures of your pet. He does people too.
The 4th most popular breed in the U.S. is the Golden Retriever. A sweet one named Hazel lives next door to me. This Goldie gift post is dedicated to her.
Golden Retriever coaster. Image by me, Moira McLaughlin, entitled Bliss. I was inspired by David Hockney’s swimming pools. See it on lots of other products too.
Wonderful Golden Retriever photo by Virginia-based artist Jill Beninato. A photo session with her or one of her digital dog portraits would be a great gift this season!
“Good as gold” Golden Retriever greeting cards from Mod-Dog. Perfect sentiment, beautifully rendered!
A set of 8 Golden Retriever buttons. Recycled into wearable art from a 70s booklet. From Art4Milkbones.
Give the people what they want. This simple design always turns out to be a best seller. I highly recommend it for the Golden Retriever lover in you life.
I love this print entitled Abstract Yellow Dog. A sleepy Golden Retriever taken with a manual camera and some dodgy film, it’s totally old school. Discovered in Mellen’s shop on Etsy.
Awww! A handmade Golden Retriever dog leash hook. Another work of art from Art4Milkbones
Super cute Golden Retriever Christmas cards from Nothin’ Butt Dogs. Yes, they specialize in dog butt artwork : )