Search results (title) for: "etsy pets"

Handmade Portraits: MV Knits featured on YouTube!

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:25:00 -0000

Today, August 3rd, 2008 YouTube has featured one of our Handmade Video Portraits on their front page! Please watch our portrait of shepherd Susan Gibbs and then subscribe to the Etsy channel on YouTube and Itunes to keep up-to-date on the latest Etsy videos.

Check out the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm's blog and flickr site. You can also check out the Etsy Labs flickr site for Calder Martin's photos from the shoot.

Watch the rest of the Handmade Video Portraits series and leave a comment! Let us know if you find the stories inspiring and enlightening.

Fresh Shops: merlinsbarkproducts

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:45:00 -0000

Recently, I was clicking through Pounce Undiscovered with my right hand while rubbing my dog’s head with my left. I saw this great (well-crafted and simply designed) elevated dog feeder (in red-stained chestnut) by merlinsbarkproducts, and I ah-ha’ed aloud.

I love finding good woodwork on Etsy. This shop couples creative carpentry with a design sensibility that’s driven by deep compassion for animals.

So far, merlinsbarkproducts features an assortment of feeders and little wooden homes for an array of animals, such as bluebirds, bats, butterflies, flying squirrels…and of course, dogs.

I put a few questions to the creators behind merlinsbarkproducts, Sherry and Jerry:

There is a great beauty and variety of wood in your items. What are some of the benefits to using sustainably harvested or recycled wood?

It is very important to me that we use wood that comes from trees that are managed and farmed in ways that ensure the protection of the environment and other natural resources. Also, I would hate to think that I was contributing to the removal of old growth trees. I know that a lot of different animals depend on those trees for housing. Also, you can find a lot of beauty in old recycled wood. We get a lot of our recycled wood from a local building material recycling center. I am hoping to use some of their old barn wood for owl house I have in mind.

The designs of your animal homes seem strangely inviting...

I love to lay outside in my yard and watch all the different animals run around. When I’m watching them, I start to think about what type of houses and feeding station they would need.

One of my favorite products is our condominium for flying squirrels. It is just amazing! It is over 3-feet tall and has four floors. I came up with the design after watching our own flying squirrels and wondering what type of house they would need if our old pine tree didn’t exist anymore. I did a little research and came up with a house that any flying squirrel would be proud to call home.

I also realized the need for Purple Martin houses when a whole colony of them decided to move into our gutters this spring. I did a little research trying to figure out why they moved in and found out that Purple Martins are the only birds that totally depend on humans for housing. So now we will be adding Purple Martin houses to our product line.

Your blog details a very interesting story about how you turned an idea into a real company. Can you talk about some of the challenges you faced and how you resolved them?

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out what type of products I wanted to concentrate on. At first I was thinking about making products for animals and humans, but I have found myself concentrating more on products geared toward animals.

Though, humans benefit from our products too. Whether it is from installing a bat house and having Mother Nature’s little pest control experts take the place of using poisonous insecticide, or being entertained by song birds eating out of a feeder, the enjoyment our of products can be shared by animals and humans.

Our product line continues to evolve. I love receiving feedback and suggestions from customers. Recently we had people ask us about elevated cat bowl feeders. I had never thought making those before, but now we will be adding elevated cat bowl feeders to our product line. I also continue to do research on animal husbandry to see what other types of products we should be offering.

You are a member of the Abandoned Wild Babies Animal Resuce (AWBAR), who also keeps an Etsy shop. How does being a member of such a compassionate organization affect your role as a shop owner?

Since I’ve joined, I’ve been helping to spread the word about AWBAR through my blog and also on forums. I recently donated one of our dual feeders (a feeder that can be used by both birds and squirrels) to the AWBAR Etsy store. I can’t wait for it to sell. All of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to support the care of the baby animals at AWBAR.

See more Fresh Shops and say hey to a new seller!

Etsy Finds: Superhero Cat!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:41:00 -0000

Those who know me well know that I am obsessed with cats, especially my amazing feline companion Ollie-Bear. They also know that I love the heck out of my niece and nephew. This fierce — though still adorable — Superhero Cat from desdemonia is a prime specimen of just the sort of unique item I can only find on Etsy. I love the fact that its a cat, and I love the fact that my little nephew would love it.

All little boys like kittens, and what little boy doesn't love superheroes?

Meow!

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Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Etsy Pets: Brawny Cats

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:17:00 -0000

Deep in the Magic Forest of Arizona there is a property set back which is nearly unseen from the dirt road. If one ventures onto it the tranquility one feels is almost palpable. Stop for a minute and listen. All one hears is the singing and chirping of birds, the buzz of hummingbird wings, and the gentle rustling of leaves as squirrels and rabbits forage for food. When breezes pick up, the melodic wind chime collection fills the air.

Two humans and two cats inhabit the home, which has a wrap-around porch on three sides. The alpha male human is an inventor who came from a long line of inventors (his grandfather invented the folding box process and the first folding box machine). He spends his days in a separate building creating his own inventions, and has several patents to his name, with the most recent being for the world’s best electric heater. His wife is a nurse half the week and works diligently at her Etsy shop the rest of the week.

The couple lost many cats over a period of years because the wildness of the area has some major predators. There are bobcats, coyotes and hawks, always hungry, and always ready to make a meal of house cats.

The couple was very sad for about 10 months after their next-to-last cat went missing. The husband pestered his wife several times a day about getting more cats. Finally, the wife agreed, and decided each of them would have their own kitten. She decided hers would be a Bengal named Mica, a purebred that arose from the blending of an Asian Leopard Cat and a tabby. The animals have sleek, velvety fur which either sports spots like a leopard, or a mottled, almost tie-dyed look. She chose the spotted look. Her husband chose an alley cat of the same age, named Bart. The two would be raised as brother and sister.

The plan was to have a place where the cats could enjoy the outside and yet remain safe from predators. Thus the inventor created a wonderful outdoor porch in which the cats could play without fear of being added to a lunch menu. But that was not all — he added a giant wheel to the enclosure, and trained the cats to run on it for exercise. The original Bengal cattery had such wheels, and it seemed a wonderful idea. The cats run on the wheel off and on each day in their special covered porch, and have buffed up incredibly! The veterinarian says she has never seen such healthy cats! They spend from 9 am to 4 pm outside, and return inside and spend the evening basking in the glow of their health. They have never scratched a piece of furniture, they don’t smoke, have sex or get in trouble with the police. Mica and Bart do have one vice, though: a squirt of whipping cream each evening. Mica yowls loudly for it, and Bart stands by silently and accepts the gift.

Both cats have inspired the wife in her collage art; they are remarkable cats and are putting their human counterparts to shame with their exercise ability and commitment. The cats inspire the couple to forge ahead with their exercise regimens.
Would it not be wonderful if zoos had such giant wheels for their larger cats and maybe even some primates?

Northstaralapacas: Alpaca Granny

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:51:00 -0000

When Maple of northstaralpacas sends out her Etsy packages, there's a little treat included in addition to the luscious handspun yarn and cozy handknit hats. The unexpected surprise that awaits each customer? A photograph of the specific alpaca from which the item originated. The handmade movement has always been about the person behind the product, but northstaraplacas and other fiber artists on Etsy are taking this one step further: crediting the animal behind the product, too.

Maple appreciates the gift these animals provide her, and in exchange, nurtures them, above and beyond commercial responsibilities. On her blog, Alpaca Granny, Maple tells the story of one baby alpaca (cria), named Spot for the light patch on the top of his head, who was having trouble nursing from his mother, Ariana. Maple saved this little guy by bottle-feeding for his first few weeks.

Just this week, Maple posted a triumphant update about Spot's progress: "He will have absolutely nothing to do with his bottle and is a little aloof to me now. I'm so amazed that after 3 weeks he is figuring out the instincts that he should have had at birth. And thank you, Ariana, for being so patient with him."

It's inspiring to see this symbiotic relationship succeed. I hope Spot will reciprocate the love!

Handmade Portraits: MV Knits

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0000

After quitting her day job in Los Angeles and moving to Martha's Vineyard, a quiet island off the Massachusetts coast, Susan Gibbs aka MVKnits had a great idea. She started Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm and figured out how to make a living making yarn. Why not use the local food movement's model of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and apply it to a yarn harvest? Shareholders pay for a share in the yarn harvest as a way to support a local farm (or in this case, a local farm supported through the internet) and in return they get weekly updates, photos from the farm, an invitation to the shearing and ultimately a share of the yarn.

[Music by Barry London & Charlie Parr]

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

Check out the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm's blog and flickr site. And check out the Etsy Labs flickr site for Calder Martin's photos from the shoot.

You can watch more of our Handmade Video Portraits and we'd be so thrilled if you'd subscribe to our free Etsy iTunes podcast.

Etsy Finds: Sparrow Plates

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:38:00 -0000

The seller justmare has a lot of beautiful pottery in her shop. I picked this little set of sparrow plates after searching for bird related items. I also really like these butterfly plates. They are almost too cute to eat off, and would look good hanging on a wall. She has a huge range of styles in her shop, all tied together by her lovely sense of color and her Arizona inspired aesthetic.

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Etsy Finds: Vintage Animal Print

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:37:00 -0000

Since we've been celebrating all things pet and animal related on The Storque for the last two weeks, I thought it only fitting that this week's Vintage Etsy Finds be animal related — animal print, that is. Add a little animal allure to your wardrobe and you can be a Bettie Page or Sophia Loren caliber siren! With some red lipstick and cat eye sunglasses you'll be beating off your admirers with a stick. Don't be shy: get in touch with your ferocious side! Animal print is retro glamor done best.

vintage safari top xs

This demure top is a cross between tropical and animal. Very nice. At shu1245, $18.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Gorgeous Boho Print Silk Dress, Small

A floaty dress for summer with hints of zebra and leopard. Found at leolucaescobar, $65.

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Meow Leopard Print Onesie Unitard Catsuit ML

This looks hard to pull off, but it is possible. As the description states: "What on earth does one wear with a leopard print catsuit? Well, what doesn't one wear with a catsuit?" Push that envelope, baby! From thecovetedshoppe, $24.99.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Vintage Jungle Capris S M

Sassy giraffe! These pants would be pretty comfy (and stylish!) in the jungle heat. Seen in somegirlsvintage, $20.

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Tiger Beat Brown Black Animal Vintage Indie 80s Button Dress SM

A classic dress with a great shape. Get this one before it's gone! At VintageDress, $38.

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Vintage. MAXI SKIRT. Leopard Print. Leopard Head. Novelty. 70s

A maxi skirt like this doesn't come along often. Wear it long and be a bold diva! At vintageitville, $19.

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HOT Vintage 1970s Blue Purple Black Animal Like Printed Semi Sheer Dress with Pleated Neckline

What do you get when you cross secretary with animal print? SEXY. At SkivvyLuLuVintage, $50.

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SALE. Roar

I totally covet this bathing suit. Leopard is hot. At jenn3star, $8.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

wornAGAIN vintaGE 70s slinky LEOPARD reconstruct dreSS

A slinky dress for a night on the town. Rawr! At wORNaGAIN, $38.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

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Bark the Vote

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:00:00 -0000

Dogs are definitely getting more political these days. (Or at least their owners are.) It seems our dogs can get us to do just about anything. They want to sleep on the bed? We move over. They whimper and give puppy dog eyes? We give them treats. Bark at the door? We let them out. So how far does the dog’s influence go? For some people, it extends into giving their dog a political voice.

Owners and their politically-minded dogs have a wide range of products to choose from. They can support their favorite presidential candidates with items from several Etsy sellers. I have been inspired to sell dog bandanas bearing the slogans, "Barkers for Barack", "RePUPlicans for McCain", and "Canines for Clinton". AutumnLeavesJewelry creates custom dog tags for Barack fans. Dogs looking for a less subtle way to speak their mind can opt for the full t-shirts from alfieandrex with the logo, "Dogs 4 Obama", emblazoned on their back.

The messages move beyond the upcoming presidential election. An intelligent dog would probably appreciate a "Smarter than the President" bandana available from makeyourdogsmile's shop. Peaceful pups are the perfect candidates for the "Another Puppy for Peace" shirt created by Blackflag317.

Have a dog who is afraid to speak his mind? Never fear! Dog-owners can wear their pets’ opinions as well. Campaign buttons abound in thedogcoatlady’s shop for every breed from Boxers to Westies.

These buttons are not limited to dogs, either. Cats and even ferrets can speak their mind vicariously through their owners.

Want to support your dog’s opinion but not sure which party your dog would endorse? Take this quiz from squidoo.com to quickly determine your dog’s political leanings.

Republican vs. Democrat: Is your dog a donkey or an elephant?
Republican Pets:
1. They bark at passing neighbors and traffic; home security is very important to them.
2. Their ears perk up when Fox News comes on.
3. They are a big spender at the local pet store.
4. Strongly believe pet matrimony should only occur between two cats or two dogs.
5. Believe in the 2nd amendment right to bear teeth and claws.
6. Are for electric border fences for the yard.
7. Want national ID tags for all pets.
8. They advocate for the pet tracking chip — you can never have too much security!

Democrat Pets:
1. They want universal veterinary care for all!
2. They want their treats for free.
3. They socialize with all breeds at the dog park.
4. They prefer their owner uses biodegradable poop bags.
5. Are very concerned with the rising rate of pet food.
6. Have the young puppy and kitten vote locked.
7. Want an end to the war of dogs vs. cats once and for all.
8. Think of Ralph Nadar as the dog catcher.

Once you know where your dog falls, you can register him to vote at mypoliticalpet.com, a "non-partisan, informative, free website dedicated to your pets and the latest political news." There you and your dog can connect with pets from across the nation and discuss the latest political issues. You can also monitor important animal issues including keeping pets out of labs and the dog and cat fur prohibition act.

When you consider the fact that elected officials make decisions that can affect the lives of pets, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to let your dog influence your vote. After all, it is not just your world, it’s your dog’s, too.

Now I have to wonder, would my dog influence the way I vote? I don’t know…I guess it would depend on what she was wearing at the time, and of course, where she bought it.

Fresh Shops: tinyminds

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:43:00 -0000

Preface:
There I was, just minding my own business, writing an exciting Storque Fresh Shops article, when the technology mainstream media scooped up the story out from under my nose! It took only a matter of hours for tinyminds magical little Etsy shop to trickle up from Technabob's blog all the way to Corey Doctorow's recent post on Boing Boing. When something like that happens, it usually spells an Etsian's favorite four letter word beginning with S. As much as I would love to proclaim "great minds think alike," I find it more appropriate to give credit where credit is due: may I be the first to congratulate Jenny on all her success, and say keep up the good BOTS! Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself...

Introduction:
In the grand tradition of Etsy's Pet Series, I discovered this fresh little shop (opened on Mar 18, 2008) when searching for related items for another article. Being a complete nerd, I revel in the wonderful geekery found on the Etsy, but when I found tinyminds' shop, I thought to myself: "OMG somebody is selling the cutest BEAM Robots I have ever seen right here on Etsy." I come from a short tradition of making robots, some of the first of which were the solar-powered bot circuits found on solarbotics, but frankly I think the care that has gone into making tinyminds' bugbots makes me hopeful for fleets of robot/pets in the future. This is just the kind of adorkable pet store I want to visit; one with pets who need only sun to reveal their true colors.

Cthulhu:

I can't decide, but I think that Cthulhu the solar powered emo bot (who thanks to recent fame has sold out) might [have been] my favorite. In the spirit of writer H.P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu appear[ed] to be some sort of pitch black hopping cephalopod with slightly evil tendencies. I have to say however, it is really a tough call to decide which pet I would want to call my own when there's also Ernie the solar-powered light seeking bot (seen up top) or Bert the light seeking, solar-powered bugbot who are tiny, brightly colored light seeking bots.

Bert:

Can you tell us a little about the people behind tinyminds?

Tinyminds is me, Jenny, Mum to 15 month Bab, computer programmer, all round nerd and non-stop crafter. I stumbled across a link to Etsy and was immediately hooked. Somewhere I could put all of the various stuff I make under one roof, as it were.

Where did the idea for solar-powered robots come from?

I've always loved solar-powered stuff. There's something just magical about being powered by the sun, plus it gives your creations more life. No batteries which die, no on/off switches, just light. Perfect. The shape of the robots is biologically designed too, which is just a fancy way of saying they look like bugs! I searched out the simplest circuits with the fewest components, and these components with an eye towards the bugness shaped the little critters. They kind of evolve to the shape they need to be. So you could say they kind of build themselves.

What inspires you as a creative person?

Everything inspires me, but I have a bit of a thing about paper. I started with origami and then origamic architecture, then paper models, then paper automata (moving models). This then lead to wooden automata and then electronic robots. I also find a lot of inspiration in nature. I'm not a flowery type girl but I do love flower shapes and colors. I also love the tiny and intricate. I make ridiculously detailed 144 scale models (the size of a doll house in a 12th scale doll house) with things like 3 mm books with turning pages. I love to be able to stare and stare at an object and always find more to see.

How do you like Etsy so far?

Etsy is just fabulous. It is such a friendly place with beautiful creations wherever you look. I especially love the Treasuries where you get not just the wonderful things people have made but also the skill of the curators putting a pile of treasures together. Forums are also really really helpful and full of great people.

I am really loving being part of such a vibrant and creative community, and with such beauty to choose from, I shall never have to buy a commercially made gift again. :)

See more Fresh Shops and say hey to a new seller!

Etsy Find: Beware of Dogs!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:10:00 -0000

Pets are a bone of contention for my family. My son, age 4, wants a dog TODAY. (A Rottweiler, to be exact — preferably one named Manny that sleeps under his bed.) My daughter, age 2, is very afraid of dogs. In fact, she’s still talking about the only time she worked up the courage to pet a dog.

So what pet did I find for my kids? This awesome rock star by HoneydewStudio. It's extinct, and therefore less scary for my daughter. It has flames on his skin, so it's cool enough for my son. Best of all, I don't have to get up early to walk Iggy.

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Etsy Pets: Pet Memorials

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:00 -0000

My passion for clay has taken me down many roads in the 12 years I've been throwing. Most of my experience has been in creating functional pottery (dinnerware, vases, bowls, etc.), but every once in a while I would receive a request to make an funeral urn. Each time I sat at my wheel to make one I was flooded with ideas and inspiration; creating something so meaningful gave a deeper meaning to my work. When I would return to making functional-ware I would miss the satisfaction of creating something that was so much more than an object. So I decided to take it on full time. I love it. Etsy has given me the opportunity to directly connect with families looking for a one of a kind vessel with which to honor their loved ones. The Etsy community has responded well and I've learned so much about how we can celebrate and honor a person's life when they pass. I'd never heard of the blazing Viking funerals or having ashes cast into hundreds of resin pendants for everyone in attendance. My favorite idea for a send off was to have a bit of ash put into hundreds of helium balloons which are released for one last trip around the world.

Pet urns are my favorite to create because I usually hear so much about the pet. In most cases, “pet” just doesn't seem like the right word. "Soul mate" — those are the words I hear most often to describe this little life that has been right at their sides through good times and bad. I have two stories of families that recently lost pets that had been with them for 14 years.

The first came to me as an Alchemy request by fury716. This urn was so special because I was able to inscribe the cat's name on the bottom before it was fired in the kiln.

Fury716 writes,

“I adopted Genji. In 2004, we all moved to Japan. The military required us to get him re-vaccinated, despite my apprehensions. A few months later, we noticed a lump at the injection site. This was the start of two years of surgeries. Finally, in late June, we began palliative care…and I realized I would have to make some tough decisions. I decided I would want him cremated and that I would want a special container, not mass produced. I wanted warmth not seen in mass-produced items. And I wanted something unique too and having purchased all kinds of cool stuff on Etsy, I figured that would be a good place to start.

It was intuition about what shape and color was "right." As far as the conscious part of the selection process, I was drawn to the shape I chose because it reminded me of the details I had studied in college of churches and castles, spires and domes. The pieces had a substance, serenity and gravitas, a bit of monumentality to them. I found the right shape and I chose the cobalt glaze because I'm drawn to deep colors, and the cobalt is such an elegant and soothing color. It's a color I often see in the twilight skies here or in some of the colors of the sea of Japan. Additionally, one of the collars that Genji wore was orange (it was one of our favorite ones on him) and it would make a nice contrast when I set up his memorial.”

The second story that I have to share with you is one that I think of every time I sit to make pet urns. Fellow Etsy seller, DantesSpirit first contacted me to reserve an urn for her 14 and a half year old Akita, Dante. She knew the day was approaching that they would no long be together. Throughout this process we shared stories and pictures.

I could feel, even through an email, the love she had for Dante and what a special dog she was. A few days later I received a convo that read “I lost Dante-Inu yesterday morning. She decided she wanted to go then, and as usual, she did things her way.” My heart was heavy all day and it still brings tears to my eyes. She allowed me access to her live journal. The following passage is always with me as I throw. DantesSpirit writes: “I have a craving. One that will never, ever be satisfied. I want to scritch Dante's head, right between her ears. I want to do this so badly, that my fingers started twitching.”

I am a true Etsy addict and love to see “Etsy transactions” in my inbox, but for me it is always bittersweet.

Etsy Finds: Mint Polka Dotted Dog Dress

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:11:00 -0000

The more absurd your pet looks, the more likely she (and therefore you) are to be remembered. (Or at least that's what a good friend once told me.) Ironically, his dog was very boring, so I don't remember either of their names. Regardless, if you've noticed your pup is looking bleak and you've been considering spicing up her wardrobe, I suggest taking a look at some of the beautifully bizarre dog attire in furbabiesboutique's shop. This particular polka dotted formal dress is a feathery heap of insanity, sure to leave any passersby lost in its minty glow. It is the age of elaborate dog adornment; jump on the fancy bandwagon and buy your pooch a ball gown already!

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Etsy Finds: Sugar Gliders

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

I've been on the lookout for Etsy stuff inspired by sugar gliders and I found this great print of a collage by onecreativegirl. Sugar gliders are cute. If I could have a pet, I would have a sugar glider. I daydream of having one that I could carry around in my pocket and be my little pal. I've heard they bond strongly with humans and, because they are marsupials, you have to carry them in a bag around your neck when they are babies.

(I'll admit it was this video on YouTube that got my sugar glider obsession started!)

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Workin' Like a Dog

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:43:00 -0000

One of my favorite shows on the National Geographic Channel has always been Dogs with Jobs, a show that profiles canines with working jobs. It's got something to do with the idea of a dog having a higher purpose than just a household pet. Don't get me wrong, I think that all pets have a purpose, but it's those truly extraordinary pets who fascinate me. It was this fascination that led me to the Forums in search of people who would want to share their pets' stories with me. I got a lot of really great responses to my request, but below you will find the stories of three different Etsy members and their dogs, who prove that they are more than just man's best friend.

[Photograph by fluffnflowers]

Our first extraordinary pet belongs to fluffnflowers and is trained as a Seizure/Motion Disorder dog. The dog, an Airedale named Ellie, assists people who are prone to seizures by alerting them of upcoming episodes. Extensive training to get her used to the public has aided in Ellie's success. Along with regular obedience and aptitude training, Ellie has also been trained to pull a card from her service vest which states: "Stand Back! Call 911 — my partner is having a seizure!" Ellie is not just a working dog though, she also enjoys spending time in the garden, chasing bumblebees and helping her Mom cultivate her gorgeous plants and flowers.

[Photograph by ShoeTheLittleFilly]

Jasper, who raced under the name Atomic Bear, is a retired racing Greyhound who resides in Australia and belongs to ShoeTheLittleFilly. Jasper is a pet therapy dog who visits nursing homes and elderly-resident hostels, to help the residents who are often having a hard time transitioning between their lives at home, and their lives in the new facilities in which they reside. Due to the gentle nature and stature of Greyhounds, Jasper has been a welcome addition to the Pet Therapy program. Training for this program required acclimating Jasper to things like motorized scooters, walking through a crowd, and people who may have unpredictable movements. When Jasper isn't working, he enjoys sleeping, being the head taste tester for his mom's baking, and encouraging his mom to buy new embroidery hoops, by eating her old ones.

[Photograph by MVKnits]

Fettucini, Biscotti, and Sabine are all Maremma, which are livestock guardian dogs, who live on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts with their mom, MVKnits. Maremma are raised to protect flocks of sheep and goats from predators like coyote and domestic dogs. Above being good natured and playful, these dogs are fiercely loyal and will lay down their own lives to protect their flock. Maremma have guarding instincts that don't require any formal training, and while they do have basic obedience training, they will ignore any command you give them if they think it puts the flock in danger. Without these dogs, the flock may be in danger, and MVKnits wouldn't be able to offer her gorgeous fiber for sale on Etsy. Interesting Fact: More sheep are killed by domestic dogs than coyotes or wolves each year.

Further Resources:
Paws with a Cause
Adopt a Greyhound
Maremma

Etsy Finds: Sandstone Dog Bowl

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:08:00 -0000

I am always looking for something to get my sister – a gift for her dog always works the best. Made from a gorgeous slab of polished sandstone, this unique dog bowl is shaped like a dog bone and fits into any natural décor. A great gift for the friend or dog that has everything or a classic addition to the inside or outside of your home. Made by StoneyCreekDogBowl who lives in the heart of the North Cascade Range at the foot of Sauk Mountain, and who came up with this idea as a way to help pay for the care of his aging lab. He even does engraving!

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Etsy Finds: Cat Skirt

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:22:00 -0000

While I was browsing around Etsy in search of something that would fit into this lovely Pet series, I found this Cat Skirt by kachingdesign! The image handprinted on this skirt is such a sweet representation of a kitty. The colors and the style of the skirt are wonderfully cozy and also a bit modern. I love how the description says: "Wise kitty cat will keep you company wherever you go." I personally would love this cat looking up at me, as I go through my day.

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Etsy Finds: Horseback Rider Handmade Metal Sculpture

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:19:00 -0000

My Etsy Find is Horseback Rider Handmade Metal Sculpture, by artexchange.

You can't hold a horse in your lap and skritch behind his ears. You can't put a horse on a little wheel and watch him run. Dignified horses don't play “fetch” with tennis balls. But all the same, horses are beloved to human beings, and it's only a little stretch to call them pets. Dogs may be man's best friend, but who can dispute Silver's loyalty to the Lone Ranger? Cats may be clever and cute, but I've seen a horse that was smart enough to do math, or at least smart enough to fake it. Horses are big and beautiful, and almost symbiotically connected to humankind, at least as much as any other species of pet. And after all, who among us hasn't ever concluded a wish list with, “and I want a pony”?

I'll have to admit, I have never had a pet horse. But as I was wandering the byways of Etsy, thinking about pets, I came upon a gleaming horse bearing a knight in shining armor. (Or was it a jockey in shining armor? I couldn't tell, they went by so fast.) I tried to follow along, to see what they were doing. I could tell they were on a mission. All I found was a field full of other horses, and a swordfish.

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Etsy Finds: Woof, Dog Beds, Woof!

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:12:00 -0000

So, my woofer, Signahl aka Sidgeemon aka SidgitalDigital aka Sidgee wanted me to tell you all about how older dogs need comfier habitats!!

Our first adventure in the Pacific Ocean here in San Francisco:

She's almost 10 years old now (I cry, sniff! both photos taken within the last year) and she has mild arthritis, even though she loves running on the beach and playing in the water. She says that, even though she sleeps in bed with Mommy, it's not ALL the time, and the couch works, but she also needs a place that is ALL her own.

Here's the couch sleepytime, while Mommy does QA for Etsy:

So, in the search for comfort for my lovely child dog, I found this bed from Chubby Trubby so awesome and perfect for dogs like Signahl! This bed has an extra added feature: You can cuddle with your puppy on it as well, but unfortunately, it cannot be made big enough for adult humans!

Additionally, this bed can be made from pieces of your old jeans if desired, and it COMES WITH the tie dyed pillow! How perfect for my now resident San Franciscan dog!

Enjoy these other pet beds, below. Thanks, Storque Readers!

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Etsy for Animals: Working Together

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:25:00 -0000

It all started with an idea and an Etsy forum thread. A year and a half later, Etsy for Animals (EFA) has over 530 members, and is one of the largest Teams on Etsy. For EFA's first Storque post, click here. You can get to the team members' items by searching "team efa."

Although the only membership requirement is a love for animals, many members also choose to donate a portion of their proceeds to animal charity: either to the EFA charity of the month (this July, the charities are Dogs for the Deaf and the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Program) or to other animal charities that they individually support. EFA also has a shop, where all items are donated by EFA members, and 100% of proceeds from sales goes to the EFA charity of the month. When contributions from the EFA shop and EFA members are totaled, many small donations add up to large contributions to animal charity.

How does such a large team function? Electronic communication, shared documents, and the EFA Yahoo group, administered by Darktemptations, are essential since team members live all over the world. But, most importantly, many EFA members have volunteered their time to help. Here are just a few of these hard-working people and the EFA projects they're working on.

[Michele aka mvegan5 and her cat, Moses]

Michele aka mvegan5 is the EFA team founder and co-leader. She's a California artist who currently lives and works in Israel. Michele says, "I've always known I wanted to help animals and be an artist, and have now been able to combine the two." Michele is the contact for new members, writes the EFA newsletter, manages the EFA Flickr group, assists with the EFA shop, and promotes EFA wherever she can.

[El aka ElephantDance modeling her blue and white spiraling cloche]

El aka ElephantDance is the EFA co-leader, and administers the Etsy for Animals shop with the help of eight dedicated volunteers. El recently moved to California from Saipan, a small island in the Northern Mariana Islands. El says, "Seeing the poor neglected animals on the streets of Saipan convinced me that I needed to do something, even if it was one animal at a time." El also manages the EFA blog and her own two Etsy shops while working, going to school, creating lovely crochet, and running a Help the Puppies campaign to provide ongoing medical care for animals she rescued in Saipan.

[Poodle Boating Party by haleyshandmades]

Haley aka haleyshandmades contributes many hours of her free time to maintain the EFA website. She also creates wonderful poodle artwork. Her favorite piece, made when she was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, is Poodles Crossing the Delaware, a huge 3 foot by 5 foot print of poodles fighting in the American Revolution, based on the painting by Emanuel Leutze.

[Emerald Kitty by Lynn aka LolaLynn]

The multi-talented LolaLynn organizes the EFA monthly challenges where EFA members vote on a challenge theme each month, and then members submit entries based on that theme. Entries are then showcased on the EFA blog, in forum threads, and in Treasuries. Lynn says, "I so firmly support El and Michele's mission that I took on coordinating and editing the monthly challenge even though I knew nothing about blogs! In the process I have made new friends and learned a lot."

[Etsy for Animals logo, designed by alilsumptinsumptin]

Welsh felt artist and costume designer, Kim aka Midnightrabbits, keeps track of donation requests that EFA receives from animal charity groups for handmade items to be used in fundraising activities. Many EFA members have contributed their time and talent to create items for these fundraisers.

Fiber artist, Marjorie aka WHSKR, is the EFA publicity coordinator. Marjorie, who lives in New Zealand, says that when she first joined EFA, she was concerned that her relatively small contribution would not make a difference but then realized that the small amounts contributed by many sellers "all grow together to make a donation of several hundred dollars each month. People can touch the other side of the world without leaving home — it's an astonishing thought and a powerful motivator."

You can meet EFA members in the lively and fun weekly EFA team chats hosted by Gena aka Dogonwear every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come on in to network, learn, and have fun! Gena, who designs canine fashions, also organized a cooperative quilt project as an EFA fundraiser. The quilt will be available soon in the EFA shop. Stay tuned!

Further Resources:
Etsyforanimals.com
Etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
EFA Team Interviews:
mvegan5, ElephantDance, haleyshandmades, LolaLynn, Midnightrabbits, WHSKR, Dogonwear

Etsy Finds: Pup Tent (or Kitten Tent)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:31:00 -0000

My kitty, Stella, is a little blue-eyed princess and I love her with all of my heart. We play fetch together and she knows her name, but I never have to call her because she follows me everywhere. She's also a fan of belly rubs...it's possible she may think she's a dog. It sounds strange to some, but I know she loves me too. That's why I would do anything for my Stella Bean.

I had never thought about getting her a special bed, because she has her chair that she prefers. It's the one she sat on while eating the fins off my beta fish. Maybe it's time for Stella to get her own digs! =^..^=

Here's a goldfish kitty/pup tent by Seapets.

Etsy Finds: Sassy Bassets

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:16:00 -0000

When I thought about doing a pet related Etsy Find, I knew that my find would inevitably be about dogs. As anyone who knows me well can attest, I live for dogs. Yeah, yeah — cats are cute, bunnies are nice, but dogs rule my world! It doesn't matter the breed, the attitude or the age: be it puppy or old timer, I've got big love for my canine friends.

Thus, I came upon the sassy basset hound illustrated above. The modern Mondrian artist by basset hound caricaturist houndtracks (yes, she has a whole shop of these wonders!) is truly something to marvel at. According to her profile,

"royal plant (aka houndtracks) creates a calendar annually which features her basset hounds in caricature...her love of her hounds, since 1970, is evident in all her works..."

I'd say so! For more of houndtracks' signature basset hound stylings (which include basset hounds driving sports cars, cooking, playing soccer — all while wearing John Lennon style specs!), check out her shop! Basset hounds are where it's at!

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Etsy Finds: Cats and Dogs

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:18:00 -0000

This past week I had an unfortunate incident involving my cat and rottweiler. I was in the middle of patting DC, my cat, when my dog, Caesar, who had been sleeping under a table, woke and wanted some pats, too. Yawning, he walked towards me and DC, who proceeded to climb my arm with tooth and claw.

I understand why the little guy did it. If you were less than a foot tall and a gaping maw of teeth (Caesar was yawning) attached to someone more then three times your height, a dog might freak you out, too. Animals are animals: you can take the cat out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the cat.

In memory of this traumatic experience, I found this amazing Rottweiler print by dogartstudio. I love dogartstudio's ability to capture the dog's eyes. (I only wish it included my cat, too.) I'll use Alchemy to request a custom version with him in it, too.

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Etsy Finds: I Sea Horses

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:24:00 -0000

One of my favorite events each year is Coney Island's Mermaid Parade. It is the largest art parade in the United States, and as you may have guessed, the theme is (loosely) aquatic. I have participated in it for the last four years running. Last year, we were "The Four Sea-Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

I have always been a fan of seahorses; I love their awkward yet beautiful silhouette, and also the fact that they can only exist underwater. Up close and personal, they are really quite bizarre. For instance, they have a somewhat unusual courtship ritual, and baby seahorses are called "fry." Delicious. So, although they may not be the most popular pets in the world, they are my Etsy Find for today. In particular, I liked this greeting card from drinkabutter. But a simple search revealed many other underwater treasures, so I suggest that you spend a pleasant afternoon of fishing.

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UPDATE on Showcase: One More Week of Travel, Then Pets

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:34:00 -0000

Sellers,

UPDATE: The frontpage Pets Showcase is now on sale at the Showcase Gateway. You get a free Pets Category Showcase with your spot. The original June 19 post has details below:

We are excited to announce a special Pets Showcase. This will be on sale on Thursday June 26 at 10am. Items in the Pets Category will be eligible, as well as other animal-inspired work. This special will be accompanied by our ongoing Etsy Pets series in the Storque. Sellers who purchase the special Pets Frontpage Showcase will get a simultaneous Pets Category Showcase for free. Our treat!

The Pets frontpage Showcase goes on sale Thursday, June 26th at 10:00 am EDT.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
It goes live on Monday, June 30th at 12 am (midnight) EDT and will run until 11:59 PM EDT on July 13.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in the Pets Showcase, which is linked to from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage and links from the Storque pets-related series.
The same item will be featured for free in the Pets Category Showcase on the same day.
Sellers determine which item to be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Shop. Read more about this process here.

We said one week only in our first announcement, but we've decided to extend the frontpage Travel Showcase another week, until end of day on Sunday, June 29. The pilot week is going well, so we want to continue the special. These spots are on sale now through the Showcase Gateway.

We ask that sellers choose travel-related items such as:

Travel accessories: Bags, passport holders, wallets, etc.
Vacation fashion: Clothing and accessories ideal for a getaway in all climates. (Safari hat, sunglasses, etc.)
Travel-related items: Maps, vintage road signs, compasses, travel games, travel-sized toiletries, journals.
Travel-inspired items: Think airplanes, road trips, landmarks, trains, beaches, etc.

What is this Showcase thing? For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase, and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Give us a shout in the comments below if you think you have the cutest pet in the world! We want links to your flickr pictures. And check out our Etsy Pets series!

A Vintage Dinner Party with Kate Moss (The Dog)

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:30:00 -0000

Last week we had a chance to interview Kate Moss (the dog) about a dinner party she was planning. It turns out that she loves to search the Vintage section of Etsy to find fabulous items. In this video she shows some of the items she's thinking about buying and then gives a short video tutorial to help you shop for Etsy Vintage.

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | HD | Subscribe in iTunes

In the video, she checks out books from uncommoneye's shop, a carafe from domestikate's shop, placemats from michellebrusegaard's shop, and an apron from solanah's shop. Then she does a search for a vintage dress using Etsy vintage search.

This is the second video that focuses on the styles of our furry friends. The first one was with Dottie. Feel free to leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Want to watch all the Etsy videos? Subscribe in iTunes and get them downloaded automatically when they come out! - Link

Etsy Pets: Handmade4Hounds

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:00 -0000

Handmade4Hounds is a team full of creative energy dedicated to inviting people to open up their hearts and homes to retired greyhounds and other sighthound breeds, such as whippets and Italian greyhounds, in need of rescue and adoption.

Greyhounds are sighthounds, which means they possess characteristics such as long legs, small heads, and a lean, streamlined body structure unique to this special family of dogs. All sighthounds possess the ability to track their prey with exceptional sight and extreme speed. Greyhounds can run up to 45 mph, reaching speed in 1.5 seconds or 3 strides! This speed is what launched greyhounds into the long-lived world of track racing dating back to the 1920’s.

“I remember when the Simpsons welcomed Santa’s Little Helper, the abandoned greyhound racer, into their home. That was my first introduction to the breed, and although the antics played out on the show were often ridiculous, one thing is true: so many greyhounds need homes (hopefully better than the Simpson household). Please consider adopting this gentle breed into your family!”
- Ellen (classichound)

About 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year, typically between three and five years of age. Many flunk out of racing or are forced into early retirement as a result injuries. Others retire after a successful career on the tracks, but every greyhound that retires from track life desperately needs a new home.

Despite being one of the fastest animals on land, greyhounds are known as the 45-mile-an-hour couch potato by those who know them well. Most greyhounds are gentle, quiet, and extremely laid back. With short and easy to maintain coats (which are easy on the allergies!), notable patience, and gentle acceptance of other pets and young children, this friendly breed may be the perfect companion pet!

Greyhounds are unique dogs with unique needs. The absence of an undercoat that reduces shedding and allergic reactions also means this lean athlete requires a coat to keep warm during the colder months. Sighthounds are inside only dogs — which really means more companionship for you! And remember that high-prey drive instinct to run 45 mph towards small moving objects? That includes squirrels, so a leash is required out for walks. And their smaller heads need strong cinching martingale-type collars so that they can’t slip away from their owner.

Greyhounds are strong, graceful, and striking creatures who get a lot of attention for their good looks. People love to see them depicted in beautiful art. Handmade4Hounds is happy to serve all the special needs of this special breed with crocheted sweaters and snoods, collars and leashes, comfy dog beds, and gorgeous paintings, sculptures, and jewelry that captures the elegance and charm of these well deserving hounds.

Our members support a wide variety of greyhound adoption programs in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and Ireland. We have two primary goals: promoting the support of independent artists and to raise money to support greyhound adoption. Many programs are in desperate need of funds in order to continue serving retired racers. These programs perform medical procedures and injury repair, keep these dogs fed and housed properly, and work endlessly to find thousands of homes for these gorgeous animals.

All of the products in our Etsy shop are donated by Etsy sellers from the Handmade4Hounds Street Team. The proceeds from every purchase supports greyhound adoption groups and various whippet, saluki, and Italian greyhound rescue programs. The individual members of the Handmade4Hounds Team support Greyhound Adoption in several different ways including:

• Donating a portion of the sales of their individual Etsy shops
• Creating handmade items to be used in auctions and raffles at Greyhound Fundraising Events and Reunion Picnics
• Adopting and Fostering Greyhounds
• Attending Meet & Greet and Adoption Awareness Events
• Maintaining a Handmade4Hounds Etsy Shop where 100% of the proceeds goes to the hounds

“In 1995, I called the Greyhound Pets of America 800 number for the nearest Greyhound adoption group. I drove a ten hour’s drive to meet Sterling, a fawn-colored male who had flunked off the track before he turned two years old. Sterling graciously served as the model for many of the art works I created while earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It was this amazing breed with the sensitive and gentle nature that captured my imagination.”
- Sarah (greyhoundart)

Please join us in our efforts to both celebrate hounds and help these "greyt" companions find new homes all over the world! Every month a new adoption group is highlighted and selected by our members to receive the proceeds from our sales. Every donation and purchase helps! Items in the Handmade4Hounds Etsy shop need not be hound related, all donations welcome!

Further Resources:
More info on greyhounds:
www.greyhoundgang.org/adopt.php
www.snips.8m.com/pages/greyhound%20adoption.htm

Info on how and where to adopt greyhounds:
www.greyhoundpets.org
www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/directory/list.cfm

More info on h4h:
www.handmade4hounds.com
www.handmade4hounds.blogspot.com

Yahoo Group - groups.yahoo.com/group/handmade4hounds

To join, contact:
Ellen at contact@classichound.com
Lenora at amazinggreys@msn.com

To Shop, visit:
handmade4hounds.etsy.com

Etsy Pets: Euthanasia to Etsy – Mulligans Story

Sun, 04 May 2008 20:15:00 -0000

Mulligan is my 3 legged golden retriever rescue puppy. She was born the runt of the litter, with a deformed front leg. Her birth mom rejected her, and her breeder didn’t think she'd live or have much of a life so he brought her to the animal hospital to be put down at two days old.

Lucky for Mulligan (and for me) the girls at the hospital and one very kind veterinarian thought the puppy deserved a chance to live and offered to take her in to see if they could nurse her back to health.

Mulligan struggled at first as she was half the size of her littermates. But over time she became stronger and stronger. She was fostered by her veterinarian at night and she spent her days at the clinic socializing and playing with all the pups and people there.

At 9 weeks old she was strong enough to handle the surgery of having her front right leg amputated. The next day she was hopping around chasing the big dogs. Two weeks later she was ready to come home.

I adopted her sight unseen. My sister was one of the girls at the Animal Hospital who saved her. She emailed me that day, "We have a tiny little golden puppy, I don’t know if she'll make it though"... I followed her story; I had just gone through a divorce and lost a dog. I knew what it felt like to be thrown away. My other dog Morgan was missing her pal. We needed Mully as much as she needed us.

We were in two different states, but that didn’t stop us. Mulligan flew from Buffalo, NY to Nashville, TN by herself. The airline treated her like royalty — last one on, first one off. I was told the pilot announced over the loud speaker that they were flying with a very special passenger. He told a little about her rescue story and surgery and all the passengers clapped for her!

I named her Mulligan, it means second chance.

Mulligan is now 4 years old, a happy healthy little golden retriever, full of life, ball crazy with a heart of gold. Mulligan taught me about unconditional love and being proud of who you are no matter what your flaws may be. Sometimes I wonder who rescued who.

My Etsy shop (art4milkbones) is dog themed, I add photos of my dogs to my Etsy listings when I have an extra spot or it's golden related. I get so many sweet comments about Mully & Morgan from my customers or sometimes strangers just convo me and say "Mully makes me smile!" or they want to tell me about their dog. I have met some wonderful dog people through Etsy.

If you're thinking about adding a canine companion to your family please consider adopting a handicapped or special needs pet. All dogs deserve a great home.

... and sometimes it's the things that aren't perfect.. that turn out to be the most perfect of all!