Sister Craft Day ~ Mosaic Bird Houses

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Today is the last day of April already!

Wow! Time is flying by this year because we are having so much FUN!

Melanie and I just completed another easy and FUN project that we picked to do together for a sister craft day!

I LOVE doing crafts with Melly!

She always has the best ideas!

It all started with two wooden bird houses she found at Joann's for us to make into mosaic treasures!

After she told me about them, I quickly went to etsy.com to shop for tiles and glass pieces for us to glue onto them.

I found a great shop called Glass by Sarah Allen and purchased the little ceramic tiles and broken pieces of stained glass.

We glued them on with Elmer's glue and then after the glue dried we simply grouted and painted them!

Melly found us some wool spun mushrooms and little gnomes to glue on the grassy area around the house and Voila!

They were done!

I just LOVE how they both turned out!

This one is mine...

...and this one is Melly's!

Here are some photos we took of the process for you to enjoy!

It is so easy and FUN to do!

Thank you Melly for thinking of this great project for us to do together!

What FUN things are you up to as the weather warms up outside?

Have you started gardening or planning any Summer trips?

Please leave us a note and let us know!

We cannot wait to hear all about it!

xoxoxo

Melissa & Archie

In the Press ~ Newly Published ~ 1000 Dog Portraits

Happy Monday everyone!

I am so excited to announce a newly published book by Robynne Raye...

1000 Dog Portraits

Here is a description of what you will find inside...

1000 Dog Portraits is a compilation of quirky, fun, fanatical illustrations, paintings, collages and drawings from designers and artists around the globe. From hounds to herding dogs, and mutts to terriers, there is a diverse range of artistic renditions from naïve and abstract to traditional portraiture.

Artist and designer Robynne Raye curates this collection that is a study guide on style for the budding artist as well as a book of inspiration to the practicing professional. There's even a chapter called, "How Many Ways Can You Draw A Beagle?" showing the myriad of ways an artist can depict a single breed of dog.

So rev up your illustration muscle and be inspired by this loving tribute to man's best friend.

"Some of our greatest historical and artistic treasures we place with curators in museums; others we take for walks." - Roger A. Caras, Animal Welfare Activist

I am honored to have 8 of my images included throughout the book.

The book may be purchased through amazon.com. 

...and my images may be purchased on products created just for you on both my website, www.pugnotes.com and in my Pug Notes Etsy Shop.

Please contact me anytime with any questions about any of my images or products and R-Chee & I will be soooo happy to answer them.

xoxoxox

Melissa & Archie

Friday Funnies ~ Archie is a Doll Baby!

Happy Friday everyone!

It is me... 

R-Chee!

I have a new soft friend to introduce you to today!

Can you tell which one is me and which one is my new friend?

I'll give you a hint...

He is dressed much more colorful outfit than me today! :)

The best part is...

You can make one too with this Free Pattern.

Mom adapted it from this easy bunny doll pattern she found on The Sewing Loft Blog.

All she did to change it was to leave off the bunny ears and cut puggy shapes out of scrap leather pieces and glue them on the front!

Here are some photos of our doll in process for you to enjoy...

This wonderful pattern is so fast and FUN to make all sorts of dolls with!

Auntie Melanie made the bunny from felted cashmere sweater scraps she had in her fabric stash!

It is the perfect way to use up small amounts of  your favorite fabrics!

You can easily make a whole zoo of characters just by changing the ears and faces!

Ta Da!

Please let me know if you make one too!

I would love to see!

xoxoxo

Have a super weekend everyone!

Yer Pal,

R-Chee

Warm Hearted Wednesday ~ Very Berry Puggies!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

R-Chee & I are so excited to feature 3 families who have generously shared their photos of their puggies enjoying their sweater vests with us!

Scarlet is spotted in the park modeling her Sangria Sunrise Sweater Vest for us today.  She and her wonderful mom, Meredith live in RI. :)

Walter and Beluah are warming themselves by the windows in their berry inspired sweater vests in OH with their wonderful mom, Meloni. :)

...and Maybel and Myrtle are snug as a pugs can be cuddling together in their dog bed in CT with their fabulous parents, Elisa and Rob! :)

Thank you all so much for sharing your photos with us this week!

They warm our hearts and make us smile from ear to ear!

I have these and other sweater vests available as Ready to Ship Sweater Vests in my Etsy Shop today!

If they are sold out or you do not find the colors and sizes you would like, No Problem!

I am thrilled to make you any color combination that you choose!

Please let me know if you would like me to make you a custom Woofie Warmer, Barkclava Dog Hat or Sweater Vest.

You can make up your own color combos or...

You can see all the possibilities anytime in :

The Sweater Vest Gallery at

http://www.dogsweatervests.com/

The Woofie Warmer Gallery at

http://www.woofiewarmer.com/

and

The Barkclava Gallery at

http://www.barkclava.com/

I am happy to make any color combos you would like and now also make Smile, Monogram, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Love & Teddy Bear Badges in my Etsy Shop that you can add to any Sweater Vest, Hat or Neck Warmer!

How Fun!

xoxoxox

Melissa & R-Chee

Teddy is Growing Up ~ Puppy Kindergarten!

Happy Monday Everyone!

It is me...

Archie's Corgi Cousin ~ Teddy!

Guess what I did today?

I graduated from Puppy Kindergarten!

Just like Archie, I went to the Boulder Valley Humane Society and we even had the same teacher ~ Anita!

Hooray!

Weeeeee!

It was soooo much FUN and I made so many friends!

...and the FUN is not going to stop!

Since I did so good in school, my dad and mom, Mark & Melanie, signed me up for puppy agility that starts this week!

Here are two short videos they took to show how good I play & learn! :)

I cannot wait to show all the new things I learn in my new class!

xoxoxoox

Have a Super day everyone!

Teddy

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Love,

Archie

Jimmie

Teddy

...and Ollie!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

xoxooxox

Friday Funnies ~ Archie and his Super Teddy Bear Adventure!

Happy Friday everyone!

It is me...

R-Chee!

Guess what momma and I made?

A Super Bear for The Mother Bear Project!

It was so FUN to make!

After making our 3 Retro Teddies we got the idea to put a Teddy Bear Badge on his chest too!

Archie says it is a Super Power button to bring Smiles and Happiness to everyone who sees it!

It was so FUN and Easy to make!

We made the hood by making the Mother Bear Project pattern the same way, but by making the whole head red and then crocheting an applique teddy bear face and 2 small circles for the ears and sewing them on top of the red head to make it look like his face is popping through!

We embroidered the face on with black yarn and Ta Da...

He came to life!

Then we made our teddy bear badge in the same way and sewed it on the chest.

Ta Da!

"Hey R-Chee...

Let's play and climb together today before I fly off to Africa to make lots of children happy there too! :)

Look there are some rocks over there!"

Would you all like to come and play with us too?

It is a beautiful day and there are lots of wonderful things to explore and share together today!

What Holiday activities do you have planned for this weekend?

Please leave us and note and share all of the details!

We cannot wait to hear all about them!

xoxoxo

Super Bear and Super R-Chee

Up Up and Away!!!!

Celebrating a Special Bird

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today is a very special day!

R-Chee, Jimmie, Fred & I are celebrating Gilbert today!

Our beloved parrotlet would have been 13 years old today.

He passed away peacefully on March 21, 2014.

We all love him deeply and miss him, but we are comforted by the beautiful memories we have of the life he led and shared with us everyday!

Thank you Gilbeee

We LOVE you!

xoxoxo

your momma forever

Melissa

Friday Funnies ~ A Top Dog comes in a Tiny Package ~ R-Chee Meets Topper!

Happy Friday Everyone!

It is me...

R-Chee!

Yay! 

The weekend is almost here and mom and dad always have something FUN planned for us to do!

In fact, momma told me this morning that I was getting a surprise visitor coming this afternoon, and I can not wait to meet him! :)

Since it is only 8:00 am, I think I am in for a long wait until my surprise!

I know, I will spend the morning napping in the sunshine until my guests arrive!

* Ding Dong *

Oooo!

They are here!

Oh my goodness!

Who is this little guy?

R-Chee...

 Meet Topper!

He is our friend Sara's new pug puppy and he is only 12 weeks old!

Isn't he beeeeautiful and so sweet!

Look at his little bowtie on his tiny harness! :)

Oh he is cute!

...but what does he do?

He is so tiny I bet he can hardly move!

Uh Oh!

ummm...

He is making funny noises at me!

Like he is revving an engine!

... and we have lift off!

Zoomies!

Oh my gosh!

I do not even think he is a bit tired yet!

Nope!

You ain't seen nothin' yet!

Tee Heeee!

I only pretend to be tired so that I get picked up to get lots of hugs and kisses from my auntie Missy!

 I am one smart little dude! :)

R-Chee would sign off today but he is pooped out and catching his breath! :)

Archie and I are so excited for Sara and her family!

We cannot wait to play with Topper again at our next play date! :)

Of course Fred will take more pics for you to enjoy when he comes!

What FUN things do you have planned this weekend?

Please leave us a note and let us know!

We cannot wait to hear all about them!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee