New Hooks & Hideaways!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I am so excited to show you two new things I treated myself to this week!

One is for making art and the second is for enjoying and celebrating it!

My 2 favorite things to do! :)

I just purchased a set of these wonderful Japanese Hamanaka crochet hooks from www.stitchdiva.com. 

I love the double ended design and feel of the hooks in my hand.

It makes them great for travel as well as efficient storage as you get 10 sizes to work with in only 5 hooks!

I have found over the years that it is really important to work with a hook personally before deciding if you really like them as we all have different sized hands and preferences for hook shape, weight and feel!

For me, I found these to be unique because they provide a comfort grip that I have never found in a hook that was not too big to comfortably fit in my hand.

There are 5 double-ended hooks (a total of 10 hooks of graduated sizes) from Japanese sizes 2/0 to 10/0 or 2.0mm to 6.0mm.

• 2/0 - 2.0mm
• 3/0 - 2.3mm
• 4/0 - 2.5mm
• 5/0 - 3.0mm
• 6/0 - 3.5mm (F)
• 7/0 - 4.0mm (G)
• 7.5/0 - 4.5mm
• 8/0 - 5.0mm (H)
• 9/0 - 5.5mm (I)
• 10/0 - 6.0mm (J)

The second gift I gave myself was the purchase of this magical painting my dear friend Mehry Khosravi just completed.

I knew I must have it the second I saw it and luckily for me, it was still available.

She is trying to create a series of these smaller paintings to fill up a wall but they keep selling before the paint even dries!

This one is still too wet to touch, but she will let me know the second I can come and pick it up!

I cannot wait!

I know just where I am going to hang it!

It is going to hang in my kitchen where I will see it all day long!

What a fabulous week we have had so far and it is not even 1/2 over yet!

I cannot wait to see what else unfolds for us to appreciate!

What FUN things have unfolded before your eyes recently?

Please leave us a note and let us know!

We cannot wait to hear all about them!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee

Handmade Gifts By L is Open!

Happy Monday everyone!

Archie and I are excited beyond words to share that our friend Lynne has opened her own Etsy Shop...

Handmade Gifts by L!

Lynne is our friend from England that Archie and I are craft penpals with and do lots of crochet exchanges over the sea that are filled with love and smiles.

Friends always ask me if Lynne sells her art too and now she does!

We are thrilled to show you that her shop is now filled with little Kokeshi dolls with all different kimonos and hairdos, Snowman Ornaments and Crochet Covered Hangers :)

 

 

She even has a little pooh bear available complete with a honey pot!

How sweet is that?

Please visit her shop when you get a chance to see all of the art she is adding everyday.

She also has a wonderful blog where yo ucan connect with her and her 3 Chihuahuas, Elliot, Dip and Bridge!

I know she would love to meet you!

 

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee

Carla Sonheim's ~ Online Art Summer Classes 2012!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Melanie and I are so excited!

We just signed up for Carla Sonheim's new Online Summer Camp Series Class: Cereal Box Paper Dolls!

Look how FUN these are!

She will show us how to make all of these little dolls from cereal boxes and make little books to house them in!

Just think of the neat things we can make!

They would make wonderful gifts too for the upcoming Holiday season!

Please let us know if you sign up too!

I will keep you posted in August for all the things we create!

xoxoxo

Melissa & Melanie

A Story & An Honor!

Happy Thursday everyone!

R-Chee and I cannot wait to hear about what you did for the 4th! :)

Little R-Chee is still in a food coma from all the wallymelon and BBQ he ate yesterday so I thought I would share a couple of neat things with you today.

The first one was a wonderful surprise and honor to be mentioned last week on the Lion Brand Yarn Blog!

Our Circles Table Runner that we made from Lion Cotton and their generous FREE washcloth pattern was featured on a FUN Summertime Project post!

The second neat thing is a New "About Page" on Etsy!

They just created a new easy to fill out page for artists to tell their stories about how they started their creative journies!

I really enjoyed sharing my story of how Pug Notes came to be!

Angel Emmitt & R-Chee always bring me the the most wonderful smiles, friends and inspirations that just fill my heart with JOY!

It just spills onto whatever I am making!

Thank you for always sharing in the FUN and  playing with us!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee





Pugs in The Kitchen Cookies ~ Yummy!!!

Hi everyone!

It is me...

Archie!

I am so excited to tell you about the special package that just came in the mail for me and my house guest, Bogart!

My mom heard that Bogart was coming to stay with us for the holidays and ordered us some special treats from our friends at Pugs In The Kitchen!

They are a fabulous Doggy Bakery in Indiana that now ships around the country!

All of their cookies are handmade with love and care to order!

They are fresh, wholesome and deeeelicious!

They are packaged with the utmost care and all 5 flavors arrived in perfect condtion!

Ummmm...

* Archie whispers in my ear *

Momma, do I really have to share them with Bogart?

I know it is polite to share with guests, but all the cookies are sooo deeelicious!

"Archie! That is not nice! Now be a good puggy please go call Bogie Wogie in from the backyard while I open your treats. ;) "

Darn!

I know... maybe if I eat them quietly he will not hear me crunching!

I must be quick!

I hear him snuffling at the doggie door!



Bummer!

He heard me making yummy noises eating my cookies from Pugs In the Kitchen all the way from the backyard!

Now I have to share!

I will introduce you to Bogart tomorrow.

Right now I have to count out all the cookies to make sure I get MORE than him!

They are wonderful!

Please visit Pugs In the Kitchen today to get your very own cookies that if you want to... you can share with me! ;)

xoxoxo

R-Chee

New Pug Art Collection Additions ~ Pug Sculpture & Wool Pillow!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Yippeeeee!

My new sculpture that I ordered from Brianna Blue Studio is here!

I have a wonderful collection of Beth's work, and I now needed an Archie sculpture!

Meet Archie Bear!

The lime green was an easy choice for me to make.

Beth will love to make one for you too in any color you like!

Archie just loves him and so do I!

The final new addition I have made lately to my pug art collection is this fabulous wool pug pillow from Germany!

It is made by one of my favorite artists on Etsy MaldiMaglia

She makes all of the wool pugs I love to collect in a rainbow of colors!



He sits perfectly on my new chair from IKEA under my magic bubble scuplture!

How fun is that?

What new pug items have you added to your collection?

Please leave me a note and let me know!

I cannot wait to hear all about them!

xoxoxo
melissa & archie

What an Honor! ~ Blog Feature ~ Lion Bran Yarn Blog

Archie and I are so unbelieveable honored to be included on a Crafty & Creative Post on The Lion Brand Yarn Blog!

We have so much fun creating and sharing with you!

Thank you for always playing with us!

Please jump on over to the LB post today to meet the other fabulous artists featured that will keep you craving for more!

In the meantime, we are working on our bucket full of bobbles over here waiting for their window shade #2 debut!

We cannot wait to show you when it is done!

xoxoxo

a & m

A New Addition to my Pug Art Collection ~ Knit Pug Doll

Hi everyone!

It is me... Archie!

Look what my momma just got!

A knit puggy and little green monster from our friends Michele and Ruby in CA!

They have a fabulous etsy shop filled with amazing knit monsters and puggies!

Do you think I look like the puggy or the green monster?

I think I look like both!

Tee hee!



We are having a party here today to welcome them home.

You are all invited!

More Great News...

Angel Emmitt's Easy Bake Oven has been beeping all morning, spitting out mini meatloaves for all of us to enjoy!

Come hungry and leave happy!

We cannot wait to see you!

xoxoxo

Your Pal,

Archie Poo Pants

Over & Out

Archie's New Toy!

Hi everyone!

It is me...

Archie-Nator, Archiekins, Smarchie, Archie the Kid, Archie-Pot-a-Mus, Archie Poo Pants and more!

I love all of your nicknames for me!

Thank you so much for your help!

You are the best friends ever!

Speaking of friends, look at this wonderful tumbler toy our friends Jessica, JD and Ringo made for me!

It is the perfect toy for me!

• It has all of my favorite colors on it.


• It is super soft.


• It has a squeaky in it.


• And it has little tags all the way around that are my favorite thing!
  
  I have already chewed off all the tags on all of my toys, my beds and my blankies!

My pawrents just laugh as I work so hard to chomp them. :)

Well, now I do not need any of those tags because I have my tumbler toy!

You can get one too in Auntie Jessica's Etsy Shop!

We LOVE all of her art!

Please visit her blog and say hello!

I know she will love to meet you!

xoxoxoox

Archie Barchie :)

Friday Funnies ~ "A" is for Archie

Happy Friday everyone!

It is me...

Archie!

I am learning my ABC's!

...and today... "A" is for Archie!

Look at the cool tag my mom got for me at our favorite shop... Mimi Green!

You can pick any Letter and choose from 10 colors and 3 sizes!

Momma got me an Orange "A" in size small!

You know what else "A" stands for?

Accessories!

Gotta love them!

I had better drink some more water as I think we are going shopping for more fun accessories this weekend!

What are you doing this weekend?

Please leave me a note and let me know!

I cannot wait to hear!

xoxoxo

Archie - "A" - Poo

New Pug Dolls from Guam!

Happy Monday everyone!

It is me...

Archie!

We are so excited to show you the 3 new pug dolls we bought from our wonderful Pug Doll Artist friend Karen Cruz in Guam!

She has a brand new Etsy Shop , and we are so excited that we had to celebrate!

The first doll we got is "Max" and was inspired by her own beautiful puggy, Max, who just went to the rainbow bridge.

We are so honored to be able to hug this beautiful likeness of him!

All of the beading on his face is so amazing!

The photos just do not even do it justice.

Look at his cute puggy tail!

All of Karen's details are just perfect!

The other two dolls we just got are the Red Pug Lions!

Look how beautiful they are!

Every detail is so well thought out.

They even lean into each other perfectly to form a heart shape.

I just adore them and cannot believe they are mine!

Here is a link to see all of the other pug dolls in my collection made by Karen that I have purchased over the years.

The red lions are sitting in the chair that over looks my Mer Pug and Sea Horse puggies!

I cannot wait to add more!

Karen's etsy shop, Paddywak Pugs has quite a few to choose from right now, so please head on over and take a look.

She also has a wonderful blog where she shows us the process she takes for creating each piece and introduces us to her wonderful family and their life in Guam.

When you have a moment, Please say hello! I know she would love to meet you!

What fun things did you do this weekend to welcome in the month of May?

Please leave us a note and let us know!

We cannot wait to hear!

oxoxoxo

a & m