Corgi Pillow Monsters!

Look at these amazing Pillow Monsters I commissioned the amazing Nichol Brinkman to create for Melanie!


Nichol is such an amazing artist and absolutely captured Melanie's Moe and his cousin, that has been named Martin.


They were waiting for us when we came home from camp and we were jumping up and down when we got the package!

Moe is Melanie's sweet, wonderful corgi.

Here is Moe's story told by Melanie. :)

Moe is from Mountain Home, Arkansas. The breeder specializes in Cardigan Welsh corgis. They come in all sorts of colors: black/white, red, brindle, blue merle. We drove to AR to pick up moe. he was the only black/white from his litter of blue merles . He was born on Thanksgiving 2004. the day before, our breeder also had a red corgi litter. She had over 10 puppies at once!
He just loved his red cousins and chased they each other all the time.

Can You find Moe in this Corgi Pile?

Baby Moe!

Snazzy Moe!

I love Nichol's work. It is so special and she is a wonderful person. Please check out her blog and Etsy store. It will brighten you day!

Our Week at Anderson Ranch...

Anderson Ranch is a magical place where art is created, appreciated and taught everyday of the year. During the week, the classrooms are open 24/7 and the creative energy is amazing.

There are a ton of different workshops ranging in everything from furniture making to ceramics and printmaking. This is my third year at the ranch. The other two workshops I took were in printmaking.

The camp is comprised of several interesting buildings all with their own personality. This year, our class was in the loft above the wood barn.

Here are some examples's of Dan's work that just took our breath away...

Here are the different stages our books took during the week...

The books that were created in this class were so inspiring. Many people cut windows in their books and made tiny shadowboxes on the covers.

We cannot wait to go back next year!

Anderson Ranch 2008 - Wooden Books

Melanie and Melissa's completed Wooden Books - AR 2008

Melanie and I had an amazing week of learning the art of book binding.

Daniel Essig is an amazing artist. He is a wonderful teacher who shares his art, techniques, patience and knowledge with an open heart. It was a joy to be in his class. Dan is one of the most interesting people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You can learn more about him and his background here.

There were 8 students in class and all of our books came out so different and wonderful. We all started with the same Mahgony wood covers that we drilled, filed, distressed, painted, sanded and polished. I will show you the class pictures tomorrow. Today I want to show you Melanie and my finished books.

Melissa's Wooden Book

Melanie's Book

Melanie had so many wonderful ideas and added special details to our projects. She brought the Eidelweiss buttons and had the wonderful idea to make bookmarks. Thank you Melly for the perfect final touches!

Inside details:

Melanie's book: Coptic Binding

Detail showing the completed Binding and End Bands.

We created leather closures and Melanie made us the brass posts using a drill press and file.

It was so much fun!

Here is our class. I will show you more of the process and all of their books too. The creative energy was amazing and I feel so lucky to have been a part of this group.

We're Back from Art Camp!

Melissa & Melanie with our wooden books at Art Camp 2008

Melanie and I just got back from Anderson Ranch Art Camp 2008. We took a book binding class all last week called Wooden Books with Dan Essig.

We had the best time ever! I have lots of pictures to show you, but I wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful birthday wishes for Emmitt.

He had a wonderful day and was dancing and singing when I got home at 9:00 pm last night.

I have missed all of you and promise to get caught up on all of the wonderful things that have been happening with you.

Have a wonderful Saturday and I will post more pictures and tell you all about camp in the coming days!

Happy 12th Birthday Emmitt!

Happy 12th Birthday Emmitt!

We brought baby Emmitt home in 1996 and our lives were wonderfully changed forever.

Here is the story of our first day with Emmitt and how Pug Notes began.

This is the card I made for him and there will be lots of presents and treats for the birthday boy today!

Today's post is a Emmitt PAWTY! for everyone to come and enjoy!

Emmitt says put on your party hats, bring no gifities, just leave him a comment and say hello!

XOXO

A little vacation...

Art Camp 2007

I am so excited!

I am going back to art camp at Anderson Ranch for a week of book binding but this year Melanie is coming with me! We leave this weekend for our vacation of art in beautiful Snowmass, Colorado.

We are taking a class called Wooden Books where we get to learn ancient binding techniques and create at least two books from scratch.


This workshop will immerse you in the world of historical bookbinding. Participants will make an Ethiopian-style binding, a structure developed as early as the 4th century. The fact that some of these books are still around is a testament to their sturdiness. After creating a miniature paste-board model with papyrus covers, you will construct a sewn-board Coptic binding. The elegant sewn structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder. Using simple hand tools, you will drill, shape, and smooth your book covers. Finishing includes sealing wooden covers with milk paint and a coating of wax and adding a leather closure. As time allows, your instructor will share various features he includes in his own bindings and sculptural books.


We will be back on Friday August 1st which is a very special day. It is Emmitt's 12th birthday!

Please come back and wish him a happy birthday next Friday, and I will show you lots of pictures of camp when I get back. :)

Have a great week!

Emmitt Expressions

Emmitt always makes me smile.

There is so much personality in this one little pug.

I enjoyed collaging these quick sequences I recently shot and wanted to share them with you.

Have a great day!

A Pug from Hong Kong!

I love pug art!

I collect it from every corner of the planet! Look at this wonderful magnet Melanie just got for me from an a talented artist in Hong Kong. Here is pinkpandamary's Etsy shop. She has got a ton of cute pug and boston terrier art.

Thanks Melly! I just love him!

He is going on my fridge now so that it is not so empty! :)

Emmitt is Pugtastic!

Emmitt wants to thank everyone for their nice comments and is so happy that everyone got treats on him this weekend.

Sophie, Dixie and their mom made Emmitt this wonderful magazine cover award for winning the SNPM contest and gave Emmitt permission to post it over on our blog. Thank you so much for sharing your art!

Oooo! I hear something...
Ah! Emmitt has put on his SuperPug suit and is "football baby" running, running down the hall gaining speed... he has popped out his doggy door and is up, up and away.

He just heard there is a new contest starting on Ladypug Mugs Blog! Check it out!

Emmitt is flying in loopdy loops telling every doggy he knows. Come and play!