New Greeting Cards August 11 2016

I've been working on a couple of new greeting cards added for the end of the summer. I am especially fond of the Flamingo and pug card, it must be the Florida girl in me :) 

2016 Calendars are half off February 16 2016

Our 2016 Cats and Pugs calendars are now half off! We are sold out of the Dogs calendar this year, but still have some remaining cats and pugs. Get 'em while you can!

New Pug Ornaments October 22 2015

New to the shop - Pug Ornaments! The pug ornaments come in either a black pug or fawn pug, and made from felt and hand stitched by me! Each ornaments comes with a unique gift tag.

Now through October 26, when you order 2 or more calendars you will get a free ornament! No promo code needed.

Autumn paper goods are here! September 17 2015

I've added all the autumn paper goods to the shop including Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's that time of year again! Here's one of my new Halloween cards, I call him Vampire Cat! 

Citrus Pug August 11 2015

The citrus pug is here! As a native Floridian, it was about time to add some oranges and lemons to the floral mix. I really love how this one turned out and I think it has the perfect pairing of colors too. I used the aqua again (one of my favorite colors) from the Martha Stewart acrylic paints. 

The Golden Pug August 05 2015

The golden pug is complete! This wooden pug silhouette is one-of-a-kind and laser cut out of wood. I added some personal touches with a floral hand painted print. I have a few more wooden pugs still to paint, but once they're gone, they're gone!

If you are interested, get it while you can here.

Aqua Pug July 20 2015

I just finished another wooden pug silhouette. This time it's an aqua pug, or as Martha Stewart's acrylic paint name: Beach Glass. This one might be my favorite one yet. Again, like the previous pugs, these are one-of-a-kind and each different, so when it's gone it's gone. I'm thinking of making a gold pug next. 

Here's the link to the pug here.

2016 Calendars are here! June 16 2015

I am happy to say our 2016 Calendars are now available! This year I have 3 different calendars to choose from: Dogs and Pugs Calendars, which are always best sellers. But also the new Cats Calendar, which I think everyone will agree is also just as adorable! Each is spiral bound with a wire hanger.

Check them out in the shop here!

Wooden Pugs Silhouettes June 08 2015

I had some wooden pug silhouettes laser cut from my own design. They were plain and I recently decided to paint them. Then I thought how beautiful would they be if I also added a floral motif....they are truly one-of-a-kind. I've painted 2 pugs so far, but I also have a more if they become something of interest. 

I thought hanging them on a wall in a children's room or display in a bookshelf would be ideal. Comes in teal and pink and are in our Home Goods section in the shop.

Mother's Day and Father's Day Cards are here! April 30 2015

Mother's Day and Father's Day is right around the corner! I've added a few new cards to the Mother's Day and Father's Day collection. Both I think are adorable and will make any parent smile! 

Also, right now through May 4, all cards in the Moms, Dads and Grads collection is 20% off! Use code: MOMSDADSGRADS at checkout!

Wholesale Catalog and Product Photos March 20 2015

I've been working on my wholesale catalog the past few weeks...it can really be a tenuous job, but somebody has to do it! Below are some photos of product shots I stylized, which also include new cards and products. You can view the entire catalog here.

For those who don't know, a wholesale catalog is used for retailers to look through to purchase items for their shops. If you want to know if Lydia & Pugs goods are available in your area, you can view our stockists link here. 

Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies February 13 2015

How can it be gluten free? Oh darling... it can! It can! And it can taste good too (bonus)! After many months of researching gluten and how it can effect someone's body who has a gluten sensitivity or is a celiac. It really was an eye opener! And it especially hit home for me because my husband has a gluten sensitivity and has come to terms with it. So needless to say, any breads, cookies, cakes, pasta, etc that comes in our home is wheat free! 

During the holidays I really enjoy thumbprint cookies, and making them gluten free was my task. Being that Valentine's day was only days away, I incoporated my heart shaped cookie cutter, and made a few festive cookies as well. 

Here's the recipe: (note: the recipe was adapted from allrecipes.com)

Instructions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients and blend until well combined. Add egg, butter and vanilla and stir until dough is well blended and thick.

2. For the heart cookies: Take large amount of dough and shape and work into dough with your hands and form dough into a ball. Roll out your dough onto parchment paper or wax paper and roll until dough is about 1/3 of an inch thick. Use a cookie cutter cut out dough and place them onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper leaving about 1 inch between cookies. For the thumbprint cookies: 

3. For the thumbprint cookies: Shape the cookie dough into balls. Mine were about 1 Tablespoon of dough per ball. Make sure they’re nice and smooth. Then, make an indentation with your thumb into each ball. The dough may crack slightly when you press your thumb into it. Simply smooth it out with your hands if you can. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam of your choice.

4. Reform and roll out scrap dough. Cut out more cookies into desired shapes.

5. Bake for about 9-11 minutes until set.  Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet until set then transfer onto a cooling rack, approximately five minutes.

Edges may be slightly golden brown. Once cooled you can then drizzle the glaze on them. Store in an airtight container and enjoy! 

New Rubber Stamps January 13 2015

Pug Heart Stamp - I thought this stamp was long over due, a pug silhouette with heart. It can be used as an every stamp or perfect for Valentine's cards.

Little Dachshund Stamp - very similar to our Little Pug Stamp, I thought this little guy was necessary, I mean who doesn't like a weenie dog?

I hope you all enjoy the new stamps available! If you ever have any suggestions for future stamps...I am all ears! 

Valentine's Collection + a note about Calendars January 08 2015

Wishing you all a wonderful happy new year! Our Valentine's collection is now live in the shop! I've added a few new cat-loving cards and of course our favorites are still here too! 

P.S. We still have a handful of our *twine-bound* calendars for sale, but they are going fast! Our spiral-bound calendars have been sold out since before Christmas.

Free gift wrap + 10% off thru December 16 December 11 2014

Our 2015 Pug Calendars are officially sold out! We still have a handful of our 2015 Dog calendars available. However, starting today… there will be a limited number of 2015 Pug Calendars available, which will be bound with twine. Also, please visit our stores page, to contact our retailers who may have some in stock. 

All orders placed now through December 16 will receive a sheet of our Holiday Dogs wrapping sheet! Perfect to wrap your Lydia & Pugs gift! Also, save 10% off your entire order through December 16, use code: HOLIDAY at checkout.

Our holiday deadlines are below:
United States: 
Order by December 16 with first class mail
Order by December 20 with priority mail

Canada/International:
Order by December 12 with priority Mail

SURPRISE SALE! December 04 2014

It’s a SURPRISE SALE! Also, it’s my birthday, so I decided what better way to celebrate that with a sale!  Save 30% off everything in the shop for today only! Use code: SURPRISE30 at checkout. Offer is good for today only, December 4, ends at midnight EST. The 30% off discount is only available at lydiaandpugs.com. 

Happy shopping!

Holiday sale ends today! December 01 2014

Our sale ends today! Now through the end of the day today, December 1, use code: HOLIDAY30 to save 30% off everything at Lydia & Pugs — including holiday cards, gift wrap, rubber stamps, notepads and calendars. The 30% off discount is only available at lydiaandpugs.com.

Shop Small + Save 30% off everything! November 29 2014

Today is Small Business Saturday! Show some love to your small local and online retailers today! Also our Weekend Sale is still on! It's our biggest sale of the year!

Save use code: HOLIDAY30 to save 30% off everything at Lydia & Pugs, through Monday, December 1!

A weekend in Charleston November 11 2014

Fall foliage just north of Charleston

Delish baked goods at Sugar Bakeshop

An excellent Chai Tea latte at The Park Cafe

Cutest little paper shop Mac & Murphy

One of many beautiful trees in SC

I spent this past weekend enjoying the beautiful fall weather in Charleston, SC with family. It was a wonderful trip filled with hiking adventures and fall foliage, sweets and adorable shops. For more behind the scenes of Lydia & Pugs follow me on Instagram here.

Studio Mates October 21 2014

Yesterday Sprinkles was featured in on Mail Models: Studio Mates, a celebration of beloved pets who hold court over studios and workspaces. This is such a adorable post and I am so happy we are included with many other very cute studio mates! 

Pictured above is Sprinkles "helping me" with the new gift wrap. You can check out more behind the scenes of Lydia & Pugs instagram here and Mail Models here.

Ombré Painting September 30 2014

I recently painted this ombré painting using acrylic paints on canvas. I wanted to illustration something different from my usual artwork, it's something freeing to do something from the ordinary. Sometimes when I'm looking for inspiration, painting something out your box feels just right. I also really love this sea foam green color.

What you do when you need inspiration?

2015 Calendars are here! September 19 2014 1 Comment

Our 2015 Calendars are here! I am so excited about our calendars this year, and I think these are my favorite ones yet! This year each calendar is spiral bound for easy hanging. And now through September 25, if you order a calendar you will get a FREE set of 'Tandem Pug Thank You' postcards. No coupon code needed. 

Autumn Pug Wreaths September 09 2014

I recently created a fall wreath for my front door. But I had a thought of also adding something unique to wreath. I have a handful of wooden cut out pug silhouettes I hadn't used for the National Stationery Show tradeshow, and I knew these would be perfect for a pug-lovers wreath!

The wreaths above are both available in my Etsy shop, I started out with two and I will add more if they are well liked. Both are one-of-kind with fall foliage and either a burlap or ribbon bow. Each hand-painted with "Autumn Welcome" on the pug itself.

I also listed our Halloween and Thanksgiving cards too!

We love our retailers: Forester Rogers - Hound Outfitters August 29 2014

We love our retailers! Especially international retailers! We welcome Forester Rogers - Hound Outfitters from Australia. It's pretty cool to say our goods are sold out of the country!