My fashion philosophy is, if you're not
covered in dog hair, your life is empty.
--Elayne Boosler
If you're a dog lover, you know firsthand the intensity of the tug a dog can have on the heartstrings. Barney, our exuberant black lab, is confidante and clown, protector and playmate, beggar and best friend.
Dogs are so special to me, I find it difficult to pass up canine kitsch on my treasure hunts. Vintage dog items always make me smile. Admit it, don't these beguiling hand-carved cuties brighten your day?
This wooden piece, a recent estate sale find, was clearly handmade. It's seen better days, but still maintains tremendous charm. I put a deck of--what else--vintage dog playing cards in the box section, which most likely was intended to hold cigarettes. My vintage Scottie candy container makes a good companion to its carved cousins.
The paperback "Dogs" book was a recent flea market score.
The book doesn't have a copyright date, but it's definitely decades old. It's in very good vintage condition. The contents feature descriptions of many breeds and the pictures are stickers that have been added to the pages. The book is a promotional giveaway for Gro-Pup Dog Food, a Kellogg's brand.
Not a new find, this handsome and stately pointer is a mid-Century console lamp and has graced the top of our piano for several years.
The large chalkware dog belonged to my grandmother. He is accompanied by a couple of friends I found at estate sales.
Dogs are not our whole life,
but they make our lives whole.
The antique, iron St. Bernard bank belonged to my husband's grandmother. It still contains many of her old coins.
This darling litho is stained with age and has some significant other "beauty marks," none of which detract from the sweet image. Dogs and babies . . . awwww. Picked this up for a couple of bucks at a local estate sale.
When an eighty-five pound mammal
licks your tears away, then tries to sit
on your lap, it's hard to feel sad.
- Kristan Higgins, Catch of the Day
And, here's to the most special dog in our collection--our 93-pound baby. Barney, you're the best.
Make it a great day!
