Real Wedding - Fire Hydrant Press Feature

photo courtesy of The Knot

This past Spring a bride approached me to make some custom Fire Hydrant Press, dog silhouette favor labels for her upcoming wedding. She and her fiance are both animal lovers and wanted to let each guest know they made a donation to the local animal shelter, in the guest's honor. These cute labels (made to match wedding color scheme of course) were placed on favor bags that included cookies made in the shape of dog bones.

Imagine my surprise when I received a message from the bride that her wedding was featured in The Knot? It's so much fun to see something you have made being used in real life and most importantly being used as a small piece to an absolutely beautiful puzzle! Click here to see all of the details this bride made sure to include, especially the escort cards!

What a super unique and generous idea! Thanks Jessica for sharing this with us.

Fire Hydrant Press is the charitable division of InkSpot Workshop and is dedicated to dog lovers!

Humpday Giveaway - Winner - Leo and Company

WE HAVE A WINNER!
(thanks to random.org)

Congratulations
Misc Momma

Please contact me
so we can get your goodies to you!!

Hump Day Giveaway - Leo and Company

Happy Hump Day!
Today we've got a little somethin' somethin'
to help make you and your dog's day
a little more fun!

Loki + Leo

Before we begin...we have a must read...
Behind every good company is a GREAT story
click here to meet Loki + Leo.

Introducing Leo and Company!

I had the pleasure of being introduced to Leo and Company a few months ago when they became customers of my charitable shop Fire Hydrant Press. I fell instantly in l♥ve with this company, their story and of course that most adorable picture of Loki with the treat on his head. Each batch of Leo and Company's dog biscuits are made to order plus made from organic, wheat free, human-grade ingredients, so you know they are AMAZING! They also have a great blog, stop by and check it out here.

Leo and Company
wants your pooch to experience
a taste sensation!

Today's Hump Day Giveaway Includes...
you very own
8oz Mixed Bag
of Leo and Company's Dog Biscuits

FLAVORS:
Peanut Butter + Apple
Parmesan Cheese
Buffalo

But wait.... there's more

I'm also so excited to offer you
a little somethin' somethin' compliments of

FIRE HYDRANT PRESS
the furry, charitable division of InkSpot Workshop

up for grabs is your very own
Set of 20
Personalized Dog Breed Silhouette Note Cards
You pick colors, fonts and dog!
Completely Customized By You!

Complete with signature gift box

Both Leo and Company and Fire Hydrant Press donate a portion of all sales to non-profit organizations. Leo and Company donates to places who help pets, people and the planet. Fire Hydrant Press has chosen Last Chance For Animals as their main benefactor.

ENTERING IS EASY!

1. Go to Leo and Company's Etsy shop - come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite item {bonus entry if you leave a suggestion for a new item you'd like to see added}

2. Become a fan of Leo and Company on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

3. Become a fan of InkSpot Workshop on Facebook by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new fan or current fan.

4. Follow Leo and Company on Twitter by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new or current follower.

5. Follow InkSpot Workshop on Twitter by clicking here. Then come back and leave a comment letting us know if you are a new or current follower.

* US + CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED USING RANDOM.ORG *
* WINNER WILL BE SELECTED AT MIDNIGHT (EST) AUGUST 13TH *
* YOUR ENTRY IS YOUR COMMENT LEFT HERE *
* PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE A WAY TO REACH YOU *
* ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU'D LIKE *
* ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER MIDNIGHT-AUGUST 13TH ARE VOID *
* WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE ON MONDAY AUGUST 16TH *

THANK YOU
and
GOOD LUCK

Fire Hydrant Press Holiday Update

In addition to launching InkSpot Workshop's Holiday 2009 line, I've also been a busy beaver making some fresh and modern Christmas card designs for Fire Hydrant Press. Click here to read the story behind my fury little charitable division. A portion of every sale is donated to Last Chance For Animals and I'm happy to say $420.00 has been donated since opening in December 2008.

Only available in my Etsy shop, you get your choice of...

- 3 fab color combinations

- Dog breed silhouette (complete with Santa hat)

- Greeting for front

- Greeting for inside

Such a fun way to include your pupper this holiday.

Also NEW are these adorable personalized wall hanging 2010 calenders, featuring your pal and his/her name. Easy gifts for every dog lover.

Dog Days of Summer

Great news for Fire Hydrant Press! The furry, charitable, little division of InkSpot Workshop. I was contacted by City Dog Magazine last month to send in some stationery samples and right now I'm all smiles because we're in the Summer issue!! Page 14 to be exact - our first press mentions ever! Looks like I'll have to start a journal. To read the magazine online, click here. Thank you City Dog Magazine!

Update

Please forgive me for neglecting my poor blog this week. But first, how do you like my new design? Thank goodness for my web designer, who jumped in and made me a whole new blog template when my original template crashed. Since we were changing the look a bit, I thought it was time to give my blog a name and how apropos is "The Spotter"?

My desk is literally swamped with InkSpot Workshop and Fire Hydrant Press orders, plus a whole "To Do" list for my day job, and we are going out of town every weekend for the next 4 weeks so I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Guess I'll just have to take a deep breath and pray that I will get through this.

Ok, now on to some really great news, I'm proud to announce yet another contribution to Last Chance For Animals. I will now keep a running tally of donations made, right here on my blog's sidebar. As most of you know, a portion of all Fire Hydrant Press sales are donated to LCA. I passionately support the work of this non-profit organization and hope our little contributions help to save ALL animals!

Mother's Day Giveaway

The newest additions to our backyard critter population have arrived and just in time for Mother's Day! They first made their debut here, just a few short weeks ago. It's so fascinating to watch how mommy and daddy Robin care {round the clock} for these little guys.

In honor of Mother's Day I'm offering a special giveaway...

Monday, April 28th - Sunday, May 3rd - 12:00 am EST

$50.000 InkSpot Workshop Gift Certificate

How? Simply leave a post telling how you plan to use this certificate should you be the lucky winner! To visit InkSpot Workshop click here. If you would like to use the certificate in my other shop, Fire Hydrant Press, click here.

One winner will be randomly drawn at 12:00 am EST, Sunday May 3rd and posted here.

GOOD LUCK!

Happy Ending

Don't you just love stories with happy endings? Well here's one for you... a few months ago I introduced you to Brody, a Boston Terrier who was abandoned and in bad need of medical attention. Linda, from Bostons by the Bay Rescue contacted me about donating some Fire Hydrant Press items for an auction to help raise funds for his costly operation, see his poor little eye?

I'm happy to report not only was the Easter auction a success, Brody has found a new home (and lap apparently) see his new family portrait above.

Here is the set of note cards and magnets I donated and the fun Easter basket they were part of. Best Wishes to Brody and his new home and keep up the great work Bostons by the Bay!

The Winner Is....

SIT STILL DOTTIE!

Congratulations!!

Dottie has won not 1 but 2 sets of

SPRING FLING

Personalized Dog Silhouette Note Cards

courtesy of Fire Hydrant Press

HAPPY 1st DAY OF SPRING

Deposit #1

It is with great pleasure I bring you this post today. As I mentioned here last month, I have started a second Etsy shop called Fire Hydrant Press. This furry little division of InkSpot Workshop exists to provide dog lovers with fun and unique paper goods featuring their own pet's silhouette(s). As a side benefit, I chose Last Chance For Animals as this year's benefactor and 15% of all Fire Hydrant Press sales get donated to this wonderful organization that helps ALL animals!

Fire Hydrant Press opened in December, 2008 and every 3 months (quarterly) I will send LCA a check. My very first check just got mailed today for the amount of $150.00 and I sure am looking forward to seeing that number quadruple over the next few months. I will keep a running tally of all donations (year to date) both on my blog and on my shop announcement.

To celebrate, I'd like to offer

FREE LUNCH for YOU and A FRIEND !!!!

Simply leave a post here telling me not only your favorite item at Fire Hydrant Press,

but what makes your dog simply THE BEST.

I will randomly select a winner on Friday, March 19 at 9:00 am

the winner will receive 2 sets of my new Spring Fling, personalized stationery.

One for you and one for a friend. You pick the dog silhouette.

The winner will also get to have their dog's picture proudly displayed right here and on my shop's banner

Good Luck! and please help spread the word about Fire Hydrant Press. I want to be able to write a check to Last Chance For Animals in the thousands, not just hundreds!!!

INTRODUCING.....

Drum roll please.....I'm ecstatic to introduce you to the newest member of the InkSpot Workshop family. Meet Fire Hydrant Press, our fury little charitable division, established December, 2008. A portion of each and every sale gets donated to Last Chance For Animals (LCA).

The fact I had been getting so many requests to make designs including dogs, coupled with the images burned into my mind after seeing an HBO documentary by LCA, is how Fire Hydrant Press came about. Not to mention there really wasn't a place on Etsy, where you could get fun, fully personalized dog silhouette paper goods. I've been having so much success with InkSpot Workshop and I wanted to be able to give something back, which is why I chose LCA as our benefactor.

Just in case you didn't see the awful (in a moving sort of way) HBO special about Class B dog dealers, or see them on Oprah, I strongly suggest you do. My husband and I cried throughout the entire documentary and thinking about what I saw still makes me sick to my stomach and want to hug my dogs and never let go. It's in every way disturbing, but the type of reality we need to see in order to be so shocked that we take charge and do something that can help make a difference in the way animals are treated in this world.

Meet Brody, a lucky little foster guy

who is getting lots of help from

Bostons By The Bay - A Northern California Boston Terrier Rescue Group

On a lighter note:) I was recently contacted by the President of Bostons By The Bay to see if I'd be interested in donating a set of my magnets with Boston Terrier silhouettes, for an Easter fund raiser they are having for cute little Brody. Can you believe someone left this guy on the shelter's doorstep on Christmas? He has a pretty hefty vet bill and If you'd like to help please contact Linda Johannes at Bostons By The Bay.

In addition to donating a set of Boston Terrier silhouette magnets,

I'm surprising them with a set of matching note cards

GOOD LUCK BRODY!!

Thanks for bearing with a longer than usual post and should you need something for the dog lover who has everything, please come visit Fire Hydrant Press!

iCANDY - 26th Edition

Directions: For optimum viewing pleasure, click on collage

This week we're going to the DOGS! literally and figuratively. As my 2 pooches are really getting up there in age (12 and 14 we think!) I realize they are not getting nearly enough TLC now that we have added a 2 legged critter to our pack, 3 years ago. I'd like to honor our beloved best friends with some super cute pet stuff I have scouted.

1. Tiny Sterling Dog House Necklace - A Tail Of Two, Tampa $44.00

2. Gourmet Dog Bones - Diva Dog Bakery, Orlando $8.99

3. Dog Silhouette Magnet Set - Fire Hydrant Press, Atlanta $7.00

4. Herbal Dog Shampoo Bar - Good Clean Dog, Seattle $3.00

5. Patterned Dog Tags - Pure Panache, Orlando $8.00

6. Square Bowl Set - Chiara's Hand Painted, Tampa $55.00

Enjoy! if you see some iCANDY that needs to be featured, please drop me a line.

iCANDY - 25th Edition

Directions: Click on collage for optimized viewing pleasure.

Hey Sweetie! This collection is inspired by St. Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th. I love hearts all year and especially love little conversation hearts - just to read because they are simply the worst tasting little candies ever.

1. Conversation Heart Soap - dugshop, Los Angeles $4.00

2. Sweetheart Sprinkle Necklace - Baby Loves Pink, Vancouver $15.00

3. Dog Silhouette Card You Design - Fire Hydrant Press, Sunny South $2.00

4. Mod Heart Buckle - rDesigns, Atlanta $35.00

5. Sweetheart Ring - Smile Monsters, Aledo, TX $8.00

6. Wood Hearts - Mama Roots, Columbia MO $5.00

ENJOY!