Gatsby Turns One!

Posted on May 3, 2012 by studiogatz

So it’s been awhile since I’ve been able to post. Since the store opened a few weeks ago, I’ve been busy creating new product, managing the website (I’m sooo not tech savvy) and just the regular life stuff (oh and my 9-5 job).

But there was reason to celebrate this week…Gatsby (the store’s namesake and my precious pooch) turned one on Tuesday!

It was raining out, so we invited over his best friend Monty for a play date. I wanted to get party hats, because, yes I am that crazy dog owner. However, my search was fruitless. So I quickly whipped up some of my own out of construction paper.

The Birthday Boy

Monty Didn’t Like His Hat!

DISCLAIMER: I didn’t spend much time on these hats (obviously). They do not reflect the products available on studiogatz.com. If you’re wondering why I didn’t spend more time and design a really great party hat, this next picture should answer your question:

Monty Stealing/Eating Gatsby’s Hat

Bad Hair Day

Posted on April 5, 2012 by studiogatz

We’ve all had them…bad hair days. But yesterday took the cake for me. Let me just explain with this picture:

On the left, my cute adorable, dopy, fluffy puppy (with his best bud Monty). On the right, what he returned looking like after what I can only guess was caused by tripping over a box of clippers.

Poor, poor Gatsby looks like a skinny foo-foo pup now. (I’m worried the other dogs at the playground will make fun of him.)

It turns out all that fun swimming he’s been doing caused major mats. And so alas, Gatz was shaved from his neck to the start of his tail (think poofy head–skinny body–poofy tail). I wasn’t totally convinced he was him when the groomer gave him to me, so after walking out the door, I immediately made him do a “high five” (his only trick) to prove that he was indeed Mr. Redford.

He Was. So for now he’s just going to have to deal with a bad hair ~~day~~ ~~month~~ summer.

How To: Change a Shower Head

Posted on March 29, 2012 by studiogatz

As you will soon find out, this is more a post as to how NOT to change your shower head. As I mentioned before, now that I own my own place, I’m trying to be handier (since you just can’t call the landlord anymore).

And well, I noticed my dog often came home from being out with the dog walker looking like this:

Notice the Muddy Paws

Although really, I can’t complain about the dog walker since this how he looks after a hike with me:

Notice the Muddier Paws

So this is all to say, my dog often needs a bath, which is a problem because I don’t have a bathtub and he no longer can fit in the sink.

SOLUTION: A Hand-Held Shower head!!

Easy right?!? I had changed a shower head in a previous apartment and thought it would simply just twist off… So here is my latest how-to…

STEP 1: Assemble your supplies.

Shower Head and Pliers

STEP 2: Try with all your might to twist off the old shower head.

Old Shower Head

STEP 3: Get really frustrated because the thing won’t move, throw the pliers down and make a Bloody Mary (because you are doing this in the morning and it would be socially frowned upon if you went straight to wine).

Try this recipe from Pinterest!

STEP 4: Knock on the strong, strapping, FBI agent’s door (the one guy that lives in the building). And ask to borrow his muscles.

Picture has been changed to protect the innocent.

STEP 5: Find out that he can’t budge it either.

STEP 6: Repeat step 3 (possibly with the muscle man…wish I had thought of that one).

STEP 7: Muscle Man redeems himself and shows up with CLR and a bigger wrench. Soaks shower head for an hour and it’s easily able to be removed with the bigger “manly-man” wrench.

STEP 8: Let muscle man install new shower head since he’s already on a roll. Bake cookies as a thank-you.

Ta-Da!

Gatsby got his first shower the next day:

Pitiful Wet Puppy

STEP 9: Get annoyed by constant dripping and call property manager who hires a plumber because some valve is broken.

(As I said this is really how not to install a shower head.)

Dog Days

Posted on March 22, 2012 by studiogatz

It’s spring time in New England — in March! Which if you live up here, is pretty much unheard of. Usually at this time of year I’m moaning about the banks of gray snow, the gray sky, and just the overall yuckiness.

But this year, I’ve already busted out the capris. Ya that’s right, capris! In March! With daffodils and crocuses and everything (outside, not on the capris). It’s turned me into a very optimistic person. And one that’s actually getting out and doing a little exercise.

Those past dreary days of yonder year are now the dogs days of Spring, which is a good thing! I’ll explain…with a picture…

Gatsby and Monty out on a hike.

If you’ll remember from a previous post, Monty is our neighbor and he and Gatsby are best buds. They are a couple of months apart and share the same dog walker, so they practically grew up together! Gatsby was even at one time smaller than Mr. Mont.

With the 70+ degree days, we’ve been getting out on hikes. Yeah exercise long before having to put on a bikini (me, not the dogs– that would just be silly… you know… cause they’re boys).

Here’s Gatsby taking a quick dip:

Bow-Wow-Wow

Posted on March 16, 2012 by studiogatz

I mentioned in my last post that I’m obsessed with my dog Gatsby. While that’s certainty that case, I really am in love with all dogs (although Gatsby’s the best by far!). One of my first projects on my new Silhouette CAMEO was to do a card of Gatsby’s best friend and our neighbor Monty.

Monty is an adorable french bulldog who has lots of wrinkles around his face. I decided to create dimension by creating multiple layers — one for each “wrinkle.” I then cut them all out, stacked them up and glued them together. Monty has a lot of variation in color on his coat, so I added some detail in colored pencils.

One of my friends at work saw a picture of the card and wanted one of her dog, Gus, to give to her fiance for Valentine’s Day. She’s a country music fan and wanted the card to say “I love you like my dog does.” That’s also why I used some old sheet music to create hearts.

Finally, came Bear a big ol’ lug of a chocolate lab. He loves to play on the beach, so I changed out the background and add a little glitter (who doesn’t love glitter!). I’ve posted the original pictures and the cards below. These pictures aren’t great at showing all the different layers, but it gives you the idea. If you’re interested in having one made of your dog, please email custom@studiogatz.com.

Studio Gatz

Tag Archives: Dog