Behind the Art: Feel Better, Ivan

Feel Better, Ivan art print

Inspired by my own dog and the way that he would curl up on the floor, in his chair, on the bed...etc, the Feel Better, Ivan drawing is so much more than just a dog and a red ball. He is my logo, and part of the heart of the shop. One of my favourite things about this drawing is how much everyone that purchases it (or the pin) sees their own dog in it. I've even had requests to add patches, etc. to his face or body to resemble the dog of the person ordering the print.

It is a true gift to be able to give people something to remember their dog by, but it is with the deepest sadness that I share with you that Ivan has succumbed to old age and kidney disease, and that I am now one of those people that will have this little print to remind me of my pup. I am grateful for the legacy he has provided to the shop, and for the love that he gave so willingly without expectation. He truly was a gift.

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Ivan's Hair Day: A Before and After

The pup just had a haircut today.

He always looks so strange to me after all of his hair is shaved off, but he's cute either way :)

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Ivan's Chair

Ivan loves to curl up on a wicker chair that we have in our living room. He often perches himself on the chair while we are away, and I hear him happily jump off as I walk through the door. Whenever I am sick, Ivan will sit in the chair and watch me, as if he feels bad about my being sick. This chair is Ivan's chair.

Ivan on The Chair winter of 2010 while I was sick at home.

The blanket on Ivan's chair is an afghan that my mother made me several years ago as a Christmas gift. A couple of weeks ago, my husband took the blanket off of the chair to lay on the floor for our son. Ivan jumped up onto the chair, and tried his best to get comfortable -- standing up, making circles, trying different positions -- but I could tell it wasn't the same for him without the afghan. So I guess what I should say is that the chair and the afghan belong to Ivan.

It was recently, while I looked at him so sweetly curled up in a little ball on this chair, that I got an idea for a new drawing: "Feel Better, Ivan". There's nothing quite like having a sick dog. I felt awful when, last Christmas, Ivan got into a package of chocolate fudge. He powered through it, but I have never seen a dog as sick as this little guy.

You can find the little print here in the SHOP. 

It is also available as a get well card here.

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Our Oldest Boy

I have introduced you to the newest addition to our family, but have not yet introduced you to my oldest boy.

His name is Ivan. He enjoys long walks, a good belly scratch, and cookies :)

I grew up with animals in my home, and knew that as soon as my husband and I purchased our own place that I would be visiting the local SPCA to find us a dog.

I found two dogs that I was really interested in, and was told that I could take them each out to a field to see how they would react with me. The first dog was way too young and excited, and, sadly, I knew that we wouldn't be able to handle that kind of dog. The second dog that I took out to the field amazed me. He found a ball amongst the tall grass in the field. I knew that I had to have that dog.

We didn't even have any supplies for him, but, luckily, the SPCA had dog collars available, and they let me borrow a leash to take him to the car. The collar that I picked out had spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds around it. I knew it was the one because my husband and I had just taken a trip to Las Vegas. It was perfect!

Ivan has turned out to be the most wonderful dog, and many times I have wondered what made him end up at the SPCA in the first place. It was all for the best though, because now he is our precious pup!

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