Giveaway! Choose Your Ink

To celebrate the opening of ajoeynamedrootoo, we are holding a giveaway! Check out our tattoo and vintage inspired wearable art.



http://www.etsy.com/listing/59955192/vintage-inspired-deer-pendant
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61810936/tattoo-sparrow-in-forest-green
http://www.etsy.com/listing/61754714/tattoo-inspired-sparrow-in-sunset
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60436842/wide-eyed-deer-pendant
Each piece is created entirely by hand using professional artist's colored pencils and hard plastic. We then finish the piece with an acrylic sealant. We want to know what customized design you would like to own.

For your mandatory entry, tell us what you want, and we will create it. The winner will be picked randomly using random.org, and we will turn the winner's design into wearable art.  The sky is the limit! You can use one of the designs we have already created and choose the colors, or think of something completely original.

1. Mandatory entry: follow our blog and comment below with your design suggestion.

Additional entries:

2. Fan us on Facebook
3. Heart your favorite thing at ajoeynamedrootoo, then come back here and post the link
4. Follow us on twitter
5. Tweet about this giveaway and mention @ajoeynamedroo for one entry
6. Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back to it here
7. Heart your favorite thing at ajoeynamedroo, then come back here and post the link.
8. Comment on any of the other posts on this blog, then come back here and tell us which one.

The contest is open internationally and will end December 1st.  Thank you for supporting ajoeynamedroo!

Who in the world am I?

In 2007, my family visited the Asheville Humane Society to adopt a dog. Yes, a dog, as in one dog. Within the first minute of entering the dog wing of the shelter, we had locked eyes with a small black puppy named Racer. Racer was a 4 month old puppy with the most soulful, honey brown eyes you have ever seen. Sarah and I did a quick cruise of the remaining dogs in the wing, but our hearts were set on little Racer. Unfortunately (but predictably) my mom had a similar "this dog is the one" moment during that same minute that Racer and I locked eyes. She fell in love with a beautiful dog who the shelter guessed to be a Saluki mix; her name was Sally.

Since that day, we have had a joyful three years with the best dogs anyone could ask for. During the three years we have lived with Parker and Sally, their breed heritage has been a constant topic of discussion. We know it doesn't matter, but it's fun to talk about.

My mom has defiantly held true to the (unfounded) belief that Sally is a Saluki mix. If you've ever seen a Saluki, you know they are lanky, huge, and fast dogs. Sally is none of things.  I will give her the fluffy ears, but many other breeds have this trait also.  Here are some gorgeous artistic renditions of Salukis from etsy sellers.

ElleJW, nahlash, artbyljgrove

Now that you've digested that, here's Sally as a young dog (around one year old).  Her floppy ears vaguely resemble a Saluki, but they could also be from some type of Spaniel.  Sarah and I both agreed that she looks a lot like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  

We finally decided to put an end to the speculation by purchasing a breed test from Canine Heritage.  It's a little (well, a lot) pricy at $79.95.  We decided to go ahead and do it because the price wasn't so bad split amongst four people.  

It's a simple process:  once you purchase the test, you receive a kit in the mail.  You use the swab to brush the inside of your dog's cheek for 30 seconds, then you return the swab to the envelope and mail it in.  After the lab receives your sample, Canine Heritage says your sample will be processed in 4-6 weeks.  

Unfortunately, we didn't have such luck.  It took over 3 months to get Sally's results.  This was after several angry emails; I got a reply to the last email that said the company was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but I would get my results.  I was a little afraid we had been scammed, but many people have used Canine Heritage, and they were featured on Good Morning America.  

We finally got the results, printed out on an official looking sheet.  The certificate includes a picture of Sally which I sent in via the website:

It turns out she's a mix of Siberian Husky and Cocker Spaniel.  It seems so obvious now!  Though we were very pleased with the results, there is no way I would recommend Canine Heritage to anyone.  If you're considering having your mixed breed dog tested, please do!  Just don't use Canine Heritage.  Though Sally's results were spot on, the customer service was horrendous.  There are several other breed tests available, including one from Wisdom Panel (you can even get it at Petsmart).

Finally, here is an homage for Sally, made up of the work from fantastic etsy sellers.  Enjoy! 

newenglandworkshop, dogwoodbydave, dogartstudio, petluv, thepotterysyndicate, lizarena

Every Gift Has a Story

I'm in love with etsy's new holiday marketing concept, "every gift has a story."

I know that I absolutely hold the handmade gifts I've received in a special place in my heart. Two of the things that I carry everyday were handmade, my wallet and my purse.

Although I don't always recognize it, I do feel a special connection with the items' creators. They have become a part of my life every day!

A Human Face

One of the improvements that I've been trying to make to the site is taking pictures that display the products well.  It's always difficult to judge your own pictures, but one strategy that I've been finding helpful is to consider which pictures I choose for my own treasuries.

One of the commonalities amongst the photos that I choose, especially for knits and crochets are images that show the product on a real person.  I think that a human face, as well as a little context greatly helps a product photo.

Rachel (my sister in the ajoeynamedroo team) and I took turns taking pictures modeling the products.  Rachel looks so great in all the pictures.  This one is one of my favorites.  It features Tilly the cat!

White Cotton Victorian Collar with Lilac

A Human Voice

I've been working hard the last few weeks to improve the way our new etsy shop looks and feels.

First, I read an article about turning the product into a story, instead of just a description.  It has been difficult to do for all of my products, but a few of them already had a story waiting to be written.  Here's my favorite one, it's about my raspberry necklace:

Wild Raspberries and Blossoms Necklace

"One day in early summer I was walking home from class. I noticed that the leaves of the vine all around me looked very familiar. I looked closer, and there were tiny green berries waiting to turn red. I watched them for the next two months, and had the privilege of eating the first ripe little jewel on the bush.

The hidden jewel of a tiny raspberry, and the very idea that you can find such a beautiful and yummy fruit growing wild inspired this necklace.

The necklace captures the first raspberry of the season, surrounded by the vine's flowers, which will soon be berries as well.

The small raspberry is strung together in a circular pattern out of tiny seed beads and topped with a silver accent. The raspberry hangs in the center of the necklace, surrounded by two handmade polymer clay blossoms in pale white.

The center piece of the necklace hangs off of a lovely spiraling rope that I made by methodically crocheting seed bead by seed bead. It is an incredibly time-consuming process, but it produces a lovely & delicate (yet sturdy) chain. The chain combines shades of green, cream, and raspberry red."




I love the idea of selling a story as well as a product.  That's what handmade is about.  I'm not sure how many people will read the WHOLE story.  I'm working on cropping it down a little, but hopefully even in skimming it I will come through to the reader.