Good Bloggie!

While watching the fascinating documentary about the inner workings of Vogue, I too, became crushed as creative director Grace Coddington saw her cherished Paris je t’aime photo shoot whittled down, further and further, by Vogue editor, Anna Wintour. Not only because the moody, lush, 20s-inspired images taken by Steven Meisel are wonderful, but because the most compelling image (at least from a Frenchie person’s point-of-view) included two French Bulldogs, a brindle and a cream, decked out in badger hair collars. Near the foot of another model, is what looks like an antique “Growler” toy adding to the image’s mystique.

Of course wanted to share this image with you, so began with the Vogue site, but Vogue has edited out that photo, again. Opened the search to include the movie’s site, then the web, finally finding a grainy, skewed version of it at Jezebel, along with the movie trailer it came from. Image isn’t very sharp or big, and certainly doesn’t do justice to the true image, but at least you can get a hint. (And learn more about the image, photoshoot, movie, and history.)

And while another blog, Femmes de Fleurs, doesn’t include the Frenchie-enhanced image, it does delve into the background behind the original photos and historical times which inspired this Vogue photo shoot.

The only way you may be able to view the image fully is to rent The September Issue and keep your remote control finger snappy. This photo shoot is towards the first third of the film, and appears again as they are blocking out the magazine with small images and page spread comps.

Frenchies are cute, cuddly, and woolly??

Get out your needles and remember how to knit and purl, or just have fun checking out an unusual slant to a time-honored craft – Knitting AND French Bulldogs!

Knit and wear a French Bulldog sweater. Visit this blog to see a sample worked up and get links to the pattern. Portraits of Dogs in Knitting

Or, if your Japanese is good, crochet and play with a French Bulldog toy. Click on the image or link below and scroll down the page to see images from inside the book. If you are an excellent crocheter, you might be able to just go by the diagrams.

Japanese Crochet book

The book is also available on Amazon, the Japanese version.

If you want to get really, really crazy, knit using your Frenchie’s fur as the yarn. Knitting with dog fur experienced a surge during WWII when knitting materials were scarce and continues today as a hobby. Page through the book Knitting with Dog Hair. They do warn Frenchies provide a “poor harvest.” Maybe aim for a scarf and not a sweater…

Don’t have a spinning wheel? Pay someone to spin that hair into yarn. Search for “spinning dog hair” and you will get several hits.

While no French Bulldog garments are represented, you might enjoy seeing some final dog yarn products.

Hum…makes one look a little differently at those fur balls under, and on, the couch.

As most readers know by now, this blog is always on the lookout for new and usual art forms which incorporate French Bulldogs. Found a new one recently and it’s trés cool! Hand-painted Enameled Jewelry by Bev Yokley. Very nice, intricately cut, hand-painted enameled jewelry, and she can even do custom work from your photographs. She produces a wide range of animal art, whether you want something made of your Frenchie, your cat, or your giraffe!

She first sketches onto copper, then paints, cuts, and fires the metal to create the durable enamel pin.

Here are a few examples from her website:

And these aren’t Frenchies, but gives you an idea of how detailed her work can be.

If you’d like to see more, visit www.horsebrooch.com

Neiman Marcus has Postage Stamp Ottomans available, one with a Polish Brindle Pied Frenchie stamp on top.

Guess if you’re paying $300 and up for the shoes, a $469 ottoman is the place to rest them while you’re watching TV!

Haute House
Pale Blue French Bulldog Ottoman, 18″D
Price: $469.00

Look at those Frenchie nails! My, my…tsk, tsk…they need some TLC and so do you!

Time for your Frenchie (or nonFrenchie) to head down to Lofty Dog and get your pooch a pampering pet-icure while you kick back and take it easy. There will even be a trunk show of vintage clothing courtesy of Bettie Page Clothing, which is based out of Las Vegas.

Proceeds of this relaxing, gala event will go to the French Bulldog Rescue Network, a rescue group dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of French Bulldogs in need.

Point your car, SUV, or tandem bicycle in the direction of downtown on:

Thursday October 8
6pm – 8pm

Lofty Dog
403 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-476-5050

Click here for parking directions.

This event is sponsored by Austin Urban Vet Center and Tito’s Vodka.