This beautiful Persian Cat Clock, and the two clocks below, are available for purchase at www.Etsy.com/people/KeepsakeClocks.  If you would rather have a clock designed of your own cat, please contact me, The Clock Lady via email … JoAnn@TheClockLady.net or visit my website … www.TheClockLady.net.  There you will find many other examples of custom clocks, designed from my clients’ photographs.

What a face!!!  This is Tosha Cherokee.  A beautiful little Yorkie.  You can have your own beautiful Yorkie on a clock like this.  Just visit www.TheClockLady.net

From the moment I first saw the photo (see below), I knew there was a fabulous clock in my future!  This wonderful little Airedale puppy is just too adorable.  You can have a clock like this designed just for you of your dog … simply visit my website, www.TheClockLady.net.

Folks that know me know that I am a Pug Person.  I’ve got two adorable pugs, Smooch & Buster.  They are my kids & I am just crazy for them.

So maybe that’s why I’m crazy about all the wonderful Pugs I meet on the road.  I love all dogs but Pugs just make me smile.  And, of course, having the opportunity to create a Pug Clock is just about the best thing going for me!

Enter Rita!  I met Rita & her wonderful Pug Mom, Meg, at a show this year & was just thrilled when I had the opportunity to take Rita’s photo for her clock.

BTW, if you are thinking you’d like to have a clock made of your dog, this is a wonderful pose & a pretty easy shot to get.  Just instruct your little furball to sit, then get down on the floor, make a few silly noises & start snapping.  Pugs are especially good at this kind of thing … those wonderful head tilts make such adorable photos!

Once Meg decided on her favorite photo from our shoot, I removed the background & replaced it with something with just a bit more interest.  I chose a watercolor version of the same blue that we took the photo against.  A bit of enhancement to the photo & then the design work.  I sent Meg five proofs so she could chose her favorite.  Then we printed the image on canvas, gallery wrapped it & applied a glossy coat that made the colors pop.  The finished clock is fabulous … so much so, Meg asked me to display it at a recent show … it was a huge hit!

To order one for yourself, simply visit my website (click on the button to the right) or email me directly … JoAnn@TheClockLady.net.

Copies of this clock are also available for purchase on Etsy.  Visit my store there www.Etsy.com/people/KeepsakeClocks.

The photo on the right is a great example.  The dog has a wonderful expression on it’s face, but most of it’s body is not featured in the photo.  Removing the background & a bit of reshaping of the chest was all that was needed to turn this into a lovely clock.  Of course, things like removing backgrounds & reshaping body parts takes quite a bit of time, but I believe the finished clock was worth the work.

Just like our pendants, clock or kaleidoscope designs work beautifully.  And just like all of our other products, they are created from your photo.

This keychain features a black & white photo of two dogs in a kaleidoscope pattern.

Keychains can also be used as crate or luggage tags, as well as tree ornaments  … for tiny little trees.

I guess it would be good to get back in the swing with a design from a photo I took while on the road.  One of the services I provide at shows is to do a photo shoot at no extra charge.  It helps me out a lot since I generally can get an image that is just perfect for a clock, pendant or tabletop.  I set up lights & a backdrop, then do whatever it takes to get the dogs to give the camera their very best.  Funny noises, squeek toys, treats … 20, 30, 50 shots to get one good one … that’s all it takes.

I took the photo below in Scottsdale.  It was a little more complicated than many shoots because, well, it was THREE dogs for goodness sake … two Basset Hounds & a Mastiff.  The funny noises & squeek toys were all we needed for these three to give us their best.

Even though the photo was wonderful, it still needed some editing.  I moved one of the Bassets in closer to his pals & then brought in a more muted background for a finished look that really works.

The client loves her clock & I must say I’m pretty happy with the result, too.

First, let’s remember what’s really important in for a clock photo of your pet.  The best photos feature your furry loved one facing the camera, from the front or turned slightly to the side in a 3/4 view.  It’s actually pretty simple … just about anything other than a view of your pet from the side.  That’s because four-legged animals, when viewed from the side, are quite wide … too wide to fit comfortably into one hour of a clock. 

The photo to the right is a wonderful example & one of my all-time favorites.  It’s perfect, actually!  The view is from the front, with a 3/4 turn of the body.  Notice how there seems to be a vertical line … the image of the boxer is taller than it is wide.  And, as an added bonus, the background is uncluttered & well suited to the color of the dog’s coat.  As you might have guessed, this photo was taken by a professional photographer.

So, what about photos taken by us mere mortals?  You know, the ones that have potential but aren’t perfect.  The ones where the pose is good but the background needs the old switcheroo. 

Here’s an ok photo that turned into a really lovely clock.  The view of this golden retriever puppy is from the front with a slight turn to the body … it’s really good.  The background is a little less than wonderful though.  The first thing that needed to be done was to get rid of all of those grout lines in the floor, then the date stamp & toy needed to be removed.  After that was done, the photo was perfect & made a really wonderful golden retriever clock.

What’s really fun to me about this clock was that my client was almost certain she didn’t have a good photo.  And that’s the point I’m trying to make with today’s post.  Just because your photo isn’t perfect, doesn’t mean it can’t become a great clock.  Send me what you’ve got so I can help you to find the gem in the rough.  Photo editing is part of the process in designing a clock … it’s what you are paying me to do.  So don’t worry about cluttered or messy or boring backgrounds. 

Ok, one more example.  I was thrilled when I saw this photo of a german shepherd.  I thought that this would be an easy one because the background of the photo is lovely … all that fabulous greenery.  And then my client told me she wanted a blue background.  Oh well, back to the drawing board.

This time, the task was a little more complicated.  I needed to completely change the background in order to do what my client requested.  This took a bit more time than the golden puppy clock, but it gave me lots of creative license.  I pulled the dog out of the photo & tried him against several different blue backgrounds till I came up with the right mix for my client.

The thing to remember from all of this is not to worry about the background of your photos.  I can fix a background 99% of the time.  What I can’t fix is a photo with the subject in a pose that is not suited for a clock … a side view.  So go grab your stash of photos of your pet & look for the ones that show him or her from the front.  Send me a few & I’ll help you pick the one that will work best for your clock.

Till next time …

Of course, I’m guessing that most folks who stumble upon my little blog will be more interested in what they see, than what they read.

That being said … how about a few clocks?  Today’s theme is AGILITY!

It always amazes me when I get a chance to watch dogs doing agility.  I think of my own two little Pugs & feel rather inadequate.  I just can’t imagine getting them to do what I see so many dogs doing so well.  The team work between dog & human is incredible. 

I feel lucky if I can get my two kids to actually sit when I tell them to.

Speaking of my kids, their names are Smooch & Buster.  They, as previously stated, do not do agility nor do they do much of anything other than keep us thoroughly amused & feeling loved.  It’s their job & they do it well.

Actually, I always tell folks that Pugs are a wonderful breed.  They will do anything in the world to make you happy … as long as it’s what they want to do.  I dare you to find a Pug-person who would disagree with that statement.

But here in today’s post, we have a Poodle, a Beagle & a Cocker Spaniel.  All three are obviously having the time of their lives.

Just look at the expression on these three faces … a combination of canine determination & utter exhilaration.  It just makes me want to go jump over something.  Of course, there’s no way I could do it like these three … Superman style with the front paws stretched out. 

Oh crud!  All this talk about jumping over things reminded me that, according to my most recent New Years resolution, I’m supposed to go exercise right about now.  Drat!

Till next time!