Knoxville garden newcomer, sago palm deadly to dogs and toxic to humans

Knoxville garden newcomer, sago palm deadly to dogs and toxic to humans

Bring on the Dancin' Dogs!! We're BACK!!!

It's been a while since we last posted. Much has happened to "Touch of a Paw" over that time.

Getting into my WABAC (pronounced way-back) machine (reference Mr. Peabody of Rocky & Bullwinkle ), I'll recap some of the things that have occurred for everyone.


November was filled with festivals and shows. One of the main ones was in downtown Wilmington. It was Art for the Masses held on 4 floors in the new Bank of America building.Every week we were able to meet more and more people who love their babies (puppies and dogs, of course). They, like us, enjoy talking about their dogs and sharing stories that touch our hearts.

We were as busy as ever in December. Touch of a Paw was in Carolina Beach at the arcade on the boardwalk every Saturday. Our favorite stop was probably at the Tar Heel Weimaraner Rescue Auction and Pictures with Santa at the Dog Club of Wilmington. We enjoyed the steady stream of owners and their dogs on the way to see Santa and have their pictures taken. I must tell you, some of the costumes were a hoot!

The response from everyone, everywhere, has been wonderful. We had people calling wanting us to customize prints for Christmas. Our artist was hard at work right up to Christmas Eve.
It was cool and busy. We mailed our final Christmas present prints as we were leaving to go to Charlotte to see our family. Everyone from the Touch of a Paw family hope you had a wonderful and very merry Christmas!


The New Year started well. The Touch of a Paw gang was invited to show at the Grand Opening for a new Vet's office. You can imagine the number of dogs we got to shake paws with that day. The sweetest sight of the day was when a very large,black mastiff tried to shrink himself to the size of a pug so she would play with him. He was as gentle a baby as you could ever imagine.

And then it happened....THE GREAT COMPUTER CRASH OF 2010!!!!
Gone. Everything was gone, up in smoke. Well, not literally up in smoke, but gone none the less. Dog and animal lover - Yes. Sports enthusiast - Yes. Loving husband - Oh yes! All of these are definitely the case. But, big pause here, Computer Technician - NOT! Late one Saturday night in early January, Swoop, the computer tech wannabe, while trying to clean up some files, overstepped his limits of computer knowledge. He hit the wrong button and ...

like a bolt of lightning, it was all gone. Months of work. Hundreds of files. GONE. I was sick, seriously sick. If you have ever had one, you can commiserate. If you have not, hug your I.T. guy...FAST!!

Well, life did go on. For all of you husbands/computer tech wannabes, find someone that really knows what they are doing. Wives that put as much time, sweat, passion and plain ol' hard work as mine does into her work, like Mother Nature, are not nice to fool around with.


"Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life." - Richard Allan Palm

Special Friends

We wanted to throw a shout at to our friends at Carolina Basset Hound Rescue. They, like every other rescue group, have beautiful babies, young and old, ready for adoption. A sweetheart of a lifelong companion is waiting on you at the CBHR.

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner

Dog Fest and Festival by the Sea

This past weekend, we once again showed our "Unconditional Love" for animals at two festivals. Karen was in Wilmington at Empie Park for "Dog Fest". Meanwhile, I was down at Holden Beach for their "Festival by the Sea".

Karen's booth space at "Dog Fest" was under a tree and on top of the tree's roots. So, she had a tough day navigating her area. Karen, as is par for the course at our festivals, met and saw tons of beautiful babies. The stories of them and their owners make each festival a time we look forward to. She says that at this festival she got a good, up close and personal look at all of the dogs in attendance. Early in the day, one male had marked a tree out in front of our tent. For the rest of the day, it was "dogs will be dogs". She had a steady stream of babies marking, then re-marking that "communal" tree.

While Karen was at "Dog Fest" on Saturday, I was flying solo in Holden Beach. The weather was magnificent throughout the day. The beautiful weather, coupled with a "glad you are here" spirit from everyone, produced a memorable festival.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

Sand in My Shoes.....

Wow! We had a busy weekend!

Saturday, Karen and I were at two different festivals because we wanted to make sure more people were introduced to our "Unconditional Love" portfolio. Karen went to Carolina Beach to participate in the 1st Annual "Salty Paws" Festival. The event's intent was to raise funds to benefit area animal rescue groups, particularly after disasters, such as hurricanes and other catastrophes. It was a huge success! Karen said she cannot wait for next year's follow up festival. She made many new friends, of the two and four-legged varieties. She and I are always amazed at how beautiful everyone's babies are. It is also wonderful to see and hear the love between pets and owners.


While Karen was in Carolina Beach, I was down at one of the best kept secrets in the area, Ocean Isle Beach, for the 29th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival. What a beautiful little community. A beautiful little community that has an equally beautiful little festival. Karen joined me Sunday and concurred that the quality of the exhibitors was outstanding. Our range was broadened substantially over the weekend. We sold prints to people from North and South Carolina, north to Pennsylvania, and west to Colorado. Once again, it touches our hearts to feel and see the love for their pets that animal lovers share with us daily. Thank you to all of you who dropped by and spoke with us.

"A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk." - O.A. Battista

Can you say Oyster?

This coming weekend we are going to be in two places at one time. Karen will be at "Salty Paws" in Carolina Beach. While she is getting salt and sand in her shoes at Carolina Beach, I will be in Ocean Isle eating and shucking at the 29th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival.

Once again, at these festivals, we will be sponsoring a local rescue in need of a home. Last week, we raised over $100 to help defray some of Harley's large vet bills. Harley is a sweet female Weimaraner at Tarheel Weimaraner Rescue in Wilmington. It is a pleasure for us to sponsor a dog for a rescue group in the area.

If you are going to either of these festivals, drop by and say hello. We would love to hear about your babies.

A few more new prints....


Bulldog - White Paw - Rectangular


Bulldog - White Paw - Oval


Bulldog - Red Brindle - Rectangular


Bulldog - Red Brindle - Oval


Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Dark - Rectangular


Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Dark - Oval


Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Light - Rectangular


Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Light - Oval

Questions? Email us touchofapaw@aol.com

"Happiness is a warm puppy." - Charles Schultz

Fun time in New Bern

Over the weekend, we were at the "Mumfest Festival" in New Bern, NC. Our "Unconditional Love" series of prints enjoyed our best weekend yet. Big crowds and lots of babies (of the human and canine varieties) were everywhere both days.

I think the most fun we have is hearing everyone's stories about their dogs. We love the, seemingly, automatic bond between animal lovers. I know what an important part of our family our pets are. It is wonderful to share with other dog, cat, and other pet owners how important their animals are too.

Karen has been steadily working to add more and more breeds to our collection. Below are a few more. Don't forget, these are available in 3 sizes; Small Oval, Large Oval, and Rectangular.

Want a different message on your print? No problem. Just let us know and we will gladly customize to suit your request.

Don't see your breed or the breed you are interested in? Let us know by leaving a comment or keep checking back. We are trying to eventually cover almost all of the breeds.

And now, some of our new pieces.....


Basset Hound - Rectangular


Basset Hound - Oval


German Shepherd - Black - Rectangular


German Shepherd - Black - Oval


Beagle - White Paw - Rectangular


Beagle - White Paw - Oval


Beagle - Fawn/White Paw - Rectangular


Beagle - Fawn/White Paw - Oval


Bulldog - Light Fawn - Rectangular


Bulldog - Light Fawn - Oval


Bulldog - Dark Brindle - Rectangular


Bulldog - Dark Brindle - Oval

Questions about ordering or customizing a print? Email us touchofapaw@aol.com

"If you pick up a starving Dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference a dog and a man...." - Mark Twain