About Brown Dog Originals

Brown Dog Originals was born in 2016 as a hobby business that funded my penchant for buying new art supplies to try. The name Brown Dog was chosen in memory of my chocolate lab, Lady Venus, who was my constant companion and goofy sidekick for fourteen wonderful years. If you’re a dog person, you’ll understand when I say she was THE dog I will miss and remember my whole life.

I started my side hustle by selling decorative glassware and holiday ornaments at local craft fairs and through Facebook groups. I explored painting, vinyl decals and stencils, chemical and sand etching before discovering laser engraving. I bought my first laser in 2018 and a whole new world opened up. I began engraving not only on glass, but also on wood, ceramic, acrylic, and more.

As my offerings grew, I learned to use sublimation to embed color graphics onto mugs and coasters and added a sublimation printer and heat presses to my shop. With my expanding line of wares, I attended craft fairs all over Southern Maine.

As I continued learning and expanding my skills, I began hand-drawing custom maps and location-based artwork that celebrated hometowns, lakes, and coastal communities. Those maps opened the door to a large-scale wholesale partnership and steady growth. Through private-label work, my designs now reach hundreds of retail shops across the country.

That wholesale momentum ultimately gave me the confidence to step away from my 33-year career in public service and fully invest in Brown Dog Originals in 2022.

With the time to focus fully on the business, I began developing my own original artwork and building a line of everyday wares that reflect my lifelong love of art and making. My deep-rooted love for Maine continues to inspire much of my work.

I also discovered how much I enjoy working one-on-one with customers to create pieces that mark meaningful occasions. A pocket watch for a retiring firefighter, manufactured the year he began his career. A hunting knife engraved to commemorate a special trip. Every piece tells a story.

Creativity has always been part of my life. I grew up spending time in my mother’s ceramic studio, and as an adult I continued exploring watercolor, journaling, and mixed media. Taking time to “art,” as I call it, is part of my everyday rhythm. Brown Dog Originals allows me to live in creativity while creating pieces that make others smile.

Outside the shop, I am family-rooted and blessed to be surrounded by a loving family. A wife, mom, and Mimi to an adorable granddaughter, my favorite times are those spent with those I love the most. My little brown dog, Scarlett, is never far from my side and can sometimes be found in the shop supervising operations, greeting customers, and hoping the UPS guy will leave a treat or two. I also have two adorable and mischievous cats, Stanley and Hiram.

I am a Maine girl to my core and cherish Maine’s changing seasons, whether spending time lakeside in the summer or exploring its landscape by snowmobile in the winter. From rocky coast to inland shores, Maine is in my soul and will forever be home. I’m an avid watercolor artist and love spending time painting and play with color.

At its core, Brown Dog Originals is guided by a simple goal: creating well-crafted pieces that help mark meaningful moments and feel at home in everyday life. I’m grateful to spend my days in creativity.