Over a year ago, my cousin and her husband decided to bring a puppy into their home as a Children’s Day gift for their daughter. I’m not a fan of this approach; you should only take on a pet if you’re truly prepared to be responsible for it—otherwise, you risk abandoning the animal once the child loses interest or the parents realize how much responsibility is actually involved—especially in their case, as they love to be on the go and travel frequently. Fortunately, my cousin and her daughter both grew very attached to the dog. They’ve managed to find a balance, and—thanks to having the financial means—they’ve been able to use doggy daycares or hire someone to look after him. At first, they used to leave him with me, but between caring for my own elderly, ailing dog and dealing with Oddie’s behavioral issues, I couldn’t continue to take him in—partly for his own well-being, and also because they never stuck to the agreed-upon pickup times. On top of that, the dog has significant emotional attachment issues; he would cry a lot at night and cause a mess, and honestly, I already had my hands full with my own pets.

I wanted to give the newest member of the family a little something as a welcome gift, so I made him a bandana embroidered with the initial of his name—in this case, the letter "B." I used a knotting technique, and I’m really happy with how it turned out; I even shared the creation process back when I was working on it. I’ve been busy with various projects lately, and seeing this image has inspired me to make more things like this. My little dog—who used to enjoy wearing accessories—has become a bit of a grump; he doesn’t want me to put anything on him anymore, and he refuses to pose! Still, I might try it with my sweet little black dog—let’s see if she’ll go along with it.