With the holiday season coming up, you're sure to be looking for a special gift for a fellow dog-lover, or for that pampered pooch of yours.

This issue of Clippings offers several ideas for unique and creative gifts for dog-lovers and dogs, offered by some of Asheville's very own dog-loving artists and merchants.

Choose your favorite photo of your dog and watch it transformed into a beautiful pillow, handmade by Boni. Send a clear photo and this Asheville artist will custom craft a pillow of that exact pose in two weeks. The front applique design is sewn out of all wool blend felt, and then edged in a black cotton blend cording. The back of the pillow is a solid black cotton twill, and then it is stuffed with polyester fiberfill. You choose the background color. You can also purchase ready-made pillows. A variety of dogs, cats and colors are available. For complete information, visit this website: mybonnie.etsy.com, or email: handmadebyboni@yahoo.com

Artist Daryl Slaton's quirky view of pets is portrayed in custom whimsical portraits. Daryl imagines your pet in a fanciful setting that reflects its personality, or the portrait can depict a specific event. With Daryl's whimsical approach, your pet's personality will shine and the image (with some playful exaggeration) will be true to life. Part photo manipulation, part painting, the portraits are giclees. Daryl often donates a portion of the proceeds of certain works to select animal resuce organizations. For more information, visit the Tails of Whimsy website.

Jenny Trest and her partner Crissy Walker of Off Leash Photography have two equal and obvious passions, photography and animals. They are on- location photographers who specialize in pets and manage to get pictures of our four-footed friends most of us just dream about. For more information, visit the Off Leash Photography website, or call Jenny at 336- 462-7702.

Blaze-N-Skyy Boutique and Wellness Center is sure to have a unique gift for your dog (or cat). The store, located at 62 Wall Street in downtown Asheville, is packed with specialty apparel, beds, collars, dog treats, health care items, and more. Blaze-N-Skyy owner Adelaine Lockwood is also very involved in the animal welfare community. Call the store at 828-253- 2850, or visit their website.

Three Dog Bakery, located at 21 Battery Park, Suite 103, in downtown Asheville (a block from the Grove Arcade), has a great selection of freshly baked, all natural gourmet treats for dogs, along with specialty gifts and items your dog is guaranteed to love. Three Dog Bakery supplies the yummy cookies that Bandanas gives out with each groom. You can call the store at 828-252-1818.

For the first time, Asheville Humane Society is producing holiday cards to benefit the homeless animals in Buncombe County. The whimsical designs are the creation of well-known artist Angela Alexander, who exhibits at Woolworth Walk. The cards come in a package of 12, with 3 cards each of 4 different designs. (One design is shown here.) Every card is an original piece of art celebrating Asheville's animals. Each box of cards is $20 and all proceeds benefit the Asheville Humane Society. I will be happy to deliver cards to you during your next groom. Just let me know how many boxes you would like and I will make sure you receive them in time for the holidays!