Wishing You a Wonderful New Year!

We would like to wish all of our customers and friends an incredible new year. Thank you for your patronage in 2010, and for choosing PJ Publications and Gifts as your source for the latest in animal lover gifts and merchandise. We have exciting and new merchandise in store for you in 2011.

Stay connected and get the latest on new merchandise, sales, special offers and other fun news. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and you can become a subscriber to our free newsletter.

Let's hope 2011 is a banner year for animals, too.

--Paula

End of Year Sale!

We've marked down prices on dozens of animal lover items, including: Holiday jewelry, Laurel Burch, Far Fetched, Sienna Sky, Marjolein Bastin, Shagwear, Wild Bryde and many more.

Shipping on purchases of $50 or more is still free and for purchases under $50, the most you'll pay for shipping is $5.00.

This is a great time to stock up. Visit our animal lover sale section to see what's new.

Making Your Holiday Shopping Easier

We're getting down to the wire, but there is still time to pick up a gift for the animal lovers on your list. Some of our items are now sold out, but we still have plenty of top-notch animal lover gifts available, including our holiday-themed animal lover jewelry.

PJ Publications and Gifts makes your shopping easy and breezy by offering:

• Free shipping with purchases of at least $50, for our US-based customers.

• Low shipping on all other orders; the most you will pay for shipping is $5, for US-based customers.
  
  
• Free gift box and ribbon with your jewelry purchase. Most of our jewelry items come presented in an attractive gift box, except for Zarah necklaces.
  

• Free gift card with any purchase, at your request. Just ask if you want a blank card or if you would like us to include an inscription, and we will take care of it for you.
  
  

--Paula

Keep Your Feet Warm

What are you keeping your feet warm with this winter? Our large selection of animal lover socks will keep your feet toasty while adding a little pizazz to your wardrobe.

If you're looking for a gift for an animal lover, and don't want to take a chance on getting the wrong shirt or coat size, socks are a great choice. Ours are designed to fit most adult feet.

We have socks with various animal themes, including:

• Bird lover socks
• Cat lover socks
• Dog lover socks
• Horse lover socks
  
• Wildlife lover socks, including the Pink Moose socks pictured here.
  

We also carry a nice selection of Laurel Burch socks.

New Owl and Sea Turtle Accessories Added

Our Shagwear Owl Bag in Teal is now sold out. The good news, is that we've replaced it with 3 new owl items. A fun, new, retro owl design is now available on a crossbody bag, wallet and change purse.

And if you love sea turtles, check out our new Peace Sea Turtle Wallet.

These animal lover accessories are, of course, made of cruelty-free materials.

New Laurel Burch Socks Added

Look for a wider selection of Laurel Burch socks. We've brought back many of your favorite classic designs, including Celestial Cats, pictured here.

Shop our collection of Laurel Burch cat lover socks, dog lover socks, bird lover socks and wildlife lover socks.

Just in time for your holiday shopping. Laurel Burch socks make the purrfect gift or stocking stuffer for that special animal lover on your list.

Will You Be Braving Black Friday?

Some people love - and live by - Black Friday. They see it as tradition, and have no qualms about waiting in long lines or being elbow-to-elbow with strangers. Others see Black Friday as an opportunity to snag great deals; they believe this is their once-a-year opportunity to find the ultimate deal. If shopping on Black Friday is something you enjoy doing, then I hope you have a wonderful time - and find bargains while you're at it.

This is not a scientific assessment by any means, but I believe Black Friday is overrated. And it certainly doesn't seem like the bargain bonanza it used to be. With the introduction of Cyber Monday and proliferation of online coupons, it is possible to find as good as - or even better - deals by shopping online. When you check out sites like Retailmenot.com you can find coupons offered by all types of merchants, both online and off, including PJ Publications and Gifts. Black Friday is not your only opportunity to find bargains.

With that said, I would love to know, are you planning on doing any shopping on Black Friday?

Here's to finding great bargains, both online and off!

Prep for Holiday Shopping

With holiday shopping upon us, I thought I would re-run an article I wrote about savvy shopping. You can read the entire article on our store website.

Here is an excerpt from the article about being a smart shopper when it comes to shipping.

Take shipping costs into consideration. That handbag or pair of earrings may be priced right, but what will your total be with shipping included? A good portion of online retailers will post their shipping rates on the website, so there are no surprises at checkout time. If they don't, you either have the option of contacting the store to inquire about shipping or going through the checkout process (without paying) just to see what shipping is. On the flip side, free shipping is not really free if the item is priced too high. Bottom line: Do the math.

Websites like freeshipping.org post coupons and codes for online retailers who offer free shipping of some type.

Read One of Our Newsletters

Thought you might like to check out a copy of our newsletter, just sent out yesterday.

If you like what you see, we would love for you to subscribe to our newsletter. Signing up is easy and you can unsubscribe at any time. We won't inundate your mail box with lots of emails, either. We have a strict privacy policy, so we will never, ever sell or rent your information to anyone. Period.

PJ Publications and Gifts Now on Facebook

We set up a Facebook company Page within the past week. Until now, I didn't even have a personal Profile. I know, dinosaurs, you say.

I'd been thinking about setting up a company Page for awhile and for various reasons, resisted. I can see how valuable a company Page is; namely it's another way for us to reach out to our customers.

We would be thrilled if you would Like us on Facebook. We plan to share news, insights, coupons and updates on new merchandise.

--Paula

Shopping for a Cause

Shopping is fun. It's even better when you part of your purchase benefits a worth nonprofit charity. A relatively new venue, called filanthropists.com is a place where shopping and charity meet. Every item for sale on the site, offered by different sellers, benefits a variety of charities of the seller's choice.

We were thrilled when we were invited to be a vendor. We listed our first item on filanthropists.com today. It's our Free Bird Wallet, offered at $22.95. When you purchase it, we will donated 20% of each wallet to Born Free USA. Actually, whenever you purchase any product from the PJ Publications and Gifts website, and enter code BFUSA at checkout, we will donate 20% to Born Free! Please note, we are currently unable to issue a coupon discount and donation on the same purchase.

Add Holiday Cheer With Marjolein Bastin Design

Our Marjolein Bastin Santa with Bunny Rabbit Towel is back in stock, in time for the holiday season. Made of 100% cotton, a heartwarming image of Santa with an armful of bunnies, is silkscreened to the towel. These are generously-sized towels and are well-constructed.

Priced at $7.95, you will get a lot of bang for your holiday buck with this towel. It would also make a thoughtful gift for someone who loves the holidays, Santa and bunnies.

We have other Marjolein Bastin towels available to ship, including the Bunny Towel, Springtime Bunny Towel, and a variety of bird-themed towels.

Holiday Animal Jewelry

We have our animal lover holiday jewelry collection set and ready for shipment. You'll see some classic designs as well as some new ones.

The Santa Chihuahua earrings by Sienna Sky, pictured here, is just of many styles I think you will love wearing this holiday season.

Here's what we have for 2010:

• Santa Dachshund Earrings
  
  
• Santa Dachshund Pin
  
  
• Cat on Christmas Wreath Earrings
  
  
• Christmas Tabby Cat Earrings
  
  
• Santa Penguin Earrings
  
  
• Snowboarding Polar Bear Earrings
  
  
• Cardinal with Santa Hat Earrings
  
  
• Cardinal with Holly Earrings
  
  
• Penguin on Skates Pin
  
  
• Santa Flamingo Earrings
  
  
• Skiing Moose Earrings
  
  
• Santa Cat Earrings
  
  
• Santa Cat Pin
  

With the exception of our Santa Dachshund Pin, our holiday pieces are each under $15.00. That's a lot of cheer for a small investment. :)

--Paula

Vote for Animals Today

We went to vote this morning for candidates who support animal friendly legislation. There was a line out the door, but it moved pretty quickly. The entire process, once we entered the building, took about 15 minutes. That small amount of time is not really a sacrifice, but could mean a difference when legislators vote on animal legislation.

I realize animal welfare may not be your only issue, but if you do base your vote largely, or even partly, on this issue, check out the Humane Society Legislative Fund guide.

As of this writing, there is still plenty of time to get to the polls. Please take a few minutes out of your day. :)

Animal Lovers: Are You Prepared for Election Day?

The Humane Society Legislative Fund has put out its 2010 Voter Guide to help animal lovers choose candidates who will best represent their interests. I find this guide (as well as the Humane Scorecard they put out each year) to be immensely helpful. It takes all the guesswork out of choosing a candidate who has demonstrated a commitment to helping animals. Once you get to their website, there is a 2010 US Endorsements Map. The HSLF is endorsing candidates in all but 5 of the states.

Please get to the polls and help make a difference for animals.

Have You Seen the New Laurel Burch Bags?

The new Laurel Burch bags, created for the 2011 season, are out - and simply amazing. I am always impressed with their new line, and every year seems to outperform the other.

This year, the company has introduced quilted bags, like the Quilted Indigo Cats Bag pictured here. The quilted purses and totes are made of cotton, feature the vibrant Laurel Burch art we are accustomed to, and are lined with inspirational fabric.

Also new this year, is a Laurel Burch bag featuring digital print technology. Colors that pop on soft jersey material.

PJ Publications and Gifts is pleased to offer a wide selection of the new Laurel Burch Bags. Check out our cat lover bags, dog lover bags and horse lover bags.

A Laurel Burch bag will make a wonderful gift for that special animal lover in your life. Or heck, why not treat yourself to a little affordable luxury? Indulge your inner fashionista. :)

Help Born Free Win $10K

As many of you may know, PJ Publications partners with Born Free USA. A portion of our our Internet store profits benefits the organization. Whenever anyone enters BFUSA in the promo code at checkout, we will donate 20% of the sale (minus shipping and tax) to this worthy animal welfare organization.

Now Born Free has an opportunity to win $10,000.

The Body Shop USA, makers and sellers of natural beauty products, is giving $10K to one of 3 charities: Born Free USA, Rainforest Foundation or National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. You can vote for your favorite charity, and the organization receiving the most votes will win the top prize. Actually, Body Shop fans in Canada can vote separately, which can mean a $20K prize for a lucky organization. To participate Born Free (or one of the other organizations) just go to the Body Shop Facebook Fan Page and cast your vote.

New Far Fetched Added

I love Far Fetched for different reasons, one of them being that their jewelry is a superb value. Whimsical animal and inspirational designs coupled with outstanding craftsmanship and top of the line metals, including .925 silver. All at affordable prices.

Another reason to love Far Fetched jewelry is for their work ethics. Their jewelry is designed in California, and produced in Taxco, Mexico by trained artisans in a cottage industry setting. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Far Fetched wants the people who create their jewelry to be treated and compensated fairly.

This makes for guilt-free shopping on different levels.

We've added several animal lover jewelry pieces from the Far Fetched line, including:

• Starlight Cat Earrings
• Playful Cat Pin
• Playful Cat Earrings
• Dog is Love Pin
• Flying Pig Earrings
  

Happy shopping. :)

World Animal Week

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is celebrating World Animal Week from October 4th until October 10th. If you go to the WPSA USA website, there will be a fun activity each day this coming week. It could be a contest, news story, or participation in an action for animals.

Animal Charity Fundraisers

As hard as this economy has been on most of us, it's even more so for nonprofit charities. Some I've spoken with, especially the smaller animal shelters, are in dire straights. Holding fundraisers is one way these organizations help stay afloat.

I would like to post information about animal charity fundraisers as I become aware of them. If there are any you would like us to blog about, please let us know, and we'll do our best to post.

--Paula

Save 500 African Greys

I'm a couple days late posting this but there is still time to help. The World Parrot Trust is asking for financial help with rehabilitating, and eventually releasing, over 500 African Grey parrots. The birds are victims of the illegal wildlife trade.

To read more about this dire situation and to offer help, please visit the Fly Free website, sponsored by World Parrot Trust.

Many thanks,

--Paula

Animal Lovers: Halloween Jewelry

Our Halloween jewelry for animal lovers section is now fully stocked. Our pieces are affordable - as low as $11.50 - and unlike candy, won't cause you to gain weight. This is a fun season, so why not celebrate it with some fun jewelry?

Here's a rundown of what we have:

• Witch and cat earrings by Sienna Sky
• Witch on moon pin by Zarah
• Cat with pumpkin earrings by Zarah
• Owl and moon earrings by Sienna Sky
• Black witch cat earrings by Sienna Sky
• Flying bat earrings by Wild Bryde
• Bat pin by Zarah
• Fruit bat necklace
• Bat with onyx necklace by Wild Bryde
• Raven earrings by Sienna Sky
  

Articles About Animals and Savvy Shopping

We've put our articles into one page on our website. As of this writing we only have 4 articles, but plan to add more in the future.

Are You Really Ready to Start an Animal Sanctuary?

If you are passionate about animals and want to help alleviate their suffering, you may have thought about starting your own rescue or sanctuary. Your heart may very well be in the right place, but there is much to consider before taking on this enormous responsibility. (Click here to read our article).

New Shagwear Accessories Added

We've added more Shagwear items including . . .

• Peacock Change Purse, which matches our Shagwear Peacock Wallet and Peacock Bag.
  
  
• Free Bird Change Purse, which matches our Shagwear Free Bird Wallet and Free Bird Bag.
  
  
• Travel Cat Wallet, a fun design depicting a cat who loves to travel.
  

We love Shagwear bags and accessories. They are well-designed and feature fun and innovative designs for animal lovers. Best of all, they are cruelty free. :)

Want to Save Birds? Consider an expedition.

If you are thinking of trekking to the tropics to see parrots up close and personal, consider this: Your trip can contribute to the conservation of parrots and their habitats.

We have heard the alarms being sounded by scientists: Birds, including parrots, are vanishing at alarming rates. Of the more than 330 known species of parrots, The World Conservation Union (you may know it as the IUCN) recognizes over 90 species of these as being critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. These numbers do not even take into consideration other groups of exotic birds, like finches.

As devastating as this all seems, there are glimmers of hope. One of these is ecotourism. Before you make those reservations though, please keep in mind that not all ecotourism operators are equal. Any company can claim to specialize in ecotourism. But do they pass the test? (Click to read the rest of the article.)

New Halloween Jewelry Added

As promised, we've added more animal lover Halloween jewelry. Some of these items, like our fruit bat necklace, pictured here, can be worn all year.

Other new Halloween items include:

• Bat Earrings by Wild Bryde
  
• Bat Pin by Zarah
• Raven Earrings by Sienna Sky

Shop our entire collection of Halloween jewelry for animal lovers.

New Wild Bryde Jewelry Added

Wild Bryde jewelry just added today:

• Squirrel Earrings
  
  
• Flying Bat Earrings (perfect for Halloween or any time of year)
  
  
• Elephant Earrings
  
  

Wild Bryde is a company that manufacturers nature-inspired jewelry. Each piece is made using recycled brass and is either gold plated or rhodium plated; rhodium is a non-tarnishing silver alloy. Earwires are either 14k gold-filled or sterling silver.

Photo Contests for Bird and Nature Photographers

If you love birds and other wild animals, and have photography skills, check out the list of contests at Birder's World Magazine. They list 8 bird and nature photography contests being sponsored by various organizations, including their own.

Even if you don't plan to participate in a contest, I think you will find the nature photos as breathtaking as I did.

Halloween Jewelry for Animal Lovers

The leaves have already started changing color here in south central Wisconsin. As much as I love fall, it's always hard saying goodbye to all the colorful flowers we planted during spring and summer - and to all the bees, dragonflies and butterflies our garden attracts.

Fall will officially be here in a few weeks, then Halloween. We've already started to add new animal lover Halloween jewelry and more will be added during the next couple of weeks.

Some of our new items include Sienna Sky Cat and Witch earrings, pictured here, and Owl Earrings. We also will have new bat jewelry, including necklaces and earrings.

Now these are treats that will last, and they're sugar free. :)

Born Free USA Announces Fur Free Fashion Competition Winners

Back in January, and then again in March, I told you about the Fur Free Fashion Competition, sponsored by Born Free USA. They've chosen the winners, which you could see by clicking on the Competition Page.

All the designs are fabulous, and in my opinion, are as pretty as, or even prettier than, some of the designs you'd see on Project Runway. Unlike most fashion shows, this one counts for animals and the environment.

Congratulations to all the winners and contestants!

New Sienna Sky Designs!

Dog Lovers! We have new breed earrings by Sienna Sky available, including the Beagles pictured here. We also have Boxer Dog Earrings and Golden Retriever Earrings.

For bird lovers we now offer Rufous Hummingbird Earrings.

Have fun shopping!

--Paula

New Bungalow 360 Designs

We've added new styles of Bungalow 360 bags and accessories to our store, including this wonderful Otter Satchel Tote Bag. A matching Otter Wristlet Bag is also available.

Also look for our Owl Tote Bag and matching Owl Wristlet Bag; and Penguin Satchel Bag and matching Penguin Wristlet Bag.

These bags are made from all natural cotton canvas. They are sturdy, stylish and absolutely cruelty free. A real treat for animal lovers!

Animal Lovers: We're Having a Sale!

Check out our new items just put on sale. Find a deal on a variety of animal lover merchandise including jewelry, bags and home decor items. Designers include Far Fetched, Wild Bryde, Sienna Sky and more.

Start shopping the PJ Publications and Gifts sale now!

New Laurel Burch Socks

New styles of dog lover and horse lover socks designed by Laurel Burch, now available at PJ Publications and Gifts:

• Rainbow Horse Socks
  
  
• Loving Horses Socks
  
  
• Dog Portraits Socks in Blue
  

Also be sure to check out our new (non-Laurel Burch) breed socks. We currently have these socks in Chihuahuas and Pugs.

New Sienna Sky Earrings Added

We've recently added new styles of Sienna Sky earrings.

• Scotty Dog Earrings
  
  
  
• Owl Earrings
  
  
  

Sienna Sky earrings are carefully crafted to last a long time. They are made right here in the USA.

New Far Fetched Animal Lover Jewelry Added

New Far Fetched animal lover jewelry recently added for bird lovers and horse lovers:

• Love Birds Earrings
  
  
• Flighted Bird Necklace
  
  
• Wild at Heart Horse Pin
  
  

All these pieces are made of sterling silver and include mixed metals, such as brass and copper.

All New Merchandise!

We've been busy adding new merchandise to our store - gifts and accessories I believe you will love as much as we do. Here's a run down of some our new and fabulous animal lover and inspirational items.

• Peacock Bag
  
  
• Free Bird Bag
  
  
• Owl Necklace
  
  
• Love Kitten Necklace
  
  
• Love Puppy Necklace
  
  
• Octopus Earrings
  
  
• Octopus Necklace
  

• Sisters Earrings

All of our items are backed by your 30-day satisfaction guarantee policy. And our shipping is reasonable. So you can enjoy boutique-quality items at affordable prices.

Visit PJ Publications and Gifts online.

Finding the Best Online Deals

Shopping online is supposed to make our lives simpler, but at times it may seem overwhelming, having to navigate through the endless streams of information and stores available on the Internet.

We've written some tips to help you, the buyer, find the best possible deals while shopping on the Internet. You can read the entire article on our website.

I hope you find these helpful. :)

Can You Trust Green and Cruelty Free Labels?

You set out to purchase a product that you believe is green or cruelty free. After all, the label on the product you're holding is sporting an impressive-looking seal - one which appears to be that of a credible organization. That seal could be misleading.

One way to be sure the product you're purchasing is really as green or humane as it claims to be, is to be certain about the seal. One website you may find helpful is greenerchoices.org, a project of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. You can do searches by product, certifier or category, to determine if a label really does mean something or if it's a front for greenwashing. Greenerchoices.org makes socially responsible shopping easy by providing report cards on various labels. Their database allows you to search by several categories, including Animal Welfare, Sustainable Agriculture and Social Responsibility.

One of the labels they deem trustworthy is that by Leapingbunny.org. I often look to purchase toiletries and cosmetics with this specific label. Several other certifications I'm familiar with include Rainforest Alliance Certified, who approves of the delicious Caribou Coffee I brew at home; Fair Trade Certified, which ensures, among several things, that overseas workers are guaranteed fair prices. Far Fetched, a line of animal themed and inspirational jewelry we carry, is Fair Trade certified.

By doing a little bit of research, you can feel better about the products you purchase. Don't fall for a label's claim just because it looks pretty. Admittedly in the past, it was easier for me to be swayed by these labels. But I've become a much savvy shopper, and hope you will be too.

Happy shopping!

Ready for Back to School?

We have lots of styles of backpacks for animal lovers! In addition to last year's backpacks, we've added new designs, including Olive Kids Wild Animals Backpack, Mare and Foal Horse Backpack and Cat and Dog Backpack, intended for kids.

For adults we carry the Bungalow 360 Owl Backpack and the Hit the Trail Horse Backpack. If you're not into backpacks, how about a new tote? One of our new totes (shown here) is the Galloping Horse Tote Bag, a functional bag with a sleek design.

Why settle for a plain bag or backpack when you can carry your stuff in something special?

Animal Related Careers and Entrepreneurship

We still get a lot of questions asking if 105 Careers for Animal Lovers, a book I wrote in 2002, is still available. Unfortunately this book is out of print. Since it was published in 2002, much of the information is likely outdated. Thank you to all of you who purchased my book.

For those of you who would like to build a career or business based on your passion for animals, I'd like to share some resources you may find helpful. This list is by no means comprehensive.

• The Humane Society University affiliated with the Humane Society of the US has an awesome site with tons of resources about humane careers.
  
  
• The ASPCA has a similar page on their website. It's geared towards children, but I think adults may also find this guide useful.
  
  
• I stumbled upon an article on pet related careers and businesses in The American Dog Magazine. You can read this article online.

I hope you find these sites useful. :)

--Paula

More Inspirational Jewelry

We've added 3 new pieces to our inspirational jewelry line, including 2 necklaces and a bracelet.

One of these is the not all who wander are lost necklace, pictured here; life is either a daring adventure or nothing necklace; and our sisters bracelet.

Each piece is made by Far Fetched, a company that utilizes fair trade practices. They are made of sterling silver; the bracelet has mixed metals including copper and brass.

Our prices are almost as inspirational as the jewelry. And when you sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Twitter, you will receive special offers to save you even more money.

Happy shopping. :)

Lower International Shipping Costs

Animal Lovers: We've lowered our international shipping rates. You will still receive the same quality packaging and care - but for less the expense.

We are currently set up to ship (aside from the US) to Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, but are working on adding more destinations. If you live in a country not mentioned above, please contact us for rates and availability.

Shipping to Canada

Total cost of merchandise Approximate shipping costs
$.01 to $14.00 $4.50
$14.01 to $23.00 $5.00
$23.01 to $35.00 $5.75
$35.01 to $49.99 $6.50
$50.00 and up $8.00

Shipping to Other Countries*

Total cost of merchandise Approximate shipping costs
$.01 to $14.00 $6.50
$14.01 to $23.00 $9.00
$23.01 to $35.00 $10.50
$35.01 to $49.99 $11.75
$50.00 and up $14.00

Choose from a fantastic selection of animal lover gifts and accessories - bags, jewelry, socks, decor items and much more.

Having Fun on Twitter

Aside from subscribing to this blog or our free newsletter, one of the best ways to keep up to date with happenings at PJ Publications and Gifts is by following us on Twitter.

We've only been on Twitter for a few short months but during this time, have learned all sorts of new things and made some great contacts. Signing up is hassle-free and is easy to use.

We do post coupons and updates on new merchandise and sales. But most of what we tweet about is fun and informative based.

Hope to see you soon on Twitter!

Now Offering Bungalow 360 Bags

We are now carrying bags and accessories by Bungalow 360. Our owl backpack, pictured here, is just one of the awesome bags you'll find at PJ Publications and Gifts.

We also have a nice selection of Bungalow 360 hummingbird bags, seahorse bags and sea turtle bags.

These bags are made of durable cotton - all vegan. They feature fun, whimsical, designs. And they are from a company that cares about animals and the environment.
I think you'll love these bags as much as we do.

Remember to sign up for our newsletter to receive special offers and money-saving coupons. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter for additional coupons and the latest news.

New Media Mention

PJ Publications and Gifts has a nice mention in the summer, 2010 issue of TAME Pet magazine. Several of our small animal jewelry pieces are featured in the shopping section, including Sienna Sky hedgehog earrings, Sienna Sky dachshund earrings, Wild Bryde chinchilla earrings and Zarah cat earrings.

Thank you, TAME, for including us in your wonderful publication!

Time to Start Shopping for Backpacks

It's early July, but before you know it, school will start. Luckily PJ Publications and Gifts has an awesome selection of animal lover backpacks.

Our camo horse backpack, pictured, is just $20.95. We also have our pink horses backpack; penguin backpack; cat and dog backpack; and wild animal backpack. Also look for our matching animal themed lunch bags.

For adults we have our smaller-sized hit the trail horse backpack. I've been asked if the pink camo horse backpack is suitable for adults. Although it is intended more as a child/teen's backpack, it is large enough for light adult use.

Please order your back to school backpacks and lunch bags now. As the school year approaches, the selection will get smaller.

New Far Fetched Inspirational Jewelry Added

We've added more jewelry to help keep you inspired. New items include:

• Act as if what you do makes a difference necklace
  
  
• Well behaved women rarely make history earrings and necklace

We have more bracelets, necklaces and pins, with a variety of messages in our inspirational jewelry line. They are from Far Fetched, a company that participates in fair trade practices.



Enjoy!

8 Days Left to Bid

Just wanted to post a quick reminder that the Angel's Wish online auction ends in just 8 days. They currently have 380 items in a number of categories, including handbags, jewelry, art and for the home.

PJ Publications and Gifts donated several items for our animal lover friends. These include an Espe cat tote, which is a limited edition design; a Laurel Burch bag, a Far Fetched chihuahua necklace, a pair of Sienna Sky beagle earrings; and a pair of cat on moon earrings.

You still have time to win and maybe even snag some bargains. It's also for a great cause. Angel's Wish is an all-volunteer animal welfare organization located nearby in Madison.

Happy bidding!

Heros Among the Gulf Crisis

The Gulf oil spill tragedy is a source of anger for most of us concerned about wildlife. Much of this anger is directed at BP and those aligned with big oil. It is infuriating to hear reports that it could have been prevented - that all those birds, sea turtles and other marine animals could have been spared intense suffering.

Greed is yet again the cause of hardship. Yet tragedy tends to brings out the good in some people. Look at the organizations and individuals committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of the innocent. Then there's Olivia Bouler, a 5th grader from Long Island, NY, who managed to raise $70,000 to help birds affected by the oil spill. Olivia has been busy drawing pictures of birds in exchange for donations, which she has given to the National Audubon Society.

Olivia and all those working selflessly to help wildlife victims are nothing less than heroes. They are the small glimmers of hope in a senseless tragedy.

Follow us on Twitter

We've been Tweeting now for about 3 months, and decided we needed a facelift for our Twitter page. Check out our new background on Twitter and please let me know what you think.

We won the Vertical Response 500 Email Marketing Award

A big thank you to all our newsletter subscribers! It is because of you that we recently won the Vertical Response 500 Award for Email Marketing Excellence.

We love writing our newsletter and invite you to subscribe for free. As a subscriber you will receive exclusive offers, news about sales and new merchandise, and other interesting news. If you don't like it, you could always unsubscribe. We won't overcrowd your in-box with emails, either.

We look forward to having you as a new subscriber.

More Animal Lover Items

We're still adding more animal lover gifts to our site. Today we have 3 new items:

• Hummingbird towel. Susan Bourdet designed this gorgeous hummingbird image, which is silkscreened on to a cotton kitchen towel.
  

And by Sienna Sky, 2 new pairs of earrings, both featuring sterling earwires.

• Pig Earrings
  
  
• Rooster Earrings
  

Enjoy.

New Bird Lover Items Just Added

Bird Lovers: We've just added the following merchandise just for you.

Our Pretty in Pink Flamingo Thermal Travel Mug and Parrot Party Thermal Travel Mug are attractively designed, insulated, and will fit most car cup holders. You'll love the price too: Just $8.95 each.

If you're looking to make a statement, how about our Parrot Board Meeting bumper sticker? No boring board meetings for these parrots! Priced great at $2.50.

And if you plan to travel or just want to add a little color to your bag, we have an accessory for you: the Parrot Party Luggage Tag. It'll help you recognize your luggage or bag anywhere. Just $3.95.

Parrot Decals are Back in Stock!

We have our fun parrot decals back in stock, including Patriot Parrots, just in time for the upcoming holiday. We also have the Parrot Board Meeting decal and Got Salt? Decal.

Priced at just $1.85 each, these decals make great decor items for any bird lover.

It's Hummingbird Time!

Today I planted red Geraniums, Salvia and Petunias, in a container on our small deck, right outside of our window, in hopes of attracting hummingbirds. With the variety of flora we have in our garden, I'm sure hummingbirds already do visit. But they're so tiny, that if you're not watching carefully, you can very well miss them. We wanted to put the planter in a place that would give us prime viewing for when the hummingbirds arrive.

We've seen the Ruby-throated Hummingbird feasting on our container of red flowers, but got lax in putting out the container the past couple of years. While reading - and savoring - a chapter about hummingbirds, in an incredible book called Birdology by Sy Montgomery, I have become re-motivated.

If you would love to see hummingbirds, why not plant the flowers they love best? Even if you don't have a garden you can create a feast for the birds in a container. I found several lists of hummingbird-friendly flowers online, as well as those mentioned in Birdology.

Although not as beautiful as the real bird, we are carrying a nice selection of hummingbirds gifts and accessories, including jewelry and towels.

Here's hoping these beautiful and fragile creatures grace us with their presence this year!

Help Save the Cape Parrot South Africa

Like many bird species, the Cape Parrot of Africa is in trouble. Deforestation, capture, and Psitaccine Beak and Feather disease are threatening the small population, consisting of about 1,500 birds.

Fortunately, people care. My friend, Susan Dobrowolsky, is partnering with the World Parrot Trust to raise money for scientists battling to conserve these birds. It's called Let's Help Save the Parrot of South Africa and it's on Facebook Causes. Not only can you donate money for this cause (every little bit makes a difference) but you can learn more about conservation efforts and the people behind it, as well as make, and chat with friends who also care about this amazing bird.

Thank you for caring. :)

New Markdowns on Animal Lover Gifts

We have new markdowns on animal lover gifts and accessories. Go to the PJ Publications and Gifts sales page to see all our deals.

Angel's Wish Auction

The annual Angel's Wish online auction starts tomorrow and will run the entire month of June. Angel's Wish is a wonderful animal welfare charity located near Madison; this all-volunteer nonprofit re-homes animals and works to raise awareness of animal welfare issues.

Their auction events help them raise much-needed funds to carry out their work. Angel's Wish has always had amazing online auctions with tons of prizes. This year's auction has, as of this count, 239 items available, all starting at about 1/3 of the items' retail values. Many of their items, of course, are geared towards people who love animals. But they also have lots of other types of items, including gift baskets, garden supplies, home decor items and gift certificates for restaurants.

When you're bidding, look for a few items donated by PJ Publications and Gifts, including an Espe cat handbag, Far Fetched chihuahua necklace and Laurel Burch bag, Sienna Sky beagle earrings and cat on moon earrings.

I hope you'll check out the auction. It's a great way to help animals in need while snatching up a potential bargain. :)

Memorial Day Thank You

Today is Memorial Day. Our thoughts are with all those who sacrificed so that we may all have what we have.

Gorilla Bag with an Important Message

We are thrilled to offer this new gorilla bag by Calico Dragon. Not only is it stylish, functional and well-made, but it carries an important message about our gorilla friends.

The front reads They may be a world away; and continued on the back is but need a world of support to survive.

The bag is made of sturdy cotton and the interior is fully lined. The interior features a zippered compartment and 3 open compartments.

The company who makes this bag is committed to animal welfare (as is PJ Publications and Gifts) and donates a portion of its profits to various animal charities.

This is an awesome bag for gorilla lovers, or anyone who is committed to animal welfare.

Bird Lover Signs

We now offer a selection of signs for bird lovers, including our bird sanctuary sign, as well as a variety of crossing signs. These include our flamingo crossing sign, penguin crossing sign, wild bird crossing sign, duck crossing sign and peacock crossing sign.

These signs are made of metal and contain holes to make it easy for you to hang.

These make great decor items - for the home, garden, office, or anywhere you would like to show the world you love birds.

Find them at PJ Publications and Gifts, priced affordably at $11.95 per sign.

We've Added New Wild Bryde Jewelry

We've just added two new lovely pieces by Wild Bryde: Our greyhound necklace and pair of sugar glider earrings.

Wild Bryde's jewelry is made of recycled brass and each piece is hammered by hand, giving it subtle light-reflecting facets. And their jewelry is made in the USA.

They have an extensive collection of wildlife jewelry, so if there is something you would like but don't see it, let us know. We are happy to place special orders for you.

Need a Great Graduation Gift?

Looking for a graduation gift that inspires? We have the perfect items for you. Our line of inspirational jewelry by Far Fetched is made of sterling silver, some with mixed metals including copper and brass. We have bracelets necklaces and pins, with thoughtful messages and images.

Some of the pieces we carry are inscribed with such slogans as, Be the change you wish to see in the world, You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one, Peace is the only battle worth waging, Well behaved women rarely make history, When you have faith everything is possible, and more.

Now Offering Romero Britto Accessories

We have a real treat for animal lovers. PJ Publications and Gifts is now offering Romero Britto's accessories. His designs are colorful, whimsical and vibrant, making his art highly sought after.

We've only listed 2 of his wallets so far - the Romero Britto Cat Wallet and the Butterfly Wallet. But more styles are on the way.

As with our other products, these wallets are not only stylish, but also cruelty free.

Help Wildlife Victims of Gulf Oil Spill

Here are additional organizations that are helping to save wildlife victimized by the oil spill destruction in the Gulf. These organizations are seeking volunteers and donations of money and equipment. Needs of individual organizations will vary.

• A group of organizations including The National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana are pulling their resources together.

• Save our Seabirds, a Florida-based organization, which I mentioned in a previous blog.

• Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, based in Delaware.

• Humane Society of Louisiana

If you are aware of any other efforts underway, please let me know and I will post in on my blog.

Gulf Oil Spill: Who Will Help Wildlife?

The Gulf oil spill is being called one of the worst environmental disasters of our time. Defenders of Wildlife has put out a statement on the current crisis. I'm heartbroken, thinking of all those innocent birds, turtles, and other creatures who will undoubtedly suffer.

I'm trying to find out who is currently involved in wildlife rescue. One such organization is Save Our Seabirds. Their Facebook page is full of comments from people who are helping with the rescue efforts. For those who want to help but are unable to volunteer, SOS could also use supplies and accepts donations.

A big thank you to these amazing people!

New Video Posted

Want to see some of the new animal lover merchandise we're offering for Spring? Check out our video, just posted on YouTube. The video only highlights a few items. We have new stuff from Shagwear, Espe, Kirks Folly and Far Fetched.

If you like what you see, please feel free to leave a comment. Thank you. :)

New Shagwear Designs Added

We've added the following Shagwear merchandise:

• Owl Bag in Teal
• Bird Wallet
• Duo Cat Wallet

These accessories are stylish, well-constructed and cruelty-free.

Kirks Folly Jewelry Added

Just added - two pieces of fabulous Kirks Folly jewelry: Our Magic Monkey pin, pictured here, celebrates the magic of Oz. Also added is the Bunny Hop necklace.

PJ Publications and Gifts is an authorized Kirks Folly reseller. Our jewelry comes direct from the manufacturer and most pieces (except for many of the necklaces and bracelets) come presented on a signature Kirks Folly card.


If you're familiar with Kirks Folly, then you know how very special their pieces are - intricately designed with lots of passion, and often with color and crystals. Because many of their items become retired, these become collector's items.

24th Annual Genesis Awards on This Weekend

Just wanted to send out a reminder that the 24th Annual Genesis Awards, hosted by HSUS, will be replaying this weekend, April 24th and 25th, on Animal Planet.

If you're on Facebook, the HSUS has a page dedicated to this event. You can even RSVP to "attend" the party. This party only requires a television. :)

Enjoy.

New Espe Wallets

Our Espe wallets have arrived! Aside from the Poodle Poochie wallet pictured here, we also have a Bee and Nectar wallet and Cat and Mouse wallet.

Espe wallets not only feature whimsical designs, but are well-constructed and have plenty of compartments to store all your cards and money.

As with all our items, these wallets are cruelty-free; they are made of polyurethane.

More Umbrellas for Bird and Nature Lovers

As promised, we've added new umbrellas, perfect for nature and bird lovers. Pictured here is our butterfly umbrella, featuring the art of the famed Hautman Brothers. We also have a flamingo umbrella and a hummingbird umbrella.

Rainy days never looked this good. :)

Umbrellas for Animal Lovers

Even rainy days can be fun - when you're taking cover under one of our umbrellas just for animal lovers.

Pictured here is our tiffany butterfly umbrella. It has the look of tiffany with colorful butterflies adorning the outer rim. We also have a tiffany dragonfly umbrella and an umbrella with a horse theme. We'll also be adding more styles within the coming weeks.

These umbrellas are not only gorgeous; they are durable, made of 100% polyester, and compact, with a push button to make them easy to open and close. Plus each comes in an attractive gift box.

Free Shipping: Is There Such a Thing?

As a retailer, I'm very much aware of how sensitive buyers are about shipping costs. We've always kept our shipping costs low, and several months ago lowered them even more - US buyers will pay no more than $5 for shipping for their entire order, and will continue to receive free shipping with purchases of at lest $50.

Some stores - not all, mind you - may want you to believe you are getting free shipping, when in fact they may be grossly inflating the prices of their merchandise to compensate for the satisfaction of seeing that $0 for shipping at checkout. We are able to offer reasonable shipping while still offering our merchandise at affordable prices.

With that said, many fellow merchants - including PJ Publications and Gifts - are always looking for ways to reduce shipping costs. And it's not all that simple. With ever-rising carrier rates coupled with wanting to offer the highest-quality packing materials, shipping remains a challenge.

My best advice to you, and if you're the smart shopper I think you are, is to simply do the math. When all is said and done, which merchant is offering the best value? And by value I don't mean just price. Superior customer service, expedient shipping and integrity are all part of the equation.

Fur Free Fashion Contest Deadline Approaching

In January, I posted about the Fur Free Fashion Competition sponsored by Born Free USA and E Magazine. They are accepting entries from designers for just 2 more days - the deadline is April 1st. If you are an aspiring designer and want to create cruelty-free fashion, this may be your big chance.

HSUS Hosts Its Annual Genesis Awards

Saturday was the date of the 24th annual Genesis Awards, HSUS's annual award ceremony honoring those in the media who help raise public awareness of animals.

Animal Planet will be re-broadcasting the show on April 24th and 25th, but until then check out the photos and list of nominees and winners. I was pleased to see that Bill Leuders of my local weekly reader, the Isthmus, won an award for his numerous articles on animal issues.

Lots of stars attended, and the glitz is fun. But more importantly, writers, directors, actors, and producers put a spotlight on animal issues with their work.

Track CITES Convention by Born Free USA

Sorry I'm a little late with this.

The CITES conference started on March 13th, with day 1 full of ceremony. On Day 2 however, a delegate from Botswana moved to have Proposal 6 removed from the Agenda. This proposal, submitted by several African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, among others, would prevent further ivory trading. It would also keep the current level of protection for elephants for the next 20 years.

Born Free USA, one of the organizations instrumental in leading the fight to protect wild animals, has a CITES Tracker. It is a wonderful way to keep up to date on news and events at CITES and to make your voice heard, if requested.

PJ Publications and Gifts is now on Twitter

PJ Publications and Gifts is finally on Twitter. As of this writing we only have 5 posts and a couple handsful of followers. But our goal is to send Tweets regularly.

If you are not into Twitter, we also send out a newsletter to our subscribers. This is a great way to learn about special promotions, new merchandise and news. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Of course, if you're reading this, chances are you're a fan of blogs. Why not subscribe? This way you can have our blogs automatically sent to you. Just click on Subscribe to my Blog. You can also choose to be a follower by clicking on the Follow with Google Friend Connect icon.

New Far Fetched Designs Added to Inspirational Line

As promised, we have added new jewelry pieces to our inspirational line. Pictured is the Faith necklace. Also look for our Peace Necklace and Mom Necklace.

Our inspirational jewelry is by Far Fetched, a company that is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. The jewelry is made of sterling silver, some with mixed metals including brass and copper.

Laurel Burch Luggage Tags

We are now offering Laurel Burch bag tags! Perfect for luggage or bags, these tags are both stylish and functional. Each set comes with 2 tags and is priced at just $9.95 per set.

We currently only have 2 designs listed but will be adding more in the coming weeks. Stay posted!

New Marjolein Bastin Towels

If you are a fan of Marjolein Bastin's art, we have great news for you: We've added 2 new designs: a Cardinal kitchen towel and a Hen Kitchen Towel.

They are made of 100% cotton and feature silkscreened art work. And they are made in the United States.

I often get asked if the Marjolein Bastin tote bags will be available. The company that manufactured them is unfortunately no longer printing them. But I will continue to check on this and let you know of any good news.

More Ship to Countries Added

Last week we announced our new international shipping option. New countries added are Denmark, Norway and Sweden. We will keep you posted on new countries added in the future.

Baby Harp Seals Face Double Disaster

The annual Canadian seal hunt is barbaric in its own right. Add to that this year's environmental anomaly of virtually no ice formation. Since harp seals depend on ice for the birthing process, many baby seals will die. Despite this tragedy, Canada is still allowing sealers to slaughter the few remaining pups.

The Humane Society of the United States is urging activists to contact Prime Minister Harper, asking him to call off this year's seal hunt. You can also get additional information by going to the HSUS website.

Now Offering International Shipping

Animal Lovers outside of the United States will be pleased to learn we are now offering shipping to the following countries: Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and United Kingdom. Our plan is to add additional countries in time.

Please visit our shipping page to read more.

New Animal Lover Wallets and Bag by Shagwear at PJ Publications and Gifts

Animal Lovers: We've added new designs by Shagwear, including the cat's eye wallet (pictured here), terrier dog wallet and matching bag, zebra wallet, free bird wallet, peacock wallet, and owl wallet in blue.

Our accessories by Shagwear are made of faux leather, making them cruelty-free.

Visit PJ Publications and Gifts to see all our new merchandise.

New Animal Lover Merchandise on Sale

Find great deals on gifts for animal lovers. We just put new merchandise on sale, including from popular names including Laurel Burch, Sienna Sienna Sky, Kirks Folly and Far Fetched.

The sale is on for a limited time.

Celebrating Spring in Style

Winter is starting to loosen some of its grip, at least here in southern Wisconsin. It's getting a tad warmer. The birds sense this as we are starting to hear more of their melodious songs. Pretty soon, the first blooms will begin to sprout, and then in just a few weeks, spring will officially be here. And PJ Publications and Gifts is celebrating.

Last week I told you about our new floral jewelry collection. We have just added more designs, which I believe you will love as much as we do. Some of these include our Dogwood earrings (pictured above) and Field of Flowers earrings. Look for these and other new floral merchandise.

We have also added whimsical Alligator earrings, and Monarch Butterfly earrings, which are pictured below.



These butterflies are 3-dimensional, giving them an almost life-like appearance.

All our spring jewelry is priced just right too, so you won't break your budget. What a wonderful way to celebrate spring.