Shop Spotlight: RiverDog Prints

Meet Cyn Thomas of RiverDog Prints from Avon, Connecticut.

"My business was named for my dog, Scout, who is an almost 14-year-old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I think of her as my partner, even though she is now almost deaf and sleeps about 20 out of 24 hours. My connection with her drives quite a bit of what I create and how it's produced. All RiverDog Prints products are as eco-friendly as possible, using only recycled paper and envelopes produced by wind power. The other materials I use have to fit within that earth-friendly philosophy and can sometimes be difficult to source, but it’s a commitment I feel strongly about in both my business and personal life.

I am an extremely late-bloomer as an artist. The fact that I can draw and paint still surprises me. I began RiverDog Prints in 2004 as a part-time venture with the idea that it would be a destination for well-designed pet photo cards. It did well in its small way initially, but a few urgent family matters put the business on hold for an extended period of time. When I was able to return, photo cards had become big business for some major companies, so I decided to switch creative gears and create stationery. It has developed into many paper goods, greeting cards, art prints, canning & preserving papers, notepads, notebooks, as well as gifts, like recipe binders, tea towels and totes.

I create my art, paper goods and gifts out of my home studio in Avon, as well as in my new out-of-house studio and shop, Hello!, in Simsbury. Hello! Artisan Shop & Studio is a joint venture with two other creative business owners, Kristen Skelton of Milo & Molly and Vanessa Felie of QueenVanna Creations. We have an Open House scheduled for the evening of August 27 as our first official event. We are still defining and planning what Hello! can offer to our other creative colleagues and the local community, but we’re excited about the opportunities for the future.

I also am in the beginning stages of offering logo design and branding to businesses. You can look at my portfolio here, http://cynthomas.com  This new direction has been great so far! I've loved creating logos and graphics for some very talented people."

See more of Cyn's work in her Etsy shop

or connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

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