Your Zodiac Sign Has Not Changed, says Susan Miller of Astrologyzone:

The zodiac made headlines last week when a Minnesota astronomy professor proposed moving all the star signs back one month and introducing a 13th sign, Ophiuchus, to readjust the calendar.

Astrology buffs around the world tried coming to grips with the possibility that the star sign they’d known all their lives was – gasp – wrong?! Leos were faced with the possibility that they were actually Cancers… and nobody, but nobody,wanted to be reassigned as a Virgo (which mystifies me, because it’s a lovely sign).

Whew – such drama. Thankfully, Crypton’s favorite planet-reading power, the world-renowned expert Susan Miller of Astrologyzone, set us straight on Twitter. Susan dismissed the whole Ophiuchus hoopla as a publicity stunt: “You are the sign you think you are, the sign you knew since you were little! Nothing has changed.”

So, next time you cook a meal, why not show your de-sign sense by wearing an astrological apron? With 12 zodiac signs to choose from, there’s one for every planetary persuason
- and they’re all Susan-approved.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Congratulations to Amber King, Alison Ford and Hilary Scurlock!:

They are the lucky winners of the Crypton products available in the Dwell 2010 Holiday Sweepstakes. Enjoy your Throver, Power Lines Shopper and Multi-Plex Pillow!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the contest. Please check back soon for more opportunities to enter to win Crypton products.

New Yorker Julie Klam is the author of the best-selling dog memoir “You Had Me at Woof,” which chronicles her adventures in Boston Terrier rescue. A must-read, the book is really wonderful: alternately heartbreaking and hilarious,but always heartfelt.

Julie is a hardcore dog lover, and although her heart belongs to Bostons, she won’t hesitate to help any dog in need, regardless of breed. This past summer, she and her family came across a sweet pit bull who had been abandoned outdoors for hours in the hot sun. Says Julie: “I wasn’t going to leave him there – I would leave myself there first.” The pit, named Puck, is a staff favorite at The Simon Foundation, an excellent animal sanctuary in Connecticut where he awaits his forever home. (To inquire about adopting him, go here.)

Meanwhile, back in New York City, Julie insists that her daughter Violet, age 7, is the real dog person in the family. “She’s the biggest dog lover I have ever met in my life – she makes me look indifferent,” Julie says with a laugh. Here’s Violet enjoying a cat-nap with K9 Dahlia on a size-medium dog bed that’s big enough for two!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Crypton Throver Stars on the Today Show

Yesterday’s most-watched and re-watched “Today Show” segment featured Animal Fair’s Wendy Diamond showcasing holiday gifts for four-legged, furry friends.

In addition to pet beds, winter coats, treats, and toys, Wendy highlighted home furnishings for the animal lover on your list.

And what was top of Wendy’s list? The Crypton Throver, of course!

Wendy’s pick was especially festive: the new “Show” pattern by William Wegman.

Happy Holidays !

Posted by Julia Szabo.

A Power Present for the Holidays:

Buying holiday gifts can be a challenge, but even the toughest giftees on your list will be happy to receive something that’s both whimsical and useful, functional and fashionable.

That perfectly describes a shopper that looks great with any outfit, and folds up neatly into a small bundle, to stow away in your briefcase or handbag when it’s not in use. And unlike socks or ties, a shopper is something nobody can have too many of. When all is said and done, isn’t shopping something we all do – in some form – every day of the year?

Not many shoppers can call themselves genuine works of art, but we know of one that actually can. Artist Randy Twaddle has electrified this shopper with his Power Lines design. Not since the 1970s hit song “Wichita Lineman” have power lines been so eloquent! And don’t worry if anything spills in or on your bag – it’s got a patented moisture barrier to prevent liquids from penetrating the fabric, so whatever you’re carrying won’t short-circuit.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Do you have a clan of messy eaters in your house? Are dinner time spills taking over your table?  We’ve got an opportunity for you! Recently, Crypton developed a fun line of colorful and reversible mess-free suede placemats.  Not only are they stylish, the Crypton technology behind the fabric means they are completely stain- and water-resistant, too. Although you can’t buy these placemats in stores yet, we thought it would be fun to offer our readers an exclusive opportunity to test them out. We’ll even give you the full set of four placemats – all you have to do is share your story with us.  

 That’s all it takes to receive three additional placemats: a full set!  This opportunity won’t be available for long and space is limited, so sign up soon! All signed up? Once you’ve recieved your placemat, fill out a feedback form to recieve the other three.

We look forward to hearing your messy stories!

Doing stretches with a pair of yoga hounds

My dog Cupcake (and no, I did not name her) is a yoga natural. Her favorite thing to do is jump gently onto any stranger she takes a liking to, and have herself a good stretch. I call this vertical posture her “upward dog” maneuver. Happily, the passers-by she’s used as human yoga mats didn’t complain.

Most yoga hounds prefer to use the ground as their launch pad to enlightenment. At Manhattan’s East Yoga, owner-founder Kari Harendorf can often be seen with Charlie, her beloved mixed-breed dog and frequent partner in constructive rest. June 25th is TakeYour Dog to Work Day, but lucky Charlie Harendorf gets to go to work year-round.

The great thing about having a canine yoga partner is being able to seize the stretch moment wherever you happen to be. All you need is something approximating a yoga mat to take some of the firm out of terra firma – like a versatile microsuede throw.

Incidentally, Charlie and Cupcake both keep their physiques trim and yoga-ready by eating holistic kibble, as any good yoga hound should.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Hanging out with a famous dog expert and her muse

What, exactly, is an expert? An expert can hold impressive advanced degrees from prestigious institutions of higher learning – or s/he can be someone just like you and me, with a wealth of knowledge gained from everyday experience. At the end of the day, experts are ordinary people with a passion. What motivates them to educate themselves on a particular topic? Something dear to them.

Moms, for instance, are experts on child care, because they love their kids and want only the best for them. By caring for children every day, Moms become very, very knowledgeable – and if they’re generous, they’ll gladly pass along what they’ve learned to their public, i.e. the people they cross paths with every day. Of course, some everyday experts have a wider public than most.

Case in point: Beth Ostrosky Stern, wife of radio top dog Howard Stern. “Animals are my life,” says Beth, who has been rescuing, adopting, and sharing her life with critters since childhood. Those years of experience have made her an expert on the subject of dogs. Now, she’s sharing what she knows in her first book, “Oh My Dog: How to Choose, Train, Groom, Nurture, Feed, and Care for Your New Best Friend,” which the couple’s millions of fans have helped make an instant best-seller.

Beth spends a lot of energy and time making the life of Bianca, her beloved Bulldog, the happiest and longest it can possibly be. Mindful that not all dogs are as fortunate as Bianca, Beth also tirelessly advocates on behalf of the adoptable mutts at North Shore Animal League America, where she serves as celebrity spokesperson. Beth ran the 2009 NYC Marathon to raise funds for North Shore, and is generously donating a portion of her book’s proceeds to the shelter. 

Every author needs a muse, and beauteous Bianca is happy to fulfill that role. The job description is simple: Lie down on the job, often! To keep her muse comfortable, indoors as well as out, Beth provides the blessed Bulldog with many plush dog beds for her napping enjoyment. Oh My Dog!

Posted by Julia Szabo.

A new reason to appreciate Crypton dog beds 

My dog Tiki, a charming Chow-Rottweiler cross that I adopted from an animal shelter 11 years ago – and the handsome K9 cover model of my book, “Pretty Pet-Friendly” – was recently diagnosed with oral cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of this deadly disease.

This nightmare started when the right side of Tiki’s snout appeared slightly swollen; within a few days, my dog’s snout was seriously distended, as if he had a cherry tomato wedged in there. A visit to the vet confirmed that there was an abnormal, scary-looking growth high up on his gum. But a needle-aspirate biopsy returned from the lab “inconclusive.” Still, the tumor’s frightening speed of growth indicated that it was most likely cancerous. Not wanting to waste a precious minute of Tiki’s time, I decided to fight this thing with the alternative cancer treatment Neoplasene.

Formulated from alkaloids in the bloodroot plant, Neoplasene is the brilliant invention of Dr. Terence Fox of Buck Mountain Botanicals in Montana. It’s an alternative form of  chemotherapy that’s highly effective, and much less expensive than surgery, radiation, or traditional chemo. Unlike traditional chemo, which attacks all of the body’s cells (healthy as well as unhealthy), Neoplasene targets only the cancerous cells and leaves healthy tissue unharmed. It’s a beautiful thing, and more dog lovers need to know about it, because it really works. (To locate an animal hospital near you that uses Neoplasene, contact Buck Mountain Botanicals.) 

Today I have wonderful news to report: After three injections under anesthesia, administered at the Humane Socity of New York’s excellent clinic, Tiki’s face began showing dramatic signs that his body was evicting the cancer. Now, there’s an inch-wide crater of clean, healthy tissue on his snout where the cancer used to be; and it’s healing up beautifully. To prevent a recurrence, Tiki will be taking twice-daily doses of oral Neoplasene with his food for the rest of his life. 

So, where does Crypton fit in to this story? Simple: When the healing crisis happened, Tiki’s snout basically began spurting blood all over the place. This was the desired result, and cause for celebration, but it would have been quite a complicated cleanup job if not for our trusty Crypton dog beds and Throvers! What’s more, I’ve had to apply a thick, dark-yellow “Wound Balm” (also made by Buck Mountain Botanicals) to Tiki’s snout several times daily – and inevitably, the balm winds up rubbing off. But a quick wipe-up, followed by a spin in the
washing machine, and everything comes out looking like new. 

That means I can be completely ecstatic about Tiki’s success with this alternative cancer treatment, without worrying about how to get rid of the mess. Thank you, Crypton!

Special thanks to Lev Gorn for his beautiful portrait of Tiki.

Posted by Julia Szabo.

Randy’s Picks: Great Design Links

Each week, Randy Rubin, co-owner of Crypton, features several articles or blogs that resonate with Crypton’s core goals: providing clean, beautiful design for everyday living. Everyday living means life with kids, pets, and anything else that finds a way into your home. Below are just a few thoughts and ideas we are inspired by this month.

Design Mom: Gabrielle Blair writes about the space where “design and motherhood intersect.” As a mother of five, she certainly knows the design challenges facing a home with children.
In addition to posts on décor (check out her thoughts on textures, she also explores fashion, photography and crafts.

Swag the Dog : With the tagline, “Cool stuff for Lucky Dogs,” this blog features all the best items to pamper your stylish pup. Our own Molly B. is quite pampered herself, and we always appreciate  designers who knowhow to spoil their pups.