About
Hello and thanks for visiting!
I’m Rachael, owner and designer extraordinaire of Perpetually Yours Pets, the best animal-themed fashion company in the universe. I’m an illustrator/graphic designer/fashionista/punk rock chick, who loves all things silly and crafty. I have a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design (2008) and have over a decade and a half of crafting experience under my belt. I like to bring a little of my unique, DIY punk style and retro flair to my work and I’m constantly coming up with fun new things to create for you! When I’m not working on PYP things, I enjoy drawing/painting, lifting weights, reading non-fiction, cooking, eating, stopping people on the street to pet their dogs, making up words, making people laugh, and long walks to nowhere in particular.
Pretty much any day of the year, you’ll find me in my studio, the converted dining room of my apartment in Chicago. I don’t think there’s anything better than creating something and knowing someone will cherish it. There’s also nothing better than creating something I know isn’t slowly destroying the world, so I keep things as green as possible around here, using recycled fabric for my custom pillows, the best eco-friendly printed fabrics and reclaimed supplies for other sewn items, and producing things in smaller quantities to reduce waste/overproduction. I truly love what I do and I love talking to you guys about it, so feel free to drop me a line any time!
The idea for Perpetually Yours sort of fell into my lap after a half-joke Christmas gift for a friend became more than I expected. This friend had somehow acquired what may just be the world’s ugliest couch: a massive, lumpy, olive green, corduroy number with big buttons on the back rest. She LOVED this couch, and with Christmas fast approaching and no real money in my pocket, I decided to make her some pillows to match this…thing. So, I gathered up my fabric scraps and created three throw pillows showcasing her favorite things: coffee, bikes, and her dog, Penny. She flipped over them and posted a picture of the set to her Facebook page. This caused an uproar of “OMG”s and “Where did you get those?!,” most of which were directed at the dog portrait pillow. A short while later, I made a second dog portrait pillow for my boyfriend’s mom, posted it to my own Facebook, and it was on. I haven’t stopped taking orders since!
Perpetually Yours Pets creates high end, custom and ready made animal-themed accessories and home decor items. Everything is designed by me and most items are handmade (or produced in small batches); no generic, mass produced stuff here! My idea is simple: Make great products that you’re proud to have on display. I truly believe that animals are a special gift, so they deserve to be honored and showcased in style!
...Plus, I just really like making goofy stuff.