MEET THE FOUNDER

In 2000, I created this website with so many aspirations. At the time, I lived in San Diego focusing on pet portraits and used the site as a marketing tool for scheduling photoshoots. The site also had an online café vibe filled with articles written by various contributors. When I moved to Connecticut in 2002, I continued to offer photoshoots in studio and on location. Commissions had me traveling throughout southern New England and New York City. Later, I scrapped the articles and started a blog following my weekly activities within the dog community across the region. However, in 2008, I decided to create dog apparel, and the site evolved into an online store for my creations. 

While I offer many creative services, my heart has gone to the dogs. In 2000 while living in San Diego, I founded Chocolate Peanut inspired by Zoey, my chocolate Labrador Retriever of 12 years. I created Chocolate Peanut—her nickname—as a marketing tool for scheduling pet portraits before it became the online shop it is today. She and I both were born in North Carolina.

When I moved to Connecticut in 2002, I continued to offer photoshoots in studio and on location. Commissions had me traveling across southern New England and New York City. In 2008, I wanted to create dog apparel for my pack of dogs—German shorthaired pointers and French bulldogs. Eventually the site evolved into an online store for my creations.

In 2008, Betty, a small French bulldog, came into my world. She’s the black frenchie with the white facial stripe gracing the homepage and the rest of the site. Miles, a French bulldog, was such a joyful addition to our home in 2007, and of course when I found out that his half-sister was looking for a home the following year, I immediately brought her into my life. She was my heart dog. She modeled just about everything I created with style and grace. When she saw the camera, she knew the job and was paid well with treats.

I started off with a simple knitted tube scarf, until I decided to create a dog sweater inspired by the classic traditional knitted crew. I worked with a skilled knitter to bring my vision to fruition. The first sweater prototype was featured on the site in 2008. Eventually, Chocolate Peanut became the home of the “My Favorite Sweater,” a signature staple and bestseller. In 2018, the sweater was reworked to create a better fit and an expanded color palette with a wider selection of yarns.

In 2021, I became one with an old sewing machine my dad gave me 30 years ago, and with the purchase of a few more specialized machines, I expanded my creations with the tie-dyed and sporty baseball hoodie, the super-soft and sophisticated pullovers, practical comfort wear for all occasions. Customers enjoy the style and comfort each one-of-a-kind and locally-made piece provides their pet.

In 2022, a year to the week of Betty’s passing, I adopted a tiny young chihuahua, Lola, @oh_lola_bean on IG, from Vintage Pet Rescue, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and caring for senior dogs, as well as special-needs dogs of all ages, in hopes they’ll find their forever home. In 2024, I welcomed Bradley, a re-homed French bulldog living his best life with his girls.

Primarily an online boutique shop, Chocolate Peanut also participates in Rhode Island markets throughout the year such as the Providence Flea’s indoor and outdoor markets and also at various fundraising events. This year, I’ve had the honor of being invited to photograph adoptable dogs in a studio setting at multi-rescue adoption events giving them the exposure they need to find their forever home.