The Story Behind Still by Our Side
There is usually one photo that makes you smile before you can explain why. The ears going in different directions. The muddy paws after a perfectly ordinary walk. The expression that seemed to say, You are not seriously going to eat that without sharing.
When you think of them, that may be the picture that comes first. Not a grand occasion. Just your companion, being entirely themselves.
That is where “Still by Our Side” begins: with the life you shared, and the small, happy details that still belong to your family.
Perhaps your story started at a shelter, with a dog who leaned against your knee while you were still deciding what to do. Perhaps a foster cat claimed the sunny spot in your living room and, eventually, a permanent place in your life. Or perhaps they grew up alongside your children, appearing in the background of almost every family photograph.
The beginnings are different. What makes them family is often wonderfully familiar: a place beside you on the couch, a favorite walking route, a particular sound at the door. You learn which toy matters, which patch of grass needs a thorough investigation, and exactly how long dinner can be late before someone has an opinion.
Somewhere along the way, they become part of how home feels.
They keep you company through the everyday things. Coffee before the house wakes up. A work-from-home afternoon. The evening walk that helps you leave a busy day behind. You take care of them, and their presence gives shape to little moments you might otherwise hurry past.
Later, those are often the stories you find yourself telling. “Remember how she always took that seat?” “He could hear a treat bag from the other end of the house.” Someone finds an old video, and the whole room laughs at a habit everyone remembers.
Remembering can hold that warmth, too. There is room for missing a companion and smiling at the life they lived. A photograph on the wall can be a quiet invitation to tell a favorite story whenever you feel like it.
“Still by Our Side” was designed to sit naturally among the things that already make your home personal: family photographs, a well-loved book, a small keepsake from a trip. Warm ivory, deep burgundy lettering, and a delicate botanical oval give your pet’s portrait a gentle place of its own.
Their name is the heart of the design. Beneath it, you can include the years of their life, a single memorial year, or no dates at all. If your companion was adopted and you do not know their birth year, there is nothing to guess or fill in for the sake of a complete line. Their name and face already tell an important part of the story.
The words “Forever loved. Always part of us.” leave space for whatever remembering looks like in your home. A portrait near the entryway. A small print on the gallery wall. A familiar face beside the family photos, where it has always belonged.
It can also be a thoughtful gift for someone whose pet meant a great deal to them. The most personal starting point is a memory you share: the dog who joined every weekend hike, or the cat who made every video call an event. Ask which photograph they love, check the spelling, and let them choose whether they would like dates included. A simple note—“I always loved this picture of him”—may say everything you need.
When choosing a photo for your own portrait, look for the expression you would recognize anywhere. A clear, well-lit image with room around the ears and chest helps the design feel like them. Choose an unframed print or a natural oak frame, add their name and optional years, and use the editor to check the crop and preview the artwork before ordering.
There is no perfect day to make a keepsake. Sometimes it begins with finding that one photo again, and realizing you would like to see it more often.
For the good walks. The stolen seats. The ordinary days that became your favorite memories.
— Emberena, for the moments that stay with us.