It’s not every day that I get excited about a tea towel. In fact, I’d never thought of one as something to collect until I discovered Beck Wheeler’s Dogs of New Zealand tea towel designs.
The project celebrates dogs from local communities through illustrated tea towels, bringing together pet portraits and a familiar home accessory.
Beck Wheeler’s Dogs of New Zealand project
Beck Wheeler is on a mission to make all dogs famous. She is illustrating dogs from around NZ one suburb at a time and turning them into unique tea towels.
Seriously, how fantastic are these designs? Even though I don’t live in any of the featured Auckland suburbs, I want them all!
Local dogs, illustrated one suburb at a time
When I discovered the project, calls for photo submissions were being shared on the Dogs of New Zealand Facebook page as Beck worked her way through different locations. At the time, I was hoping a ‘Dogs of Christchurch’ design might be next.
For dog lovers who enjoy art and homeware, the appeal is the combination of local character and a practical everyday object. Beck’s colourful, clever work turns the humble tea towel into a celebration of New Zealand’s canine community.
A gift for dog lovers
What appeals to me is the connection to a place. A tea towel featuring dogs from your own neighbourhood feels more personal than a generic dog-themed design. It’s a lovely gift idea for someone who enjoys dogs, illustration and a little local character in their home.
If you love dog-inspired kitchenware, take a look at my Stodola dog-patterned rolling pin review for another fun way to bring a little canine personality into the kitchen.
For another dog-inspired homeware find, explore our feature on Lava Ceramics Dogs.
