Cats…  Seattleite Skye Saylor has been crafting plush toys for friends since her college days, but it wasn’t until after a life-changing 1,000-mile walk from Seattle to San Francisco that Saylor and her partner, Thomas Marnin, decided to make a business of it. In 2013, the couple launched MarninSaylor and started selling their quirky soft toys at Pike Place Market. Saylor designed their best-seller, the totally adorbs Donut Cat, “on a whim, and thinking of two things she loved,” says Marnin. We’re pretty sweet on them, too. marninsaylor.com
…and Dogs!  When a handsome golden retriever named Tangle came to live with Kayla Ogunsemore’s family last year, 9-year-old Kayla (pictured center) was inspired to follow her dream of creating a line of clothing that would “make people smile.” With Tangle as her muse and the shutterbug skills she learned from her dad, a commercial photographer, Kayla started Brown Sugar Kids, a cool and quirky collection of kids’ T-shirts featuring snaps she took herself. A true dog lover, Kayla donates a portion of her proceeds to animal rescue organizations. brownsugarkids.com