The Eight-Legged Dog That Made Me Question the Internet

I was scrolling through a random website the other day and came across a photo of a dog standing in a lush, green field. Bright sunshine, glossy coat, the whole “this dog has its life together” vibe.

Then I looked closer.

The dog had eight legs.

Eight.

Now, I’m no veterinarian, but I’m fairly confident we haven’t reached that stage of evolution just yet.  Or perhaps someone went a little crazy with the Photoshop clone stamp. 

I would share the photo, but in the spirit of not accidentally launching a full-blown internet investigation, we’ll just leave that mystery dog where it belongs.  Trust me - the fake picture is real. 

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When Something Feels… Off

Here’s the thing: your brain is smarter than you think.
 When you look at an image, it quietly, subconsciously scans for clues. And when something doesn’t add up, like extra legs, missing whiskers, weird shadows, fur that looks like it was painted with a sponge you feel it even if you don’t see it right away.

You may not always know why… but you know.

And that little moment of hesitation? That’s where trust starts to wobble and begin to erode

If you’re just browsing, maybe you shrug it off and move on. But if you’re shopping? That doubt matters. A lot.

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The “Too Good to Be True” Hall of Fame

We’ve all seen it:

• A stunning, one-of-a-kind designer piece

• Looks like it belongs on a Paris runway. You can kind of guess what designer it came from

• Original price: $3,000 that took many hours to construct

• “Today only!” price: $49.95

Sure. And I have an eight-legged dog to sell you, too.

These scams are everywhere. And while most of us can spot them a mile away,  they can still catch people off guard. Over time, shoppers get wiser but it shouldn’t have to be a detective game just to buy something nice that matches a buyer's expectations.

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AI Fatigue Is Real

I love browsing places like Pinterest for ideas and inspiration. But lately? It’s been… a lot.

So many images now are AI-generated that you start second-guessing everything:

• Is that sweater real?

• Could that pattern actually be made?

• Why does that chair have three arms?

Even knitting and sewing patterns are being created by AI sometimes for things that don’t even physically work. You could spend hours trying to recreate something that only exists in a computer’s imagination.

That’s not inspiration. That’s a wild goose chase.

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Objection!  This case law does not exist!

Last year, my husband came home from his CLE (Continuing Legal Education) conference and told me that one of the newer topics being discussed was AI.  Specifically, how important it is not to rely on AI-generated case law alone… because some of it did not actually exist.

Let that sink in for a second.

Not a blurry photo. Not a weird background.
Entire (AI researched) legal cases. Just… made up.

If that doesn’t highlight the importance of slowing down, verifying, and editing what’s in front of you, I don’t know what does. 
(And here I am double-checking fabric content labels like my life depends on it.)

 

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The ‘Intellectual Greyhound’  -clearly not real, and that’s exactly the point.

So… Do I Use AI?

Yes… but with boundaries.

You’ll occasionally see AI images pop up here especially in my blog posts. Think of things like the “Intellectual Greyhound”  - a dog in glasses, looking like it’s about to critique your fabric and life choices.

It’s clearly not real.  And that’s really what I’m getting at.

I use AI images for humor, storytelling, and a little personality. They help bring the brand to life in a fun, lighthearted way and give you a sense of the vibe around here. Most importantly you’ll always know when I’ve used AI. It’ll be that obvious… and probably a little absurd.

But when it comes to product photos?
 Absolutely not.  I currently have one that has an AI background that I used before my final policy stance. 

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Why I Draw the Line at Product Photos

Trust me, I’ve experimented.

Mock backgrounds, lighting tweaks, AI “enhancements”… and most of the time, the result is somewhere between “meh” and “what am I even looking at?”

Part of the problem is that AI doesn’t always understand what I’m trying to say. (To be fair, sometimes humans don’t either.)

But honestly? I think that’s a good thing.

Because when all is said and done, I want you to see what I actually made, not an interpretation of it.

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Real Photos > Perfect Photos

I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not a professional photographer.

My photos aren’t going to look like a luxury brand campaign shot on a mountaintop in Switzerland. Nor will I be paid for photos.  

But they are real.

What you see is what you get. The texture, the fit, the color, it is as close as I can possibly present it. 

And over time? They’ll get better. That’s part of the process.

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Why This Matters

●  I don’t sell print-on-demand products.
●  I don’t use stock photos.
●  I don’t create illusions.

Everything here is hands-on, real, and made with intention.

So ethically? It just wouldn’t sit right with me to present a product using an image that isn’t a true reflection of what you’re getting.

That feels… a little slimy. And that’s not how I do business.

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Just Because We Can…

AI is an incredible tool. It really is.

Used wisely, it can:

• spark ideas

• speed up workflows

• add creative flair

But used carelessly?

It can:

• erode trust

• dilute your (my) brand

• leave you with generic, forgettable content

Just because we can use it everywhere without discretion … doesn’t mean we should.

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My Approach Going Forward

I’ll keep using AI where it makes sense, sparingly, and with a wink.

But when it comes to what matters most, my products, my work, what you’re actually buying you’ll always get the real thing.

No extra legs. Promise.

And as for my photography?

It may not be perfect today… but give me time.

We’re getting there. 😊