Anyone who’s ever been a fur parent knows the immense pain that comes from losing a pet. It’s a kind of grief that lingers every time you see their beloved toys, their collars and leashes, and even the areas they used to sleep at. It’s moments like these that you want something to commemorate their life — something special that you can wear or display at in your home.
Well, there’s a local shop that does just that. Cotchi’s Handicrafts turns your beloved pet’s portraits into clay sculptures to be used as home decor, bracelets, and phone charms.
In this blog, I share with you my interview with the shop’s creator John Wendell Rivera as he explains the inspiration behind his store, his creative process, and where people can order his products in.
Here’s what he had to share with me:
Cotchi’s Handicrafts was born out of love for his pets
25-year-old John Wendell Rivera started his shop back in 2023. Named after his pets Cotton and Sachi, Cotchi’s Handicrafts was born out of the immense love for his fur babies. He was particularly inspired after the passing of Cotton.
“I started sculpting because my pet passed away. My brave boy Cotton fought until his last breath. He died in 2023 from distemper,” Rivera explained. “Even with simple clay, I wanted to bring him back to life in my own way.”
Since creating that first sculpture, Rivera has been honing his craft and creating works of art for people who have also lost a beloved pet.
“My work is perfect as a gift, especially for people who have lost a fur baby. It serves as a memory of their pet. With clay, I try to bring them back and ease a little [bit] of their sadness,” he adds.
Indeed, Rivera’s creations have been making pet owners sentimental. In fact, in one of his page reviews, a customer wrote:
“Sobrang impressed and satisfied po. Since we just lost one of our fur babies, I decided to buy two bracelets po; and aside sa napakinggan po lahat ng requests ko about details, napakabilis pa po ng process ng pag gawa. Will recommend this shop BIG TIME.”
(We are so impressed and satisfied [with the products]. Since we just lost one of our fur babies, I decided to buy two bracelets; and aside from the owner just listening to all of our requests on [our pet’s] details, he also processed our orders in a speedy manner. [We] will recommend this shop big time.)
You can see all of Rivera’s works of art through his Facebook page: Cotchi’s Handicrafts.
His creations take time to prepare but they’re worth it
Through many of his online videos and reels, Rivera demonstrates how he uses his customers’ pet photos to begin his creation process. He starts by making a base for his sculptures and then, slowly adds color and details.
Whether the request is for something as complex as a standee or as simple as a bracelet, Rivera makes sure to capture every little detail of your pet to ensure its likeness.
Rivera admits that custom orders often take time to make — 2 to 3 weeks to be exact — but it is definitely worth the wait as the results will blow you away.
However, pet owners can choose from his ready-made clay creations if they want to have the item immediately. It’s also good to note that these ready-made items are cheaper than custom-made orders.
To know the prices of his items, Rivera recommends messaging his page so he can share the exact price quotations.
Cotchi’s Handicrafts is available online and in local events
Interested pet owners can send their orders directly on the Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages of Cotchi’s Handicrafts. Rivera ships nationwide, so anyone across the country can order his clay creations.
In addition to the shop’s online presence, Rivera also attends local fairs and bazaars to sell his products.
On April 29, 2026, he’ll be at Accenture for a pet expo. You can stay up-to-date on the shop’s next event through their announcements on social media.
Until then, I highly recommend that you check out this shop. You will surely not regret buying any of Rivera’s handmade creations!
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C. Militar Writes 