I have been thinking long and hard about this. I know most of you love to do your local craft show that involves your local church, school, market, or fundraiser of some sort, but how many of you venture out into your local dog or cat show as an untapped venue?
I will be doing a series for y'all to give you some insight into doing these types of shows.
I plan to start the first of my 2 multi-part series September 11-12, 2010 the weekend of the The National Capital Cat Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA.
I will be posting the series under Show Stories & Bad Advice
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Guess what I got?!
I am just giddie with glee and happiness! I was browsing the net and I ran across these beauties...
Aren't they just fabulous?! So, as I am just speeding along in with my web Ferrari (my wireless mouse) these things were SCREAMING my name and I just had to add them to my fabric and accessory hoard stash. My husband is going to call that show, Buried Alive - Hoarding, on me one of these days when my fabric just eats me and I am screaming for help.
These gorgeous rhinestone flowers were an overflow from a fantastic accessory and button designer who made them originally for a clothing designer. The designers had developed several of these rhinestone buttons for a client who wanted a version of the classic Cartier diamond flower. The buttons are either cast in a silver plate or an Italian gold finish and has prong set Czech rhinestones for durability (very important with pooches!!!).
These gorgeous rhinestone flowers were an overflow from a fantastic accessory and button designer who made them originally for a clothing designer. The designers had developed several of these rhinestone buttons for a client who wanted a version of the classic Cartier diamond flower. The buttons are either cast in a silver plate or an Italian gold finish and has prong set Czech rhinestones for durability (very important with pooches!!!).
Anyway, back to my new darlings...my newest design (strangely enough has already been named!) Anja (pronounced Ahn-Jah) will be based on these rhinestone buttons. All I can say is...Duponi and sparkle.
Anja wil be on the site around the first of October with the new set up of my site. Well gotta get busy drumming up some interest and followers!!!
Anja wil be on the site around the first of October with the new set up of my site. Well gotta get busy drumming up some interest and followers!!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
New Stuff!!!
As I wrote earlier, I will be taking more pictures of my creations. So, below is my newest creation...Haute Rox! The hardest thing about this collar design was to name it. First, I had to name it something that was unisex in nature because no man wants to order the collar Roxanne for his boy! So, the name Rox was born. Actually, Rox is the name of the shiny part (red) without the band of sequin (Rox is some awesome shiny stuff fabric and is available in a few colors!). Haute Rox is a combination of Rox, sequin band, and an aluminum buckle.
Thanks to my buddy Julie for cleaning up my images...check her out at click here for her portfolio...she is amazing!!!
Here is what you are not going to like about this collar...you can only get it in 1-1/2in (38mm) and 2in (50mm)...bollocks! I am hoping to find a more narrow sequin band for our smaller luv muffins...that is dog's bollocks. Can you tell that I have been watching way too much BBC and I am a huge Dr. Who fan!
Rox and Haute Rox will come in Shocking Pink, Red, White (it is literally wipe clean white!), Lime, and Black. I am working on getting more colors of the sequin banding from India so that we can really shake things up!!!
Rox and Haute Rox will come in Shocking Pink, Red, White (it is literally wipe clean white!), Lime, and Black. I am working on getting more colors of the sequin banding from India so that we can really shake things up!!!
Friday, August 20, 2010
New stuff and new ideas...well not that new...
I have been creating dog collars and leashes for about five years now and it has been a blast. I have created some hits and some misses, but the most important lesson that I have learned is: no one will know either if I don't show it.
Here is what I mean...I have made some gorgeous designs that incorporate woven bead designs, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED(tm) components, trims, bobbles, jewelry chunks, and feathers. My mea culpa is failing to take pictures of my work to showcase for later reference and design ideas for my clients (dangblasted!). So, when I surf the net and see folks using their noodle by actually creating gorgeous collars and taking pictures of their art...I just want to kick myself!
I do follow trends, I keep a list of collar designer whom I just LURVE their work, and I do my best to design collars and leashes that fit dog personalities and style.
So, with my new found sense of placement I will be doing some serious designing and serious picture taking. I think it is high time that folks know me and what I can do with a little fabric, trim, and a kick ass sewing machine!
Here is what I mean...I have made some gorgeous designs that incorporate woven bead designs, Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED(tm) components, trims, bobbles, jewelry chunks, and feathers. My mea culpa is failing to take pictures of my work to showcase for later reference and design ideas for my clients (dangblasted!). So, when I surf the net and see folks using their noodle by actually creating gorgeous collars and taking pictures of their art...I just want to kick myself!
I do follow trends, I keep a list of collar designer whom I just LURVE their work, and I do my best to design collars and leashes that fit dog personalities and style.
So, with my new found sense of placement I will be doing some serious designing and serious picture taking. I think it is high time that folks know me and what I can do with a little fabric, trim, and a kick ass sewing machine!
I ran across this the other day while browsing the web:
If I Didn’t Have Dogs…
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.When the doorbell rings, it wouldn’t sound like a kennel.I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree — dog bones, stuffed animals, toys, treats nor would I have to explain to people why I wrap them.I would have money …. and no guilt to go on a real vacation.I would not be on a first-name basis with 4 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L-, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E OR C-A-R.I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.I’d look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading “mud” season.I would not have to answer the question “Why do you have so many animals?” from people who do not have the joy in their lives of knowing they areloved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.If I didn’t have dogs…………….How empty my life would be.
-author unknown-
This makes me really compare my life before and after Chester (and my beloved late George), I absolutely enjoy my life as a dog owner...besides Chester does not complain about my cooking so he is well worth the sacrifice!
If I Didn’t Have Dogs…
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.When the doorbell rings, it wouldn’t sound like a kennel.I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree — dog bones, stuffed animals, toys, treats nor would I have to explain to people why I wrap them.I would have money …. and no guilt to go on a real vacation.I would not be on a first-name basis with 4 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L-, F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E OR C-A-R.I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.I’d look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading “mud” season.I would not have to answer the question “Why do you have so many animals?” from people who do not have the joy in their lives of knowing they areloved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.If I didn’t have dogs…………….How empty my life would be.
-author unknown-
This makes me really compare my life before and after Chester (and my beloved late George), I absolutely enjoy my life as a dog owner...besides Chester does not complain about my cooking so he is well worth the sacrifice!
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