Cooper participated at theNADAC trials this weekend.
The weekend in Arcadia, FL, was really fun! I was a vendor at the NADAC dog trials at the Turner Agri-Civic Center just outside of town. Saturday and Sunday were very long days, but happy faces of the dogs and their humans were all around me. Dogs ran and jumped and tunneled delightedly, and their handlers jumped and cheered and whooped for their canine partners. Each pair competed to "Qualify" - a "Q" - and ribbons were earned by the fastest three dogs in each event. Dogs of all types and sizes showed their stuff. They were a blast to watch!
The most barking happened when the "walking music" was played at the beginning of each event. It seemed that the dogs were all singing along as their humans were out learning the new course. Everybody experienced their share of nervousness and exhaustion, but I must say, overall, it would be tough to find a happier place!
I learned a new way to create a 4-braid leash. My new friend Pam, who makes awesome collars, and leashes that are different from mine, showed me the trick. I made several new leashes, two using the new method - garnering rave reviews! Cool Ties and Cool Collars were hot sellers.
Cooper will be competing in the NADAC trial in Arcadia, FL
I'm ready!!! Let's go!!!
Getting ready for an event takes a lot of effort, and even if you think you are prepared, there is always something that needs to be done. This coming weekend, 8/28-29/2010, I will be a vendor at the NADAC Sanctioned Agility Trial at the Turner Agri-Civic Center in Arcadia, FL. This is an event where dogs are put through their paces on agility equipment and obstacle courses, and dogs and their owners win ribbons, bragging rights and chances to compete in other events. Since this will be my first time at an event like this, I am planning to have lots of dog supplies ready, as well as having some of my regular items available. I have no idea how much inventory I will need, so I have been spending every spare moment weaving leashes and sewing scarves. Boxes need to be packed differently so that I can move them more efficiently, and the organization and display will most likely see some major modification. This event is not near my home, so my car will be packed to the ceiling, and I will need to take all sorts of supplies so that I can be ready for anything. Tomorrow will be checklist day, and I'm hoping for a great weekend! Wish me luck! Come to Arcadia!
Grandchildren come to you when you reach a certain age, it seems. I have two - of the canine variety. Smokey and Bandit live with my daughter and her husband, and they make a beautiful family. These boys are active, but well-behaved, and they never talk back. They are Italian greyhounds, one a little larger than the other, about a year apart. They are very prone to overheating, as are most dogs in the intense heat, so they were each given Cool Collars to help with that situation. Bandit LOVED the modeling session, while Smokey did his best to interfere the best he could. That's why there are two pictures of Bandit and not one of Smokey - he was just moving too fast for my camera. I'll have to look elsewhere to get a Smokey picture. The dogs loved the cooling scarves, which were tied, rather than clipped, since their necks are so slender. They seemed to realize that it felt better with them on! Many colors and patterns are available (see pictures of Cooper in the previous posts). Contact me through www.bahandbags.etsy.com if these interest you. They are selling for $8 (tie) and $10 (clip).
I said in my first post that I sew in my spare time. That also includes summers, as I am a teacher by profession. So the "back to school" phrase affects me as well as my kids.
This is the bag that started it all - see post #1!
I get to sew a LOT during the summer months, and this year was no exception. I enjoy my time in my sanctuary, and spend many hours there - as much as I can, actually. With my sewing machine, ironing board, cutting table, lots of fabric and ideas, my CD's of nature sounds and radio with PBS, and my computer, there's a lot to keep me busy. I always have a dozen or more projects going at the same time, and I'll never run out of ideas or fabrics to create them with. 24 hours is just not enough!
Same style bag, different fabric!
So now I am back to school, and my sewing room hours will be severely cut. My kitties will still hang out in here waiting for me to finally get home, but it will be pretty quiet during the days. They'll get a lot of sleeping done. I will keep up with posting on my website www.bahandbags.etsy.com and with this blog the best I can... Ho hum - it's been a long day!
OK, I'm not really into the pet wardrobe thing, but I do know how to make your pet stylish. No tutus or tiaras, just really classy (and durable) leashes and cute scarves, both for cooling and just for show.
4-braid poly leash
My leashes are of two types: (1) cotton/nylon woven belting with sewn trim, or (2) woven/braided polypropylene cord. The sewn leashes are trimmed with colored ribbons on one or both sides. Some have reflective tape for added safety. They are in 4' and 5' lengths, and have clips of various weights.
The poly leashes are in lots of colors. I have been thrilled to find my basic type of cord in 15 different colors, so far, and I'm always on the lookout for more! These are very strong, and can even be used to play "tug". These are fun to make, and I can do them away from my sewing machine (TV time, car trips, etc.). I can now make good use of my "down time" as well! A variation on this is a very light-weight leash for little dogs made of heavy-weight yarn with a tiny clip. These are very soft and have a bit of stretch, for those 4-legged munchkins who are very well-behaved.
Cooper with Cool Collar
The other type of scarf does not tie or clip, like my Cool Collars or a regular bandanna. These cute scarves have a channel to slide the collar through. If the collar stays put, the scarf won't come off, since the two are attached! No chewing and untying - it's relatively unnoticeable to your pet. Both dogs and cats can be dressed up in these scarves of many colors.
The summer heat has been nearly unbearable, even for those of us who enjoy the heat. Recently, I read a very sad newspaper article about a man who went for his daily run with his two dogs, but on this day, the dogs became severely overheated. One recovered, but the other one died.
Since I had been making Cool Ties for people, this was the motivation I needed to get going on a canine version. I had been thinking about the needed modifications, and it was time to act on those thoughts. Bandannas in many colors were re-purposed, pockets stitched in and gel crystals added. The hydrated cooling gel covers the dog's neck and chest, and is either tied or clipped on top.
Thanks to Cooper (and Heidi) for modeling for me! (note: Pictured Cool Collars have not been hydrated. They were photographed dry.)
It's been a really HOT summer in more places than Florida! Because this has been quite an issue this year, I was asked by a friend if I could help him out. He needed something to keep his lawn /landscaping crew cool in the blazing heat, and suggested a scarf with gel. I had seen these before, but had never made them. Of course I said yes (is there any other answer?) and proceeded to hunt for the elusive gel. (It helps if you know what you're looking for...). I found small packages of something I thought might work, but the cost would have been prohibitive. I bought one package to experiment with, and then started looking online. I finally found and ordered what I needed, and then began the sewing part.
Pretty and practical.
Fully hydrated.
Since each tie takes several steps to complete, and I knew that I needed to work assembly-line style. This was, and still is, very hard for me. My pieces are unique, and individual, so these ties were a challenge in that way. But I managed to make 20 or so that week, and over 100 in the next couple of weeks, and even more since then. They are in close to 50 different color/patterns, so I might possibly have something for everybody. (Have you heard that before?) Anyway, my friend bought 8 of them, and they have become quite a hit. Barbara Ann's Cool Ties are listed on www.bahandbags.etsy.com.
