Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The holiday festivities are winding down....but not the winter chill

The first major blizzard of the season has dumped 18 inches of snow here, and Lacy and I are grateful that we can snuggle under the down comforter until Jeff puts the heat on and gets a morning fire started. We take our usual walk, though this time, it’s limited to the shoveled path along the patio. The vision of the back woods is magical when covered with snow. A visiting hawk is easily observed from the bare branches of an oak tree, as are the fresh coyote tracks heading up the slope, making this place breathtaking under the mauve morning light. There’s a newness apparent in the fresh cover, even as the end of the year approaches and final details to be seen to.
The next event for Lollypups is the Pre-Westminster Gala to take place February 11, 2011 and which we’re looking forward to. There will be new harnesses available and sweaters will continue to be reduced 15% from the on line prices. More details will be forthcoming.


The Misty Heart style will be featured in Modern Dog magazine, as a Valentine ’s Day promotion and modeled by our favorite bad girl, Daisy, who incidentally, was dressed in her holiday finery as she helped Emily and Chris host christmas festivities at their home in Albany.  Lots of laughs, good food (minus the brie that Scooter once again managed to snatch) and mostly warmth and joy as I watched the excitement my youngest exhibited in hosting her first family holiday with both her future in laws and us.  I observed the glow on the face of my first born, as she reveled in her imminent role as a mother.  I watch Lacy sleeping peacefully in a nearby corner, Scooter tucked into Jeff’s lap and Daisy on the other side, exhausted from all the activity.  These moments are the most precious. I welcome 2011 for all it’s newness and fresh beginnings, like the snow that covers the property,  and the expectations of the added joys to the  Liebo life, wedding, new baby………and all is as it should be.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

White on white

Cold, blustery fall day (not officially winter until the 21st!!), a half inch dusting of snow on the ground and Lacy (sans sweater this morning), blends in to the point of becoming invisible.  I've had to put my sweater and harness designing on the back burner for the sake of a major fashion assignment this week, so everything I've been experiencing, has become a source of inspiration.  It's quite a hefty undertaking, but I'm realizing that my Lollypups design development skill set has brought me up to the task in a surprising way.  Past experience in the fashion biz helps but my organization and research ability was honed through having my own business and seeing what needed to be done in an efficient manner since there's no delegating here!  There's inspiration all around me--stacks of magazines and books I've collected over the years, color resources (on line and off). Color covers every inch of wall space in my studio, sample cards of yarns from Bolivia,Peru and Italy, swatches and swipes, skeins of wools and novelty yarns fill the bins on my industrial shelving.    The window looks out at the woods where the sun rises and warms the room with mauves and taupes, literally bringing color to my doorstop.
So I have this white on white concept, which I created as a pet sweater last year called Sugar and Spice. It didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to, but I've kept it filed in the back of my brain to resurrect at some point.  Standing outside and watching Lacy appear and disappear as she stepped on the rocks then on the snow, I realized another way to create this concept..and that is to take all the colors I see in this frosty natural setting and whiten them.  So back to work on my November boards.......one hand washes the other, then back to finishing Sugar and Spice.
Lacy had the zoomies again this morning, and now snores quietly at my feet.  All is as it should be.

Monday, December 6, 2010

HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE GIG COMPLETE

Berkshire Botanical Gardens Holiday Market place Dec. 3, 4, 5 2010



This shot of Ms. Lacy sums up our weekend.  Could I but climb in beside her........She was the hit of the Berkshire Botanical Gardens Holiday Marketplace, as were the sweaters!  Can't say sales were outstanding but I broke even and made a small profit.
Also, I learned:
a) 3 people had bichons larger than Lacy and not as well behaved
b) 4 people had poodles all of whom were the "smartest dogs on the planet".
c) 8 people had dogs too large to fit into Lollypups sweaters, or too tough and macho for sweaters!
d) 11 people had dogs who passed away this year (jeez...talk about depressing!)
e)  4 people whose dog had died said they couldn't bear to get another
f)  1 woman said she'd get another dog once she retires, and 1 woman will get another dog when she stops travelling
g) 1 husband flatly refused to let his wife buy a sweater for their dog.......and she came back 5 minutes later and did anyway.  (You go girl!)
h) dogs were named: Killer (poodle),Sadie (border collie), Pete, Zac, Molly and Sacha.

i) Jane, the mom of "Christmas Cookie", an ADORABLE little piece of fluff,  bought the Pepper style in XS and came back the next day to show me how well it fit her. She even consented to model a beautiful new silk harness for a photo op! ....(could you just??..........)
j)  76 brochures were handed out to be passed on to daughters, sons, friends, mothers, aunts, nieces or to order on line after measuring their pet. Or were simply being polite as I thrust it into the hands of browsers!
k) 1 woman advised me that I needed a publicist to get the product noticed (Yes, but it takes $$) then came back and gave me other "ideas". Her husband came by and taught me how to correctly teach Lacy to "sit" since I was doing it all wrong. (he was right)
l) a woman stopped and raved about my burlap swag!!! and offered to buy it.  (huh?) no mention of the products sitting on the table below it.  I let her take pictures............
m) and lastly, a woman came with her black dog on a leash, and said as Lacy approached it, "don't let her near him.  He'll think she's a rabbit and eat her"........so I didn't.
For the gala opening on Friday night, there was an open bar and the chardonnay flowed.  I sampled the most phenomenal cheeses and a duck something or other (brain freeze) that was to die for from Popovich Provisions (www.popovichprovisions.com) did a bit of my own holiday shopping, at www.silvertwistdesign.com with beautiful and affordable silver and gemstone jewelry, also fair trade produced. 
All in all, Lacy entertained everyone by looking beautiful, I was entertained by everyone listening to their dog stories and the praise for the sweaters was gushed liberally by all (smile).