Spring harness development

Yesterday was development day and my trek into the garment district of NYC proved to be (finally) a success.  I found four stunning 100% cotton qualities at reasonable prices and discovered many new trims, but bought two that I could use for now.  I'm also getting e/mails from the vendors I visited at Texworld last month with fabric information and trim prices so much is coming together.  I LOVE  this phase of development.  In a nano second, a pattern or fabric will catch my eye and a silhouette pops into my brain.  All the research on closures and interesting details I'd done over the past months seem to fly out of my temporal lobe filing cabinet and float together with the fabrics, embellishments and lining colors and the garments practically design themselves. 
Had lunch with my good friend Suzanne, fabric maven and super sales agent, and talked about the possibility of her hooking me up with converters who don't have giant minimums.  Next conversation.... how does one introverted designer become an ace sales person without feeling personally hurt every time someone doesn't buy my product.  Of all the hats I must wear, this is the most important and the only one I have the biggest problem with.  Go figure. 
Lacy is making the most obscene, guttural noises and yips........almost like she's trying to speak in human words.  Which reminds me of the terrific book I'm reading "The Art of Racing in the Rain" a novel by Garth Stein. Enzo is also an old dog and human life is viewed from his perspective and amazing insight.  Lacy however, just wants to eat....too early old girl.
The weekend will be for doing girly wedding things again and a visit to my dad, so not much design time until we leave for Florida on Tuesday.  I'll be antsy, I know, because we'll be gone for a week and I won't be able to do much in the way of designing so, I'll do as much as I can today.......and off I go. 

Fashion filled weekend.........doggie and human

OD'd on fashion this weekend ...in a good way.  Pre-Westminster Fashion Show proved to be a bit of a disappointment but still fun on a number of levels.  The pooch peeps were as out there as ever, donned in all their fashion finery, some with dogs in matching outfits that they carried like accessories. There were lots of tuxedos and ball gowns (of the pup variety), bling and sparkles and more chihuahuas then you could shake a bone at (sorry)   I was busy conducting two sales so I missed the actual fashion show at 7:30 and the Misty Heart worn by Chaka, a pure white maltese and her person Yumi who escorted her down the runway.  I did a search online to see if there was a shot of them but so far haven't found anything.  The harnesses were a big success style-wise and price-wise and sold like hot cakes so get them while you can.  Unfortunately, the pups were not too cooperative when I wanted to take their pictures so I wasn't able to get a clean shot of them. I just loved seeing the dogs wearing my harnesses and though somewhat eccentric, pooch peeps had nothing but praise and lavish oohs and aahs for the merchandise.
 
The second fashion show I attended was for my friend and former colleague Jane Ibraham and her new collection Maisonnette1977 which debuted at The Box at Lincoln Center .  She's the sweetest girl and although the clothing was edgy for me, there were two pieces I would definitely wear!

The collection was shown by a group of models standing on platforms in the center of the floor rather than walking a runway.    Guests walked around the perimeter of the room to view each model in each style. It was my first foray into the world of  Mercedes Benz Fashion week. Interesting but for me,  I'll still stick to the dogs (much more fun) so it's back to the drawing  board. My focus.....the spring collection and more harnesses for MALE dogs.  Got lots of requests at the show and I know I do tend to favor the girls more because of Lacy.  I'll get it right one of these days 

Quiet after the storm.........

The wind shakes the ice encrusted branches and pelts the house with frozen shards.  It sounds weird against the siding and against the windows, breaking the quiet of the night time.  In the morning Lacy and I go out and the ground is covered with little ice pellets sparkling in the morning light like broken glass, beautiful but treacherous.  Lacy needs boots I think.  She gingerly steps down on the path I've tried to shovel for her,  then turns and looks at me.  I know what she's thinking and go and get her "chew socks", (infant socks I put on her when she chews on her paws).  She hates them, but they help.  It's too cold to stay outside and the snow is too deep to walk around the property, so she takes care of business and walks back to the house, stopping at the door.  I have to put a towel on top of the rubber mat outside the doorway because it's frozen and sharp on her paws and she refuses to walk on it even with the socks.

Jeff's in California and Lacy is confused, walking into his office and barking at his empty chair.  These are the times we rely on each other the most, I to calm her and she to calm me.  I'm ok being apart from my spouse, I get a lot done and do it all my way, but it's still a strange sensation when the house is so quiet.  I put on my music and get to work on more designs which puts me in a whole other zen place.

I donned my graphic designer hat yesterday, and finished the ad for Doggie Aficinado magazine, my third and last.   The issue comes out in March.  They will also put a spot on their web page www.poochcity.com once I send that too.  I'll have an ad in Modern Dog for their spring advertorial section, I believe that's this month.  Let's see if all this works to help sales. 

Meanwhile, still prepping for the Pre-Westminster Gala on February 11th.  I'll go into the city tomorrow and meet with Robin, my table-mate, to hash out set up details. Then to shop for more trims and fabrics for the spring collection and hopefully, meet with Igor about sample making.  Now that the patterns are all done and graded and the protos made, I'm ready for the next step.....costing. :(

To end, a little color amid all this whiteness.........