Pets Alive Fur Ball to take place in Westchester county June 11,2011

To all my friends, business contacts, fellow students and dog lovers,
My days are hectic and filled with tasks both personal, business and volunteer.  Wedding plans continue for daughter #2, baby shower and first grandson on the way for daughter #1, preparations for the Las Vagas, SuperZoo Pet product trade fair in September with some great new products in development.....and then there are the sweet old dogs and young, energetic pups I love to visit at Pets Alive rescue shelter, in Elmsford, NY.  Everyone there is an extreme animal lover who volunteers their time taking care of homeless dogs, cats and rabbits and, to me, I couldn't meet or work with a better bunch of  people or more wonderful dogs starving for attention (and more treats) and working with them to help them become more adoptable. 
On June 11 Pets Alive will be hosting their annual FUR BALL and I want to get the word out to everyone I know. 
If you're a business or simply a compassionate animal lover, check out their website to find out how you can help by donating an auction item,  becoming a sponsor or a patron or by attending this fun gala.
Pets Alive Westchester is part of the Pets Alive Organization, one of the oldest and largest no-kill animal organizations in the US and saves over 2,000 animals each year.  ALL the proceeds from the Fur Ball will go directly to helping the animals. 
Please check their website for more detailed information. www.petsalive.org
I will be there helping out with the cocktail reception, formal dinner, dancing (maybe cut the rug a bit myself) and fabulous auctions (Lollypups Petwear sweater and scarf included-- and  a super elegant custom made harness and leash!) There will be an online auction as well, so if you can't attend, you can still bid on the items.  Or if you prefer, ANY donation will be SUPER appreciated.
Check back on my blog, lollypupspetwear.blogspot.com for updates,  I'll keep you posted as news and information comes in. Off I go now, to take my "senior" charges out for some exercise.
xoxo
JoAnn & Lacy

Hi ho, hi ho...it's off to work I go.......

Sometimes a girl just has to do what a girl has to do.......so, mug of strong coffee beside me, I embarked on a midnight excursion through cyberspace in pursuit of something absolutely extraordinary in the way of summer print fabrics. (read chic and cheap) Off I go through Googleland, unearthing this and that and being bombarded with inspiration up the wazoo at the same time.......I love this!

3 more pieces are final for the spring/summer collection of harnesses by 2:30AM and I'm SO ready to nod off, in a good way. Tomorrow is going to be busy. Dentist first then Email appointments with resources are set and ideas are to the max so it’s time for executive decisions. A trek into Manhattan is required to find what else I need! Meetings with vinyl suppler, leash maker, trim and embellishments for the new fabrics. Then back to my other life. A bridal veil to order for Em and weather permitting, dinner in Andy and Ellen’s garden to top off a hopefully productive shopping trip.
I’m so loving the little ooh la la French number cotton I found on line, and a more graphic heart pattern, and will post the new styles once complete.  But doing girls is easy. It’s the boys I need to focus on, not that the summer is their season. Brushed wools and plaids are more suitable for them during the winter months. Handsome. Masculine. Different. I’ll focus on an unusual plaid or stripe and printed lining for them I think. and found one that's a madras plaid patchwork in denim blues and neutrals. So off I go to work......hi ho.

Updates and Upstarts........

Lacy has decided that she wants ALL of my attention this week.  At times she's been sassy, energetic, eccentric, and downright pesky.  I tried everything to appease her.....early dinners,  walks outside every 15 minutes, treats, praise.......but here she is at my feet once again, standing on her hind legs and "quarking"--making a guttural sound resembling something between a quack and a bark.  As I rise to pick her up and maybe cuddle her into submission, she turns and bolts from the studio, then stands in the hallway and whimpers.  How do I get any work done??   Well, here's a clue          

<---------------better.

I was able to contact a couple of vendors in NYC willing to sell me low minimums for my little biz.  Two in particular were very accommodating and willing to send me swatches of what I was interested in.

I also physically went to a warehouse nearby and checked out his high-end cotton sateen patterns and ended up buying rolls of less then 10 yards as well as contrast linings. (and left Lacy to pester Jeff). So now, I have two prints planned for summer harnesses.  Next week will be a busy one.  The Indigo show is upon us again and it's always great to see what kinds of prints and color trends are out there. With the patterns finished and ready for Igor, I'll be able to discuss samples now that I have the yardage for them and the matching leashes.   All this is in preparation for Superzoo in September.  This time I want to get a vendor booth and sell wholesale.  Got my free flight from Jet Blue and the rooms are cheap, cheap, cheap..........so, all I'll have to pay for is the booth. Still a big expense but worth it.  The attendance was up from last year! 

So, in the end, I did accomplish a lot and Lacy, tuckered out, went to sleep with Otto, finally leaving me in.... peace.